A-Rod's case for megabucks gets stronger  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  NEW YORK - Attention, opt-out shoppers:  —  The latest Alex Rodriguez infomercial is a doozy.  —  Two home runs in one inning.  Two curtain calls in one inning.  The passing of Mel Ott and tying of Ernie Banks …

Nats Safely in Fourth With Fifth Straight Win  —  Sweep of Marlins Keeps Washington Clear of Cellar: Nationals 6, Marlins 4  —  The opposing pitcher threw 33 pitches, recorded two outs, walked the seventh- and eighth-place hitters with the bases loaded, fell behind the pitcher 2-0, was yanked …

Alex Speier's Sox Beat: Ellsbury enjoys rookie surge  —  BOSTON - EVERY GLIMPSE of Jacoby Ellsbury's remarkable talent fuels a belief that the 23-year-old, just two years out of college, is a game-changing force.  On the sole basis of his brief tenure with the Red Sox, it is difficult to argue the point.

Tigers Trade/Signing Speculation  —  Lynn Henning of the Detroit News posted a Q&A yesterday, giving his informed opinion on the Tigers' various hot stove situations.  Below are some highlights.  — Henning expects Kenny Rogers to be with the Tigers in 2008, and I think that's the general sentiment around baseball.

Promotions surprise Phillips and Broadway  —  Aardsma, Masset not recalled from Triple-A Charlotte  —  DETROIT — Perhaps just as surprising as the promotions of starting pitchers Heath Phillips and Lance Broadway from Triple-A Charlotte were the omissions of David Aardsma and Nick Masset on the White Sox's roster.

Playoffs Or Wedding?  Ian Kennedy May Have To Decide  —  With Roger Clemens ailing and Mike Mussina pitching like a Devil Ray, Yankees rookie Ian Kennedy has been thrust into the spotlight.  So far he's delivered, going seven innings in his first start and getting the win.

Robbery Suspect Shot in the Leg, Police Say  —  A man suspected of robbing a vendor during the Nationals game at RFK Stadium apparently shot himself in the leg by mistake late last night as he tried to elude security guards, authorities said.  —  The incident began shortly before 10:30 p.m. …

For O's, it's another low  —  Pitchers rocked in 15-run loss; Pena hits slam in 8-run fourth for Devil Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Radhames Liz should have seen it coming.  Not the ball that slammed into his left leg in the first inning, but the likelihood that his third major league start would turn gruesome.

Diamondbacks alone in 1st place  —  Three days ago, the sky was falling in Diamondbacks land, just as it was for them in June at Yankee Stadium, in July in the Midwest, in San Diego last week.  —  But if there is a lesson to be learned and relearned from this Diamondbacks team, it is to expect the unexpected.

Lowell might be too pricey  —  Length of pact is also an issue  —  Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis feels the pain after being struck by a pitch from Toronto's Brian Wolfe in the sixth.  (JIM DAVIS/GLOBE STAFF)  —  The Red Sox would love to have Mike Lowell back next season …

Wily Mo Redux  —  "His power is unbelievable.  He's like a 'Little Papi,' and I know that when his time comes, he will be a good player.  Nobody hits the ball like Mo—nobody."  —  In my inaugural column in this space back in March of 2006, I took a look at the prospects of outfielder Wily Mo Pena.

Investigators Want to Talk to 45 Players About Suspected Steroid Use  —  As of mid-August, baseball's investigators looking into the use of performance-enhancing drugs still wanted to speak with at least 45 current and former major league players, most of them still active.

Johnson Vows To Lose Weight In Offseason  —  Nick Johnson spent much of the past week packing his Arlington apartment and preparing for an early flight this morning back to his home in Sacramento.  He leaves the Washington Nationals having not played a game in 2007 — all because of a broken …

Lo Duca touches lives young and old  —  Clemente Award nominee helps sick kids, women with cancer  —  NEW YORK — Far removed from the sterile world of hospital beds and heart monitors — the world where Paul Lo Duca usually gives back — the Mets catcher was caught off guard last month …