Top News:
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
He's relieved to be back in the majors — SEATTLE — Frank Francisco's nearly two-year hiatus from major league action ended Friday when the Rangers recalled him and he pitched against the Mariners. — Francisco, who will turn 27 Monday, was the Rangers Rookie of the Year in 2004, when he had a 3.33 ERA in 45 appearances.
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T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com:
Notes: Francisco excited to be back — Return to big leagues was arduous for promising righty — SEATTLE — Right-handed reliever Frank Francisco's two-year odyssey came to an end on Friday night. He is once again on the Rangers active roster after missing almost two complete seasons …
Discussion:
Lone Star Ball
Kat O'Brien / Dallas Star-Telegram:
Rangers baffled by Baek — SEATTLE - Rangers starter Kevin Millwood lost a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners when Richie Sexson led off the fifth inning with a hard grounder past Hank Blalock. Two batters and two hits later, Millwood was staring at a 3-0 deficit.
Tony DeMarco / MLB.com:
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 …
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Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Nats Commit 6 Errors In Loss — Washington Again Gives Game Away : Rockies 11, Nationals 8 — Staying up to watch this on a Friday night would have brought, at the very least, indigestion. Intense fans of the Washington Nationals understand that their team is — how to put this politely? — defensively challenged.
Tony DeMarco / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
District of Baseball
John Powers / Boston Globe:
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.
Discussion:
Surviving Grady
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John Powers / Boston Globe:
Lopez is on the outs — Javy Lopez, brought in early last month to plug the gap when catcher Jason Varitek went down with a knee injury, was released yesterday, as the Red Sox brought back Ken Huckaby from Triple A Pawtucket. — ``When 'Tek went down, we needed a guy who could shoulder …
Tyler Kepner / New York Times:
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 …
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
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.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Associated Press:
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 …
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NY Daily News:
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.
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
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.
Derrick Goold / St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
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.
Discussion:
Viva El Birdos
Sean Brennan / NY Daily News:
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 …
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