Shaky fielding dooms Nats in opener  —  Defensive miscues lead to a five-run Rockies eighth inning  —  DENVER — This time, the Washington Nationals have nobody to blame but themselves.  —  Back in mid-June, when the Nationals were on a nice roll and within four games of .500 …

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.

Karstens Is Bright Spot for Banged-Up Yankees  —  There is a temporary bank of lockers in the middle of the visitors' clubhouse at Camden Yards, enough to fit the 34 Yankees on the active roster.  On this team, the term active is used loosely.  —  Mariano Rivera is out for this weekend's series …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …