Source: Starlin Castro gets extension  —  Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $60 million, a source told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com.  —  The contract covers four years of arbitration eligibility and three years of free agency, and includes a $16 million option for 2020.

Royals rally for 4-2 victory over White Sox  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Luis Mendoza is pitching so well the Kansas City Royals are having some fun with his unorthodox hairstyle.  —  Mendoza tossed seven effective innings, Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking two-run double and the Royals rallied …

Rockies will likely make push to bring back lefty Jeff Francis  —  Jeff Francis won't solve the Rockies' myriad pitching woes.  He's not the rotation's savior and he's never again going to be an ace like he was during the 2007 World Series season.  —  But there are strong indications …

Sox's Crain on fan dying in stands: ‘I said a little prayer for him’ … Tribune report  —  During the seventh inning of the Sox-Blue Jays game Thursday night, a fan sitting in the front row suffered a cardiac arrest.  Medical personnel attended to the fan, but he later died at a nearby hospital.

C.J. Nitkowski ‘in the conversation’ to join NY Mets rotation says team officials  —  'If he keeps doing what he's doing, he'll be up,' one team official said  —  Terry Collins runs into some trouble upon arriving to the nation's capital.  —  WASHINGTON — The Mets' most interesting September call …

Rochester Red Wings, Twins renew affiliation for 2 more years  —  The Red Wings are ready to begin another decade as Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.  —  The clubs jointly announced a two-year extension of their player development contract on Friday, ensuring the Twins will be in Rochester through at least 2014.

Cain Is Dominating in Giants' 10-1 Win Over Padres  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Matt Cain pitched eight dominating innings and the San Francisco Giants scored eight runs in the third inning to move into first place in the NL West with a 10-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Club paying for David Ortiz's absence  —  NEW YORK — For 31⁄2 months, David Ortiz [stats] was as powerful a force in the middle of the Red Sox [team stats] batting order as he ever has been.  —  But his true value has been seen over the past four weeks.

Mariners give up runs, but still beat Twins 5-3  —  SEATTLE—John Jaso and Miguel Olivo homered, and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 on Friday night.  —  Iwakuma (4-3) gave up four hits, but didn't allow an earned run …