Padres acquire OF Lane from Astros  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Needing a fast fix in their injury-depleted outfield, the San Diego Padres acquired Jason Lane from the Houston Astros on Monday for a player to be named or cash.  —  Lane was expected to join the club Tuesday …

Mets fall to Nats, lead down to 2 games  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets wanted to get off to a fast start on their season-ending homestand.  —  By the end of the night, they just wanted to move on.  —  The Mets squandered a chance to widen their lead in the NL East as Austin Kearns hit …

Yankees Rookies Dress Up in Oz Costumes  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Joba Chamberlain raised his oversized paws, shook his shaggy brown mane and let out a feeble roar.  Looking and acting every bit the Cowardly Lion, the big reliever was ready for a scrap Monday.  —  "Put 'em up!

Even With Wins, Mets Make Rooting Hard  —  If the Mets have had a better-timed three-game win streak in the last 10 years than the one they enjoyed over the weekend, I can't recall it.  Nor can I recall at any time the Mets looking so unconvincing while winning three games, which they needed to win very badly.

Buehrle shut down after killing bear  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The deal was if Mark Buehrle got his bear, he was out of the starting rotation for the rest of the season.  —  Saturday night, the White Sox left-hander kept up his end of the bargain.  —  Buehrle went bear hunting in northern Minnesota …

Free-agent Feliz looks for multiyear contract  —  (09-23) 19:46 PDT San Francisco — With all due respect, if Pedro Feliz returns to the Giants in 2008, he'd like a multiyear contract.  Feliz was a free agent for the first time last winter and preferred a one-year deal …

Principles Keep Father From Seeing Alou Play  —  The father thought about driving here to see the son play baseball for the Mets.  It would be a 45-minute trip from the father's home in Boynton Beach.  Add another 15 minutes if there was traffic, he said.  He could see a son …

MLB shatters attendance mark with week to go  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball set a record for total attendance and is on track to break its mark for average attendance.  —  With one week left in the regular season, major league teams drew 76,215,082, the commissioner's office said Monday, topping last year's 76,042,787.

A's pick up options on Bob Geren and Mark Ellis  —  BOSTON — The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has picked up the options on the contracts of manager Bob Geren and second baseman Mark Ellis for the 2009 and 2008 seasons, respectively.  —  Geren, 46, was named the 28th manager …

Whicker column: Can't pin failure on Dodgers' youth  —  It would be easier to dissect what Jeff Kent really thinks if it were possible to decipher exactly what he said.  —  Nevertheless, Kent's lament in Denver last Thursday seemed to indicate he felt the Dodgers weren't served well by their young players.

Cards' Mulder, Molina have surgery; Pujols starts  —  ST. LOUIS — On the same day that the Cardinals officially lost two key players to season-ending surgery, they did welcome Albert Pujols back to the starting lineup.  —  Catcher Yadier Molina and pitcher Mark Mulder had season-ending surgery on Monday.

Cubs aim to wrap up playoff spot on trip  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Lou Piniella called upon decades of baseball knowledge when the Chicago Cubs were scuffling for the first two months.  He watched intently, took mental notes and then started swapping out the parts.  —  Finally, he used some theatrics to literally kick-start his team.

MUSSINA: THE 'RULES' HAVE GOT TO GO  —  THE Joba Rules morphed closer toward the Joba Suggestions yesterday.  However, if they do not evolve further for the playoffs to allow the righty to work whenever needed, they just might unleash the Chamberlain Conflict within the Yankees' organization.

Trying to get back in swing  —  Ramírez, Youkilis are slated for BP  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - There is no game scheduled today for the Red Sox, but it won't be an offday for everyone.  Manager Terry Francona said Kevin Youkilis and Manny Ramírez will come out to Fenway Park today to take batting practice.