Backe placed on 15-day disabled list  —  Righty has sprained ligament in elbow; Astacio recalled  —  PHOENIX — After having to leave Thursday's start after just two innings, Brandon Backe was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Schilling leaves Mariners all wet  —  Red Sox ace goes eight innings to notch his third victory  —  BOSTON — The elements tried to inflict on his surge out of the gate.  But not even steady rain, which was prevalent through the mid and late stages of Friday's contest against the Mariners at Fenway Park …

Error ball  —  Milwaukee's Carlos Lee went back to the left-field wall twice to rob potential game-winning hits from the Cardinals in the 10th inning Thursday before he rocked a shot well over the same wall an inning later.  —  Lee's grip won the game, while Jason Isringhausen's let it slip.

Michigan And Trouble  —  Just go away.  —  That, in a nutshell, encompasses Mike Ilitch's attitude toward venerable Tiger Stadium.  —  It's not about baseball fans, it's not about the city's history, it's not about an historic landmark, it's about protecting Mike Ilitch's wallet.

GREINKE EAGER TO PITCH AGAIN  —  KC starter 'feeling a lot better' and looking forward to playing  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Royals pitcher Zack Greinke said he feels healthy enough, after nearly eight weeks of psychological counseling, to think about returning to the mound.

Wells may be headed to DL  —  David Wells is expected to miss his next start on Monday and could be headed back to the 15-day disabled list.  —  The 42-year-old left-hander, who was pounded for seven runs on 10 hits in only four innings in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays …

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 …

Bad news for Bonds  —  HE SAYS HE WANTS TO KEEP PLAYING, WON'T HAVE SURGERY FOR PROBLEM  —  LOS ANGELES - The Giants' 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers salvaged a Friday night marred by more ominous news about Barry Bonds: He has bone chips in his left elbow.

Report: Feds investigating if Bonds committed perjury  —  Baseball isn't the only organization investigating Barry Bonds.  —  CNN reported Thursday that the federal government is investigating whether Bonds committed perjury during his grand jury testimony in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case in 2003.

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.

Lerners scramble to add diversity  —  A leading group bidding to own the Washington Nationals has contacted minority members of its rivals in an effort to satisfy Major League Baseball by diversifying its membership, three sources close to the process said.  —  A group largely made up of the family …

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 …

Charting the majors: Yankees talk to Pena  —  Charting the majors  — Yankees talk to Pena: New York has entered into serious discussions with former Tigers first baseman Carlos Pena .  —  The Red Sox, Dodgers and Chiba Lotte Marines also have shown interest in Pena …