Joba ‘looks great’ after throwing off the mound … BALTIMORE (AP) — Joba Chamberlain threw 35 pitches off the mound Saturday, giving the New York Yankees hope the right-hander will soon recover from the rotator cuff tendinitis that put him on the 15-day disabled list earlier this month.

Bloomquist unlikely to play again in '08  —  Free-agent-to-be would like to return to Mariners next season  —  SEATTLE — Willie Bloomquist walked into the home clubhouse at Safeco Field on Saturday afternoon with a noticeable limp.  —  It has been two weeks since the Mariners …

Giambi powers Pavano past O's  —  Right-hander earns win in return with support from slugger  —  BALTIMORE — Carl Pavano's career in pinstripes has been unique, to say the least.  The right-hander, who has pitched just 20 games in a Yankees uniform over the course of his four-year …

Beckett to Miss Tuesday's Start Against Yanks  —  Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett won't be facing the Yankees on Tuesday after skipping a bullpen session yesterday because of continued numbness and tingling in his pitching arm.  —  Manager Terry Francona said Beckett has “inflammation” …

Drew out of lineup with herniated disc  —  Outfielder misses fourth straight game, awaiting MRI results  —  TORONTO — A clinical examination on Friday revealed that Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew has a herniated disc in his back.  Drew also underwent an MRI exam, which did not reveal anything major.

Toronto pounds Red Sox 11-0  —  TORONTO — With starting pitcher Jesse Litsch, franchise player Vernon Wells and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays batters elevating their games, the team had the look of a playoff contender on Saturday.  —  It will take many more games like this one to put …

Pence seeks to sharpen mind  —  Outfielder studies chess on day off after baserunning miscue  —  NEW YORK — Hunter Pence sat in his fold-up chair and stared at the alternating blue and white boxes on the page.  He was reading about chess, a game the 25-year-old Astros outfielder has begun …

Teixeira homers, K-Rod closes out Angels' win  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — If anyone thought the Los Angeles Angels were just biding their time until the playoffs came around, they needed to look no further than the efforts of Mark Teixeira and Torii Hunter.  —  Teixeira went 3-for-3 …

Maine: Offseason surgery needed  —  John Maine (pictured) told The Post after tonight's loss to the Astros that he expects to have arthroscopic surgery after the season to remove a painful bone spur in his right shoulder.  Maine, who gave up a season-high eight earned runs in the 8-3 setback …

CHEMISTRY IS KEY FOR AMAZIN' RUN  —  THE Mets have emerged from both last September's greatest late-season collapse in baseball history and the swill surrounding the first three months of this season to establish themselves as sports' true Redeem Team.  —  They have emerged from the darkness …

Ramirez's pair of 3-run HRs lift Cubs  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Ryan Dempster has a shot at 20 wins.  He's much more focused on the Chicago Cubs' 100-year championship drought.  —  Dempster matched a career high with his 15th victory and Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of three-run homers …