Phillies designate Taschner for assignment  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have purchased the contract of right-hander Rodrigo Lopez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and cleared a roster spot by designating reliever Jack Taschner for assignment.  —  Lopez, a two-time 15-game winner with Baltimore …

Source: Padres to extend Black's contract  —  Buzz up!  —  SAN DIEGO - Rebuilding under new ownership, the San Diego Padres intend to extend manager Bud Black's contract in the coming weeks, according to a club source.  —  Black, 52, is in his third season managing the Padres …

Conrad makes presence felt with Braves  —  Called up from Minors, delivers game-winning homer  —  WASHINGTON — Brooks Conrad was ready to take his first at-bat in the top of the second inning of the Gwinett Braves' game Thursday, when manager Dave Brundage asked the infielder if he still wanted to hit.

It's so wrong to celebrate Manny's return  —  Widespread love for Ramirez upon his being back in Dodgers' lineup a puzzling thing  —  That dreadlocked bon vivant, Manny Ramirez, will rejoin us — and the Dodgers — this weekend after eight weeks of purgatory on Planet Manny.  Whoop-de-doo.

BoSox in talks with coveted Cuban SS … The Red Sox are in serious discussions with Cuban shortstop whiz Jose Iglesias, according to a league source.  —  If finalized, the contract is expected to be for about $8 million, perhaps a little bit more than that, according to people familiar with the talks.

Rafael Palmeiro continues to deny knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs  —  Rafael Palmeiro spent some time reflecting before he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday in Lubbock, Texas, on Friday.  —  Palmeiro's legacy shifted in the summer of 2005.

Johnson's 11th-inning double lifts Mariners over Red Sox  —  BOSTON (AP) — Rob Johnson doubled home two runs in the 11th inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 on Friday night.  —  George Kottaras hit his first major-league homer in the bottom of the 11th for the Red Sox …

Lawyer Says 2003 Clemens Drug Test Was Negative  —  In recent months, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa have been linked to the list of 100 or so players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, the first season such tests were conducted by Major League Baseball.

Three runs in 16th gives Tigers victory over Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Placido Polanco hit a pair of extra-inning RBI singles, the second giving the Detroit Tigers the lead for good in an 11-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins in 16 innings Friday night.  —  Polanco drove in a run …

Star Cuban pitcher defects; Yankees interested? … A highly regarded Cuban pitching prospect has defected from the national team while playing in a tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.  His next stop could be in the major leagues, possibly with the New York Yankees.

Bases loaded walk gives Cubs win over Brewers  —  Jake Fox drew a bases-loaded walk off Mike DiFelice to force in the winning run with two outs in the 10th inning Friday, and the Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1.  —  Ryan Theriot singled off second baseman Craig Counsell's glove …

Pujols hits club-record fourth slam in Cards' win  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Albert Pujols hit his club-record fourth grand slam of the season, and Jarrett Hoffpauir drove in the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning with his first career hit as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-4 on Friday night.

Rockies 5, Diamondbacks 0  —  DENVER (AP) — Jorge De La Rosa pitched eight innings, Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and the Colorado Rockies beat the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Friday night.  —  The Rockies have won a season-best six straight at Coors Field, and moved …

Wright Hears an Apology From Franco for Criticism  —  PHILADELPHIA — David Wright landed in Philadelphia on Thursday night and saw that while he was in the air on the Mets' charter flight, he had received a message.  Upon checking his voice mail, he heard an apology from John Franco.

Sources: Twins going after Bucs' Sanchez, Capps  —  The Pirates, who are apparently not done dealing yet, have engaged in trade discussions with the Twins regarding a number of players, major league sources said Thursday.