Jays score one  —  After Clay Buchholz gave up a resounding line drive to right field for a Gregg Zaun double, Adam Lind followed with a single.  That left men on first and third base for Russ Adams, who ended up with an infield single when Buchholz caught the relay from Eric Hinske a step before the first base bag.

Notes: Marlins ready to play spoiler  —  Florida won't lay down in final 10 games vs. playoff contenders  —  ATLANTA — Eliminated from playoff contention, the Marlins are now perfectly content to become spoil sports in their remaining games.  —  Beginning on Friday night at Dolphin Stadium …

Prospectus Today  —  Take a Breather … Note how divergent the two teams' paths were coming out of last weekend's series.  The Red Sox ran into Dustin McGowan and A.J. Burnett, two power right-handers who, when healthy and allowed to pitch regularly, are above-average starters.

No whining in baseball  —  Houston - So, there seems to be considerable grousing in Chicago over the Houston Astros' decision to throw three rookie pitchers at the Brewers in the three-game series here.  —  Conspiracy theorists suggest Cecil Cooper, a former Brewer, is laying down his arms …

Padilla's actions are leaving a mark  —  Vicente Padilla will make what will in all likelihood be his final start of the season today at Minnesota.  —  The question the Rangers will have to tackle over the winter is whether it should be his last with Texas, too.

La Russa at the helm of Mariners' ship?  It's possible  —  The most coveted free agent in baseball this winter could well turn out to be an old utility infielder with a lifetime batting average of .199.  —  Of course, Tony La Russa will be heading to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown …

Cubs beat Reds 3-2, Griffey hurt  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Alfonso Soriano homered and made a great throw, and the Chicago Cubs scored a strange, go-ahead run in the eighth inning after Ken Griffey Jr. was injured to beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Wednesday night.  —  The Cubs began the day in a virtual tie …

JON PAUL MOROSI: Guillen willing to move from short but wants gold-glove replacement  —  He likes 1B, but later in 4-year deal  —  CLEVELAND — On Sunday, in a crucial game, Carlos Guillen started at first base.  —  On Monday, in a crucial game, Guillen started at first base.

Nats Again Come Back To Stymie The Mets  —  Avert your eyes, fans of the New York Mets, because what is happening on the eastern edge of Capitol Hill isn't fit for anyone who wanted the team from Flushing to saunter into the postseason, as they appeared ready to do all of a week ago.

Notes: Andruw not making excuses  —  Braves center fielder enduring tough season at the plate  —  ATLANTA — While Andruw Jones continues to contend the career-low offensive numbers he's produced this season aren't a product of him stressing about his future in Atlanta …

Pirates Notebook: Duke determined to regain rookie form  —  SAN DIEGO — Zach Duke heard the news he had been awaiting for three months: He will retake the mound as a starter in 2007.  —  Pirates manager Jim Tracy informed him yesterday afternoon that he will pitch Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Zambrano, Cubs fall to nemesis  —  Big Z bested by Reds' Harang; Chicago, Milwaukee tied at top  —  CHICAGO — It's now a virtual tie in the National League Central, but Aaron Harang definitely has the edge over Carlos Zambrano.  —  Harang beat Zambrano in their fourth meeting this season …

Angels inch closer to pennant  —  L.A. beats Tampa Bay, 2-1, and could clinch the division title during this weekend's series with Seattle.  Santana strikes out 10 and Rivera homers.  —  Two months ago, Ervin Santana was in the minor leagues and Juan Rivera was in physical therapy.

Pitch Identification Tutorial  —  To celebrate this back-to-school time of year, I'd like to conduct a tutorial of sorts.  What I want to cover is how to identify the pitches of any pitcher's repertoire, given the fabulous pitch-f/x data that several others and I have been working with this season.

Indians Sweep  —  The Cleveland Indians defeat the Tigers 4-2 and drop their magic number to three.  The race in the Central is essentially over, and the Indians put an exclamation mark on the season by sweeping the one rival left in the division.  Cleveland is 25-8 since they lost to Detroit on 8/14.

Report: Yanks will be on road to finish 2008 season  —  The House That Ruth Built will close at the end of the 2008 season, but the schedule that MLB built doesn't seem to realize that.  —  Next season will serve as a six-month homage to Yankee Stadium, as baseball's cathedral will celebrate its 86th and final year.

Mussina beats Orioles, Yanks trim Red Sox lead to 2-1/2  —  The AL East race far from over, and Mike Mussina - whose time in the Yankee rotation appeared finished just two weeks ago - is the big reason why.  —  Mussina looked like his vintage self, delivering seven shutout innings …