A shot heard 'round Bronx  —  Randy takes epidural for back  —  The Yankees are taking a last shot - literally - at getting Randy Johnson ready to pitch in the postseason.  Johnson, the 43-year-old lefthander whose back has been bothering him for weeks, had an epidural yesterday …

Loewen takes mound at Fenway Park  —  Baltimore (69-91) at Boston (85-75), 7:05 p.m. ET  —  Two more games remain on Baltimore's schedule, and both of them are in Fenway Park.  The Orioles will play their penultimate game Saturday night, and they'll try to break the 70-win barrier for the fourth straight year.

Bring back Buck?  Rangers not sure  —  SEATTLE - Rangers owner Tom Hicks said in a phone interview Friday afternoon that there is a decision to be made on Buck Showalter's future as the team's manager.  Hicks reiterated that point later Friday on the [Randy] Galloway & Company radio show on ESPN/103.3 FM.

Padres-Diamondbacks Preview  —  The San Diego Padres are putting playoff tickets on sale for their fans Saturday morning.  They're still looking to book their own tickets to the postseason.  —  The Padres try again to clinch a postseason berth Saturday afternoon when they continue a four …

Sure sign that Mets are tired of Milledge's antics  —  WASHINGTON - KNOW YOUR PLACE, ROOK!  —  The hand-scrawled message hung above Lastings Milledge's locker after Friday's 4-3 victory over the Nationals.  At the bottom of the two sheets of paper was written, "Your Teammates."

Nationals call news conference  —  Manager Robinson reportedly will not return in 2007  —  WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals set up a news conference before Saturday's home game, and the Associated Press is reporting they were expected to announce Frank Robinson will not return as manager in 2007.

Mets squeeze past Nationals  —  Club continues its success in one-run contests this season  —  WASHINGTON — Define these Mets any way you choose — division winners, postseason participants, National League Division Series favorites, injury-diminished champions or New York's other team.

Manager sees bright future after pitcher's 1-hitter  —  BOSTON (AP) — One day after Daniel Cabrera ended his inconsistent season with a near no-hitter, Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo predicted a bright future for the 25-year-old right-hander — again.  —  "He's got a real good note to go home …

Mariners Notebook: Matthews a fine fit for Safeco  —  Rangers outfielder entering free agency off All-Star season  —  Years as a once top prospect-turned-journeyman has Gary Matthews Jr. rather mellow about his impending free agency.  —  The Texas Rangers center fielder …

Zito gets call in A's playoff opener  —  Loaiza is tabbed as the Game 2 starter, with Harden or Haren to follow in Game 3  —  ANAHEIM - From Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter in the 1970s, to Dave Stewart every time in the late '80s and early '90s, to Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson this decade …

New York Blues  —  There are other injuries in baseball, but in this final weekend of the regular season, there are just two that matter.  It's not East Coast bias; it's two playoff teams that have lost their aces in the final weekend.  Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez brought their teams this far …

Sabean says Bonds has to take a pay cut to stay  —  Giants notes  —  SAN FRANCISCO - While Giants general manager Brian Sabean didn't pound his fist on the table, he essentially declared that Barry Bonds must take a sizable pay cut to remain with the team in 2007.

Ask Paul Sullivan  —  The Tribune's Cubs writer files this season's final installment of answers to reader e-mail  —  I found your recent article "Cubs' roster needs radical surgery" very interesting.  My question is that you talk like Kerry Wood is a free agent who'll command a high-dollar contract in order to be signed.