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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Rashard Mendenhall fired by Champion over Osama bin Laden tweets  —  Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall is being dropped as an endorser by corporate sponsor Champion over his controversial tweets objecting to the celebration over the death of Osama bin Laden in some parts of the U.S.

Ailing Jeter sits; Yanks lose to Tigers  —  DETROIT (AP) — Brennan Boesch homered and drove in three runs, and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of some sloppy fielding to beat the New York Yankees for the third straight time, 6-3 on Thursday.  —  Derek Jeter didn't play for the Yankees …