A-Rod powers potent Yankees past Braves  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Alex Rodriguez is starting to get his groove back.  —  “We needed that,” he said.  “I needed it.  I felt like my body was reacting pretty well.”  —  GAME REPORT: Yankees 11, Braves 7  —  A-ROD: Girardi says Rodriguez will face Mets this weekend

2009 Futures Game Rosters  —  The 25 U.S. and 25 World members of the 2009 Futures Game.

Sources: Drug Enforcement Agency eyes Miami doc for supplying Manny Ramirez PEDs  —  As Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez nears the end of his 50-game suspension, Drug Enforcement Administration investigators are looking at a Miami doctor and his son as the source …

Chicago Cubs' Geovany Soto tested positive for marijuana at World Baseball Classic  —  Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto said he has been informed by the International Baseball Federation that he tested positive for marijuana at the World Baseball Classic.  —  “While I fully acknowledge …

Pirates option Snell to Indianapolis  —  The Pirates today optioned starter Ian Snell to Class AAA Indianapolis.  A corresponding move will be announced before the game tomorrow.  —  Snell is 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA, each figure the worst on the staff.  —  Details to come.

Stark On Lee, DeRosa, Phillies, Rays, Beltre  —  Jayson Stark of ESPN.com calls this one of the slowest-moving trade markets in a while, but provides lots of rumors anyways:  — Teams are making introductory calls now to set the tone for the next five weeks.

Aybar fills in admirably as Rays rout Phillies in World Series rematch  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Willy Aybar homered and drove in three runs as a replacement for an injured Evan Longoria on Thursday night, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 10-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies …

John Smoltz starts rough  —  Encouraged despite loss in Red Sox debut  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  WASHINGTON - Being an avid golfer, John Smoltz is well-acquainted with the mulligan.  —  In that spirit, let's just agree his Red Sox [team stats] career began in the second inning last night.

Breaking News: Baylor's Aaron Miller Agrees To Terms With Dodgers  —  Email Address: adam.winkler@kwtx.com  —  News 10 sports has learned that former Baylor pitcher/outfielder Aaron Miller has agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday evening.

Slumping Rollins to sit at least two games  —  Manuel feels Phils shortstop is pressing, wants him to relax  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Phillies manager Charlie Manuel had benched Jimmy Rollins three times this season.  —  He had dropped him in the lineup twice.

Marlins 11, Orioles 3  —  MIAMI (AP) — Hanley Ramirez hit a grand slam, and Cody Ross and Dan Uggla each homered as the Florida Marlins cruised past the Baltimore Orioles 11-3 on Thursday.  —  It was the third grand slam of the season for Ramirez, tying him for the single-season franchise record with Ross …

Byrd takes Conte's supplements without apology  —  Buzz up!  —  Marlon Byrd  —  wouldn't be pulling down $3 million as a Major League baseball player without getting a second chance from an obscure community college after he nearly had a leg amputated more than a decade ago.

Cardinals Zero In On Mateo  —  Despite an economic recession, bonus records will fall when the international signing period begins on July 2.  —  The latest buzz in Latin America is that the Cardinals are expected to sign 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo for a bonus of approximately $3 million on July 2.

Is Nieve the Next Jorge Sosa?  —  After watching the Mets drub the Cardinals, 11-0, on Wednesday, one thought entered my mind.  Below, you'll find a hint.  Let's see if you can guess it.  —  Pitcher 1: three starts, 3-0, 18 2/3 innings, 10 hits, 3 earned runs, 9 walks, 10 strikeouts.