Rookie pitcher has lymphoma  —  BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Jon Lester has a form of lymphoma and will start treatment in the coming week, the team announced Friday.  —  Enlarged lymph nodes were identified when Lester, 22, was tested to determine the cause of back pain …

Red Sox beat Jays, lose Papelbon  —  Closer leaves in ninth, starter Snyder strikes out eight  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox won Friday night's game, but the nightmarish injury bug hit again with Jonathan Papelbon leaving in the ninth inning.  Boston's closer held his right shoulder after a pitch to Lyle Overbay.

SOMEDAY, YANKEES WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IRREPLACEABLE  —  MO  —  THE BULLPEN door opened Wednesday night and so did a scary window into the Yankee future.  Scott Proctor, not Mariano Rivera, emerged and a Yankees' lead disappeared.  —  It was yet another reminder that some time soon …

Wells: 'I don't plan on coming back'  —  SAN DIEGO — David Wells blew into his hometown on Friday evening and let on that this is more than likely going to be the last season of successful, colorful big-league career.  —  Wells, obtained Thursday by San Diego from the Boston Red Sox for the stretch drive …

With Respect, Leyland Argues His Point  —  Nothing, it would seem, could stop an ornery baseball manager from arguing with an umpire.  Nothing, that is, except the voice of Kate Smith.  —  Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland was ejected from yesterday's game after the second to last pitch of the top of the seventh inning.

The best young tandem in baseball?  Tough call  —  A scout last week asked me this question:  —  "Who would you take, the Mets' Jose Reyes and David Wright or the Phillies' Ryan Howard and Chase Utley?"  —  Without giving the topic much thought, I responded, "Howard and Utley."

Anderson, Ward traded  —  WASHINGTON— Marlon Anderson started a ninth-inning rally and scored the game-winning run in the Nationals' 6-5 extra-innings win over the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday.  —  Then, he got traded.  —  The Nationals traded Anderson and first baseman Daryle Ward …

The Nevin Trade  —  One of the Twins' biggest weaknesses this season has been the complete lack of production they've received from designated hitters.  That spot in the lineup has batted a combined .264/.311/.371, which is good for a .682 OPS that ranks dead last among AL teams.

Tulowitzki, Iannetta up  —  Rockies trying something new at shortstop, catcher … Troy - I appreciate loyalty and giving a guy a chance, but what's the deal with Clint Hurdle and Clint Barmes?  The minors are full of flashy-glove, no-bat guys.  Their middle fielders are killing them at the plate.

Twins RHP Radke out indefinitely due to shoulder injury  —  BRONX, New York (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins postseason hopes took a hit on Friday when it was announced Brad Radke could be out until late September with a right shoulder injury.  —  Radke was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the glenoid in his throwing shoulder.

Under The Knife  —  Thank You  —  It's not a normal day in these parts.  I'll admit to being both tired and excited, nervous and even a bit scared, but mostly just grateful.  I'll be making my TV debut tonight at 5:30 p.m. Eastern as part of ESPN2's "The Fantasy Show" and I hope you'll watch, since you're a big reason I'm there.

Phillies acquire former sausage-beater from Rangers  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired first baseman Randall Simon from the Texas Rangers for cash on Friday.  —  Simon, suspended for three games in 2003 after hitting one of the Milwaukee Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat …

Tonight's Nationals-Diamondbacks game at RFK Stadium postponed due to rain  —  Tonight's Nationals-Diamondbacks game scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., has been postponed due to rain.  The game will be made up at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, September 2 …