Red Sox, O's broadcaster at odds over bloody sock  —  BALTIMORE — The story of Curt Schilling's famous bloody sock from the 2004 playoffs is turning into a bloody mess after a prominent broadcaster claimed one of Schilling's teammates acknowledged the blood wasn't real.

Patterson Doomed By Nats' Defense  —  Lack of Support Leads to Loss: Phillies 9, Nationals 3  —  One ball sailed to left field, where Robert Fick might have caught it but didn't.  The next hitter, predictably, followed with a home run, and an inning from which John Patterson might have escaped cost him two runs.

As the A-Rod Turns  —  I wrote a two-part piece on Alex Rodriguez last year when he was supposedly washed up, struggling, could not hit a thing.  What a difference a year makes.  Now A-Rod is rewriting the American League record book and is apparently a different person.

Prior still in club's plans?  Hendry won't say  —  Mark Prior's season is over, and his future in Chicago is cloudy.  —  Specialist James Andrews performed a right shoulder arthroscopy on Prior, 26, in Birmingham, Ala., which included a cleanup of his right rotator cuff and a repair of the shoulder capsules and right labrum.

Bonds could set HR mark against Sox  —  You ready for this, because it could happen here.  —  This is what we know: Barry Bonds is going to pass Hank Aaron.  Here's what we don't know: Where or when.  But your favorite little ballpark is in the running for the where part, the weekend of June 15-17.

Frenchy on a new level  —  Jeff Francoeur played 20 games through April 24 last season, and he played 20 through April 24 this season.  But that's about where the similarities end.  —  The Golden Boy is on fire, surely making Lilburn and all of Braves Nation proud.  The boy's done growed up (OK, I'll stop).

Mets Fans Need Not Worry About Wright  —  David Wright has now played in 20 games this year, in which he's driven in four runs and hasn't hit a single home run.  Dating back to last year's All Star break, a period covering 87 games, he's hit six home runs and driven in 46 …

Thoughts on Bonds  —  Barry Bonds hit his seventh home run of the season last night.  He's now getting on base at a .470 clip and slugging .808.  I'm totally amazed by this.  Watching him play last April, I thought he was through.  But as the season wore on he adjusted to his knees and elbow …

What everybody ought to know about Phil Hughes  —  Mark O'Brien is gettin' the shaft.  The Santa Clara University baseball coach doesn't have a dominant, front-line ace to trot out there this weekend when his team takes on conference foe Loyola Marymount in one of the most important series of the season.

Pelfrey's Grip on His Rotation Spot Is Becoming Tenuous  —  The Mets have seen Mike Pelfrey dominate.  They have seen him pump fastballs past major league hitters and befuddle them with his sinker.  They have seen him turn over tough lineups.  They just have not seen him do it recently.

Baseball Looks to Create a Possible Portal to Cuba  —  Major League Baseball officials are quietly preparing to re-establish a relationship with Cuba if the United States lifts its trade embargo.  —  Fidel Castro, 80, has experienced serious health problems in recent years …

Notes: Acta preaching patience at plate  —  Nats have struggled with runners in scoring position  —  PHILADELPHIA — Nationals manager Manny Acta often utters the phrase, 'preach and teach.'  —  With such a young team, it's a phrase that is certainly fitting.