• MLB pushes for instant replay by August (AP)

  Instant replay might be coming to Major League Baseball in an instant. Moving faster than expected and coming after a rash of blown calls, baseball wants to put replay into effect by August for home run disputes in hopes of fine-tuning the system by the playoffs. MLB and the umpires' union need to reach agreement before replay can be tried, and the sides have started talking.

• Mets GM Minaya noncommittal on Randolph (AP)

  Willie Randolph is having trouble sleeping with his job seemingly in jeopardy. The New York Mets manager may have reason to worry. Amid fresh reports the embattled skipper won't last through a weekend series against the Texas Rangers, general manager Omar Minaya was noncommittal Friday when asked whether Randolph has the backing of club executives.

• Braves' Smoltz hopes to pitch again (AP)

  

  Braves ace John Smoltz hopes to pitch again, but acknowledged Friday his most recent shoulder surgery required repairs that have ended the careers of many others. Smoltz said the season-ending operation performed on Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews fixed injuries to "five or six problems," including his labrum, AC joint and biceps.

  
  

• Phillies hit 3 straight HRs in first (AP)

  Philadelphia's Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell homered in consecutive at-bats in the first inning off St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Todd Wellemeyer on Friday night. It was the seventh time the Phillies hit back-to-back-to-back home runs, and the first time since May 18, 2004, when Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Jim Thome did it against the Dodgers at home.

• Elbow injury sends M's closer Putz to DL (AP)

  All-Star closer J.J. Putz went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a hyperextended pitching elbow, the latest setback in a season gone wrong for the Seattle Mariners. "Very relieved that it's nothing structural," Putz said. "Just take a few days off from throwing and start over." It's the second DL stint this season for Putz, who missed 18 games in April with a rib cage injury from which he now...

• Matsuzaka to pitch in minors next week (AP)

  Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka is expected to pitch in a minor league game next week as part of his comeback from a sore shoulder. Matsuzaka threw on Friday before the start of Boston's series against the Cincinnati Reds. He's eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list any time. Manager Terry Francona said Matsuzaka will pitch on Monday for Triple-A Pawtucket against the Philadelphia...

• Mets place LF Alou back on 15-day DL (AP)

  This is one trip that's becoming awfully familiar to Moises Alou. The 41-year-old New York Mets outfielder went back on the 15-day disabled list Friday, after making just one rain-shortened start since his last trip there. Alou has been bothered by a left calf strain that already had kept him out of the lineup for 19 days.

• White Sox place Loaiza on 15-day DL (AP)

  White Sox right-hander Esteban Loaiza went on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation on Friday, less than two weeks after the former 21-game winner returned to the team. Loaiza is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three relief appearances. The 36-year-old signed a one-year contract with Chicago on June 4 after being cut by the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.

• Rays activate closer Percival from DL (AP)

  The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated closer Troy Percival from the 15-day disabled list and put reliever Al Reyes on the DL before Friday night's game against Florida. Percival strained his left hamstring in the Rays' 5-3 victory over Texas on May 28 and went on the DL one day later. He is 1-0 with 14 saves in 16 chances and a 2.95 ERA in 22 games this season.

• Brewers SS Hardy to rest left shoulder (AP)

  Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy said he will miss the series against the Minnesota Twins this weekend while resting his ailing left shoulder. Hardy, who also missed Thursday's series finale against Houston, said his shoulder feels dead for two innings or more at times. But tests revealed no structural damage to the shoulder that was surgically repaired in 2004.

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