Sox interested in Billy Wagner  —  According to a Major League source, the Red Sox would like to work out a trade for Mets reliever Billy Wagner, who was placed on waivers Wednesday, the day before he made his first appearance in nearly a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

At Little League World Series, Hall of Famer Jim Rice says major league players are not good role models for youngsters  —  SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Jim Rice's advice to Little Leaguers: Don't use today's major leaguers as role models.  —  Speaking to players before the start …

Sox recall Bowden; Baldelli activated  —  The Red Sox have recalled righthanded pitcher Michael Bowden from Triple A Pawtucket, a team source confirmed to the Globe's Nick Cafardo this afternoon.  —  Bowden, whom the Sox will use out of the bullpen, replaces reliever Fernando Cabrera on the roster.

Crasnick: Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer has clinical depression  —  Oakland Athletics pitcher Justin Duchscherer has been diagnosed with clinical depression and will miss the rest of the 2009 season as he undergoes treatment for the condition, his agent said Friday.  —  Duchscherer

Sanchez … DENVER(AP) Jonathan Sanchez tossed five solid innings, Aaron Rowand hit a three-run homer and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Friday night in the opener of an important four-game series.  —  Sanchez (6-10) allowed an unearned run and two hits to win …

Ricketts primed to purchase Cubs  —  Tribune Co. agrees to approximately $900 million deal  —  The sale of the Cubs to Tom Ricketts, chief executive of Chicago investment back Incapital LLC, is drawing near, Major League Baseball confirmed on Friday.  —  “We are pleased at the progress …

Angels' ninth-inning rally comes up short  —  Napoli's three-run homer not enough in loss to Blue Jays  —  TORONTO — Second baseman Aaron Hill got the Blue Jays started with his bat and saved them not quite three hours later with his glove.  —  Hill's diving stab, robbing Juan Rivera …

It's all or nothing with Reynolds  —  Diamondbacks slugger's career off to a Schmidt-like start, despite the strikeouts  —  When the Arizona Diamondbacks pulled into New York for a series against the Mets in late July, manager A.J. Hinch gave his hitters a brief tutorial on the hazards of Citi Field.

Marte expected back tonight  —  BOSTON — Reliever Damaso Marte, out since April with an injured left shoulder, is expected to rejoin the Yankees bullpen tonight for the series opener with the Red Sox.  —  It's possible the Yankees could go with 13 pitchers and send down a position player …

Prospect Hot Sheet: Aug. 21  —  It's late August, but prospects can still surprise us.  If you're not a Mets fan, you may not know much about Kirk Nieuwenhuis, but he made a very good case for No. 1 on this week's Hot Sheet.  Here he stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Brett Wallace.

Quiz: Who Is Nyjer Morgan?  —  I wanted to see how Nyjer Morgan compared to other base-stealing leadoff men who played centerfield, had little power, didn't walk much but slapped-hit their way on base.  —  In part, I wanted to find this out because the stat-crabs like to nag that Morgan …