Wright, Santana lead Mets' 4-2 win over Braves  —  ATLANTA—David Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and the New York Mets snapped the Atlanta Braves' five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory Thursday night.  —  The Mets, who had dropped three straight …

Derek and the Dominoes  —  There have been worse years for Hall of Famers* — as you will see below — but perhaps the most famous terrible Hall of Fame season belongs to Cal Ripken in 2001. … Sorry for the interlude there.  Back to Cal. Ripken's 2001 season is famous because he announced …

Utley has six RBIs as Phillies tighten NL East race  —  DENVER (AP) — The blurry-eyed Philadelphia Phillies didn't mind that they wouldn't get a lot of shuteye after making their one-night stopover in Denver so worthwhile.  —  Chase Utley drove in six runs and hit a grand slam to cap …

New curriculum for former LSU standout  —  The Red Sox invested $2.55 million to sign Anthony Ranaudo last month.  Only seven players in the June draft received more.  But the last thing the Sox want the righthander out of Louisiana State to do now is pitch.

Choo drives in 5 to power Indians  —  SEATTLE—Shin-Soo Choo drove in five runs with a bases-loaded double and a two-run home run to give the Cleveland Indians a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.  —  Choo, traded to the Indians by Seattle in 2006, hit a 3-1 fastball from Doug Fister …

Twins stumble late, fall to Tigers in 13 innings  —  Minnesota depletes bullpen in finale against Detroit  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before Thursday's series finale against the Tigers that he would like to add at least another player through September callups due to the team's growing list of injuries.

With Jocketty at Controls, Red Machine Being Rebuilt  —  ST. LOUIS — Tony La Russa had just landed here Wednesday night after a dreary road trip that pushed his St. Louis Cardinals eight games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the standings.  It was a bitter disappointment for La Russa …

Johan Santana and His Strained Pectoral Muscle  —  Last night, Johan Santana allowed just a run on three hits in five innings, but left at that point with a strained pectoral muscle.  —  Santana threw just 65 pitches.  —  After last night's game, Jerry Manuel told reporters …

Bautista, Buchholz awarded American League August honors  —  Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista and Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Clay Buchholz have been voted the American League Player and Pitcher of the Month, respectively, for August.  —  Bautista led the A.L. in home runs …

Phillies Notes: Phillies reliever Durbin ponders future with team  —  DENVER - Chad Durbin won't tiptoe around the fact he is a free agent at the end of this season.  The righthander says he keeps his focus on the task at hand - making the postseason for a fourth straight season …

Alex Rodriguez using Pittsburgh attorney, not Scott Boras, as legal representative  —  It's possible Alex Rodriguez won't need another baseball contract negotiated on his behalf, but for now, he has abandoned powerful agent Scott Boras and retained Pittsburgh sports attorney Jay Reisinger and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp.