The 31-year-old Gibbons hit 121 home runs during eight seasons with the Orioles, but a power drop in recent years, capped by an awful 2007 in which Gibbons hit .230 with six homers and 28 runs batted in 84 games, led the Orioles to release him in March.

Gibbons was one of the players mentioned in former Sen. George Mitchell's report on performance-enhancing drugs that was released in December, and he later admitted to using human growth hormone to help his recovery from a wrist injury.

A career .260 hitter, Gibbons hit as high as .277 three times, and drove in 100 runs in 2003, when he clubbed 23 homers. His career high for homers in a season is 26 in 2005, but he only hit 13 in 2006. The Orioles signed him to a lucrative deal that pays him nearly $12 million per season this year and next, but still released him in March.

Unable to catch on with any major league team this year, Gibbons even resorted to sending letters to nearly every team in the league, pleading his case and requesting a chance. The Brewers finally came calling.

Gibbons will start at Double-A Huntsville, and is expected to be promoted to Triple-A Nashville within the next two weeks. He could be a September call-up for the big league club.

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The Bombers placed Posada on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday with pain in his right shoulder.

The five-time All-Star had an MRI on the shoulder Tuesday and it was revealed that his right labrum is deteriorating and will require surgery. However, Posada has apparently chosen to see if he can continue playing this season as a first baseman or designated hitter because the injury does not affect his swing.

Since six months of rehab is expected in problems of that type following a procedure, Posada is aiming to return to the club and be productive without missing time next season. New York might not have Hideki Matsui for the remainder of the campaign and having Posada's bat in the lineup might be key down the stretch.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman are expected to meet with Posada in the next two weeks to discuss the correct way to proceed.

Posada, who had never been on the DL in his career prior to 2008, spent 32 games on the shelf earlier this season with right rotator cuff tendinitis. When he returned he was unable to make routine throws without feeling pain in his shoulder.

The 36-year-old is batting .268 this season with three homers and 22 runs batted in while playing only 51 games. Posada has appeared in at least 110 games every season since 1998 and has been one of the most prolific offensive catchers in recent history.

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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Childress, 25, turned down a five-year, $33 million offer from the Hawks to sign a three-year deal overseas. The paper did not have the exact terms of the deal, but did say that it is worth much more than the $20 million that was initially reported.

The deal is the richest in Euroleague history, according to the paper, and will leave the Hawks without their sixth man. The Stanford product averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds in 29.9 minutes per game for the Hawks last season, and has averages of 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in four seasons with the club.

Childress was a restricted free agent, which gave the Hawks the right to match any contract offer by another NBA team, but has no such guarantees with contract offers from other leagues. There is no salary cap for European teams.

According to the paper Childress, drafted sixth overall by the Hawks in 2004, has the right to opt out after each year of his deal, allowing him to leave and return to the NBA.

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Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Candace Parker scored a game-high 21 points, as the Los Angeles Sparks snapped a six-game losing streak on the road, edging the Detroit Shock 84-81 in a contest marred by a late-game brawl.

DeLisha Milton-Jones added 19 points while Shannon Bobbitt hit three of four from beyond the arc and dished out a game-high six assists for Los Angeles, which won for just the second time in its last six games.

Katie Smith led the Shock with 20 points while Cheryl Ford contributed 13 points and nine boards for Detroit, which suffered its second consecutive home defeat after going 10-0 to start the season at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The game was overshadowed, however, by an incident in the closing seconds that involved a collision between the Sparks' Parker and Detroit's Plenette Pierson. A shoving match ensued with players and coaches from both teams leaving the bench. When the dust settled, Parker, Milton-Jones, Pierson and Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn had been ejected while Ford was taken from the floor in a wheelchair with an undisclosed injury.

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Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Forward LeBron James suffered a mild right ankle sprain in practice with the 2008 USA Basketball Men's Senior National team on Tuesday.

During the session at Valley High School, James rolled his ankle on Kevin Durant's foot, according to a report in the Las Vegas Sun. The team's trainer, Keith Jones, called it a mild sprain, according to the report.

The team is scheduled to play the Canadian National Team on Friday in an exhibition game.

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Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, as the New York Yankees crushed the Minnesota Twins, 8-2, in the middle duel of a three-game set from Yankee Stadium.

Derek Jeter drove in two runs for the Yankees, who have won five straight overall and nine in a row at home; NY had not won nine straight in the Bronx since May 2005. Robinson Cano went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, as he now has five straight multi-hit games. Jason Giambi was responsible for driving in the other NY run.

Darrell Rasner lasted 5 2/3 frames and yielded just two runs on four hits. David Robertson (2-0) got the win despite recording only the final out in the sixth inning.

Jason Kubel recorded the only RBI for the Twins, who have dropped three straight and 4-of-6 overall. Carlos Gomez had a double, which was the only extra-base hit for Minnesota.

Kevin Slowey (6-7) was dealt the loss as he gave up four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

The Yankees jumped on top, 1-0, in the second inning. Alex Rodriguez led off the frame with a double to right and moved to third as Giambi grounded out. Cano then laced a single to right, which scored Rodriguez.

The Twins took a 2-1 lead in the sixth. Gomez led off the inning with a double to left field. Denard Span then hit a slow roller towards Cano, who rushed a throw that Giambi missed, allowing Gomez to cross home plate.

Alexi Casilla kept it going with a single and Joe Mauer grounded into a force before Justin Morneau worked a walk to load the bases. Kubel grounded to Giambi, who threw to Jeter to get the out at second, but the throw to first for the double play was late and the run scored.

Johnny Damon led off the home sixth with a single and, after Jeter flied out, Abreu crushed a long homer to right. Rodriguez kept it going with a single that chased Slowey in favor of Dennys Reyes. Giambi worked a walk and Cano followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2.

NY tacked on some more runs in the seventh. Brett Gardner worked a walk and Damon reached as Brian Buscher couldn't field his slow-roller. Jeter then laced a two-run double down the left field line and came around as Abreu followed with a double.

Brian Bass was then called on in relief and got Rodriguez to ground out. Giambi, though, slugged an RBI single back up the middle and it was 8-2.

Game Notes

New York moved a season-high 10 games over .500 and sits 3 1/2 games behind the Rays for the top spot in the AL East. Tampa Bay fell 8-1 to Oakland on Tuesday...The Yankees have won four of their six matchups with the Twins this year, and hold a 9-4 advantage in the series since the start of last season...Minnesota has dropped 18 of its last 21 trips to the Bronx and have lost seven consecutive series at Yankee Stadium.

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Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Ubaldo Jimenez allowed one run in a complete game, while Ian Stewart went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in, as Colorado blasted Los Angeles, 10-1, in the second of three games with the Dodgers.

Jimenez (6-9) gave up just four hits and two walks, and struck out four in his nine innings of work to pick up the first complete game of his career. Jimenez has also won three of his last four starts.

The Rockies' starter was helped out by an offense that has scored in double- digits for the past three games. Colorado did lose, 16-10, to the Dodgers on Monday in the series opener, but have scored 48 runs in the six games since the end of the All-Star break.

Brad Hawpe finished 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, while Jeff Baker went 4- for-5 and batted in a run for the Rockies, who have won five of six.

Los Angeles prospect Clayton Kershaw (0-3) was called up from Double-A Jacksonville to start, but did not fare well. The seventh overall pick of the 2006 draft, Kershaw gave up five runs on 10 hits in three-plus innings of work.

Matt Kemp homered off Jimenez in the ninth inning to ruin a shutout, but the Dodgers didn't manage much offense and had a two-game win streak halted.

Hawpe belted a solo shot in the second to get the Rockies on the scoreboard, and Colorado added on with four runs in the third. After Baker and Matt Holliday each singled with one out, Garrett Atkins walked to load the bases. Chris Iannetta then punched a single to right to plate two runs, and went to second base on a Kemp fielding error.

Hawpe struck out, but Troy Tulowitzki was issued a free pass to load the bases again. Stewart followed with a single to push two more runs across for a 5-0 Colorado lead. Stewart's solo homer in the fifth, off Jason Johnson, gave the club a six-run cushion.

The Rockies scored four more times in the eighth to turn the game into a blowout. Baker singled off Ramon Troncoso to drive in Willy Taveras, who led off with single.

After Holliday doubled to put runners in scoring position, Atkins singled to plate Baker. Holliday later scored on a Hawpe single, and Stewart made it a 10-0 game with a sacrifice fly.

Jimenez, meanwhile, mostly cruised through the first eight innings, but gave up a leadoff shot to Kemp in the ninth before finishing the game.

Game Notes

The Rockies have scored a major league-best 118 runs in July...Los Angeles shortstop Nomar Garciaparra is batting .435 (10-for-23) over his last six games with three doubles, two home runs and five RBI...In a stint with the Dodgers earlier this season, Kershaw made eight starts, posting an 0-2 record with a 4.42 earned run average.

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London, England (Sports Network) - Undefeated English star Joe Calzaghe reportedly injured his right hand training for his scheduled September 20 bout with Roy Jones Jr., postponing the much anticipated battle of aging legends.

The fight, to take place in Madison Square Garden, is likely to be rescheduled for November, according to British newspaper The Guardian.

Calzaghe's The Ring Magazine light-heavyweight title will be on the line when the two hook up.

The 36-year-old Calzaghe, who boasts a 45-0 professional record and has owned the WBO super middleweight title since October 1997, surrendered his WBC super middleweight belt to take the match with Jones. He still holds the WBO and WBA titles at super middleweight, but moved up to light-heavyweight in April and defeated Bernard Hopkins by split decision.

Jones, 39, has been a champion in four different weight classes and previously held the light-heavyweight title for seven different organizations.

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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer and the Marlins pitching staff combined on a one-hitter, as Florida defeated Atlanta, 4-0, in the middle contest of a three-game set.

Jacobs was 2-for-3 in the win while John Baker recorded the other RBI with a bases-loaded walk for Florida, which has won three of its last four.

Rick VandenHurk (1-1) did not allow a hit or a run, but issued five walks in accumulating 94 pitches, and was pulled after five innings of work. The lanky right-hander struck out seven in his first start since April 6.

Joe Nelson threw a scoreless inning and allowed Atlanta's only hit, while Renyel Pinto shut down the Braves for two innings and Matt Lindstrom completed the one-hit effort for the Marlins staff with a perfect ninth.

"It's a big win," Nelson said. "If we score four (runs) we usually have a pretty good chance (to win) especially the way the starters are throwing now. I'm bummed I gave up the hit, believe me, none of these guys are going to let me forget it. It's still a one-hit shutout, so we'll take it."

Charlie Morton (2-3) pitched relatively well but was stung by the three-run homer from Jacobs. He gave up four runs on only two hits and four walks through 5 2/3 frames. The right-hander struck out five in the loss.

"The guys are going good job, it's just one pitch, but it's one pitch that cost the game," Morton said of Jacobs' home run. "So when I grade myself, I just take it as a loss and I didn't pitch well enough to win."

Chipper Jones had the only hit for Atlanta, which has dropped three of four.

VandenHurk started the fourth by walking the bases full but battled back to get Jeff Francoeur and Kelly Johnson swinging before Mark Kotsay popped up to end the inning.

"We didn't get the job done in the inning we had the biggest chance," Johnson said of the Braves chances in the fourth. "After that, I think the momentum swung a little bit with the home run and the next thing you know you're down three nothing and just fighting to get on the board in the hit column."

Jacobs made the Braves pay in the home half, blasting a three-run homer out to the seats in right. Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla worked a free pass each prior to Jacobs' at-bat.

In the sixth, Morton walked Josh Willingham but retired Uggla on a fly out for the second out and Royce Ring entered to face Jacobs. Jacobs beat out a wild throw from shortstop Yunel Escobar at first with both runners advancing. Ring issued an intentional free pass to Cody Ross and then an unintentional one to Baker, forcing in a run. Blaine Boyer came on to strike out pinch-hitter Wes Helms, limiting the damage.

Nelson allowed a single to Jones in the top of the sixth, but Atlanta's lineup didn't get another hit, or put another runner on base the rest of the game.

Game Notes

Atlanta leads the season series 6-5...Wednesday's series finale features Atlanta's Tim Hudson (10-7) and Florida's Ricky Nolasco (10-5)...Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox was suspended one game and fined an undisclosed amount of money for his inappropriate conduct and comments during Sunday's 15-6 blowout loss to the Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday. Cox sat out Tuesday's game...This was the Marlins ninth one-hitter in team history and fourth combined one-hitter...Hanley Ramirez snapped an 0-15 slide with a single. It was his longest hitless streak this season. This marked the 10th time Atlanta was shutout this season while Florida recorded its fifth shutout on the year.

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A story on the team's website on Tuesday said that an examination of Wagner's left shoulder revealed no structural damage, but that spasms in the muscles surrounding the joint had caused the tightness that the veteran lefty has felt.

Wagner experienced tightness in his left shoulder while recording the save in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds. Wagner, who has been bothered recently by discomfort in his left trapezius muscle, began to experience tightness while warming up on Sunday but still came on to strike out the side and earn his 24th save in 30 chances this season.

The Mets and the Phillies, tied atop the NL East, play three games in Flushing this week before the Cardinals come to town on Friday. Whether Wagner will be available for any of those games depends on how his shoulder feels each night.

Just three days short of his 37th birthday, Wagner is 0-1 with a 2.20 earned run average in 40 relief appearances this season. His 382 career saves rank him third among active pitchers behind Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera.

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