Notes: Soriano approaching milestones  —  Left fielder needs two more stolen bases to reach 40/40 club  —  DENVER — Frank Robinson, Hall of Famer that he is, has seen pretty much all there is to see in 51 years around the Major Leagues.  So when he calls something "one of the best ever …

Howard feasts on Marlins' pitching  —  MIAMI GARDENS — For Scott Olsen, the instructions were clear: Do not allow Ryan Howard to beat you.  —  So with a 2-0 count and a runner on first in the sixth inning Friday, Olsen tried to get back into the count by challenging Howard with a fastball, preferably low.

Royals head to Fenway  —  Kansas City (52-89) at Boston (75-65), Friday, 6:05 p.m. CT  —  It's back to Fenway Park on Friday for the Royals.  Things didn't go very well there in July when the Royals lost three one-run decisions, 5-4, 1-0, 1-0.  —  Matter of fact, in the last four years …

Padres-Giants Preview  —  The San Diego Padres continue their pursuit of first place in the NL West by trying to fend off a couple of teams pursuing them.  —  Boasting a five-game winning streak, the Padres begin perhaps their most important stretch of the regular season's final month Friday …

Buehrle can't find handle against Tribe  —  Starter leaves in fifth inning; White Sox bats largely silent  —  CHICAGO — In watching Ozzie Guillen walk from the U.S. Cellular Field Conference and Learning Center back to the White Sox clubhouse following Thursday's 9-1 loss to Cleveland …

Arms fixed with Rick's mechanics  —  Usually baseball writers call major league scouts in search of information.  Yesterday it worked just the opposite, when a scout called to ask a specific question:  —  "Is Rick Peterson going to be back with the Mets next year?" he asked.

Timlin gives it back  —  Ortiz hands Sox lead, Royals answer in ninth  —  No need to watch the out-of-town scoreboard anymore.  What the Yankees and White Sox and Twins and everybody else in sanitary hose are doing will be irrelevant if the town team keeps losing life-and-death games with last-place ball clubs.

Halos stifle Jays, win sixth straight  —  Rookie hurler Saunders tosses gem as Angels roll  —  ANAHEIM — Joe Saunders started the Angels' current winning streak and on Friday he gave the Angels exactly what they're going to need to catch the A's.  —  The left-hander tossed …

Notes: Cy Young for Hoffman?  —  Padres call up Knott; Branyan hoping to return to San Diego  —  SAN FRANCISCO — He is not totally objective, of course, but Padres general manager Kevin Towers thinks he can make a reasonable and persuasive case for Trevor Hoffman as a serious candidate for the National League's 2006 Cy Young Award.

Cards absorb a drubbing in desert  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks felt the weather pleasant enough Friday to open the roof for Friday night's game, which then featured some of the reeking flaws the Cardinals had done well to keep a lid on for several weeks.

Tom's terrific at Shea  —  Even 20 seasons into his Hall of Fame career, Tom Glavine stills has his anxious moments.  —  His latest one came last night.  —  When Glavine took the mound to kick off what would eventually be a 7- Mets victory over the Dodgers, it was the first time the veteran lefthander …

Rangers recall reliever who once threw chair  —  SEATTLE (AP) — The Texas Rangers on Friday recalled right-hander Frank Francisco, who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault for throwing a chair that broke the nose of an Oakland Athletics female fan two years ago.

Cards' Isringhausen could be done for year  —  If the St. Louis Cardinals are going to seal the deal in the tight NL Central they may have to do it without their closer.  —  According to a report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jason Isringhausen will not pitch this weekend and could be done …

There's plenty to play for  —  Brewers out of race, have goals to chase  —  thaudricourt@journalsentinel.com  —  As a result of their recent 10-game losing streak, the Milwaukee Brewers no longer are in the National League playoff picture.  Any real shot at their first winning season since 1992 …