Source: Starlin Castro gets extension  —  Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro has agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $60 million, a source told ESPNdeportesLosAngeles.com.  —  The contract covers four years of arbitration eligibility and three years of free agency, and includes a $16 million option for 2020.

Royals rally for 4-2 victory over White Sox  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Luis Mendoza is pitching so well the Kansas City Royals are having some fun with his unorthodox hairstyle.  —  Mendoza tossed seven effective innings, Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking two-run double and the Royals rallied …

Rockies' Jhoulys Chacin pitching Tuesday against Mets in New York  —  Chacin set to rejoin rotation Tuesday vs. Mets in New York  —  Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is returning to the Rockies' rotation, giving him an opportunity to make something out of his lost season.

Sox's Crain on fan dying in stands: ‘I said a little prayer for him’ … Tribune report  —  During the seventh inning of the Sox-Blue Jays game Thursday night, a fan sitting in the front row suffered a cardiac arrest.  Medical personnel attended to the fan, but he later died at a nearby hospital.

GM: Carl Crawford hasn't requested Tommy John surgery  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  Does Carl Crawford want Tommy John surgery?  —  The Boston Globe is reporting he'll request to undergo the procedure on his left elbow next week, ending his season and possibly taking a bite out of 2013 as well.

C.J. Nitkowski ‘in the conversation’ to join NY Mets rotation says team officials  —  'If he keeps doing what he's doing, he'll be up,' one team official said  —  Terry Collins runs into some trouble upon arriving to the nation's capital.  —  WASHINGTON — The Mets' most interesting September call …

Rochester Red Wings, Twins renew affiliation for 2 more years  —  The Red Wings are ready to begin another decade as Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.  —  The clubs jointly announced a two-year extension of their player development contract on Friday, ensuring the Twins will be in Rochester through at least 2014.

Cain Is Dominating in Giants' 10-1 Win Over Padres  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Matt Cain pitched eight dominating innings and the San Francisco Giants scored eight runs in the third inning to move into first place in the NL West with a 10-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Club paying for David Ortiz's absence  —  NEW YORK — For 31⁄2 months, David Ortiz [stats] was as powerful a force in the middle of the Red Sox [team stats] batting order as he ever has been.  —  But his true value has been seen over the past four weeks.

Mariners give up runs, but still beat Twins 5-3  —  SEATTLE—John Jaso and Miguel Olivo homered, and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven strong innings to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 on Friday night.  —  Iwakuma (4-3) gave up four hits, but didn't allow an earned run …