MLB notes: Boston parade celebrates World Series title

Boston • For fans, players and political leaders who celebrated the Red Sox's World Series title with cries of "Boston Strong," the championship provided a jubilant finish to a season that was shadowed nearly from the start by the April bombings at the Boston Marathon.

The morning after he cheered the victory inside Fenway Park, Ed Carlson returned Thursday to the marathon finish line he had crossed months earlier, 20 minutes before the bombs went off, and then had scrambled to find his children in the ensuing chaos.

"It was quite a year," said Carlson, 51, of Princeton, Mass. "To be at the marathon and then to be there for the World Series — I still tear up thinking about it."

The success of the Red Sox, who finished last in their division only a year ago, became a welcome surprise and eventually a symbol of resilience for a city recovering from the twin bombings that killed three people and wounded more than 260.

Giants • San Francisco has formally parted ways with left-hander Barry Zito, declining to exercise his $18 million contract option for next season and instead owing him a $7 million buyout. Zito, 35, has known this moment was coming, and recently took out a full-page newspaper ad to thank the fans for standing by him through a tough seven seasons in which he went 63-80 with a 4.62 ERA.

Astros • Thousands of people lined up Saturday for a chance to take home a piece of the iconic yet dilapidated Houston Astrodome. AstroTurf was selling for $20 per square foot and stadium seats sold for $200 a pair.