Santiago sharp, but White Sox lose to Mets in 10th

NEW YORK | Hector Santiago was totally ready to trade zeros with New York Mets sensation Matt Harvey.

Red Sox rev up with Victorino; Nats, Haren close

NASHVILLE, Tenn. | The Boston Red Sox kept the cash freely flowing, this time revving their lineup with Shane Victorino, while the well-armed Washington Nationals neared a deal with Dan Haren at baseball's winter meetings Tuesday.

Sosa, Bonds, Clemens on Hall ballot for first time

NEW YORK | The most polarizing Hall of Fame debate since Pete Rose will now be decided by the baseball shrine's voters: Do Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa belong in Cooperstown despite drug allegations that tainted their huge numbers?

Giants a win away from World Series title

DETROIT | OK, so even Bruce Bochy has to grudgingly admit that his San Francisco Giants are on a World Series roll.

Tigers hope bats warm up in World Series chill

DETROIT | Toting his tiny aluminum bat, 5-year-old Gage Brookens wandered toward the cage and watched Austin Jackson, Omar Infante and a few other Tigers take batting practice on a chilly afternoon at Comerica Park.

With small ball, Giants take 2-0 lead

SAN FRANCISCO | Long ball one night, a Giant dose of small ball the next.

Sandoval homers three times as Giants take World Series opener

SAN FRANCISCO | With three mighty swings, Pablo Sandoval put the San Francisco Giants ahead in this World Series and put himself in a class with Mr. October.

Pierzynski homers twice as Sox beat Yanks

NEW YORK | A.J. Pierzynski, Paul Konerko and the Chicago White Sox were totally prepared to face Adam Warren in his major league debut.

Opening day all over: Aces, tributes and extras

Standing in a concourse at Comerica Park during the seventh-inning stretch, wearing his Detroit Tigers windbreaker and hat, Walt Thompson seemed to speak for every fan on opening day.

Baseball bracing for an extra wild season in 2012

Dusty Baker would like a do-over.

White Sox trade closer Santos to Jays for RHP Molina

DALLAS | The White Sox traded closer Sergio Santos to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, sending him back to the organization where he spent three seasons trying to make the majors as a shortstop.

Gibson, Maddon win Managers of Year; La Russa 3rd

Kirk Gibson took a tough-guy approach. So much so, he brought three Navy SEALs to spring training.

Kimbrel, Hellickson chosen MLB rookies of the year

NEW YORK | Craig Kimbrel overpowered hitters with his rocket right arm, then overwhelmed rivals in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Cards, Rangers give baseball quite a run in Series

ST. LOUIS | David Freese swooped in, expecting Elvis Andrus to bunt. He did, but the ball trickled wide of the line.

St. Louis caps improbable run to World Series with championship

ST. LOUIS | Albert Pujols thrust both arms high in the air, even before he reached home plate.

Cardinals stun Texas, force World Series to Game 7

ST. LOUIS | Hours after David Freese's home run plunked down on the grass patch beyond the center field wall, long after the ballpark emptied, a message still burned bright on the scoreboard: "See you TOMORROW NIGHT for Game 7 of the World Series!"

Game 6 of World Series postponed by rainy forecast

ST. LOUIS | Colby Lewis and his Texas teammates casually tossed a ball in left field, trying to avoid the tarp and any anxiety about being so close to the World Series championship.

Napoli, Pujols swing deep into World Series lore

ST. LOUIS | Albert Pujols made the first big dent in this World Series; then it was Mike Napoli's turn.

Napoli's 2B gives Texas 4-2 win, 3-2 Series lead

ARLINGTON, Texas | Mike Napoli hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning against Marc Rzepczynski, and the Texas Rangers rallied from a two-run deficit to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Monday night and take a 3-2 World Series lead.

Rangers rally in 9th, beat Cards to even Series

ST. LOUIS | Down to their last three outs, and in danger of dropping into a serious World Series deficit, the Texas Rangers rallied against St. Louis' vaunted bullpen for a 2-1 victory Thursday night.

Frenzied finish on deck: 4 teams battled for 2 spots

A startling triple play. A spirited comeback. Huge hits by a rookie -- a Yale philosophy major, at that -- and monumental collapses on the brink.

Hall of Fame center fielder Duke Snider dies at 84

Duke Snider, the Hall of Fame center fielder for the charmed "Boys of Summer" who helped the Dodgers bring their elusive and only World Series crown to Brooklyn, died Sunday. He was 84.

Alomar and Blyleven elected to Hall of Fame

NEW YORK | After a narrow miss last year, Bert Blyleven told voters they finally got it right by sending him into the Hall of Fame along with Roberto Alomar.

Red Sox get Crawford; Yankees raise offer to Lee

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. | Immediately after the Red Sox landed Carl Crawford, the Yankees boosted their already whopping offer to Cliff Lee. Their high-stakes rivalry is escalating, hundreds of millions of dollars by the hour.

It's unanimous: Phils' Halladay wins NL Cy Young

NEW YORK | Roy Halladay arrived in Philadelphia to a standing ovation, a $60 million contract extension and the billing as baseball's top ace. That was before he threw a single pitch.

Giants win World Series behind Lincecum, Renteria

ARLINGTON, Texas | The prize that eluded Willie and Barry at long last belongs to the San Francisco Giants, thanks to a band of self-described castoffs and misfits and their shaggy-haired ace.

Giants capture World Series opener with powerful fifth

SAN FRANCISCO | The San Francisco Giants turned the World Series opener into an extra long round of batting practice - against Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers.

T.F. South's Granderson heads to DL as White Sox beat Yankees

NEW YORK | Andruw Jones came out swinging after a little ump bump. A.J. Pierzynski hit hard, too, and that helped the White Sox slow down the New York Yankees.

T.F. South's Granderson is new center of attention for Yankees

NEW YORK | T.F. South grad Curtis Granderson put on his "NY" cap, buttoned up his pinstriped jersey and went right to work for the New York Yankees.

Yanks' Mitre shakes off rust, shuts down White Sox

NEW YORK | Sergio Mitre sure looked a little rusty at the start. He bounced a pitch to the backstop to the first batter, then did it again with the next guy.

Cub great Santo falls short in Hall of Fame voting

NEW YORK | Former second baseman Joe Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee on Monday, while another panel shut out the likes of Joe Torre, Ron Santo and Gil Hodges.

Former Cub great Maddux to announce retirement

Greg Maddux has thrown his last pitch.

Phils, Rays suspended in 6th inning tied at 2

PHILADELPHIA | Game 5 of the World Series was suspended because of rain in the sixth inning Monday night with the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays tied at 2. There was no immediate word on when the game would resume.

Sox bombed out in the Bronx

NEW YORK | Bobby Abreu homered twice and drove in six runs, Mike Mussina kept up his hopes for a 20-win season and the New York Yankees beat the AL Central-leading White Sox 9-2 Thursday night.

Red Sox, Cubs highlight All-Star rosters

NEW YORK | Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and Cubs leadoff man Alfonso Soriano will see lots of familiar faces at the All-Star game.

Red Sox, Cubs highlight All-Star rosters

NEW YORK | Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez and Cubs leadoff man Alfonso Soriano will see lots of familiar faces at the All-Star game.

Pettitte admits to briefly using HGH

NEW YORK | Andy Pettitte used human growth hormone to recover from an elbow injury in 2002, the New York Yankees pitcher admitted two days after he was cited in the Mitchell Report.

BoSox bring brooms to series

DENVER | Gone are those pleading, pathetic days when the Red Sox were practically begging to win a World Series. There's a new monster in baseball, and it's in Boston.

A look at the playoffs, from A-to-Z

Priming for the playoffs, from A-to-Z:

Maddux, Mays, Griffey among all-time Gold Glove team

Willie Mays making that over-the-shoulder catch. Brooks Robinson barehanding a bunt. Roberto Clemente unleashing a rifle throw.

Bonds on Cooperstown collection: 'I'm not worried about the Hall'

NEW YORK | As Barry Bonds nears his record 756th home run, he's stockpiling quite a collection of souvenirs -- bats, balls, helmets and spikes, pieces of baseball history perfectly suited for the Hall of Fame.

Cubs blow lead, lose to Mets

NEW YORK | Carlos Delgado's two-run single capped a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning and set off a wild celebration at home plate, and the Mets startled the Cubs 6-5 Thursday.

Radar gun readings are all the rage

The little righty wearing the Bob Feller jersey squeezed the ball, cranked up and let fly with all his might. Seemed pretty pleased with his heater, until he stepped back and saw the radar reading: 29 mph.

A spring tradition fades: Fewer pitchers run on warning track

TAMPA, Fla. | Brad Penny finished his two-inning stint, then took off on the dead run. The All-Star ace cut across the field at Dodgertown, darted behind the right-field fence and ducked into the clubhouse.

Kiner's Korner once included Cobb, Dizzy and the Babe

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. | Ralph Kiner shook hands with Babe Ruth, talked ball with Ty Cobb and hit a home run off Satchel Paige.

Santo not granted his Hall pass

NEW YORK | The Hall of Fame pitched another shutout.

Santo left out of Hall of Fame, again

NEW YORK | The Hall of Fame pitched another shutout.

A fan's guide to spring training

When the players break out the bats and balls, it's time for fans to reach for the sunscreen and road map. All over the Grapefruit and Cactus leagues, little dots of towns spring to life for spring training. For rookie visitors, here's a look at where to go.

AP survey shows McGwire likely to fall far short in Hall vote

NEW YORK | For one glorious summer, Mark McGwire was bigger than baseball itself. America stopped to watch each time he came to the plate, and cheered every time he sent a ball into orbit.