OKLAHOMA CITY — Kobe Bryant spun away in disgust and angrily pulled on his jersey, the famed purple and gold No. 24 that has symbolized a career of clutch shooting and one the Lakers will someday retire to hang in the rafters.

Bryant, though, was not lamenting his failure to

TORONTO — During the better part of the last two decades, with slight variations, the American League East standings have been top-heavy with Yankees and Red Sox. But in the

Justin Upton hit a two-out, two-run homer off closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies , 9-7, on Thursday in a game in Denver that was briefly delayed by a swarm of bees .

Willie Bloomquist and Ryan Roberts also drove

Justin Upton hit a two-out, two-run homer off closer Rafael Betancourt in the ninth inning to help the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado Rockies , 9-7, on Thursday in a game in Denver that was briefly delayed by a swarm of bees .

Willie Bloomquist and Ryan Roberts also drove

To begin every pregame batting practice of his professional career, Rob Johnson follows the same routine: bunt down the first-base line; bunt down the third-base line.

It is unusual for a catcher like Johnson — not normally among those called upon to bunt for hits — but he has incorporated

To begin every pregame batting practice of his professional career, Rob Johnson follows the same routine: bunt down the first-base line; bunt down the third-base line.

It is unusual for a catcher like Johnson — not normally among those called upon to bunt for hits — but he has incorporated