Top News:
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox relinquish late lead — The Red Sox gave American League pitchers another glipse of their powerful might on Friday, launching four homers, including two from Manny Ramirez. But despite the offensive fireworks, Josh Beckett and Boston's bullpen faltered late, capped …
Discussion:
Empyreal Environs
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Ian Browne / MLB.com:
DiNardo to face Halladay — Boston (11-6) at Toronto (8-7), 1:07 p.m. ET — In his brief Major League career, it's safe to say that Red Sox left-hander Lenny DiNardo has never gone up against a former Cy Young Award winner as he will when he takes the mound opposite Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay on Saturday afternoon.
Ian Browne / MLB.com:
Sox halted by Jays in 12 innings — Beckett, bullpen can't hold four-run lead in eighth — TORONTO — With a complete-game gem tantalizingly close enough to taste, Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett instead ended the night all but feeling he got hit by a skunk.
Discussion:
Boston Red Sox
Jim Reeves / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Texas Rangers — Did Rangers discover themselves out West? — In My Opinion — ARLINGTON - Between catnaps, Buck Showalter stared out the window into the darkness during the Rangers' four-hour plane ride home from Seattle on Thursday night, searching for answers he knew he wouldn't find in the stars.
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
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David Jimenez / Associated Press:
Ailing coach's visit inspires Rangers — ARLINGTON — If Friday night was any indication, the Texas Rangers can't wait for the return of hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. — Jaramillo, who is recovering from prostate cancer, visited the Texas clubhouse before the game.
Richard Durrett / Dallas Morning News:
Jaramillo can't wait to get back to work — Ailing hitting coach greets Rangers upon arrival from road trip — ARLINGTON - Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has a message for his doctors: You did your job and starting May 12, I'm going to do mine. — Jaramillo returned …
Mike Kiley / Chicago Sun Times:
Cautious Rothschild keeps Wood out of rookie contest — ST. LOUIS — The last thing the Cubs needed Thursday in the wake of finding out that Derrek Lee's right wrist was broken was to hear that Kerry Wood couldn't pitch that day in a rookie game in Arizona because of muscle tightness.
Discussion:
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse
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Carrie Muskat / MLB.com:
Cubs' Prior faces hitters for first time — Wood's latest throwing session cut short — ST. LOUIS — The Chicago Cubs have good news on Mark Prior and some cautionary news about Kerry Wood. — Prior, who has been sidelined with a strained muscle in his right shoulder …
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Giles Hits, Blum Slides and Padres Win in 14th — SAN DIEGO, April 21 — The only greater mystery than Carlos Beltrán's injury status Friday was how the Mets could solve the Padres' pitching. — The Mets learned the first answer in the seventh inning. They are still waiting for the second.
Discussion:
www.transplantedmetsfan.com
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets fall short against Padres — Bradford allows game-winning double in 14th inning — SAN DIEGO — While the innings mounted — 12, 13, 14 — the minutes didn't. The Mets were going nowhere fast. It was blitzkrieg baseball, a blur of outs. The innings sped by.
Discussion:
Metsquire
Associated Press:
Bonds hitless as Giants blow lead in loss — DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Rockies won one for their ailing slugger. — Garrett Atkins' run-scoring single capped a four-run rally in the ninth inning, lifting the Rockies over the San Francisco Giants 9-8 on Friday night.
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Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Anna laughs last at Mets — Anna Benson was so nervous last night watching her husband Kris pitch against the Yankees at the Stadium that she put an impromptu interview on hold for half an inning. All topics were taboo at first, including the Mets, the trade of her husband to Baltimore, her recent divorce filing and her followers.
David Lennon / Newsday:
Feeling hamstrung — Mets not sure how long Beltran will be out; time right for Milledge? — SAN DIEGO - The Mets knew Carlos Beltran was unfit to start Friday after he was removed from the previous night's game because of his right hamstring strain. But they seem to have no idea …
Rick Gano / Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
Vazquez no-hitter slowly rolls away — Check-swing single ends Sox pitcher's bid — CHICAGO — Javier Vazquez watched the ball roll down the third-base line, his bid for a no-hitter riding on where it landed. Third baseman Joe Crede had no play, either. He was too far back.
Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Trade won't solve Phillies' pitching woes — The Phillies believe left-hander Randy Wolf could be the equivalent of a mid-season acquisition, figuring that he might return from elbow-ligament transplant surgery by late June. But even if Wolf meets the Phillies' optimistic projection, he alone can't fix their pitching problems.
Discussion:
6-4-2
