Berkman talks hit a speed bump  —  • The Cardinals and pending free agent first baseman Lance Berkman remain engaged in talks regarding a one-year contract.  After the talks showed initial signs of promise, an agreement remains elusive because of a difference of opinion over its worth …

Mariano Rivera always a cutter above the rest, Yankees closer and class act basks in own glory  —  In the joyous aftermath of freezing a 23-year-old September call-up named Chris Parmelee for a called third strike to seal his record-breaking 602nd save, Mariano Rivera stood alone …

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.

Kennedy Wins 20th, Diamondbacks Beat Pirates 1-0  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Ian Kennedy pitched eight dominant innings to become the NL's first 20-game winner, Justin Upton hit a broken-bat homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks moved a step closer to their first NL West title in four years with a 1- victory …

Boston splits set with Orioles; wild-card lead at two games  —  BOSTON — Jacoby Ellsbury hit an inside-the-park homer and Conor Jackson added a grand slam to cap a much-needed offensive outburst that helped the Boston Red Sox split their doubleheader with the Baltimore Orioles on Monday and stop …

Defensive Letdowns Prove Costly for Angels in Loss  —  TORONTO (AP) — After two costly mistakes, the Los Angeles Angels needed a perfect play to save the game.  For once, their typically sparkling defense wasn't up to the task.  —  Adam Lind drove in the winning run with a grounder …

His pitchers decision: They shouldn't win MVP award  —  It's a “you wanna step outside?” issue in Detroit.  The Big Meanies out there in the Great Beyond are going to deprive Justin Verlander of his rightful American League Most Valuable Player award.  —  The Tigers righthander has been the best pitcher in baseball this year.

No second-guessing for Werth after hard year  —  Outfielder confident Nationals — and his bat — are on right path  —  WASHINGTON — When October comes around, outfielder Jayson Werth will not be playing in the postseason for the first time since 2006, when he was a member of the Dodgers and missed the entire season due to injury.

Mariners add Joe McIlvaine to front office  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Former major league general manager Joe McIlvaine was hired as a special assistant to Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik on Monday.  —  The Mariners announced the move in Seattle, shortly after beating the Cleveland Indians 12-6 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Luebke Takes No-No Into 6th, Padres Beat Rockies  —  DENVER (AP) — Cory Luebke took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Cameron Maybin and Aaron Cunningham homered and the San Diego Padres beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 8-2 Monday night.  —  Mark Ellis homered for Colorado's only hit of the game.