Nats Go Extras, Exude Drama  —  Robinson Benches Soriano in Victory: Nationals 9, Mets 5  —  NEW YORK, April 5 — They were not only out of it, there was a full-blown controversy, and it involved the man who had created so much tumult in spring training, one Alfonso Soriano, the Washington Nationals' new left fielder.

Young guns strong-arm Rangers  —  Beckett settles down, gets first Sox win thanks to Papelbon  —  ARLINGTON — His adrenaline still heightened after pitch No. 109 baffled Michael Young for an inning-ending strikeout, Josh Beckett pumped his fist with vigor and hopped off the mound.

Baptism at Petco Park  —  Rainout is Padres' first since Qualcomm Stadium days in 1998; make-up scheduled July 1  —  How fitting that when rain last night postponed a Padres home game for the first time since May 12, 1998, Shawn Estes was the team's scheduled pitcher.  —  Drought-stricken farmers should hire Estes.

New Orleans Is Ready to Play Ball  —  Nationals' Farm Team Will Open the Season Tonight Amid the Devastation  —  NEW ORLEANS, April 5 — Returning to New Orleans these days after any period of time away is an exercise in separating the Still-Here from the Still-Gone from the Gone-Forever.

Kent injured as Dodgers drop finale  —  Pitching struggles as four-run first inning goes for naught  —  LOS ANGELES — Starter Odalis Perez lost a five-run lead and the Dodgers went on to lose Jeff Kent, Olmedo Saenz and Wednesday night's finale to the Atlanta Braves, 9-8.

Mariners Cash In on Lackey  —  SEATTLE — It was a game that almost defied explanation for the Angels, who were supposed to ride their starting pitching, defense and bullpen to contention in the American League West but suffered major breakdowns in all three areas in Tuesday night's 10-8 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Safeco Field.

Future Shock  —  2006 Draft Notebook, Part One  —  The upcoming draft is even more wide open than it was when last we checked in.  As more players continue to take steps backwards instead of forwards, the first round remains highly unstable—teams are struggling to find players they believe …

Guillen gets a tad upset with Iguchi  —  White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen did his best to make sure his initial conversation with second baseman Tadahito Iguchi did not get lost in translation.  —  But when he heard that Iguchi had snapped off a "no comment'' to the media …

Yanks' Errors Prove Costly in Loss to A's  —  OAKLAND, Calif., April 5 - For the New York fans who stayed up to watch the Yankees game on Wednesday, it must have looked like a late-night slasher film.  This was grisly.  —  An early four-run lead evaporated at the Coliseum on Wednesday …

GM Jim Hendry has made some shrewd moves with the Cubs, outweighing mistakes, writes Paul Sullivan  —  Studs offset duds  —  CINCINNATI — Jim Hendry is an unapologetic throwback, the kind of front-office executive who still values his scouts' opinions over a computerized printout of every statistic imaginable.

Twins knock cover off ball vs. Jays  —  Hunter hits grand slam and drives in career-high six runs  —  TORONTO — All the offseason talk surrounding the Twins centered on whether or not they could rectify their anemic offense.  —  The club finished dead last in the American League in runs scored in 2005 …

Arroyo triumphant in memorable debut  —  Starter hits first career homer; Griffey clubs No. 537  —  CINCINNATI — When they traded for him late last month, the Reds hoped Bronson Arroyo would be a boost for their rotation.  —  They never expected him to help their lineup, too.

Let's help the Yankees find some new songs  —  Not only do the Yankees and their apologists in the media think they are entitled to all the best players, now they are apparently claiming the best songs, too.  —  Withness this tantrum from WFAN's Mike Francesa after new Mets closer Billy Wagner dared …

Notes: Schumaker in the mix  —  Eckstein fine day after collision; Rodriguez improving  —  PHILADELPHIA — Skip Schumaker's stock has risen considerably, while So Taguchi's has fallen only slightly.  Larry Bigbie is unavailable, but John Rodriguez is merely limited.