Notes: Beltran playing with sore knee  —  All-Star says pain comes and goes, and that treatment helps  —  WASHINGTON — Carlos Beltran was back in the starting lineup Friday night after being off Thursday and resting his sore right knee.  The Mets center fielder said the pain has been diagnosed as tendinitis.

Rookie wing clips Yankees  —  You watched the game last night between the Yankees and their personal tormentors, the West Coast Angels, and it reminded you that the Bombers are still missing something important, after all that money and all these years.  —  They're missing Joe Saunders …

Mulder nets mixed results in minor league start  —  MEMPHIS — Lefthander Mark Mulder took another step in his seven-week rehab from shoulder stiffness Friday night at Auto Zone Park.  The Cardinals will devote this weekend to determining whether it was a sideways shuffle or a step forward.

Nats, Mets recognize Negro Leagues  —  Teams don uniforms of Homestead Grays and NY Cubans  —  WASHINGTON — With just two hours remaining before Friday night's game between the Nationals and Mets, neither New York's road gray jerseys nor Washington's home whites hung in the respective players' lockers.

Prior to DL?  Velocity dip a concern  —  DENVER — Mark Prior's lost season grew dimmer Friday.  —  Instead of flying with the Cubs from Milwaukee to Denver, the club sent the right-hander to Chicago to have team physician Stephen Gryzlo examine his shoulder.

Pavano in fan flap  —  Carl Pavano was involved in a verbal dispute with a fan at his rehab outing in Tampa on Thursday night, during which he made an off-color remark alluding to the fan's sexual orientation, according to sources.  —  The fan was heckling Pavano all night …

Girardi was to be fired  —  PHOENIX — Turns out there was a good reason Sunday for the Marlins to make preparations for an impromptu news conference: Owner Jeffrey Loria was going to announce that he had fired manager Joe Girardi.  —  But Loria was persuaded to change his mind …

Padres-Astros Preview  —  The San Diego Padres ' latest slide has knocked them out of first place in the National League West.  —  The Padres look to avoid losing their fourth straight game when they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Friday.

Sox break out  —  Lowell gets up to provide a big lift  —  Guy Spina, the longtime Sox employee now working as the press dining room attendant, had a flashback last night as he watched Mike Lowell lying face down in the dirt at home plate.  —  ``I remembered another No. 25 lying there …

Notes: Pierre recalls Rockies days  —  Lee can start baseball activities Monday; Prior watch continues  —  DENVER — When Juan Pierre's name was announced to lead off Friday's game, he received a nice ovation from a larger-than-usual crowd at Coors Field.  The big contingent of boisterous fans …

Brewers bench struggling Jenkins  —  Milwaukee to take extended look at Gross, Hart  —  ATLANTA — After waiting in vain for right fielder Geoff Jenkins to get hot, Brewers manager Ned Yost said Friday he planned to bench the slumping veteran for the rest of the season and will spread more playing time to Corey Hart and Gabe Gross.

The pickup artists  —  These pitchers get going when the going gets tough  —  Not to spark any scandals, but a renowned family man is one of baseball's best pickup artists.  This is gospel, although gossip columnists need not get worked up.  —  You can look it up: Curt Schilling …