UMPIRE RUNGE APOLOGIZES TO MANUEL  —  Umpire Brian Runge apologized to Jerry Manuel yesterday, one day after he bumped and ejected the manager.  —  Manuel said Runge apologized when he brought out the lineup card at the beginning of the game.  —  “He had spoken to his father [Paul Runge …

Angels' Joe Saunders making the most of his opportunity  —  The left-hander is 11-3 with a 3.03 earned-run average.  —  Mike Butcher thinks Joe Saunders has “that little swagger in a good way,” the kind of confidence that makes the Angels pitching coach think the left-hander …

Newman on Melancon: “He could stay there all year”  —  Mark Newman understands the desire to see Mark Melancon in big league pinstripes, but player development is a game of patience, and Newman is willing to wait.  With a 1.57 ERA through 11 Double-A games, Melancon has fans calmoring for a call-up …

Interleague certainly a significant part of the schedule  —  There's nothing quite like interleague play — if you're C.C. Sabathia, whomping a 440-foot home run in your only chance all year to swing the bat.  —  And there's nothing quite like interleague play — if you're the Kansas City Royals …

Bombers ride express train to Series  —  PITTSBURGH - Six weeks later, the subway has changed course.  —  When the Yankees and Mets played in mid-May, the Bombers were reeling and the Mets pounced with two wins in the Bronx, part of a five-game losing streak that dropped the Bombers to a season-low 20-25.

In Pittsburgh, Posada Takes in All Things Clemente  —  PITTSBURGH — Jorge Posada is a five-time All-Star, but this week he is an awestruck fan.  The Yankees are playing in Pittsburgh, where Roberto Clemente starred for the Pirates, and Clemente is a hero to Posada.

Fernando Martinez Selected For Futures Game  —  Minor League Baseball announced today that Binghamton Mets outfielder Fernando Martinez has been chosen to participate in the 10th Annual All-Star Futures Game next month at Yankee Stadium.  —  It is the second straight Futures Game selection for Martinez …

Athletics' Harden Ks 11, beats Phils 5-0  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Rich Harden deliberately didn't rear back and throw as hard as he could against the Phillies.  —  The result: a career-high 11 strikeouts.  —  Harden was dominant over eight innings, allowing two hits to lead the Oakland Athletics over Philadelphia 5-0 Thursday.

Giese stuck in Pittsburgh  —  PITTSBURGH — The Yankees' plan to fly Dan Giese home ahead of the team tonight was foiled by severe thunderstorms.  —  Giese, who is slated to start the first game of a two-stadium, Subway Series doubleheader Friday, went to the Pittsburgh airport late Thursday afternoon …

Rangers slugger Hamilton injures hand vs. Astros  —  HOUSTON — Rangers star slugger Josh Hamilton left Thursday's game against the Houston Astros after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch.  —  Hamilton was hit in the first inning by a pitch from Wandy Rodriguez and initially didn't appear to be injured.

Matsui still hobbled … PITTSBURGH (AP) — New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui remained out of the lineup — and the batting cage — with a sore left knee Thursday and will be re-examined Friday by team doctors.  —  If he is cleared to play, Matsui could be the designated hitter …

Dodgers to go to six-man rotation  —  Torre to keep Stults in the mix after complete-game shutout  —  LOS ANGELES — It can't be said that Joe Torre won't push the envelope.  —  After Eric Stults' complete-game shutout Wednesday night, the Dodgers manager said he would go to a six-man rotation until …

Clayton Kershaw's mistakes magnified by Dodgers' lack of offense  —  Rookie remains winless after 2-0 loss to White Sox.  —  Seven starts into his major league career, Clayton Kershaw is still winless.  The last time the 20-year-old left-hander won a game at any level was last August in double-A.

Damon in lineup  —  The lineup:  —  Damon lf, Jeter ss, Abreu rf, Rodriguez 3b, Giambi 1b.  Cano 2b, Cabrera cf, Molina c, Mussina p.  —  The Yankees have won their past six games, and 11 of 12, in which they score first.  —  With six hits the past two games, Robinson Cano's average is up to .241 …

Pirates Notebook: Reliever acquired; Barthmaier coming up  —  The Pirates did find outside pitching help, as expected, but it was not for the ailing rotation.  —  Instead, general manager Neal Huntington added another power arm to the bullpen by acquiring Denny Bautista from Detroit for Class A reliever Kyle Pearson.