After Celebration at Home, Anderson Is Sent Packing  —  He's Traded to Dodgers After Wild Win; Ward Also Dealt: Nationals 6, Phillies 5  —  On the diamond, Marlon Anderson said he was prepared for anything, and as soon as the slider hit the dirt, he showed it, breaking for home like a veteran should …

Padres add Wells for stretch run  —  Veteran acquired in time to be put on postseason roster  —  SAN DIEGO — You can go home again — and again — if you're David "Boomer" Wells.  —  The Padres on Thursday believe they made the big stretch-run move their fans have been yearning …

Cabrera protecting elbow  —  ST. LOUIS — All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera said he expects to return to the lineup today after sitting out Thursday with a bruised left elbow.  —  Manager Joe Girardi left Cabrera's return open until his left elbow is healed.

After acquiring Nevin in May, Cubs trade him to Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins acquired first baseman Phil Nevin and cash from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for a player to be named, a deal made on the final day players must be in an organization to be eligible for postseason play.

Sox get helping hand from Rios, Jays  —  Yesterday was an upside-down day for the Red Sox that saw the following:  —  David Ortiz released from Massachusetts General Hospital.  —  Jon Lester, also at Mass. General, being diagnosed with enlarged lymph nodes.

Sox's power trip hits road  —  Sox hit 200th HR but exit Cell launching pad for bulk of stretch run  —  The game ended Thursday with Jermaine Dye on deck.  —  "I actually was tired," said Dye, the White Sox's hottest hitter who didn't get a chance to hit a game-tying homer in Thursday's puzzling 10-inning, 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

Ichiro, Johjima develop mutual trust  —  Although they sit at neighboring lockers in a corner of the Safeco Field clubhouse, grasping similarly glossy magazines from Japan, their minds couldn't have drifted to more divergent galaxies as they relax before a game.  —  Ichiro is absorbed in fashion, Kenji Johjima in fish.

Thursday, Aug. 31: Honorable Mention  —  In a land of big names, some players can easily get overshadowed.  Jerry Crasnick puts a stop to that, however, by pointing out eight underappreciated players who deserve recognition.  Story  —  • Baseball Tonight: Who are the top under-the-radar players?

Smoltz struggles in loss to Giants  —  Veteran loses at Turner Field for first time since June 13  —  ATLANTA — John Smoltz has obviously been allotted the right to lose a home start once every 11 weeks.  But even after those rare occurrences when he loses, he speaks with the disdain …

Philadelphia Phillies  —  IT WILL BE interesting to see what Major League Baseball does next season with Barry Bonds.  —  As much as baseball would like him to just go away, it can't force Bonds to retire, and it doesn't have the goods to suspend him for doing what a lot of people …

Cubs' roster needs radical surgery  —  GM Jim Hendry should make no small plans when reshaping the Cubs roster for '07  —  The Cubs look to be playing out the string in September, but general manager Jim Hendry's to-do list figures to keep him busy.  —  Besides going over his list …

Mets can't sweep Rockies  —  DENVER — This is shaping up to be a pivotal weekend for the Mets in determining the status of their playoff rotation.  —  Tom Glavine, coming off a blood clot scare, starts tonight in Houston.  Pedro Martinez, slowly healing from a calf strain, is expected to take the mound in Port St. Lucie.

Burnitz can smile at his fate  —  Jose Bautista had circled the bases, his two-out, two-run home run Aug. 15 having put the Pirates ahead of Milwaukee by a run in the seventh inning at PNC Park.  —  As Bautista, 25, joyfully stepped into the Pirates' dugout, jubilant high-fives surrounded him.