Top-heavy lineup pays dividends  —  Pedroia, Drew record eight of Red Sox's nine hits vs. Giants  —  BOSTON — Top-heavy?  Certainly.  Over the top?  No doubt.  Either way, the Red Sox had no complaints with the new 1-2 punch of J.D. Drew and Dustin Pedroia basically taking over Friday night's …

Nats Have Off Night Against Halladay  —  There might have been teams that looked at Friday's matchup on paper — Toronto's Roy Halladay against their own Mike Bacsik — and understood the realities of the situation.  But the Washington Nationals have already experienced a slew of oddities this year …

Jennings trade looks even worse.  Bruntlett gets his shot.  —  If you didn't like the Jason Jennings trade last winter, you're going to like it even less today.  He's winless.  He's hurt again.  He wouldn't be enough to rescue this train wreck of a baseball team, and unless he gets well …

Floyd: I was going to catch it  —  Deflected ball in deep right recalls Bartman debacle  —  Cliff Floyd did his best Moises Alou impersonation in the sixth inning of Friday's 4-1 victory over the Padres, screaming at a Cubs fan for reaching out over the right-field basket and interfering with what Floyd believed was a catchable ball.

'Sides' was one of a kind  —  If you followed Red Sox baseball over the last 30 years, you knew Larry Whiteside.  At least you knew his byline.  You knew his work.  —  Those of us in the press box and the Globe sports department were more fortunate.  We knew the man.  "Sides."

Perez outpitches Clemens, Mets top Yanks  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Just the sight of the New York Yankees energized the Mets.  —  Oliver Perez outdueled Roger Clemens, Jose Reyes was 3-for-3 with three steals, two RBIs and a home run, and Carlos Gomez leapt to prevent a three-run homer.

Lowe fans 11 as Dodgers drop Angels  —  Righty opens Freeway Series with dominant performance  —  LOS ANGELES — All those years in Red Sox Nation had Derek Lowe ideally prepared to face the Angels on Friday night.  —  "You get killed pitching scared to American League teams," he said.

Notes: Mahay returns to the bullpen  —  Left-hander activated from DL; Feldman optioned to Oklahoma  —  CINCINNATI — Left-hander Ron Mahay returned to the Rangers bullpen on Friday after being activated off the disabled list, and right-hander Scott Feldman was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma.

Atlanta 5, Cleveland 4  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Yunel Escobar was 12 years old the last time the Atlanta Braves won a game at Jacobs Field.  —  The 24-year-old, playing his 14th career game, lined a two-run double off Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia (10-2) in the ninth inning to give the Braves a 5-4 win over the Indians on Friday night.

Prospectus Today  —  Dunn Deals  —  In what is shaping up as a light midseason trade market, the big prize is Reds left fielder Adam Dunn.  Dunn has been a lightning rod for criticism in Cincinnati, where his take'n'rake approach and Three True Outcomes output seen as a drag on the team's offense rather than a boost to it.

Nats hold off late charge to win Battle  —  Zimmerman comes through with go-ahead run to seal sweep  —  BALTIMORE — The Nationals and Orioles found themselves in a pitchers' duel on Thursday night, but when it was over it was Washington that won the battle as it edged Baltimore, 3-1, in front of 20,770 fans at Camden Yards.

Salty's at 1B; Stark fires back at Boras  —  The move that so many of you blog denizens have been pining for — can't say I blame you — is happening.  At least tonight it's happening, and I'd guess it'll happen some more.  —  Salty is starting at first base.