Source: Pac-10 Conference poised to invite 6 Big 12 Conference teams  —  With Nebraska apparently headed to the Big Ten, the Pac-10 is poised to become the Pac-16.  —  Colorado already has received an invitation to join the conference, while five other invitations will be extended to Texas …

Cards are looking for outside help to bolster pitching  —  LOS ANGELES — Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has initiated a search to prop up a starting rotation unable to project the return of either Kyle Lohse or Brad Penny, club sources indicated Wednesday.

Washington Nationals' Stephen Strasburg to face Cleveland Indians next … CLEVELAND — Coming off his sensational debut, Stephen Strasburg will make his first road start in the majors against the Cleveland Indians.  —  The Washington Nationals have confirmed that the 21-year-old will start Sunday at Progressive Field.

Family trees spread across MLB Draft boards  —  Number of teams take familiar baseball names in Draft  —  NEW YORK — The name has shadowed him his entire life, from his birth certificate to the brink of his chosen career.  Benito Santiago Jr., son of five-time All-Star Benito Santiago …

Rockies get slammed by Astros in 10th inning  —  It looked like the Rockies were going to play yet another one-run game, just as they had in five of their previous seven games.  And then Carlos Lee stepped up Wednesday night and hit a grand slam that, if you wait five minutes, might land.  Or not.

Masterson baffles ex-mates as Tribe rip Red Sox  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Justin Masterson enjoyed Cleveland's eight-run eighth inning as much as his first career shutout.  —  Masterson beat his former team with a two-hitter and Travis Hafner hit a grand slam in the Indians' 11-0 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Dodgers tap into ‘V energy’  —  Frank and Jamie McCourt quietly hired a Russian emigre who calls himself a scientist and healer to ‘think blue’ and channel his thoughts toward the team's success as he watched them play on TV.  —  Reporting from Boston — The most curious figure to emerge …

Joe Jackson catches Royals' eye in Draft  —  Relative of the Shoeless Joe taken in 50th round by KC  —  KANSAS CITY — It was a Field of Dreams type ending to the Royals' 2010 First-Year Player Draft.  —  As the Draft was winding down, and hundreds of prospects had been selected …

Posey belts first big league homer  —  CINCINNATI — Buster Posey established a personal milestone by crushing his first Major League home run in the second inning of Wednesday's 6-3 Giants loss to the Reds.  —  Following a two-out walk to Pat Burrell, Posey drilled the first pitch he saw …

On Day 2, Phils put emphasis on pitching  —  Club focuses more on college players than prep stars  —  PHILADELPHIA — After selecting a local product with their only pick on Day 1, the Phillies had to wait a while before their turn came up again Tuesday.  While other teams …