Steve Howe dies at 48  —  Steve Howe, the relief pitcher whose promising career was derailed by cocaine and alcohol abuse, died Friday when his pickup truck rolled over in Coachella, Calif. He was 48.  —  Howe was killed at 5:55 a.m. PDT, said Dalyn Backes of the Riverside County coroner's office.

Chi Cubs 6, Milwaukee 2  —  Chi Cubs 6, Milwaukee 2  —  CHICAGO (AP) — New territory for Greg Maddux.  At age 40, he's 5-0 for the first time in his long and distinguished career.  —  Twice facing bases-loaded jams, Maddux escaped the big inning Friday to win his fifth straight start …

Mets minor leaguer is first player penalized under toughened major league rules  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Mets minor league pitcher Yusaku Iriki was suspended for 50 games Friday after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, making him the first player to be penalized under Major League Baseball's toughened steroid rules.

Rangers to add Tejeda to rotation  —  Right-hander will be called up to start Tuesday  —  CLEVELAND — The Rangers continue to rework their pitching staff and are planning to call up right-hander Robinson Tejeda so he can join the rotation, club officials said Friday.

BALCO supplier of 'the clear' pleads guilty  —  BALCO supplier of 'the clear' pleads guilty  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A noted scientist in the field of sports nutritional supplements pleaded guilty Friday to supplying the BALCO lab with the performance-enhancing drug known as "the clear."

Minor League umpires to end season-long strike  —  Union expected to approve new six-year agreement on Sunday  —  Minor League umpires are returning to a ballpark near you soon.  —  MiLB.com has learned that the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation (PBUC) reached a tentative six-year agreement …

Mesa suspended 4 games for throwing at Vizquel; Morris, Righetti fined  —  Mesa suspended 4 games for throwing at Vizquel; Morris, Righetti fined  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Colorado Rockies pitcher Jose Mesa was given a four-game suspension by Major League Baseball on Friday for intentionally throwing …

Dodgers-Padres Preview  —  Both the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will be looking to reverse their early-season fortunes as the NL West rivals begin a three-game series Friday at Petco Park.  —  While the Dodgers have lost two in a row and are 10-12, the defending NL West champion Padres are in worse shape at 8-13.

Mets Seek Better Results in Their House of Horrors  —  ATLANTA, April 27 — By this time in past seasons, the Mets have needed a telescope to discern how far the Braves were ahead of them in the National League East standings.  But as the teams open a three-game series Friday night at Turner Field …

It's a New Page as Coach Returns to St. Louis  —  ST. LOUIS, April 27 — Mitchell Page sat in the visitors' dugout Thursday evening at new Busch Stadium as Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals took batting practice.  Page once was the hitting coach for the powerful Cardinals …

Athletics place Harden on 15-day DL; Street could return soon  —  Athletics place Harden on 15-day DL; Street could return soon  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back muscle, putting his bid for a 4-0 start on hold for three to six weeks.

Braves get new network, broadcast team  —  Rathbun, Torborg to call games as Turner South changes  —  ATLANTA — Braves fans who watch the team's games on television will be able to do less channel surfing, but also will have to get used to the announcers they'll see and hear when Fox Cable Networks takes control of Turner South.

Nationals place right-handed pitcher John Patterson on 15-day disabled list  —  Righthander Zach Day activated to 25-man roster  —  The Washington Nationals today placed right-handed pitcher John Patterson on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to April 22, with a right forearm strain.

Giants put Durham on disabled list  —  Infielder Frandsen brought up from Triple-A Fresno  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants purchased the contract of hot-hitting Triple-A infielder Kevin Frandsen on Friday to replace second baseman Ray Durham, who has been put on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

Voting begins for All-Star Game  —  77th annual Midsummer Classic set for July 11 at PNC Park  —  Life in 1933: Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge, the original "King Kong" premiered, the chocolate chip cookie was invented and a midsummer extravaganza called the "Game of the Century" …