Fan gives home run ball to Thome  —  Texan in town for conference, didn't know of slugger's chase  —  CHICAGO — Sell it, keep it or give it back?  —  That is the question that is left to every fan that comes away with a milestone home run ball.  With the news that Barry Bonds' record …

A good old time, but Yankees beat Sox  —  If Dave Mellor, keeper of the greensward at Fenway Park, could have found a way that would not have torn up his precious turf, it would have been fitting for the 36,533 fans present last night to emulate the pregame ritual observed by the bullpens of the Red Sox and Yankees.

Art of thievery  —  NEW YORK - Nowhere on his body did the grind of 1982 show on Rickey Henderson.  Each of the 150 or so times he dove face-first into a base that year, a lithe torpedo of thievery, he came up feeling great in the arms, torso, hips and legs.

DUQUE OUT; LAWRENCE TO START  —  As expected, Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez will not be on the mound in Washington tonight for the Mets.  —  The veteran right-hander was scratched from the start yesterday after he was still feeling pain in his right foot.  The Mets hope Hernandez can return …

'Joke' but no laughs  —  By most accounts, rookie Shelley Duncan has positively changed the culture of the Yankees' clubhouse with his jovial demeanor.  —  Yet this weekend, that same demeanor brought Duncan some unwanted notoriety.  —  While he signed autographs before Friday's series opener …

News' Madden finds Papelbon's cell phone in cab  —  In a bizarre set of circumstances, I got a "save" from Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon yesterday.  —  I hailed a taxi to take me to Fenway Park and happened to notice a cellphone lying on the seat next to me.

Orioles stick with it, win in 12th  —  Moore's hit brings first series victory since mid-August; Markakis at 20 HRs, 100 RBIs  —  TORONTO - It lasted 4 hours, 25 minutes, and featured two teams that used a total of 15 pitchers and 28 position players and combined to go 5-for-37 with runners …

Dodgers fail in chemistry  —  LOS ANGELES - For the good of the game, some teams shouldn't win anything.  —  Those who spend profligately.  —  Those who misbehave shamelessly.  —  Those who play joylessly.  —  (Give us a scowl, Los Angeles Dodgers.)  —  Yes, the Dodgers, circa 2007.

Kranitz's position appears to be safe  —  DENVER - If the Marlins plan to shake up manager Fredi Gonzalez's coaching staff, it doesn't appear pitching coach Rick Kranitz will be one of the casualties.  —  Kranitz's contract, like those of his fellow coaches, is up at season's end.

Phillies show Mets they mean business  —  Dobbs' grand slam helps cut NL East deficit to 3 1/2 games  —  NEW YORK — Here they go again.  —  Leave it to the Phillies to storm back into National League East contention with three pronounced stomps on the neck of the team directly ahead of them.

It's about timely plate power  —  The Padres sacrificed footspeed and bat control when they assembled their offense.  They emphasized home run power, even if meant suffering a high total of strikeouts.  CEO Sandy Alderson wanted sluggers, particularly right-handers who could pop home runs at Petco Park.