Okajima's option picked up for 2009  —  Contract automatically takes effect after benchmark reached  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox announced Saturday that reliever Hideki Okajima's option has officially vested for next season.  —  Okajima's two-year, $2.5 million contract had a $1.75 million option for 2009 …

Hughes recalled by Yankees, may start Wednesday  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees recalled right-handers Phil Hughes and David Robertson on Saturday, and Hughes could get the start Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.  —  Hughes was expected to be a key member of New York's rotation this season …

Surgery looms as Beltre plays on  —  Seattle (57-89) at Los Angeles (90-57), Saturday, 6:05 p.m. PT  —  ANAHEIM — It looks as if third baseman Adrian Beltre will play the remainder of the four-game series against the AL West champion Angels and likely have surgery some time next week …

Qualls in, Lyon out as closer for Diamondbacks … PHOENIX (AP) — Chad Qualls has replaced struggling Brandon Lyon as the Arizona closer as the Diamondbacks try to stay in the NL West race over the final two weeks of the season.  —  The right-handed Qualls (4-8, 3.11 ERA) …

Royals setting sights on improvements  —  Kansas City (62-83) at Cleveland (71-74), Friday, 6:05 p.m. CT  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Although the news was a foregone conclusion, the Royals were officially eliminated from the playoffs after Wednesday's 7-1 loss to Twins.  —  That fact caused manager Trey Hillman to look to the future.

The Mystery of Barry Zito  —  Barry Zito, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, is tall and slim and as handsome as a male model, a pretty-boy actor, which is part of the problem.  Even at 30, he looks more boyish than mannish, wide-eyed, with a too-innocent smile for a man his age.

Braves edge Mets, finally win 1-run road game  —  NEW YORK — Jeff Francoeur hit a tying single in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied against Johan Santana and the Mets' bullpen, beating New York 3-2 Saturday in the opener of a doubleheader for their first one-run road win in more than a year.

Owings sent to Reds to finish Dunn deal  —  Slugging pitcher struggled after strong start to the season  —  PHOENIX — Micah Owings was donning a different shade of red in an unfamiliar part of Chase Field on Friday night.  —  After receiving the news that he had been traded to the Reds …

Where are they now?  Former Met Dave Kingman  —  The man they called Kong and Sky King is laughing over the phone as he drives around his native Lake Tahoe.  The subject is his golf game and, Dave Kingman says, there's no comparison between his skill on the links and the days when he was one of baseball's most-feared sluggers.

Thomas planning a healthy return in 2009  —  (09-12) 20:58 PDT — Frank Thomas said Friday that he will not require surgery on his injured right quadriceps; there is no tear in the area where the muscle connects with the knee, just scar tissue breakdown and tendinitis.

Angels farmhand Aldridge suspended 50 games … NEW YORK (AP) — Los Angeles Angels minor league pitcher Ryan Aldridge was suspended for 50 games Saturday after testing positive for an amphetamine.  —  The penalty will take effect at the start of next season.