Cubs beat Cards, maintain division lead  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jason Marquis has come back to haunt his former team.  —  Matt Murton hit a three-run homer, and Marquis allowed just one run while pitching into the seventh inning to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 4-2 win over the slumping St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Yankee's prank strikes out  —  Talk about sore winners.  —  Griffin Whitman, a 10-year-old Red Sox [team stats] fan from Swampscott, was excited to attend his first Yankees vs. Red Sox game Friday night.  The young autograph -collector was even more thrilled to score Yankees outfielder Shelley Duncan's signature before the game.

Pirates Notebook: Sanchez, Capps targeted for contract extensions  —  HOUSTON — The Pirates plan to approach two of their top performers, second baseman Freddy Sanchez and closer Matt Capps, with multiyear contract proposals this offseason.  —  The new front office will wait until team …

Advantage: Beckett  —  Chien-Ming Wang hung with Josh Beckett for five innings, but he ran into trouble in the sixth, leaving after two outs and setting the stage for a loss that dropped the Yankees back to 5 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East and 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tigers in the Wild Card.

Brandon Jones added to Braves starting lineup, making 3 Jones on card  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Outfielder Brandon Jones was added to the Atlanta Braves' starting lineup against the Washington Nationals on Sunday after he was brought up from Triple-A Richmond.  —  He joined Chipper Jones …

Wright becomes third Met in 30-30 club  —  Third baseman hit 30th homer on Sunday to go with 31 steals  —  NEW YORK — David Wright often refers to hitting coach Howard Johnson as his "baseball father," his greatest role model in the game.  So when Johnson approached Wright this spring …

Thome's 500th home run completes White Sox rally  —  Angels blow a six-run lead and lose on Chicago slugger's dramatic blast in the ninth inning.  —  CHICAGO — Jim Thome hit career home run No. 500 in style this afternoon, blasting a two-run shot to center field in the ninth inning to give …

CENTER STAGE: As the Tigers face Cleveland, we ask who's better: Grady or Grandy?  —  In the 1950s, any New York baseball fan could argue that his favorite centerfielder was the best in town.  The Dodgers had Duke Snider.  The Giants had Willie Mays.  The Yankees had Mickey Mantle.

Bonds' 755th, 756th go for $940K at auction  —  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Barry Bonds' record-breaking 756th home run ball was auctioned Saturday for $752,467, well more than the estimates by memorabilia experts.  —  Home run No. 755, the ball that tied the record, went for $186,750, according to Sotheby's/SCP Auctions.

Notes: Washington has wish list  —  Rangers manager hoping to fill holes in infield and outfield  —  OAKLAND — The Rangers haven't reached the end of the season or had any formal meetings about the offseason but manager Ron Washington already has his wish list ready.

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 …

Phillies die-hards know how the story ends … PHILADELPHIA — Charlie Manuel is salty.  His right fielder grabs his calf running down the first-base line, the same calf that landed him on the disabled list.  When the player, Shane Victorino, is surprised he's not in the lineup the next day …