Sox rally falls short  —  Clement hit hard in first home start of season  —  BOSTON — There's never a good time for a bad start.  But Matt Clement knows his timing Thursday night wasn't the best, especially considering his counterpart's recent success against the Red Sox.

Mets open series with Brewers  —  Milwaukee (6-3) at New York Mets (7-1) 7:10 p.m. ET  —  The Mets venture outside the thus-far friendly confines of the National League East for the first time Friday night, when they face the Brewers in the opener of a three-game series.

Wood may be nearing minor-league rehab  —  Kerry Wood could begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in about 10 to 12 days.  If Wood's strong comeback from shoulder surgery last August continues in a simulated game Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., the usual routine would be one more simulated game …

Sprained elbow ligament lands Astros' Backe on DL  —  HOUSTON — Houston Astros pitcher Brandon Backe was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a sprained ligament in his right elbow, the team said.  —  Backe left in the second inning of the Astros' 5-3 loss to San Francisco on Thursday.

Dodgers' Brazoban out for season  —  Reliever to undergo elbow reconstruction surgery  —  LOS ANGELES — Reliever Yhency Brazoban will require Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery and be lost for the season, the Dodgers learned Friday.  —  Brazoban told the club he felt the elbow …

Yankees will be rolling come October … Happens every year.  —  Happened last year.  We bet it happens this year too.  —  There's always some team nobody expected to make the playoffs that rides a shocking start all the way into October.  Last year's mystery guest: your Chicago White Sox, ladies and gentlemen.

Notes: Shelton part of rare trio  —  Hafner, Thome help give AL Central a bundle of power  —  DETROIT — The only times Chris Shelton and Travis Hafner have talked much are the rare times Hafner settled for a single against the Tigers last year.  Now, they're linked for their trips around the bases.

Right knee stiffness sidelines Griffey vs. Cards  —  ST. LOUIS — Ken Griffey Jr. missed his second straight start with stiffness in his right knee on Friday night, and the Cincinnati Reds made a move to add outfield depth.  —  The Reds purchased the contract of Quinton McCracken …

Bidders For Nats May Join Forces  —  With Major League Baseball poised to select a new owner for the Washington Nationals within the next week, the family of local real estate patriarch Theodore "Ted" Lerner yesterday was very close to teaming up with former Atlanta sports executive Stan Kasten …

Brand New Shoes  —  Ladies, here's a sneak view inside the Guy Code — that unwritten set of rules that govern what American Guys do in social situations, covering everything from the type of drinks which are acceptable to order to the selection of urinals in a public restroom.

Park leads Padres into Atlanta  —  San Diego (3-5) at Atlanta (4-6), 4:35 p.m. PT  —  Padres manager Bruce Bochy keeps telling his players there are some turbulent ups and downs to the typical Major League season.  They've seen a few already.  The Padres certainly didn't expect to lose three home games to the Rockies.

Under The Knife  —  Memes  —  There are two memes working their way around baseball right now that need to be addressed.  First is the preposterous notion that ten days of data tells us we haven't solved the steroid problem with the new testing, or that something like Hawk Harrelson's …

Mariners Notebook: Willie waits his turn  —  Utility player hasn't received much game time  —  CLEVELAND — Ten games into the season, Willie Bloomquist's starting percentage is .200  —  His batting average is .200.  —  The two are not unrelated.  Bloomquist isn't a regular starter …

Prospectus Matchups  —  Seems?  Nay, It Is.  —  friendly  —  Contact  —  Best Matchup (opponents with best combined Prospectus Hit List rankings): Milwaukee Brewers (6th) @ New York Mets (5th)  —  The Mets have their first real challenge of the year in the Brewers.