Lester dominates in Seattle; Ramirez lectured by traffic cop  —  The Boston fans in the crowd here, and there were thousands of them at Safeco Field tonight, erupt as Jonathan Papelbon and company jog back to the dugout after ending a wild eighth inning.  Seattle loaded the bases …

Harper: For Posada, time to go to knife  —  He was doing his best to sound optimistic and committed to helping his team as a DH and first baseman, but the more you listened to Jorge Posada at his locker Monday, the more you came away thinking we have seen the last of him in 2008.

Commentary: Season Heating Up, Phils Cooling Off  —  So tonight begins a three-game series with the Mets.  First place is on the line tonight and all week.  —  Tonight is also game 100.  The Phillies sit at 53-46, a very borderline good team.  Though their run differential stands at a stout +75, you wouldn't know it.

Marlins Notebook: VandenHurk's return could last two starts  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Right-hander Rick VandenHurk's first stint in the Marlins' rotation this season lasted two starts.  His second one might be just as short, but he's not complaining.  —  VandenHurk was called …

SUNBLOCKHEADS AT THE STADIUM  —  YANKS TAKE HEAT OVER BIZARRE BAN  —  Ladies and gentlemen, The Bronx is sunburning.  —  Yankee fans are seeing - and turning - red over a ban on sunscreen, which Stadium security guards say was widely expanded in the last few weeks.

Trading Tex not as simple as some think  —  Raise you hands if you thought that on July 21, the Braves would be opening this series in Florida with the Marlins playing for a share of first place and the Braves contemplating trading away a star this late in the season for the first time since …

Markakis, O's talk deal, back off  —  The Orioles and standout right fielder Nick Markakis engaged in negotiations for a contract extension in the past week, but those discussions halted yesterday and likely will not be rekindled until after the season, several baseball sources said.

Rodriguez Signs With Hollywood Talent Agency  —  LOS ANGELES — The William Morris Agency bolstered its sports management business Monday by signing Alex Rodriguez as a client.  The New York Yankees star and frequent tabloid piñata will continue to use Scott Boras as his baseball agent and Guy Oseary as his manager.

Astros in discussions to acquire Padres LHP Wolf … The Houston Astros are engaged in serious discussions to acquire veteran left-hander Randy Wolf of the San Diego Padres.  —  Wolf, 31, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA this season.  He began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies …

Pedroia has become a safe bet  —  SEATTLE - Maybe we should overreact and just say that Dustin Pedroia is morphing into Boston's Pete Rose.  —  That's Pete Rose - without the switch hitting, without the boys' regular haircut, without the betting slips.  —  Pedroia has emerged as a second baseman …

K-Rod May Be Baseball's First 60-Save Man  —  Francisco Rodriguez helped his Los Angeles Angels polish off a sweep of Boston with his 40th save on Sunday, which is pretty impressive even if you're not the sort to be impressed by any achievement involving the worst statistic in baseball.

Dodgers' Kershaw to be recalled and start tonight  —  The top pitching prospect is expected to stay in the majors for the rest of the season, Manager Joe Torre says.  He had two wins for double-A Jacksonville after being sent down July 2.  —  DENVER — Top pitching prospect Clayton Kershaw …

Nats Hoping Zimmerman Provides Boost  —  Only Ryan Zimmerman's return can finally fill the void he created some eight weeks ago.  Sure, when Zimmerman suffered a left shoulder injury May 18 — and when he vacated the Washington Nationals' lineup for good after May 25, in a prolonged attempt to recover …

Tradewinds: Cost of Holliday would be expensive for N.Y. Mets  —  PLAYER OF THE DAY  —  MATT HOLLIDAY, Rockies OF  —  He could be the star of this year's deadline, much the way Mark Teixeira was last year.  Or he could stay put.  The Rockies' run to the World Series last year has them cautious …