Fifth-place Cubs fire general manager Hendry  —  With one of the highest payrolls but the second worst record in the National League, the Chicago Cubs fired general manager and vice president Jim Hendry on Friday.  —  Assistant general manager Randy Bush was named Interim general manager, the team announced.

Masterson goes six strong; Indians top White Sox to win series  —  CHICAGO — Justin Masterson pitched six effective innings, Kosuke Fukudome had a tiebreaking RBI triple and the Cleveland Indians inched closer to the top of the AL Central with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night.

Tired-but-true excuse by Red Sox  —  Exhausted bats easy to explain  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Red Sox [team stats] feel victimized by their schedule, and they're not happy about it.  —  As the team deals with injuries to David Ortiz …

Randy Choate likely done for season  —  SAN DIEGO — The Marlins placed Randy Choate on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation, and it's unlikely the lefty specialist will pitch again this season.  —  “I doubt it,” Choate said after undergoing a MRI in South Florida on Thursday.

Harper injures hamstring, likely headed to DL  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals top prospect Bryce Harper had to leave Thursday's game against Double-A Akron because of a right hamstring injury.  He will be re-evaluated on Friday.  —  The injury occurred in the eighth inning, according to reports.

Sabathia snaps skid, Yankees hit three homers to beat Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — CC Sabathia stopped his two-start losing streak with nine strikeouts over seven innings, and the New York Yankees hit three home runs to support him in an 8-4 victory over the depleted Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.

Torre on home run call: “He just missed it”  —  Major League Baseball acknowledged that umpires muffed the home run call in the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Royals Wednesday night, but given that Joe Girardi opted not to file a protest, there's nothing that can be done about it.

Ex-congressman: Roger Clemens has ‘suffered enough’  —  A former U.S. representative who prodded the Justice Department investigation that led to charges against Roger Clemens for lying to Congress said the seven-time Cy Young Award winner has paid his dues, and he doesn't see a reason to continue putting him on trial.

Six* reasons the Angels are still in it  —  If the Rangers win the AL West this year, you'll live with that fact for the rest of your lives.  So there's no harm living the next couple weeks thinking that the Angels still have a shot.  Maybe that's delusional, but you know who else was delusional?

MLBPA files grievance on behalf of Zambrano  —  Players Union seeks lesser penalty for Cubs starter on DQ'd list  —  CHICAGO — The Major League Baseball Players Association has filed a grievance on behalf of Carlos Zambrano, who was placed on the disqualified list after he cleaned …

Mayberry Jr. goes deep, Phillies beat Diamondbacks  —  PHILADELPHIA — John Mayberry Jr. hit a two-run homer, David Herndon tossed three scoreless innings in relief and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 Thursday night in a matchup of division leaders.

Ryan Mattheus left last night's game because of ... Jayson Werth?  —  The focus on Ryan Mattheus after last night's 3-1 Nationals win should have been on the one batter he faced, a crucial strikeout of Paul Janish in the sixth inning with men on the corners, two outs and the Nationals up one run.

Mets Won't Trade Izzy, Byrdak, Hairston  —  Relievers Jason Isringhausen and Tim Byrdak, and outfielder Scott Hairston will remain with the Mets for season's balance, a source tells Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.  The players were placed on waivers, claimed and pulled back by the Mets …