Braves squander chances, fall in 14th  —  Atlanta loses four different leads to drop third straight game  —  NEW YORK — If the end of September arrives and the Braves aren't in their customary spot atop the National League East standings, they'll wonder just how different things might …

Angels pitching staff roughed up  —  Santana allows six runs, nine hits over four-plus frames  —  TORONTO — Few things went right for the Angels on Friday.  —  Their starting pitcher struggled while the offense continued to exhibit signs of basic malaise.

A-Rod bumped from cleanup spot  —  ARLINGTON - Alex Rodriguez was moved out of the cleanup spot last night but it wasn't a demotion; it was more like an accident.  —  As Joe Torre and bench coach Lee Mazzilli were discussing potential lineups before the game, Torre told Mazzilli …

Slump could put heat on Baker  —  SAN DIEGO — There is nothing like a challenging stretch of any season to put the focus on any manager.  So forget Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones and the rest as the guy most likely to be on the hot seat.  —  The guy under the microscope right now is Dusty Baker.

Battered and bruised: Giants lose game, Alou  —  S.F. falls below .500; outfielder will be placed on DL with ankle injury  —  PHILADELPHIA - The man who has benefited most from the presence of Barry Bonds might not be in the on-deck circle when No. 25 launches past Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list.

Guzman Will Have Surgery, Is Out for Year  —  The Washington Nationals brought shortstop Cristian Guzman to RFK Stadium early yesterday with the intention of testing his right shoulder with infield throws and determining whether he was ready for a minor league rehab assignment in New Orleans.

Kendall suspended four games, Lackey fined  —  Fantasy Baseball: Best pickups for May  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Athletics catcher Jason Kendall has been suspended four games for charging the mound and Los Angeles Angels pitcher John Lackey was fined Friday for his actions in the altercation.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!  —  I walked into the vending-machine room here at work early this morning, and some of the crew that comes in to clean the building were watching CSN's replay of last night's game during their break time.  —  I looked up at the TV and saw that the tape was in the 9th inning, 0-0 score.

Royals owner vows 'significant changes'  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An angry David Glass vowed Friday that "significant changes" are coming soon to the woeful Kansas City Royals.  —  "I'm not willing for us to sit and wait to see if it gets better," the Royals owner told The Associated Press on Friday.

Kaz gets little love but chips in with bat, glove  —  That noted baseball sage, 47-year-old Julio Franco, made the observation before Thursday night's game at Shea Stadium.  "If they were really good fans, they wouldn't boo Kaz so much," the veteran said of Kaz Matsui, a favorite target …

Crisp won't swing into action early  —  Coco Crisp, who had hoped to return before May 15, said yesterday that if he now has to bet on the over-under, he might go with ''over a couple days.  He intends to begin taking practice swings early next week, then begin hitting off a tee and hitting soft toss as the week progresses.

Zambrano looks to repeat solid outing  —  Atlanta (12-17) at New York (20-9), 1:10 p.m. ET  —  Following Friday's extra-innings marathon at Shea Stadium, the Mets will rise and shine early on Saturday for the second game of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves, looking to Victor Zambrano to keep the smiles on their faces.

Cards Notebook: Rodriguez solidifies his gains  —  MIAMI — Amid the week's offensive frustration for the Cardinals, outfielder John Rodriguez has been a beacon.  —  Rodriguez, hitting second ahead of first baseman Albert Pujols on Friday, extended his hitting streak to eight games with two singles.

Sun sets on Marlins stadium bill; cities given chance to upgrade stadiums  —  TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Marlins were left in the on-deck circle — again — when the Florida Legislature ended its 2006 session early Saturday morning.  —  Though a Marlins stadium deal cleared the Florida Senate …