Wells may go to Dodgers  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Left-hander David Wells, who is scheduled to start the first game of the homestand tomorrow against the Blue Jays, flew back to Boston yesterday to rest up for the outing.  —  General manager Theo Epstein refused to discuss a report that he is prepared …

Pavano scratched from rehab start  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Pavano was scratched from a scheduled rehabilitation start Wednesday, and New York Yankees manager Joe Torre isn't counting on having the oft-injured pitcher return to the major leagues this year.  —  The decision was made Tuesday …

Mulder endures another rough outing  —  Lefty headed back to doctor after lasting 1 2/3 frames vs. Fish  —  ST. LOUIS — Mystified by a left arm that still refuses to go where it needs to go, Mark Mulder is heading back not only to the drawing board, but to the doctor's office.

Skipper Hurdle pulls plug on Barmes  —  Character is admirable.  But as the Rockies have proved the past few weeks, even the best of men can be on the worst of teams.  Once on the verge of being a postseason threat, Colorado has plunged into the National League West basement, falling 10-5 to the New York Mets on Tuesday night.

Notes: Matsui cleared for BP  —  Yankees outfielder is expected to hit indoors on Wednesday  —  NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui was cleared to take full batting practice for the first time on Tuesday, a big step in his hopeful return to the Yankees' lineup this season.  Matsui is scheduled to hit indoors on Wednesday.

Oswalt, Astros agree to $73 million, 5-year extension  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Roy Oswalt and the Houston Astros agreed to a $73 million, five-year contract extension on the ace's 29th birthday Tuesday, the biggest multiyear deal the team has ever given to a pitcher.

Offense is absent in 5th straight loss  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — The margin of error is so tiny that Josh Beckett was actually chiding himself for throwing a fastball high and away to Eric Chavez in the fourth inning that resulted in the A's first run.  —  ``That was a dumb pitch to Chavez," …

Tigers need to learn patience is a virtue  —  Most players sympathized with the Yankees and Red Sox for having to play that five-games-in-four-days series.  No way MLB should have allowed TV to dictate that kind of schedule: day-night doubleheader on Friday, day game Saturday, night game Sunday …

Liner hits Mariners' Soriano in the head  —  Reliever stays conscious; M's hold on for sixth win in row  —  There was no joy in victory, no agony in defeat.  —  There were just athletes concerned for one of their own.  —  Mariners reliever Rafael Soriano had to be wheeled off …

Like an old car, Orioles need more than recycled parts  —  I've got some sad news.  My '92 Celica, which carried me to countless local sporting events over the past 15 years and provided regular fodder for the Kickoff page, announced its retirement yesterday on a lonely stretch of Highway 10 in Anne Arundel County.

Sox lumbering on into wild-card lead  —  Dye's 39th homer helps Sox hold off the running Rays  —  Regaining the American League wild-card lead behind a 13-hit attack hardly calmed manager Ozzie Guillen's nerves Tuesday night.  —  Beneath the White Sox's 12-9 victory over Tampa Bay …

Records detail Steussie's steroid use  —  WHAT HAPPENED A newspaper reports that medical records show several instances in which the Rams' Todd Steussie obtained illegal steroids while with Carolina and Tampa Bay.  —  Medical records made public in court documents showed …

Safety in numbers?  Nope  —  Baker's inflated view of effect of Lee's loss likely won't save his job, writes Phil Rogers  —  Dusty Baker is a good man in an awful position—finishing out a very public job with the belief that his bosses don't want him around anymore.

Floyd fights for job  —  Randolph says Cliff won't necessarily have starting job waiting  —  DENVER - Cliff Floyd's walk year on the Mets has been more like a crawl.  —  There was a kidney scare during spring training, two trips to the disabled list for different injuries and now …