LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers waited until the third quarter to get going. Once they did, the San Antonio Spurs couldn’t stop them.

Bryant scored all but two of hi » Full Story

ATLANTA (AP) — New York Mets manager Willie Randolph issued an apology Wednesday to team ownership, the club’s TV network and his players ‘‘for the unnecessary distraction’’ he created by suggesting h » Full Story

PITTSBURGH (AP) — This won’t be remembered as one of the best games of Ben Sheets’ career, hardly. Not an 11-hitter in which every Pirates position player had at least one hit.

No matter, She » Full Story

ATLANTA (AP) — Jeff Francoeur says he wasn’t physically drained by playing 370 consecutive games.

Mentally zapped? That’s another matter.

Francoeur, refreshed by his rare night off, » Full Story

DENVER (AP) — Giants manager Bruce Bochy wanted to give Omar Vizquel and his creaky left knee a day off.

Good thing he was talked out of the idea.

Vizquel doubled to start a game-tyi » Full Story

TORONTO (AP) — Two big swings by Vladimir Guerrero provided all the offense the Los Angeles Angels needed Wednesday night.

Guerrero hit two home runs, Jon Garland remained unbeaten in Toronto » Full Story

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez is back and Joba Chamberlain will join the starting rotation. The New York Yankees plan to look much different down the road than they have early this season.

R » Full Story

BOSTON (AP) — After 306 starts, 146 wins and one Cy Young award, Bartolo Colon felt like a rookie before his 2008 debut.

The beefy right-hander turns 35 on Saturday but when he took the mound » Full Story

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Manny Parra felt a sense of urgency to help stop the Milwaukee Brewers' five-game losing streak, and responded with one of the best starts of his young career.



Parra p » Full Story

CHICAGO (AP) _ Battered last season, Jose Contreras is getting payback these days.



Contreras outpitched C.C. Sabathia, and Jim Thome and Carlos Quentin hit solo homers to lift the Chica » Full Story