Lacking pop again, O's fizzle … This time, there was no controversy about pitch counts and no bullpen meltdown to mar another solid outing from the Orioles' suddenly hard-luck ace. … Granted, it was Oakland Athletics starter Dan Haren whom the Orioles were facing, and hardly anybody has hit him this season.

Dodgers rally in eighth, top Cubs 9-8  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers were cruising along with a five-run lead when the Cubs got to their bullpen for seven runs.  —  Los Angeles responded by returning the favor against Chicago's bullpen.  —  Juan Pierre hit a sacrifice fly to drive …

El Duque has strong return, Mets win  —  MIAMI (AP) — The game was a gem for seven innings, with the New York Mets and Florida Marlins scoreless.  —  Florida's wobbly defense ended the pitchers' duel.  —  The Mets scored their first two runs on errors, and Carlos Beltran's two-run double broke …

John Donovan: A Byrd's eye view of high-flying Indians  —  High-flying Indians making up for '06 disappointment  —  The Indians were positively pumped coming out of spring training.  It was clear to anyone who bothered to look their way that this was a team that could win — it has been …

Nats Get Help All Around In Win  —  Their Improbable Run Continues: Nationals 5, Cardinals 4  —  There is no way Austin Kearns should have made the sprawling catch he did in the sixth inning Friday night, and at another point in the Washington Nationals' season, he might not have.

VALENTIN NEARLY SET FOR RETURN  —  In a surprising revelation, Jose Valentin is almost ready to come off the disabled list.  —  Valentin has been out since April 29 due to a partially torn ACL, but yesterday Mets GM Omar Minaya said it's possible the second baseman could be back for the Mets within two weeks.

Martinez upbeat during visit with Mets  —  Scheduled to return in August, ace righty offers glowing report  —  MIAMI — Veteran right-hander Pedro Martinez, out until possibly August while recovering from Oct. 5 surgery for a right rotator cuff tear, is feeling so good from his intense workout program …

Slumping Bonds  —  Barry Bonds finished Friday's game going 0 for 3 with a walk.  That game is typical of his recent performance.  Through May 8th (the last time he homered), Barry was on fire, hitting .338 with a .527 OBA and an .805 slugging percentage.  He drew 31 walks in 28 games; a lot but not outrageous for Barry.

Sosa so tough to cheer: 600th HR not worthy of any praise  —  ARLINGTON, Texas - So goes the saying: No cheering in the pressbox.  Yet as Sammy Sosa approaches a milestone, there are those of us who can't cheer and won't care.  —  The Red Sox [team stats] and Texas Rangers were scheduled …

Pirates top Reds, 10-4, in 10th  —  Sanchez, Paulino get key hits as 8-run rally marks end of troubling five-game slide  —  Xavier Nady beats the throw to catcher Chad Moeller to score one of the Pirates' eight runs in the 10th inning last night against the Cincinnati Reds.

Soriano gets dose of Stark reality  —  ESPN.com writer lists leadoff man among overrated  —  LOS ANGELES — Alfonso Soriano is the first to admit he's not producing as well as he would like to in the first year of his eight-year, $136 million contract with the Cubs.

Struggling without their man of steal  —  Much was made of the change in the White Sox offense while Jim Thome was missing, but not so for leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik.  —  In the American League, the White Sox are ahead of only the Blue Jays and A's in stolen bases going into Friday's game against the Devil Rays.

Padres to recall McAnulty  —  The Padres plan to recall left-handed hitter Paul McAnulty from Triple-A Portland and put right fielder Brian Giles on the disabled list before Saturday's game against the Brewers.  —  McAnulty was left out of the Portland Beavers lineup for tonight's game in Las Vegas to eliminate the chance of injury.