National League news and stories by mail.com

National League

Zito, Sanchez lead Giants past Braves 5-2
The chants of "Barry! Barry! Barry!" felt familiar. The reason sure was different. At least for one night, Barry Zito was king in San Francisco.
Drug testing topic back in spotlight in Bay Area
Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy becomes uneasy each time he is called to the bathroom for a random drug test, even though he's confident he's ...
Bartolo Colon suspended 50 games for positive test
In the 2½ hours it took the Oakland Athletics to wrap up a series win against the Twins, Bartolo Colon's belongings were removed from his locker and ...
Mets' Santana not expected to pitch again in 2012
Johan Santana is done for the year, and to say he had an up-and-down season would be an understatement of Cy Young proportions. Explaining that their ...
Column: Please, Rocket, just go away _ for good
Well, he's back. Just when we thought we were rid of the Rocket, he turns up again. In the Atlantic League, of all places. At age 50. Roger Clemens ...
Giants cancel order for Melky Cabrera T-shirts
The San Francisco Giants canceled an order for 20,000 Melky Cabrera T-shirts just in time. Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter said Tuesday that the ...
Reds prospect Hamilton steals record 146th base
Cincinnati Reds minor leaguer Billy Hamilton bolted to his record 146th stolen base of the season and kept running Tuesday night, swiping four in the ...
Clemens hopes to have fun in return to baseball
Hours after Roger Clemens agreed to join the Sugar Land Skeeters, he was back on the field playing in an over-50 softball league. And the ...
Clemens isn't 1st older athlete to compete
When 50-year-old Roger Clemens pitches for the Sugar Land Skeeters on Saturday night, he'll join a line of athletes who competed when they were closer ...
Roger Clemens returning to baseball
When Roger Clemens pitches Saturday night for the Sugar Land Skeeters it will be the first time the 50-year-old has taken the mound in almost five ...
Cabrera associate attempted to fabricate defense
An associate of San Francisco Giants All-Star Melky Cabrera purchased a website and attempted to create evidence to support a claim that the ...
Alvarez HR in 19th inning sends Pirates over Cards
Even Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez was starting to lose focus in the later stages of the Pirates' 6-3, 19-inning win over the St.
Astros lose to Arizona in DeFrancesco's debut
First-year owner Jim Crane believes firing manager Brad Mills and replacing him with interim manager Tony DeFrancesco will help the hapless Houston ...
DeFrancesco named interim manager of Astros
Tony DeFrancesco helped Houston's Triple-A affiliate find success. The Astros hope he can do the same for their young, struggling major league club.
Astros fire manager Brad Mills and 2 coaches
After spending all summer dumping players, the Houston Astros didn't stop there. Brad Mills became the latest to go when the struggling Astros fired ...
Molina helps Cardinals to 5-4 win over Pirates
The St. Louis Cardinals needed a lift. Lucky for them, Yadier Molina was ready to return to the lineup. Molina had three hits and two RBIs, leading ...
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly suspended 2 games
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been suspended for two games, beginning with Saturday night's game against the Braves. Mattingly was ...
MLB owners approve sale of Padres
The O'Malleys are back in the baseball business. Back in Southern California, too, just down the road in San Diego instead of Los Angeles. In a quick ...
Giants' Cabrera suspended for positive drug test
Melky Cabrera's 50-game suspension comes just as reliever Guillermo Mota is nearing his return to the Giants from a 100-game performance-enhancing ...
Ag giants spend big to defeat labeling initiative
The nation's largest agribusiness and biotech companies are pouring millions of dollars into California to stop the first-ever initiative to require ...
Astros look to future as team sinks to new low
The Houston Astros knew they weren't going to win much this season, so with an eye toward the future they cast off their few pricey veterans before ...
Shane Victorino powers Dodgers past Pirates 5-4
No matter what uniform he's wearing, Shane Victorino always gives the Pittsburgh Pirates trouble. The newly acquired outfielder hit his first homer ...
Padres sale agreement in place, needs MLB approval
A group that includes former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley and pro golfer Phil Mickelson reached agreement Monday to buy the San Diego ...
Phillies trade RHP Blanton to Dodgers
Joe Blanton earned a World Series ring the last time he was traded. He's hoping for an encore. The right-hander was sent from the Philadelphia ...
Reds C Mesoraco suspended 3 games for bumping ump
Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is appealing his three-game suspension for making contact with an umpire during an argument. The rookie will ...