Padres' Giles vetoes waiver deal with Red Sox … San Diego Padres right fielder Brian Giles officially exercised his veto power and blocked a waiver deal Friday that would have sent him to the Boston Red Sox.  —  Giles, 37, was claimed on waivers by the Red Sox, and Boston and San Diego had 48 hours to make a deal.

Manny Mania takes over LA  —  LOS ANGELES - Manny Mania is all the rage in Southern California.  —  Manny Ramírez is crushing the ball.  He says he wants to finish his career in California.  The Dodgers are getting ready to market Manny caps complete with dreadlocks.  The local media love Manny.

The Mussina renaissance  —  For Mike Mussina, 2007 qualified as an annus horribilis.  —  After getting cuffed around for six runs over four innings in his first start, Mussina left start No. 2 in the third inning with a strained left hamstring.  A trip to the DL kept him out for the rest …

Postgame notes: Hughes set for 85 pitches Tuesday … The slider I thought I saw in the third inning was just a cutter with a lot of movement.  —  My own ignorance of the Phil Hughes arsenal aside, the guy pitched pretty well tonight.  His fastball touched 95 four times in the first inning, and regularly sat 93-94 most of the night.

Owners to discuss blackout solution  —  Baseball's territorial blackouts, the scourge of so many frustrated television and streaming-video viewers, will be eliminated for the 2009 season if Major League Baseball's executive council follows suggestions president Bob DuPuy plans on presenting next week.

‘50-50 chance’ Alonso could return to UM … Yonder Alonso could still be a Cane.  —  Alonso, a first-round pick whose contract negotiations with the Cincinnati Reds has have a snag, told The Miami Herald on Thursday he has signed up for fall classes at UM, and there is “a 50-50 chance” …

Eric Hosmer, Scott Boras, and the Royals' quest to get better  —  In another world from here, in Farmington, N.M., Eric Hosmer is living out an amateur career that's pretty close to perfect.  —  He plays for the Midland Redskins, a baseball powerhouse that's the amateur equivalent of the New York Yankees …

Wins overshadow lack of homers  —  PHILADELPHIA - Take your pick as to the more amazing aspect of this week's series against the Phillies: That the Marlins failed to hit a home run in one of the most home run-friendly parks in baseball or that they did so and still won two of three.

Lambo Lambasting Lefties: Reverse Splits for a Future Dodger  —  Andrew Lambo is making a name for himself with the Great Lakes Loons.  Rapidly emerging as one of the top prospects in the Dodgers organization, the 19-year-old Lambo has been one of the best players in the Midwest League this summer …

Morton, Braves beat Diamondbacks  —  Promising rookie pitches seven scoreless innings for third win  —  Phoenix — The Braves don't score many runs when rookie Charlie Morton pitches, or lately when just about anyone pitches.  Thursday, they scored enough.  —  Barely.

Rumblings say Street is subject of interest  —  (08-08) 04:00 PDT Toronto —  Post trade-deadline, any trades must include waivers - players either need to clear waivers first, or clubs may try to negotiate deals with teams that are awarded a waiver claim on a specific player.

Tired Pettitte still set to start  —  Andy Pettitte says he feels well enough to pitch, but there are those within the Yankees organization that believe the lefthander may be suffering from some fatigue in his pitching arm.  —  According to a source with knowledge of the situation …

Ramirez homers again, Dodgers beat Cards  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Clayton Kershaw went right after St. Louis Cardinals hitters who had put up 15 runs the previous two games.  It turned out to be the perfect game plan.  —  The 20-year-old rookie worked seven dominant innings and Manny Ramirez homered …