Rockies prevent Dodgers from clinching NL West … LOS ANGELES(AP) Ubaldo Jimenez struck out 10 and the streaking Colorado Rockies forced the NL West race down to the final two games, beating the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 Friday night.  —  With both teams already assured playoff spots …

AL Central-leading Tigers fall to Peavy, White Sox  —  DETROIT (AP) — Jake Peavy (FSY) delayed Detroit's chance to move closer to the AL Central title, pitching the Chicago White Sox past the slumping Tigers 8-0 Friday night.  —  The Tigers went into the final weekend with a two-game lead over Minnesota …

Staff at Arizona cryogenics lab Alcor used Ted Williams' frozen head for batting practice: book  —  Workers at an Arizona cryonics facility mutilated the frozen head of baseball legend Ted Williams - even using it for a bizarre batting practice, a new tell-all book claims.

Warrant issued for ballplayer Shawn Chacon over gambling markers  —  Onetime All-Star accused of failing to pay Caesars Palace $150,000  —  Shawn Chacon pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 3, 2006, in Pittsburgh.  —  2 a.m.

Vintage Daisuke Matsuzaka  —  Sox starter works in, out of jams  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  Playoff teams usually include at least one “X-factor” they hope can pop up out of the blue as a surprise October contributor.  —  If his performance last night was any indication …

The 30 best moves of this year (cont.)  —  Source: Reyes didn't tear hamstring completely, but surgery still looks likely  —  Star shortstop Jose Reyes, who personifies the Mets' disastrous and injury-wracked season, now has received an initial recommendation to have the hamstring tendon that's …

South Atlantic League Top 20 Prospects  —  The Sally League had a number of power arms in 2009  —  Most years, the best teams are led by the best players.  In the previous two years in the low Class A South Atlantic League, for example, No. 1 prospects Desmond Jennings (Columbus in 2007) …

Weiner elected by Players Association  —  Fehr's successor has been a member of union for 21 years  —  Michael Weiner has been elected as the new executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, the union announced on Friday.  He replaces Don Fehr, who gave notice that he intended to retire earlier this year.

Upton hits for first cycle in Rays history  —  Single in fifth completes bid for feat against Yanks at Trop  —  ST. PETERSBURG — B.J. Upton became the first player in Rays history to hit for the cycle when he turned the trick Friday night in his first four at-bats against the Yankees during Tampa Bay's 13-4 victory.

AP: Padres GM Towers has been fired  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kevin Towers, the longest-tenured general manager in the major leagues, has been fired by the San Diego Padres, a person familiar with the situation said Friday night.  —  The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the club hadn't made an announcement.

At Sold-Out Fenway, a Way in for Patient Fans  —  BOSTON — Joan George was in the mood to treat herself to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park, where every game since May 15, 2003, has sold out.  —  So a few hours before a recent game, she went to the back side of the ballpark along Lansdowne Street …

Dick Pole fired as Cincinnati Reds pitching coach; remainder of coaching staff to return for 2010  —  CINCINNATI — Pitching coach Dick Pole has been fired by the Cincinnati Reds.  —  Pole was finishing his third season with the team, which began Friday seventh in the National League with a 4.52 ERA.

Olney On Type A Free Agents  —  ESPN.com's Buster Olney looks back to last winter when players like Juan Cruz saw their value tumble because the Elias rankings classified them as Type A free agents.  Some players are good enough to qualify, but not tantalizing enough for teams to give …

Ascanio has shoulder surgery  —  CINCINNATI — Pirates pitcher Jose Ascanio had surgery this morning to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.  —  It was performed by Dr. James Andrews at his office in Pensacola, Fla.  —  There is no timetable for Ascanio's return, general manager Neal Huntington said.

The Market For Jason Bay  —  Jason Bay admits that he had no idea what to expect from his first time in a free-agent walk year.  Now in the final season of a four-year, $18.25 million deal he signed while with the Pirates, he was curious whether he might start viewing his performance through …

Raissman: Ron not Darling of Yank fans  —  The Yankees Entertainment & Sports Network will shut down its play-by-play operation Sunday afternoon following the Bombers' regular-season finale in Tampa.  Depending on your cooking preferences, this is either good or bad news.