Prior leaves game with sore shoulder  —  Mark Prior's first extended spring outing ended badly on Thursday when the injury-plagued right-hander was forced to leave his start early.  —  Prior experienced discomfort in his right shoulder, according to a statement by the Cubs.

I Want Candy  —  Kid in a candy store, baby.  I can't remember being this excited about a game in a long time, let alone being this excited about a game and having it turn out better than expected.  Did you see the glint in Ichiro Suzuki's eye, or was that just the million flash bulbs?

Milledge sent to Minors  —  Move makes room on 25-man roster for Pelfrey  —  NEW YORK — For one, it was an opportunity cut short — a fleeting glimpse of the limelight that never turned into more.  For the other, it's a new shot at that same opportunity, and a chance to stick around for good.

Mets Have No Defense for Pérez's Seven Ball Fours  —  Oliver Pérez's last outing at Shea Stadium in 2006 went a lot better than his first one in 2007.  —  Pérez started Game 7 of last year's National League Championship Series and left the mound to a standing ovation …

More Rangers to honor Robinson  —  Hairston, Lofton, Pettis also expected to get OK to wear No. 42  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - Even a program won't help you tell some of the Rangers apart Sunday.  —  Four of them will be wearing No. 42.  —  The club has petitioned Major …

MILLEDGE SET FOR MOVE TO TRIPLE-A  —  Lastings Milledge knows what is probably coming.  He knows that he'll likely get called in after tonight's game with the Phillies and be told he's heading to Triple-A New Orleans.  —  With pitcher Mike Pelfrey joining the Mets to start tomorrow against Washington …

Notes: No luck on Friday the 13th  —  New York holds 17-24 record for games on fateful day  —  NEW YORK — Courageously, the Mets carry on in the face of pending adversity.  They have played in the chill, and they have confronted the defending World Series champions, the improved Braves and the contender-wannabe Phillies.

Ahead of the pack (cont.)  —  The Nats, baseball's Have-Nats  —  The one team everyone agrees has no playoff shot is Washington, which may be the worst in years (or at least since the 2003 Tigers).  The Nats will need great fortune to avoid 100 losses.  —  But on the bright side …

Notes: Julio's security unclear  —  Right-handed closer could move into setup role  —  MIAMI — On Wednesday, a day after Jorge Julio was unable to seal his second save opportunity of the season, manager Fredi Gonzalez was noncommittal when asked if the 28-year-old right-hander would remain the Marlins closer.

Gonzalez, Day Making Impact With Sox  —  Gio Gonzalez is off to a fast start with his former team at Double-A Birmingham.  —  A 2004 first-round supplemental pick of the White Sox, Gonzalez was dealt to Philadelphia in the Jim Thome trade at the end of the 2005 season.

Russell remembers Robinson  —  Bill Russell, the Celtics Hall of Famer, held court with the media this afternoon before the postponement of today's Sox-Mariners game at Fenway Park.  Russell was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of the Sox' tribute to the late Red Auerbach and the Celtics organization.

Nats lose for sixth straight time  —  Williams tosses five effective innings, but bats silenced  —  ATLANTA — Prior to Wednesday's game against the Braves, manager Manny Acta was a patient man, even though the Nationals had struggled over the previous eight games.

It's all in who you hire  —  WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Building a good team does not start with the players.  Rather, it's building a good front office that can make the difference.  That's why my first three hires as Nationals GM were Bob Boone, Jose Rijo and Barry Larkin …