Instant replay to begin in series starting Thursday  —  MLB Instant Replay To Start On Thursday  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball reversed its long-standing opposition to instant replay and will allow umpires to check video on home run calls in series that start Thursday.

Game 131: Red Sox at Yankees  —  YANKEES (70-60)  —  RED SOX (75-55)  —  Andy Pettitte (13-9, 4.17) vs. the Boston hitters.  —  Tim Wakefield (7-8, 3.67) vs. the New York hitters.  —  Notes: The Yankees have won three straight, four of five and six of the last eight. ...

Red Sox acquire Kotsay from Braves  —  NEW YORK - The Boston Red Sox acquired outfielder Mark Kotsay from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night pending a physical, according to a baseball source with knowledge of the deal.  The Braves will receive a minor-league pitcher in return.

Dodgers can't get it by Zimmerman, lose to Nationals  —  Washington's Emilio Bonifacio lands on the Dodgers' Russell Martin after throwing to first to complete a double play in the second inning Tuesday night in Washington.  The Nationals completed four double plays to help hold off the Dodgers, 2-1.

Lamb's bat won't be silent for long  —  Look for third baseman Mike Lamb, designated for assignment Monday by Minnesota, to land somewhere.  Lamb could be a good fit for a few National League contenders looking for a left-handed bat off the bench.  —  The Twins signed Lamb to a two-year …

Kenny Rogers placed on waivers, could be traded soon  —  His experience in postseason is a plus  —  If a trade involving Tigers left-hander Kenny Rogers is going to happen before the end of this season, it likely will occur within the next several days.  —  The deadline to set postseason rosters …

Morrow's first start for M's will be against Yankees  —  Brandon Morrow, who pitched Tuesday night for Triple-A Tacoma as part of the Mariners' quest to make him a starting pitcher, will get one more start early next week.  —  After that, the Mariners will be able to promote him thanks to roster expansion …

Report: With Maine on DL, Mets may call up Niese  —  NEW YORK — With John Maine back on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, the New York Mets are reportedly eyeing their farm system for pitching help.  —  Newsday reported that the Mets are preparing to call up top pitching prospect Jon Niese …

Fuentes on bereavement list; Register called up  —  Willy Taveras discussed the standings, and made a proclamation.  —  “We are still in the race,” said Taveras today as the Rockies play the San Francisco Giants while trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by seven games in the National League West.

Orioles drop fifth straight  —  Burres allows five earned runs and 10 hits in return from Norfolk; Mount St. Joseph's grad Floyd pitches eight innings of four-hit ball for White Sox  —  Gavin Floyd pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, Nick Swisher homered, and the Chicago White Sox handed …

From the Basement, It's No Wonder Radio Reception Is Poor  —  Ah, the dog days of summer.  Time to kick back, relax on the porch with a tall glass of lemonade and listen to the quintessential sound of the season: the ballgame on the radio.  —  These days, however, hardly anyone's tuning in.

Marlins face costly offseason with 18 players eligible for arbitration  —  When it comes to stretching a dollar, the Marlins are pretty much the kings of Major League Baseball.  —  Yet their vaunted front office will have trouble making all (or even most) of the pieces fit this winter.  —  Eighteen.

Fukudome still making progress  —  PITTSBURGH —Just like that, Kosuke Fukudome might be on his way back to becoming an every-day fixture in the Cubs' lineup.  —  And if manager Lou Piniella has his way, back to the No. 5 spot in the order.  —  Just one day after Piniella …