Bruney and K-Rod's war of the words  —  The Yankees look forward to reliever Brian Bruney's expected return from the disabled list on Tuesday, but even before rejoining the team, the righthander set off some Subway Series fireworks in Trenton Saturday.  Bruney ripped Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez …

Howie Kendrick's demotion is not a message  —  Manager Mike Scioscia says it is not intended as a perform-or-else edict to other Angels.  —  Howie Kendrick's demotion to triple-A Salt Lake after Friday night's game did not come with a produce-or-else edict for the rest of the Angels, Manager Mike Scioscia insisted.

St. Louis Cardinals president says a big trade is not likely at this time  —  Seven months ago Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. convened a meeting of department heads to discuss an organizational worst-case scenario predicated upon diminishing attendance.  A 20 percent drop would render …

Nieve nixes Yankees as Mets rebound with 6-2 victory  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Injury fill-in Fernando Nieve earned his first major league victory in three years, Omir Santos drove in three runs and the New York Mets bounced back from a heartbreaking loss, beating the Yankees 6-2 Saturday.

Penny gets his two cents in on Girardi  —  PHILADELPHIA - Brad Penny responded with a verbal brushback to Joe Girardi's accusation that he intentionally hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch, saying the Yankees manager should worry about doing his job and not about how Penny pitches.

Florence man tries to elude police, dies in crash  —  A Florence man trying to elude police crashed his vehicle and died early today in downtown Florence, authorities said.  —  Jon Willingham, 27, was pronounced dead at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.  The crash occurred just before 2 a.m …

Acta still the manager  —  It's uncertain for how long, but at least for now, Manny Acta is still the Washington Nationals' manager.  —  A FoxSports.com report said on Saturday afternoon the Nationals were planning to fire Acta and replace him with bench coach Jim Riggleman in the next several days …

Rockies win 10th straight game, beat Mariners 5-3  —  DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have turned a few heads with their recent success.  Don't count manager Jim Tracy among them.  —  “What's happening now, I saw back in February,” said Tracy, 12-4 since he took over for the fired Clint Hurdle on May 29.

Berkman's 300th HR, Tejada's 2,000th hit highlight Astros win  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Lance Berkman hit his 300th homer moments after Miguel Tejada singled home a run with his 2,000th hit, and the Houston Astros defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 on Saturday night.  —  GAME REPORT: Astros 6, Diamondbacks 4

Atlanta Braves acquire Blue Crabs LHP Halama  —  Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson has announced that the contract of left-handed starting pitcher John Halama has been purchased by the Atlanta Braves.  Halama, who was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 2008 after making eight starts …

Orioles break through vs. Braves  —  Bats come alive as team scores 6 in wild seventh  —  His team hadn't scored five runs in a game in two weeks and was in the midst of another night of missed opportunities when Orioles manager Dave Trembley turned to his hitting coach, Terry Crowley …

A.J. has come a long way from Met farm  —  A.J. Burnett was a hard-throwing but struggling young pitcher in the Mets' farm system in February of 1998 when the team decided to include him in a trade with the Marlins for Al Leiter.  The move netted the Mets an ace and, Burnett says, probably saved his own career.