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 …

Blue Jays try to continue run barrage vs. Athletics  —  The Sports Network  —  (Sports Network) - The Toronto Blue Jays haven't been shy about scoring runs this season and lately it's becoming the norm.  —  Averaging over seven runs per game in their last 11 contests (46 total) …

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?

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.

Mets land in real Catch-22 due to shoddy defense  —  SAN DIEGO — Terry Collins spoke almost wistfully, as if he and his coaching staff had thrown their full weight into the Mets' defensive dilemma without any tangible results.  —  “Nobody takes infield anymore at the major-league level,” …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …