G127: Red Sox 2, Angels 1  —  Sox win 2-1, Yanks lose 4-2 (Slappy K vs Putz to end it).  —  Papi gave the Sox a 1-0 lead with his 46th HR leading off the fourth.  Boston got a second run with a bases-loaded grounder from Doug Mirabelli in the seventh.  Orlando Cabrera thought …

Cruz has Buck on his side  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Buck Showalter believes that Nelson Cruz can be a regular in the major leagues, and perhaps as early as next year.  Right now, however, Showalter plans to start the right-handed hitting Cruz only against left-handed pitchers.

BANNISTER GETS BALL AS DUQUE GETS REST  —  Willie Randolph announced yesterday that Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, who was slated to pitch tonight against the Phillies, won't take the hill this weekend due to his recent heavy workload.  —  Brian Bannister will come off the disabled list tonight …

Baseball players covet opponents' memorabilia  —  MIAMI GARDENS — It's not quite the same as exchanging sweat-soaked jerseys with an opponent after a 90-minute soccer game.  In many cases the premise behind it is the same.  —  Respect.  —  Some baseball players are among the game's biggest fans …

Schroder's Getting an Opportunity  —  His ERA is a hefty 5.73, and he is baby-faced for someone who just turned 28.  But don't let rookie reliever Chris Schroder of the Washington Nationals fool you.  —  "I like him," pitching coach Randy St. Claire said.

Padres acquire slugger Branyan from Devil Rays  —  Trying to strengthen their bench, the Padres on Thursday acquired left-handed slugger Russell Branyan from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  —  Branyan, 30, is a corner infielder/outfielder and boom-or-bust hitter who has 12 home runs and 62 strikeouts …

Vazquez aims to feed off his recent failure  —  Sunday's setback vs. Twins a learning tool  —  DETROIT — Javier Vazquez will take the mound Friday night against the same Twins team that beat him Sunday.  —  Despite that loss, Vazquez and White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper …

Wagner: Winning the most important  —  Billy Wagner hasn't been asked a question about "Enter Sandman" in months, and with a streak of 10 consecutive saves, as well as 18 in his last 20 chances, there's not much buzz around his locker these days.  —  Which is just fine for a closer …

Tracing his roots as a fan  —  It's not about who's to blame  —  I appeared to strike a chord in the readership earlier this week by writing the following: ``The truth is we need to sit down and figure what sports are all about.  We've lost our way.  It was in reference to the Yankees' infamous five …

Notes: Phillies using trio to close  —  Gordon's injury opens door for Rhodes, Madson and Geary  —  CHICAGO — Arthur Rhodes plus Ryan Madson and Geoff Geary equals three saves in three games for the Phillies.  —  Such has been life for the Phillies bullpen while closer Tom Gordon recovers from right shoulder inflammation.

Winning ways win over newest Met  —  Bobby pins would have slid off Carlos Delgado's bald head, so he used sticky tape to make sure the yarmulke stayed in its proper place.  Shawn Green was getting married, and it wouldn't be kosher if the guys in the wedding party looked unkempt.

Cards Notebook: Edmonds back in lineup  —  New York: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Thursday he expects to write center fielder Jim Edmonds into the lineup tonight for the first time in more than a week.  —  Edmonds, recovering from post-concussion syndrome, has not started since Aug. 15 …

Lack of HRs bigger issue than OBP, Baker says  —  With the Cubs falling so far out of the playoff race early this season, it has given all the want-to-be general managers plenty of time to figure out how to fix the team for 2007.  —  Sign free agents Barry Zito and Carlos Lee.

40-40 definitely in Soriano's sights … MIAMI — As he approaches an unprecedented mark brought on by his speed and power, Alfonso Soriano is trying to stay on an even keel in the last year of his contract.  —  With 5½ weeks remaining in the season Soriano, who has 41 home runs and 30 steals …

Underachieving?  —  NEW YORK — Cardinals executives said the club's current roster, regardless of cost, should be performing better than it is.  But rather than pay for short-term fixes and complicate future finances, they have taken a long-term and in-house approach to improving.