Nix treading carefully during cold streak  —  Rookie second baseman struggling in season's first month  —  LOS ANGELES — Rockies rookie second baseman Jayson Nix might be on precarious Major League footing, with his .128 batting average.  In returning him to the starting lineup on Friday night …

Missed chances hurt Red Sox vs. Rays  —  Youkilis goes 0-for-4, Ortiz 0-for-6 in loss in extras  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Even though they were plagued by injuries and sickness, the Red Sox seemed invincible last weekend, winning the first five games of their seven-game homestand with backups …

Patience rewards Marlins in extras win  —  Team scores three in 10th inning off Mota for victory  —  MILWAUKEE — Patience and stellar pitching paid off for the Marlins on Friday night.  —  Wes Helms, Cody Ross and Mike Rabelo each had RBIs in the 10th inning as the Marlins finally broke through …

Bruney may be lost for season  —  Surgery recommended for Yanks reliever's right foot injury  —  CLEVELAND — Yankees right-handed reliever Brian Bruney could miss the remainder of the season with an injury to the Lisfranc joint of his right foot that is likely to require surgery.

Thumb lands Mets' Schneider in hospital  —  NEW YORK (AP)—Mets catcher Brian Schneider remained hospitalized Friday with an infected left thumb and is likely to miss the weekend series against the Atlanta Braves.  —  Manager Willie Randolph termed it a staph infection …

Texas Rangers' management meets; no moves made  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  ARLINGTON - The Texas Rangers' top management gathered Friday at owner Tom Hicks' uptown office for the most nauseating lunch they've ever had.  —  The barbecue was fine.  It was the aftertaste that made it so difficult to swallow.

Nomar headed back to DL  —  Departs Friday's win in ninth; Andruw exited earlier  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are expected to place Nomar Garciaparra on the disabled list Saturday and recall third baseman Blake DeWitt to replace him.  —  Garciaparra suffered a strained left calf muscle …

Orioles manager lambasts fans who ran on field in Seattle  —  CHICAGO (AP) -Baltimore manager Dave Trembley lambasted two fans who ran on the field during an Orioles game Thursday night at Seattle.  —  During the game, two spectators jumped onto the field and ran behind Orioles outfielder Jay Payton.

DELGADO ON HIS WAY OUT AT FIRST  —  WE know how this ends for Carlos Delgado with the Mets.  We might not know the exact date or the exact term, be it designated for assignment or outright release, but we see the bread crumbs now heading toward the exit.  —  First, Delgado was dropped in the lineup.

Big Unit earns first win since June  —  SAN DIEGO (AP)—Randy Johnson threw nasty sliders and a few fastballs in the 95-96 mph range, hit a single and made a nice defensive play, bounding off the mound to field a chopper and throw out the runner.  —  Just like that, the Big Unit was back in the win column.

Ausmus shocked by shark attack  —  An avid surfer, Astros catcher familiar with site of tragedy  —  ST. LOUIS — Brad Ausmus is an avid surfer during the offseasons in his hometown of San Diego, and he was particularly jarred by the news that a 66-year-old man was killed by what authorities believe …