Martínez Does His Part, but Bullpen Falters  —  With each sniff-the-corner fastball, with each disappearing changeup, with each of his nine strikeouts, Pedro Martínez built a compelling case to continue pitching until he was dragged off the mound.

Beckett slows down Yanks, becomes first 19-game winner  —  CBSSports.com wire reports  —  BOSTON — Josh Beckett and Eric Hinske pushed back at the surging New York Yankees and tightened Boston's grip on the AL East.  —  Beckett became the first 19-game winner in the majors and Hinske provided the muscle …

Notes: Lopez gets vote of confidence  —  Acta, Morales have 45-minute meeting with slumping shortstop  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Manny Acta and first-base coach Jerry Morales had a 45-minute meeting with shortstop Felipe Lopez on Saturday afternoon.

Angels edge ChiSox, leave Thome at 499  —  CHICAGO (AP) — Jered Weaver wanted no part of baseball history, so he was determined to keep Jim Thome stuck on 499 homers.  —  "I just didn't want to give up number 500.  That was definitely in the back of my mind," Weaver said Saturday night …

GM Terry Ryan's departure spells doom in Minnesota  —  Terry Ryan's surprise decision to step down as Twins GM has sounded the alarm that Minnesota is once again an endangered franchise in need of much more than just a new ballpark (an open-air one, no less) to survive and prosper again.

Rodriguez Is Worth a Few More Wins, but Not $30 Million  —  From the moment Alex Rodriguez signed his 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000, he became the emblem for baseball's talent sweepstakes run amok.  The total package was worth more than twice as much as any deal …

Tomko shines as Padres win  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) - Brett Tomko got a big win for San Diego in his first start for the Padres.  —  Tomko scattered four singles in six innings, Mike Cameron hit a two-run homer and the Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 6- Saturday night …

Notes: Phillips forgets to hustle  —  Slugger admires a near homer, called out trying to advance  —  MILWAUKEE — For a few moments on Friday, Brandon Phillips thought he had become a 30-30 player.  —  The lapse of judgment proved costly.  —  With a runner on first base in the fifth inning vs …

Pirates make 15th losing season official  —  Morris gives up seven in one inning of 9-7 loss to Astros  —  Jim Tracy removes starter Matt Morris after just 3 1/3 innings last night.  Morris gave up seven runs on nine hits.  —  HOUSTON — Jack Wilson launched two home runs, had three RBIs …

Bernie Williams' music career keeps playing right notes  —  His foot is tapping and his head is nodding, and his fingers are really moving now, picking here and pressing there, the sound sweet and clean, a big-league guitar riff coming to life.  —  The former No. 51 of the New York Yankees …

Nomar isn't beyond hope  —  The Dodgers cannot count on Nomar Garciaparra, but they can hope.  It is the best they can do.  —  A single, and the Dodgers hope.  —  A home run, and the Dodgers hope.  —  Five consecutive hits, and the Dodgers hope.  —  The Dodgers cannot count on Nomar Garciaparra, but they can hope.

Cubs settle for split of doubleheader  —  Soriano hits second homer of day; Chicago leads by one game  —  ST. LOUIS — Alfonso Soriano picked up where he left off in the second game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader, but it wasn't enough to carry the Cubs on a long and exhausting day.

Staff infection  —  Recent struggles a bad sign for postseason … They tell us all the time: You can never have enough pitching.  Yet here we are, with two weeks to go in the marathon that is any baseball season, and the Red Sox [team stats] suddenly look like they do not have enough pitching.