Kearns homers as Nats snap skid  —  With Cordero unavailable, Rivera narrowly closes it out  —  ATLANTA — With a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning on Friday night, Nationals right-hander Chad Cordero did not come in to close out the game against the Braves.  Instead, righty Saul Rivera entered …

Rested Ortiz set for some healthy cuts  —  SEATTLE — He said there were no chest pains.  No high blood pressure.  David Ortiz said it was stress and dehydration that put him in Massachusetts General Hospital for intravenous fluids and overnight observation last Saturday in the middle of the Yankee series.

Schilling leads Sox against Mariners  —  Boston (71-56) at Seattle (58-69), 10:05 p.m. ET  —  The Red Sox, fresh off taking two out of three in Anaheim, continue their nine-game West Coast swing at Safeco Field when they begin a three-game series against the Mariners on Friday night.

Padres tab Thompson to start opener  —  San Diego (65-62) at Colorado (59-67), Friday, 6:05 p.m. PT  —  After a 10-game homestand that started so low and ended so high, the Padres hope to find a good balance before heading into the home stretch.  —  "Over the last few weeks …

Shoulder woes put Kazmir on DL … BALTIMORE - All-Star pitcher Scott Kazmir's season has been interrupted again by shoulder problems and possibly could be over.  —  The Rays placed Kazmir on the disabled list after Friday's game for what they said were precautionary reasons and don't know when he will next pitch.

Band strikes out with Pirates fans  —  A four-run rally in the sixth for a big Pirates win, clear skies and a glorious fireworks display.  —  What could go wrong?  —  Thirty-two thousand fans found out Thursday night at PNC Park when a post-game entertainment extravaganza disintegrated into boos …

Series features best of league's pinch-hitters  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphin Stadium is the ideal site for a pinch-hitting clinic this weekend.  —  The Brewers (.287) and Marlins (.282) are the top two pinch-hitting teams in the majors this season.  The Marlins have three players among …

Pavano says he's ready to return  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Carl Pavano, on the disabled list for more than a year, declared himself ready to pitch for the Yankees after his latest rehab start Friday night.  "Yes, I'm ready," he told The Columbus Dispatch.  "I felt good."

Why your MLB team won't win it all  —  Unless a powerhouse emerges at Williamsport, the 2006 baseball season seems incapable of producing a great team.  —  Lower your hand, Yankees fan.  The team you just clouted in Boston has more holes than your uncle's T-shirt.  —  The Mets crowd should pipe down, too.

Angels' rookie delivers blow in ninth  —  Napoli knocks sacrifice fly with bases loaded for win  —  ANAHEIM — Mike Napoli hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday that gave the Angels a 6-5 victory over the Yankees.  —  Napoli lifted a fly to left …