PADRES: Wolf sent to Astros for minor league pitcher  —  Towers insists that club won't initiate a fire sale  —  The Padres traded their second veteran player since the All-Star break on Tuesday, sending pitcher Randy Wolf to Houston for a minor-league pitcher.

Market shifts as deadline nears … The word is that the asking price for Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady has “loosened” a tad, and that Pittsburgh seems more interested than before in trading him.  —  The Pirates were said a couple weeks ago by the New York Post to be seeking “two top prospects” …

Colorado's trade price for Fuentes may be too high  —  The Rockies are playing an intriguing game of poker with closer Brian Fuentes.  The price is high, causing most interested teams — the Tampa Bay Rays, the New York Yankees and Mets, the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins — to consider other options.

Reliever Ziegler sets league scoreless mark  —  (07-23) 04:00 PDT St. Petersburg, Fla. — Brad Ziegler, Oakland's rookie submarine-style reliever, established an American League record for the longest scoreless streak at the start of a career, and the next inning, Carlos Peña almost brought the streak to an end.

Different approach at DH  —  Seattle (38-62) vs. Boston (59-43), Wednesday, 1:40 p.m. PT  —  SEATTLE — Most American League teams use the designated hitter position to stick a little more pop in their lineup.  David Ortiz of the visiting Boston Red Sox would be a prime example.

Red Sox looking to acquire Uribe in deal with Chicago  —  The Red Sox are deep in conversations with the White Sox on a trade that would send infielder Juan Uribe to Boston, according to sources.  —  Uribe is batting just .225 in limited playing time this season, but his three home runs …

Mets, Missing Leadership, Are Wise to Temper Joy  —  The Mets played their 100th game of the season Tuesday night.  —  Fittingly, they played No. 100 against their new nemesis — the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  Thanks, in large part to Philadelphia, the Mets became a national story last fall when they experienced a dramatic collapse.

Phils still shopping for pitching and hitting  —  NEW YORK - Maybe Pat Gillick was just being coy.  Or maybe he really doesn't pay attention to the rumor mill that seems to chug nonstop at this time of year.  —  (For the record, we believe that the Phillies' general manager was being coy.

Coonelly ‘frustrated’ with Alvarez talks  —  HOUSTON — Pirates president Frank Coonelly tonight described himself as “frustrated” by the pace of talks with first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez, marking the first time anyone on either side — including Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras — spoke publicly on the matter.

First things first for Buchholz  —  Right-hander looking to improve on early struggles  —  SEATTLE — When Clay Buchholz goes to the bullpen in the minutes leading into Wednesday afternoon's start against the Mariners, he will do so with a little bit of simulation in mind.

Braves' Jones leaves game with hamstring injury  —  MIAMI — Braves slugger Chipper Jones strained his left hamstring running out a ground ball in the fourth inning against Florida and left the game Wednesday night.  —  The third baseman grabbed the back of his thigh after crossing first base.

Game 101: Twins at Yankees  —  YANKEES (55-45)  —  Mike Mussina (12-6, 3.49) vs. the Minnesota hitters.  —  Glen Perkins (7-2, 3.84) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: Thanks to Brian Heyman for calling in the lineup. ...  The Yankees are trying for their third straight series sweep at home.

Note: I Don't Own Anything About It  —  As some of you know, my wife and I spent the last week traveling up the coast of California while on vacation.  —  While walking on a street in Beverly Hills, a man stepped in front of me, smoking a cigarette, pacing and swearing while ranting and raving on his cell phone.

Red Sox's Ramirez sits due to sore knee  —  SEATTLE (AP)—Manny Ramirez was out of Boston's lineup Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners with what his manager said was a sore knee.  —  “Just showed up this morning.  He just came in and said, ‘My right knee hurts,”’ manager Terry Francona …