Fan injured, 17 ejected in minor league brawl  —  DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Umpires ejected 15 players and the two managers following a bench-clearing brawl during a tense game between the Midwest League's Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs.  —  Peoria pitcher Julio Castillo threw a ball toward …

The Mill  —  Early Churning … - While Tigers fans are talking comeback, the Tigers themselves have about a week to decide if that's actually going to happen.  There are rumblings from outside the organization that the Tigers are starting to make calls about some of their players to determine …

Bonds, trades among topics at Yankees' meetings  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Barry Bonds in pinstripes?  If nothing else, the New York Yankees talked about it.  —  High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring training complex Thursday, a day off for the team before it begins …

Rollins has to set better example if he wants to be leader for Phillies  —  NEW YORK - They cannot take away the Most Valuable Player  —  trophy that Jimmy Rollins won last year.  It was earned and deserved.  He and the Phillies' 2007 division championship were both special and specially intertwined …

Yankees could seek help behind plate  —  With Posada hurting, Bombers need more offense at catcher  —  The Yankees are back where they expected to be, in the thick of a pennant race.  —  And with that comes the requisite roster reflection, heightened by the Trade Deadline that is ticking away …

Ortiz will bring punch to the party  —  The most telling aspect of David Ortiz's absence from the Red Sox lineup is that by any meaningful measure, the team's offense did not lose any of its potency.  —  To a man, of course, the Sox are thrilled at the timing of the return of Ortiz …

Delgado's big hit lifts Mets into first place  —  The Mets' David Wright pumps his fist after he and Robinson Cancel, left, scored on Carlos Delgado's tiebreaking two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.  (Newsday / Kathy Kmonicek / July 24, 2008)  —  The chants were heard on the ramps …

Mets may have filled Saturday slot  —  In Pedro's absence, Knight appears likely to step in and start  —  NEW YORK — With Pedro Martinez back in the Dominican Republic, grieving the loss of his father, Pablo, the Mets on Thursday set about the business of determining who his replacement might be.

Yankees on roll & ready to rock  —  It is, by definition, an occasion when the Yankees play at Fenway, rife with meaning, feeling and its own brand of drama.  And the series that begins Friday night, in particular, holds, “Implications for what could happen, who makes the playoffs or what not,” says Johnny Damon.

Kennedy falls just short of no-no  —  Yanks prospect no-hits Braves through 6 2/3 innings  —  The long road back to the Bronx might have gotten shorter for Ian Kennedy on Thursday.  —  Kennedy struck out seven and fell one out shy of a no-hitter as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees topped …

Playoffs grasp may exceed Texas Rangers' reach this season  —  No one inside the organization is willing to concede that 2008 won't be a playoff year for the Texas Rangers.  —  Maybe they should.  —  Despite a 52-50 record, the Rangers would seem to be playoff long shots at best.

Brewers not pursuing Sherrill  —  I've seen a lot of national reports in recent days that indicate the Brewers are interested in trading for Baltimore closer George Sherrill, so I called general manager Doug Melvin to see what's going on.  —  Melvin said he has not engaged the Orioles …

Orioles honor 1983 World Series team  —  Players reminisce about memorable championship season  —  BALTIMORE — It was an event 25 years in the making, a celebration designed to honor one of Baltimore's finest moments.  The Orioles staged a full-fledged reunion of their 1983 World Series title team …

Report: Mavs' Cuban among finalists to buy Cubs  —  NEW YORK — Tribune Co. is inviting at least three potential buyers who each submitted bids for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field near or above $1 billion to participate in a second round of proposals, according to a person involved in the process.

Braun's 4 hits, HR in 9th lift Brewers  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers are on quite a roll.  —  The left fielder hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to cap his second straight four-hit game and lift Milwaukee to a 4-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, the Brewers' eighth straight win.