Royals give contract extension to Soria  —  Closer gets early birthday gift: a deal with options through 2014  —  MIAMI — Nice birthday present for Royals closer Joakim Soria.  —  Soria, who will turn 24 on Sunday, received a three-year contract extension through 2011 followed by three option years …

Red Sox offense getting up to speed  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  The Red Sox [team stats] still have their share of pitching questions as they plod along in this 2008 season, but here's the good news: Perhaps like at no other point in their recent history …

Marlins announce Ramirez deal at site of new park  —  MIAMI — A brand new ballpark.  A star player with a long-term contract.  —  Times are changing for the Florida Marlins.  —  The Marlins formally announced the $70 million, six-year contract extension of shortstop Hanley Ramirez …

Jason Giambi and his magic gold thong  —  The key to turning the Yankees season around could be under Jason Giambi's pinstriped pants.  —  The Yankee slugger revealed Friday he slips on a gold lamé thong with a flame-line waistband when he's trying to get out of a hitting slump - and he's shared it with his teammates.

A's end Braves' home winning streak at 8  —  ATLANTA (AP)—Jack Cust hit a solo home run and Ryan Sweeney added a three-run shot, and the Oakland Athletics held on to beat the Atlanta Braves 5-4 on Saturday night to end a season-worst four game losing streak.

Ludwick's tie-breaking homer  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Ryan Ludwick hit his second home run of the game off Dan Wheeler in the 10th inning, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to recover after squandering a four-run cushion in a 9-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

Van Halen is back, and so is Byrnes' bat  —  Homer and single accompany change of tune  —  Now catching, the Music Man . . .  Diamondbacks catcher Chris Snyder made a command decision before Friday night's game that the best way for Eric Byrnes to break out of a hitting slump was to change …

A-Rod rehab update  —  Just got the word from Yanks' PR on Alex Rodriguez from today's extended spring training game.  —  Rodriguez, who is coming back from a strained right quad, was 1-for-4 with a home run off Tampa Bay left-hander David Price, last year's No. 1 draft pick.  —  Want more details?

Game 43: Mets at Yankees  —  YANKEES  —  METS  —  Andy Pettitte (3-4, 4.40) against the Mets hitters.  —  Johan Santana (4-2, 3.10) against the Yankees hitters.  —  Back later with updates.  —  * * * * * * * * * * A-ROD REHAB UPDATE * * * * * * * * * *

Soriano hits 2 more HRs, but Cubs lose  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Alfonso Soriano went deep again.  And again.  Nate McLouth's homer was the decisive one, though.  —  He hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer off Carlos Marmol in the ninth to help the Pittsburgh Pirates overcome Soriano's shots for a 7-6 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Torre has no problem being left off All-Star staff  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joe Torre doesn't mind that he was left off the coaching staff for the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.  He might not have accepted an invitation anyway.  —  “I'm with a new team now,” Torre said Friday night …