Coffey deals with nosebleed on mound  —  PHILADELPHIA — It couldn't have been the rare air of the Nationals at .500, because that disappeared three games ago.  But suddenly Todd Coffey's nose began bleeding before he pitched to Ryan Howard in the fourth inning Thursday night, necessitating a delay for treatment.

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 …

Hedge funder Steve Cohen frontrunner to buy minority stake in Mets  —  Controversial hedge-fund titan Steve Cohen is very close to being a baseball owner, The Post has learned.  —  The billionaire money man is the frontrunner to buy a minority stake in the money-losing team and was set …

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.

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.

Also See  —  Were you at the game?  Did you attend another game recently?  Check in with ESPN Passport for iPhone, or check in online to archive your memories, photos, and your personal win-loss record.  —  Check in » iTunes »  —  New York Yankees starting pitcher Freddy Garcia throws during …

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 …

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.

Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz uncorked  —  After yesterday's day game vs. the Angels, Red Sox starters Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz launched their new charity wines at the House of Blues' Foundation Room across from Fenway Park.  —  Buchholz debuted his ChardonClay, a Chardonnay, while Lester introduced his CabernAce, a Cabernet.

Will Derek Jeter ever return to being the Yankees' Captain Clutch?  —  DETROIT — They are undisputed franchise icons, cut from the same cloth, great players whose identities long ago became intertwined with their teams.  One is a member of the 3,000 hits club, the other stands just 47 hits short of admission.

Slow start won't change Williams' approach  —  CHICAGO — The 2011 Chicago White Sox blueprint — or the “All-in manifesto,” if you will — certainly did not feature an 11-21 start at its foundation.  —  There was no anticipation of a 10 1/2- or 11-game deficit to overcome after just five weeks …

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.

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 …