preGame: Mets at Astros (Game Three)  —  The Game:  —  The Mets (47-38) take on the Astros (38-49) in the third game of a four-game set at Minute Maid Park this evening, starting at 7:05 pm EDT.  —  The Lineup:  —  Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by Ruben Gotay, Carlos Beltran …

Webb replaces Fuentes on NL team  —  Right-hander to make his second straight trip to All-Star Game  —  CINCINNATI — Brandon Webb won't be going to San Diego after all.  —  The Arizona right-hander instead will be making his second consecutive trip to the All-Star Game.

Mariners' Hernandez blanks A's again  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Felix Hernandez ended the first half of his season the same way he started it: with a dominating performance against the Oakland Athletics.  —  Hernandez held Oakland scoreless for a second straight start and Adrian Beltre homered …

Buehrle talks crumble … Mark Buehrle was willing to go forward and make a deal with the Chicago White Sox that didn't include a no-trade clause, but his overture was rejected.  —  Now it appears that his contract talks have broken down for good, and he may soon be traded.

Lilly, Soriano lead surging Cubs by Bucs  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan Theriot and the Chicago Cubs hitters easily singled out the reason they won Saturday night — they hit a lot of singles.  —  Despite being in their longest home run drought since 1999, the Cubs won for the 12th time in 15 games, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1.

Wells to face rookie on FOX  —  San Diego (48-37) vs. Atlanta (46-41), Saturday, 12:55 p.m. PT  —  The San Diego Padres will take on the Atlanta Braves and rookie pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes in the middle game of their three-game series on Saturday afternoon.  —  Reyes will make his Major League debut in PETCO Park.

Ex-MLB pitcher banned from Pan Am Games  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Jose Jimenez, who threw a no-hitter as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999, was one of two Dominican athletes removed from the Pan American Games on Saturday after they tested positive for banned substances.

Ordonez, Holliday banging out the hits … We're halfway through another spectacular baseball season.  And we know what you're thinking:  —  Has anyone else hit his 500th home run in the last 15 minutes?  —  Has George Steinbrenner fired anyone yet?  —  And, of course, how do you spell O-k-a-j-i-m-a?

Jackson willing to play outfield  —  CINCINNATI - Conor Jackson is willing to try something different to ease the Diamondbacks' corner infield logjam.  Being willing is one thing, being allowed is another.  —  Jackson said Friday that he would not mind playing the outfield if it would mean …

Rodriguez, Angels make the plays to beat Yankees  —  Closer gets out of a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the 13th before 54,497 at Yankee Stadium, after two errors in the top of the inning allow Angels to take the lead.  Match-up between Lackey and Clemens lives up to billing.

Bacsik's Rough Start Sets Tone in Nats' Loss  —  If ever there was a chance for the Washington Nationals to revive themselves against a playoff-contending opponent, it was last night.  After all, the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers had lost five of their past seven games.

White Sox want to be served youth  —  If the White Sox make a trade, keep in mind they covet 23-year-old Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.  He entered the season ranked as the team's No. 2 prospect behind Daisuke Matsuzaka.  Ellsbury is so fast he scored from second base …

Nutting: Decisions on Littlefield, Tracy after season  —  Pirates' owner urges team to have 'great second half'  —  The Pirates will wait until after this season to decide the futures of general manager Dave Littlefield and manager Jim Tracy, principal owner Bob Nutting said yesterday.

Yankees sign Erubiel Durazo  —  According to this article the Yankees have signed Erubial Durazo to a minor league contract.  I did some cross checking, just in case, and according to the Monterrey Sultans official website, Durazo may actually be joining the Yankees, or at least the Scranton Yankees.