Quentin has only himself to blame  —  Without ever cracking a joke or smiling, Carlos Quentin was funny.  —  Watch the crazy baseball player work himself into a lather over a strikeout.  Look at him want to smash his helmet after a groundout.  See those eyes glaring.

Yanks deny Morrow a no-no in opener  —  Betemit picks up Bombers' first hit in eighth with RBI double  —  SEATTLE — Brandon Morrow's first Major League start was one that he will never forget.  Neither will anyone who was present at Safeco Field, though the Yankees certainly will try.

Schmidt: Mets know Phillies are better than them  —  NEW YORK (AP) — In a pep talk via e-mail, Mike Schmidt reminded the Philadelphia Phillies of their big comeback to win the NL East last season and said “the Mets know you're better than they are.”  —  With the Phillies opening a crucial …

Skid hits six as pitching hit hard  —  Reds rookies tee off on Lilly, Lieber for nine runs by fourth  —  CINCINNATI — All the Cubs need is one win to be happy again.  —  Ted Lilly lasted two innings Friday in his shortest outing of the season as the Cincinnati Reds roughed up the Cubs, 10-2, to hand them their sixth straight loss.

Ethier, Lowe carry Dodgers  —  LA pulls within half-game in NL West after sixth straight win  —  LOS ANGELES — Andre Ethier homered and drove in a career-high five runs and Derek Lowe pitched eight scoreless innings as the Dodgers pulled to within a half-game of first place with a 7-0 rout of over Arizona on Friday night.

Manuel skeptical of rain forecast  —  With Tropical Storm Hanna expected to sweep through Shea on Saturday, the Mets already have made contingency plans to reschedule the 3:55 p.m. game against the Phillies.  If the matinee is washed out, it will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Sunday.

Phils blank Mets, shrink gap in East  —  Myers masterful in three-hit, 10-strikeout performance  —  NEW YORK — Music played, but at a reasonable volume.  Other than Shane Victorino offering high fives to Scott Eyre's two sons, there were no fist bumps or energetic celebrations of any kind.

Deposed Cardinals closer to undergo elbow surgery  —  ST. LOUIS (AP)—Jason Isringhausen, twice demoted from the St. Louis Cardinals' closer role last month before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain, will have season-ending surgery next week.

Missed opportunity costs Rays  —  Tampa Bay's division lead trimmed to 2 1/2 games  —  TORONTO — As the Rays head to the end of the season in a tight battle for their first playoff berth in franchise history, there is the assurance that every single play of each game will take on added importance.

Reyes exits with sore right elbow  —  Indians right-hander optimistic about making next start  —  KANSAS CITY — Anthony Reyes said he's confident he'll make his next scheduled start Wednesday in Baltimore.  —  Manager Eric Wedge, on the other hand, was a little more guarded with his predictions …

Red Sox get Beckett, Lowell back from 15-day DL  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — The Boston Red Sox got three key players back Friday, activating right-hander Josh Beckett, third baseman Mike Lowell and first baseman Sean Casey from the 15-day disabled list.  —  Beckett, who had last pitched Aug. 17 due …