Giambi powers Pavano past O's  —  Right-hander earns win in return with support from slugger  —  BALTIMORE — Carl Pavano's career in pinstripes has been unique, to say the least.  The right-hander, who has pitched just 20 games in a Yankees uniform over the course of his four-year …

New York Yankees' Joba Chamberlain to return as reliever first  —  NOTEBOOK  —  BALTIMORE — Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to return to a mound today for the first time since Aug. 4, and when he gets back into games for the Yankees, it may be as a reliever at first.

Beckett to Miss Tuesday's Start Against Yanks  —  Red Sox RHP Josh Beckett won't be facing the Yankees on Tuesday after skipping a bullpen session yesterday because of continued numbness and tingling in his pitching arm.  —  Manager Terry Francona said Beckett has “inflammation” …

Drew out of lineup with herniated disc  —  Outfielder misses fourth straight game, awaiting MRI results  —  TORONTO — A clinical examination on Friday revealed that Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew has a herniated disc in his back.  Drew also underwent an MRI exam, which did not reveal anything major.

Toronto pounds Red Sox 11-0  —  TORONTO — With starting pitcher Jesse Litsch, franchise player Vernon Wells and the rest of the Toronto Blue Jays batters elevating their games, the team had the look of a playoff contender on Saturday.  —  It will take many more games like this one to put …

Pence seeks to sharpen mind  —  Outfielder studies chess on day off after baserunning miscue  —  NEW YORK — Hunter Pence sat in his fold-up chair and stared at the alternating blue and white boxes on the page.  He was reading about chess, a game the 25-year-old Astros outfielder has begun …

CHEMISTRY IS KEY FOR AMAZIN' RUN  —  THE Mets have emerged from both last September's greatest late-season collapse in baseball history and the swill surrounding the first three months of this season to establish themselves as sports' true Redeem Team.  —  They have emerged from the darkness …

Maine: Offseason surgery needed  —  John Maine (pictured) told The Post after tonight's loss to the Astros that he expects to have arthroscopic surgery after the season to remove a painful bone spur in his right shoulder.  Maine, who gave up a season-high eight earned runs in the 8-3 setback …

Nate Robertson sent to bullpen; Dontrelle Willis won't replace him  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In what he called “the lowest point” in his Tigers career, Nate Robertson was removed from the rotation Friday by manager Jim Leyland.  —  Leyland didn't say who will take Robertson's spot in the rotation.

Ramirez's pair of 3-run HRs lift Cubs  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Ryan Dempster has a shot at 20 wins.  He's much more focused on the Chicago Cubs' 100-year championship drought.  —  Dempster matched a career high with his 15th victory and Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of three-run homers …

How Much Does Cano Miss Bowa?  —  PHILADELPHIA — Robinson Cano's disappointing play has been one of the great mysteries in the Yankees' uneven season.  After Cano batted .306 with  —  19 home runs and 97 runs batted in a year ago, he was hitting .263 with 11 and 56 after Friday's game.

Castillo set to return  —  Luis Castillo is scheduled to play second base Saturday night for the first time since July 2, when a strained left hip flexor sent him to the DL.  —  Castillo lost a few pounds while rehabbing, which he suggested has reduced the stress on the knees that he had surgically cleaned last October.