Mets end 5-game skid, beat Nationals 8-4  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The New York Mets gathered in the infield for fist bumps and high-fives Wednesday night, and while they had celebrated 83 previous victories this season, No. 84 somehow seemed so important.  —  Beating the Washington Nationals …

Griffey leaves Reds game in 8th inning with injury  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Cincinnati Reds right fielder Ken Griffey Jr. had to leave Wednesday night's game against the Chicago Cubs in the eighth inning after straining his lower abdomen as he tried to make a throw to the infield.

Sox bats silent in loss to Jays  —  AL East lead cut to 1 1/2 games after sweep by Toronto  —  TORONTO — The Red Sox lost their way North of the Border, getting swept right off the carpet at Rogers Centre.  The capper of this disappointing three-game series against the Blue Jays …

Pettitte gets 200, Yanks close in on Sox  —  NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte stayed strong into the eighth inning to log his 200th career win and help the Yankees get a series sweep of the Orioles on Wednesday, securing a 2-1 victory and gaining important ground on October.

Pujols' season might be over  —  Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols concedes his season may be over barring improvement in a strained left calf that forced him from the lineup shortly before Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies and left him to hobble to first base after a late-inning pinch-hit appearance.

Notes: Washington wants Sosa back  —  Hunter interested in the Rangers; Blalock reports improvement  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Add Sammy Sosa to manager Ron Washington's wish list for 2008.  —  Sosa, who is finishing the season as a part-time player, has said that he wants to keep playing for the Rangers in 2008 …

A-ROD'S CLUTCH SHOWING WEAR  —  Signs of Fall are everywhere.  The temperature has dipped, leaves are beginning to change colors and Alex Rodriguez looks tighter than Britney Spears' pants.  —  The Yankee third baseman went 0-for-4 last night, making him 3-for-29 in his last eight games.

Skip Caray back in Braves booth  —  Heart problems had sidelined broadcaster  —  Longtime Braves broadcaster Skip Caray returned to the broadcast booth this week after missing several weeks recovering from congestive heart failure.  —  Caray, 68, who also suffers from diabetes, spent eight days in Piedmont Hospital.

Baseball's cheaters: It's not hard to see why they do it  —  Another one bites the dust and this time it's a Blue Jay: Troy Glaus. … Senator George Mitchell has 45 players he'd like to interview.  We have affidavits from Jason Grimsley and Kirk Radomski that name names.

Arizona beats Giants, keeps 1-game lead  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Doug Davis appears to be running out of gas.  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks aren't.  —  Conor Jackson homered and Chris Snyder had three hits and three RBIs, and the Diamondbacks defeated San Francisco 6-4 on Wednesday night.

Joe Torre hopes Willie Randolph can manage down stretch  —  Eventually the day will come when Joe from Westchester will ring Willie in New Jersey and they'll share a good laugh.  Maybe they'll kvetch a bit about their mistress' many moods, how she's managed to turn both men's stomachs into mush for good chunks of the summer.

Derek Jeter continues on torrid hitting streak  —  Derek Jeter started last week's road trip with three hits in 23 at-bats, his sore right knee seeming to stifle him at the plate.  That no longer appears to be an issue, as the captain has four consecutive multi-hit games …

Colorado 6, LA Dodgers 5  —  DENVER (AP) — Another night, another curtain call.  —  Brad Hawpe sheepishly poked his head out of the dugout and waved to the crowd after hitting a two-run homer in the eighth as Colorado rallied for a 6-5 win over Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

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 …