Red Sox close out season against O's  —  Baltimore (69-90) at Boston (84-75), Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET  —  The grind that the Red Sox began in mid-February under the soothing sun in Fort Myers, Fla., will wind down this weekend at Fenway Park, when the Orioles come to town for a three-game series.

'Adrenaline' prompts Giles' quick return  —  PHOENIX - Padres right fielder Brian Giles, emboldened by the power of adrenaline, returned to the lineup last night, one day after a sprained right ankle caused him to miss just his fourth start of the season.  —  "I know with the meaning …

Yanks' Johnson has herniated disc, playoffs in doubt  —  NEW YORK — Yankees lefty Randy Johnson has a herniated disc in his lower back, an injury that could prevent him from pitching in the playoffs next week.  —  The injury was discovered during an MRI exam Thursday.

Mets Ignore Negatives and Hope They Go Away  —  The television stationed above John Maine was spouting gloom and doom.  No Pedro Martínez?  No ace?  No chance.  And so on.  Maine glanced up, rolled his eyes and dismissed the talk by spitting a stream of tobacco juice before focusing on a chess match in front of him.

Suzuki tells Mariners he's willing to play center next year  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Ichiro Suzuki is willing to play center field for the Seattle Mariners next year.  —  "He said he wants to play there, so that's good," manager Mike Hargrove said before Friday's game against Texas.

Santana silences A's in final start  —  Righty's seven scoreless innings cap impressive year  —  ANAHEIM — If only this string of games had meant something.  —  So strong was the belief they would be a factor at the end of the year, the entire clubhouse had circled the closing stretch …

More Players Are Taking the Train to the Game  —  To Heath Bell, the term "subway series" describes his life this season.  That's how he goes home after a night's work at Shea Stadium.  —  An hour and a half after the Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on a muggy night this season …

Taking a mulligan on baseball's awards  —  Before the season, I compared making predictions to a pink shirt.  Allow me to amend that.  —  Making predictions is like golf: I stink at it, and so does just about everyone else.  —  Of my choices for the six major awards …

2006 Major League Baseball postseason ad campaign to star Tommy Lasorda  —  One of baseball's most beloved personalities is the ambassador for October baseball; Lasorda leads fans nationwide"To the TV!"  —  Tommy Lasorda, a legendary manager and one of baseball's most charismatic personalities …

GM doesn't foresee big changes for '07  —  Williams might do some "tweaking" to improve in offseason  —  MINNEAPOLIS — If you are one of the many White Sox fans who appreciated the 2006 version of this talented team enough to not tear it apart for 2007, then count yourself in the same support group as general manager Ken Williams.

Phils roll, keep pace in Wild Card race  —  Burrell belts two homers, Victorino goes 5-for-6 in blowout  —  FLORIDA — The offense let the Phillies down on Thursday.  —  The bats picked the Phils up in a big way on Friday.  —  Shane Victorino's five hits led a 18-hit barrage …

Angels announce Minor League organizational awards  —  Sean Rodriguez, Joe Saunders and Jeff Mathis honored  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Angels today announced their minor league organizational awards for the 2006 season, naming shortstop Sean Rodriguez as Player of the Year …

Rangers chat wrap: Don't blame Daniels exclusively  —  Evan Grant, The News' Rangers beat writer, answered your questions on Friday, Sept. 29.  —  Evan Grant: Sorry to be a day late (and, as usual, a dollar short), but an aborted takeoff in Orange County yesterday had more to do with it than taking …

Notes: Nomar, Penny still hurting  —  First baseman playing through pain; staff ace's status in doubt  —  SAN FRANCISCO — There was no improvement reported in the physical conditions of pitcher Brad Penny, who left Thursday's game after one inning with a stiff back, and Nomar Garciaparra …

Facing free agency, Nixon reflects on his stay  —  Like Bill Haselman , then the catcher behind the plate, now the Red Sox first base coach, Trot Nixon was wearing a Red Sox uniform Sept. 18, 1996.  You might have missed him, on the end of the bench during that night's game in Detroit, as Roger Clemens pitched.