Bullpen can thank Garcia for time off  —  ANAHEIM — The biggest beneficiaries of Freddy Garcia's eight-inning masterpiece in Thursday's 9-0 White Sox victory are the club's weary relievers.  —  They got a day to recover from an array of setbacks before an off day.

Matsui and Sheffield: Future Is All in the Wrist  —  Hideki Matsui has told Japanese reporters that he wants to reclaim his starting position in left field because it is vitally important to him to help the Yankees on both offense and defense.  Gary Sheffield told everyone …

Mariners dismiss two coaches  —  Bench coach Hassey, administrative assistant Rohn released  —  SEATTLE — In a surprise this late in the season, the Mariners released two members of the coaching staff, bench coach Ron Hassey and administrative assistant Dan Rohn, on Wednesday.

Pujols KOs Lidge again  —  The ball kept rolling and Albert Pujols kept running, not stopping until his teammates intercepted him halfway between third base and the plate to celebrate a 6-5 win that further muffled the Houston Astros' gasping playoff hopes.  —  Resurrecting a fateful ninth …

14 in a row: 'You knew the end was coming'  —  ATLANTA (AP) — It had to end sometime.  —  How about 1992?  The Atlanta Braves were coming off their worst-to-first season, surely a fluke if there ever was one.  They were perennially one of baseball's worst teams, the guys who passed …

Liriano exits early  —  Twins lefthander Francisco Liriano is expected to miss the rest of the season after injuring his left elbow on Wednesday for the second time in six weeks.  —  Liriano left the game in the third inning after throwing a pitch to Oakland's Bobby Kielty.

Wakefield takes on Orioles in return  —  Boston (77-67) at Baltimore (62-81), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  After nearly two months of being sidelined, veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will be back on the mound Wednesday night at Camden Yards, when the Red Sox play the second game of this three-game series against the Orioles.

Cubs' Rusch hospitalized with blood clot  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs reliever Glendon Rusch was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lung and will miss the rest of the season.  A team trainer said the condition was not life threatening.  —  Rusch was sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital during Tuesday night's …

No Steal for Soriano, But Win for Nationals  —  When Jason Bergmann came out of the game, the prospects for the Washington Nationals' second victory in a row were slim.  —  It was only the fourth inning, three runs were already in, and the Nationals were without three of the relievers …

Giants in control when it comes to Bonds  —  Let's start with an aggressive strategy, one that might be difficult for the Giants to grasp, considering the various ways in which they've caved to left fielder Barry Bonds over the years.  —  The Giants, not Bonds, will make the call on whether he remains with the team in 2007.

Little consolation  —  CHICAGO - Long ago he learned to accept the cruel inevitability of his job.  Managing, for all the help provided by bosses and confidants and statistics, is a solitary endeavor, one man riding his feelings and instincts, sometimes against the will of the masses …

Transaction Analysis  —  September 5-11  —  American League  —  National League  —  Purchased the contract of C-R Raul Chavez from Bowie (Double-A); transferred LHP Kurt Birkins from the 15- to the 60-day DL.  [9/5]  —  Recalled RHP Sendy Rleal from Ottawa (Triple-A) …

Notes: Windsor gets unexpected call  —  Harden feels good after bullpen session; Kendall may get rest  —  MINNEAPOLIS — To say it's been a whirlwind season for Jason Windsor would be an understatement.  —  A week ago, the right-handed pitcher was beginning to unwind after his Minor League season …

Mets prospect is 'next big thing in shortstops'  —  Jose Reyes, who split the 2002 season between the New York Mets' farm teams in the Class A Florida State League and Class AA Eastern League, is a good bet to become the next standout at baseball's prestige position: shortstop.

Duquette: Perlozzo will return in '07  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Sam Perlozzo will return as manager of the Baltimore Orioles in 2007, vice president of baseball operations Jim Duquette said Wednesday.  —  The Orioles are headed for a ninth straight losing season in Perlozzo's first full year …

Lots of reasons why it ended for Braves  —  When you finish first 14 times over 14 completed seasons, you assume every year is your year.  For the imperial Braves, this one finally wasn't.  The Mets made it official Tuesday night, winning in Florida to eliminate the Braves from the NL East race.

Notes: Schilling won't face Yankees  —  Red Sox ace to throw simulated game Thursday in Baltimore  —  BALTIMORE — Forget about the luster of a Curt Schilling-Randy Johnson matchup, which could have happened in Saturday night's Game 2 of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.