Ankiel remains out; Morse pinch-hits  —  PHILADELPHIA — Nationals center fielder Rick Ankiel missed a third consecutive game Thursday night with a sprained wrist, and is likely to be out at least one more.  —  “If not two more,” said manager Jim Riggleman.  “He is not taking batting practice.”

Droopy Sox  —  Weary team gets no lift from Lackey  —  The wall gives it to Darnell McDonald straight: the Angels put up crooked numbers.  (John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)  —  On the heels of a 5-3 loss Wednesday night that took almost eight hours to complete, it was evident that the bleary-eyed Red Sox …

Lower-back strain sends Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeff Niemann to disabled list  —  ST. PETERSBURG — RHP Jeff Niemann is headed to the disabled list with a lower-back strain that will sideline him for an undetermined about of time.  —  “It's very frustrating,” he said.

M.L.B. Report Casts Doubt on Rigor of Drug Testing  —  Hours after a jury convicted Barry Bonds of obstruction of justice last month in connection with his suspected use of performance-enhancing drugs, Commissioner Bud Selig did what he often has when attention is cast on baseball's stormy history …

Justin Upton's hit gives Arizona 3-2 win in 11  —  PHOENIX - Gerardo Parra and Chris Young homered off Huston Street in the ninth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks stunned Colorado 3-2 in 11 innings on Thursday night to take two of three from the Rockies.  —  Justin Upton's bloop single …

Dodgers accuse MLB of foul play in finance probe  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers “are running out of air,” the team's vice-chairman said Thursday.  —  Strangled, he said, by baseball.  —  Smothered, he said, by a leisurely investigation.  —  Suffocated, he said, by a rigged game.

Baffling White Sox fall into deep hole  —  FILE - In this May 1, 2011, file photo, Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen reacts to a solo homer by the Baltimore Orioles in a baseball game they lost 6-4 in Chicago.  It's perplexing, frustrating and confusing for the ChicagoWhite Sox …

Prado's homer gives Braves sweep over Brewers  —  ATLANTA - Martin Prado hit a tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Thursday night to complete a four-game series sweep.  —  Prado led off the eighth with a drive to left off Kameron Loe (2-3) for his third homer.

Royals call up Hosmer: ‘The time is now’  —  Slugger will be in the lineup on Friday against the A's  —  KANSAS CITY — The Royals couldn't wait any longer — first baseman Eric Hosmer will be in their lineup on Friday night.  —  Hosmer, who might be the hottest hitting prospect …

Peavy has right stuff; debut may be days off  —  Jake Peavy pitched six perfect innings — and one far from perfect — in a 100-pitch outing for the Class AAA Charlotte Knights on Thursday night.  —  The 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner hopes the rehab start against the host Toledo Mud Hens was his last in the minors.

Contractual Matters  —  Screen Test  —  Royals broadcaster Denny Matthews has seen more than his share of foul balls.  Now in his 43rd season, the Hall of Fame play-by-play man with a dry wit regularly employs a succinct description of a ball hit too hard for a fan to try to catch barehanded.

Mike Pelfrey and Mets top Giants, 5-2, Sandy Alderson and team discuss minor roster moves  —  Mike Pelfrey earns his second win of the season Thursday.  One team insider says debate has begun about whether the Mets should hold onto Chin-lung Hu (below).  —  This is not to belittle a Mets victory …