Phillies' Halladay wins 16th

Friday's highlights

Roy Halladay pitched seven shutout innings to lead the host Philadelphia Phillies to a 1-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Halladay (16-8) won his sixth straight while allowing eight hits, striking out five and walking three.

The Phillies, who have won 13 of 17 games, are 21/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East.

Braves 5, Cubs 3: Rick Ankiel hit a bases-loaded triple off a Carlos Marmol with two out in the ninth inning, sending Atlanta over host Chicago. Atlanta leads the majors with 22 wins in its final at-bat.

Rangers 2, Orioles 0: C.J. Wilson (12-5) took a two-hitter into the ninth inning and had a career-high 12 strikeouts as visiting Texas snapped a four-game losing streak.

Mariners 6, Yankees 0: Felix Hernandez nearly became the first pitcher in more than 25 years to throw four straight complete games against the host Yankees, and Russell Branyan hit a pair of homers off A.J. Burnett and drove in four runs for Seattle. Alex Rodriguez returned to the Yankees' lineup as the designated hitter after missing three games because of a strained left calf but was pulled after one at-bat.

In the news

Pedroia back on DL

Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia returned to the disabled list Friday with soreness in the foot he broke in late June, a difficult blow for Boston as it tries to reach the postseason.

Pedroia spent seven weeks on the DL after he fouled a ball off his left foot on June 25 at San Francisco. He played in two minor league rehab games last weekend, showing no signs of problems.

But he experienced pain after going 1-for-3 in Boston's 7-5 victory over the Angels on Wednesday and was scratched from Thursday's lineup.

"Today it's hurting when I walk," Pedroia said Friday. "So I guess the best thing to do is not do anything and let it heal."

Marlins catcher fails drug test: Saying catcher Ronny Paulino's decision to take a banned substance was "extraordinarily disappointing," the Florida Marlins will begin a top-to-bottom review of the organization and how it educates players on what they can legally take under baseball's rules.

Paulino was suspended 50 games Friday after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance under Major League Baseball's drug policy.

In a statement released by the team, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Paulino said he took a diet pill. Since the Marlins have only 42 games remaining, the suspension will extend into the 2011 season.

What they're writing

Lincecum struggling

The Freak is in a funk.

Tim Lincecum is showing signs he is human after all in his third full major league season. He acknowledges his confidence is shaken and he's trying to find himself.

The San Francisco Giants ace and two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner has lost three straight starts for the first time in his career. Lincecum (11-7) is turning to video and long discussions with pitching coach Dave Righetti, looking to regain the edge that has made him one of baseball's most feared pitchers in recent years.