Rangers eliminated with 6-3 loss  —  ARLINGTON - There is only one hitch in the Rangers' desires to etch Robinson Tejeda into their starting rotation for 2007: He has yet to win a game in Texas.  —  That's a pretty significant issue.  —  In a 6-3 loss to Seattle on Wednesday …

Ortiz launches No. 50; Twins blast Red Sox  —  Just a single raised fist, rounding first base, accompanied David Ortiz on his historic run.  Just that fist, up for no more than a second, before he made his solitary way around second, around third, across home.

A Ninth Consecutive Division Title for Yankees  —  For Johnny Damon, it was the perfect convergence of joy and duty.  —  The Yankees' game had ended with a 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night, but the scoreboard told the players that the Boston Red Sox were also losing.

Columbus Will Take Over as Top Farm Club  —  The Washington Nationals yesterday announced a two-year working agreement with Class AAA Columbus (Ohio), which will replace New Orleans as their top minor league affiliate.  Though club officials touted the move, two sources said the preferred site …

MRI on Ramírez's knee comes back clean  —  The MRI that was supposed to determine — once and for all — the damage to the right knee that has been bothering Manny Ramírez the latter part of the season came back clean, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Why Santana isn't the AL MVP … Johan Santana is the most talented, most charismatic, most dominating pitcher in this hemisphere.  And that's something we should all be able to agree on, except perhaps for certain members of Roy Halladay's immediate family.

It's a season of redemption for the staff ace  —  The Chicago Cubs, anchored firmly to the bottom of the National League standings and eagerly awaiting the end of hostilities, started a rookie pitcher last night for the 73d time this season.  —  Even as rookies, and Cubs rookies, generally go …

Aparicio ready to lead chagrined O's fans in protest  —  You say you've had it with the Orioles this time.  —  You've had it with nine straight losing seasons.  With another meaningless September.  With a jewel of a ballpark that sits empty and forlorn, except when it's invaded by thousands …

Royals manager takes medical leave of absence, return indefinite  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas City Royals manager Buddy Bell is taking a leave of absence to treat a growth discovered near his left tonsil.  —  The Royals announced the move during the ninth inning of their game against …

Rapping to the Oldies  —  Peter J. Nash, a baseball author, historian and filmmaker, can eloquently describe players from 2006.  What makes him different from many other fans is that he can also smoothly discuss players from 1846.  Nash knows exhaustive details about the earliest days of baseball …

Home at the ballpark  —  Gammons back to work for ESPN  —  And then, yesterday, he was back at the ballpark.  Home, as he sees it.  —  Little fanfare.  No promotional gimmicks.  Just some handshakes and heartfelt greetings from fans, players, and colleagues, and the inevitable kids …