WASHINGTON (AP) — Whether it was nerves, rust or age – or a combination of the three – John Smoltz had a rough debut inning for the Boston Red Sox. The 42-year-old right-hander allowed four of the first five batters to score before settling down in his first major league game in more than a […]

Eds: UPDATES throughout. Struggling Rollins not to start at least 2 games ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Struggling Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be out of the starting lineup at least two games. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel made the announcement before Thursday’s game at Tampa Bay. Rollins is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. […]

Eds: Mariners 9, Padres 3. Optional. Suzuki gets Seattle started in 9-3 victory TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) – That soft bubble in the schedule the Seattle Mariners took advantage of during the last month to climb back above the .500 mark is done. Now comes the real challenge to see how long […]

Eds: White Sox 6, Dodgers 5, 13 innings. UPDATES. Podsednik hit leads White Sox past Dodgers CHICAGO (AP) – Scott Podsednik lined a two-out RBI single in front of diving center fielder Matt Kemp in the 13th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. It […]

MLB cooperates with fed probe into Ramirez’s drug NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball is cooperating with a federal investigation into where Manny Ramirez got the performance-enhancing drug that resulted in his 50-game suspension. The Drug Enforcement Administration is checking whether a doctor in Miami and his son were the source of the drug, […]

Eds: Mets 3, Cardinals 2. Optional. Santana leads Mets over Cardinals 3-2 RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) – Johan Santana was struggling. He had gone to 3-0 counts on four of his first 11 batters – something he hadn’t done in an entire game in six years, not counting intentional walks. “My […]

Eds: Astros 5, Royals 4. UPDATES. Berkman’s four RBIs lead Astros past Royals 5-4 KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) – Lance Berkman homered twice and drove in four runs to help the Houston Astros overcome an error-filled day and beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Thursday. Berkman entered the game needing to […]

BLUE MOUNDS, Wis. (AP) — The first road cycling course proposed for Chicago’s 2016 Olympic bid began in the city’s suburbs and wound its way through some hilly terrain before building to a big finish downtown in the heart of the Olympic village. It was roundly rejected as being too easy. That sent former professional […]

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova certainly played like a champion Thursday in dispatching Pauline Parmentier at Wimbledon. She’s just not sure she’s being treated like one. Kuznetsova questioned the court placings at the tournament after winning her second-round match 6-1, 6-3 in 59 minutes playing on Court 3. Despite coming off […]