Yanks send best wishes to Lester  —  KANSAS CITY - It sometimes seems as if the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox knows no bounds, but there is always a time for perspective.  The Bombers sent a bouquet of flowers to ailing Sox pitcher Jon Lester last week, sending along their best …

Notes: Hicks praises Young  —  Owner clarifies comments he made in a radio interview Tuesday  —  OAKLAND — Rangers owner Tom Hicks said he has nothing but the highest admiration for shortstop Michael Young and made it clear he wasn't singling him out or criticizing him in a Dallas radio interview Tuesday.

Izzy's blown save turns comeback into loss  —  WASHINGTON (AP)— Jose Vidro picked a good time to start getting clutch hits.  —  Vidro ended a game of comebacks, lining a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday to give the Washington Nationals a 7-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Future's Cliff hanger  —  Floyd: Achilles just won't heal  —  Cliff Floyd would have been out of the Mets' lineup for the second consecutive game last night had heavy rains not made their scheduled game a doubleheader against the Braves today.  —  Floyd, who was activated last week …

Zambrano OK, but on close watch  —  MRI reveals no major back damage, but next start undetermined  —  CHICAGO — Carlos Zambrano may pitch again this season, depending on how his back feels.  —  The Cubs right-hander underwent an MRI on Tuesday after complaining of stiffness in his back the day before.

Notes: Mulder to undergo surgery  —  Second opinion confirms shoulder and rotator cuff problems  —  WASHINGTON — The second opinion on Mark Mulder's shoulder confirmed the first.  The Cardinals announced on Wednesday that Mulder will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair fraying in his left rotator cuff.

Building a contender on the cheap like the Marlins will be tough to duplicate  —  What the Mini Marlins have done this summer has been historical, uplifting, unprecedented and inexplicable.  —  But will it be trend setting?  —  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery …

Tigers release Young after latest loss  —  DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers unconditionally released designated hitter Dmitri Young after Wednesday's loss to the Seattle Mariners.  —  Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said the move was "strictly performance related."

Top minor leaguers for each MLB team  —  AMERICAN LEAGUE  —  Baltimore: RHP Brandon Erbe: Erbe's win-loss record (5-9) didn't get much help from a weak low-A Delmarva team, but the rest of the 18-year-old's performance was impressive, including 133 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings.

Jennings aims to salvage finale in SD  —  Colorado (63-75) at San Diego (72-66), 8:05 p.m. MT  —  Jason Jennings will take the mound Wednesday at his home away from home, PETCO Park, in the series finale with San Diego.  —  The right-hander has never lost at PETCO in six career starts, going 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA.

For Bucs, numbers don't lie  —  TRIBUNE-REVIEW  —  CHICAGO - Jason Bay had never heard of the statistical category called "runs created," so he had no way of knowing that his total of 90 paced the Pirates.  —  "That's great ... if it's even a stat people put stock into," …

Tigers sunk by Mariners after delay  —  Offense silenced late as Miller takes first Major League loss  —  DETROIT — The one-hour, 23-minute rain delay on Tuesday night knocked out Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman.  The Tigers offense seemingly left the game before the rain arrived.