Epstein's blunders paved way for Boston's collapse  —  It is difficult to figure out the proper spelling of how a choke sounds.  Is it ggggaaahhh?  Or ccccccchhhhh?  Maybe aaaaaack?  In lieu of a proper answer, perhaps it's best to go with something anyone can spell and on which everyone should agree: B-O-S-T-O-N.

As goes Vernon Wells, so goes Vernon Wells' Twitter account  —  Last night, I stumbled across Vernon Wells' “too blessed to be stressed” tweet.  It was a relic from a simpler, more optimistic time, when no matter how badly Vernon Wells was hitting we could reassure ourselves that the sample size …

Lohse outpitches Halladay, Cards gain ground  —  PHILADELPHIA—Kyle Lohse outpitched Roy Halladay, and the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Monday night to gain ground on Atlanta in the NL wild-card chase.  —  Lance Berkman homered and had an RBI single …

Yankees' Rivera sets MLB mark with 602nd save  —  NEW YORK — It's been said again and again over his 16-year career.  And now it's official: Mariano Rivera is the top closer in baseball history.  —  Rivera  —  The seemingly ageless right-hander recorded his 602nd career save on Monday …

Kerry Wood out for 2011, may retire … CHICAGO — Cubs relief pitcher Kerry Wood said he has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season, and he said if the Cubs aren't interested in bringing him back next season he'll retire.  —  “I'm not going to play anywhere else,” Wood said.

Lind Drives in Winner in 10th, Jays Beat Angels  —  TORONTO (AP) — Adam Lind drove in the winning run with a grounder in the 10th inning and the Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Monday night before a tiny crowd in Toronto.  —  Torii Hunter and Mark Trumbo homered for the Angels …

The current favorites for Fielder … Brewers star first baseman Prince Fielder is generally considered one of the three mega free agents of the 2011-12 offseason, along with Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.  But so far Fielder's impending free agency hasn't garnered quite the publicity as the other two.

Carp's 5 RBIs Lead Mariners Past Indians 12-6  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Carp hit a grand slam into the second deck in right field and drove in five runs during Seattle's nine-run third inning, leading the Mariners to a rain-shortened 12-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

Soto's two homers lead Cubs to win over Brewers  —  CHICAGO — Geovany Soto hit two two-run homers and drove in all the Chicago Cubs' runs in a 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.  —  The loss and the St. Louis Cardinals' win over Philadelphia kept the Brewers' magic number for clinching the NL Central at four.

Agent: Giants could be in mix for Carlos Beltran  —  OAKLAND, Calif.—Agent Scott Boras says slugger Carlos Beltran is happy playing in San Francisco and might consider returning to the Giants beyond this season.  —  Boras plans to have lunch with his client on Tuesday in Los Angeles …

Braves Lose Heartbreaker Against Marlins, 6-5  —  MIAMI (AP) — The sliding Atlanta Braves stumbled again Monday night, losing 6-5 to the Florida Marlins on Omar Infante's game-ending two-run homer.  —  Atlanta now has dropped three of four, and its NL wild-card lead is down to 2½ games …

Despite injuries, bullpen keeps Giants in playoff contention  —  LOS ANGELES — Sergio Romo, the Giants' terrier-sized right-hander, shows no fear when he takes the mound.  But there's one job he doesn't want.  —  “Let's just say I'm glad I'm not the GM,” Romo said.  “I wouldn't want to make those decisions.