Streaking Sox make it five straight  —  In Fenway Park opener, Lowell notches four hits  —  BOSTON — They took off their road grays, threw on their home whites and not a whole lot else changed.  And considering the way they played in their season-opening trip through Texas and Baltimore …

Nationals Lack Luster  —  Offense Listless, Crowd Lethargic, Defeat Sluggish: Mets 7, Nationals 1  —  When all the fans settled into their seats under the sun, long after Vice President Cheney had skipped his ceremonial first pitch into the dirt in front of Washington Nationals catcher Brian Schneider …

Phils have many problems  —  Pat Gillick has been GM for some bad teams, but he's never seen one start like this.  The first step: More big hits.  —  ATLANTA - Pat Gillick has never seen a start like this.  —  Not in 17 years in Toronto.  —  Not in three years in Baltimore or four years in Seattle.

It's Early, but the Mets' Glass Is at Least Half Full  —  A pessimist could attribute the Mets' 4-1 start to a forgiving schedule that included a string of home games against what are presumed to be the lesser teams in the National League East.  An optimist could consider the same evidence …

Padres-Marlins Preview  —  Off to disheartening starts to the season, the San Diego Padres and Florida Marlins will both be looking to snap losing streaks when they meet Tuesday in the Marlins' home opener.  —  The Padres (1-4) have lost four in a row and were embarrassed by Colorado at home during a three-game sweep over the weekend.

Prospectus Hit List  —  Week of April 9  —  With one week of play in the books and the tempers of last week's angry mob of White Sox fans in need of more stoking (2-4 record be damned), it's time to break out the first in-season edition of the Hit List.  This week marks the debut of the Hit List Factor …

Encarnacion resorts to bunt to contribute  —  What first appeared as a curious strategy was really more of a revealing move by a hitter groping for a way to produce in his new lineup.  —  In the fourth inning, Juan Encarnacion - batting No. 2 in the Cardinals' lineup to produce what his manager calls …

Council Members Should Be Thankful For What They Have  —  Sometimes you just wonder about politicians.  —  As the Mets tried to push their stadium plan through the City Council, some members - mainly those around Shea Stadium - want more from the team.  After all, they feel it's only fair since …

Cubs' Lee expected to get new deal  —  New contract reportedly to be for five years  —  CHICAGO — Derrek Lee should be able to focus solely on baseball after Tuesday.  —  The Chicago Cubs have called a news conference for Tuesday and were expected to announce at that time that they have signed …

Halos' winning ways vs. Texas continue  —  Kennedy comes through in ninth in comeback victory  —  ANAHEIM — Not all of the heroes have left.  —  Some of the familiar names from the 2002 title run are gone, but a few remain, and Adam Kennedy proved Tuesday night that there is still some thunder in their sticks.

Under The Knife  —  Danger is Will's Middle Name  —  It's an exciting time to be in baseball.  I had the chance to have lunch with Sig Mejdal last week, just before taping this week's BP Radio.  Not only is Sig a nice guy, but he's done some of the most interesting work in injury analysis …

Eight is not enough for Rangers  —  The first e-mail I opened this week started with the line: "Are the Rangers insane?''  —  Like that one, there were a lot of missives that didn't include any question at all.  Somebody ranted about how the Rangers are hurting his fantasy league team.

New Busch is perfect fit for Cards  —  Loyal fans will continue to give Redbirds advantage  —  ST. LOUIS — The new ballpark here is a beauty.  But this is baseball in St. Louis, and you expected nothing less.  —  "Is This Heaven?  No, it's the New Busch," one fan's sign said.

Three homers not enough for Dodgers  —  Seo struggles in his first start for Los Angeles  —  PITTSBURGH — Eight games into the season, the Dodgers offense is averaging about 6.3 runs — the team scored six in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Pirates — and over the course of an entire season …

Sore forearm sidelines Halladay  —  Blue Jays ace returns to Toronto, will miss one start  —  BOSTON — Toronto's rotation issues got a little more complicated on Tuesday, when the team announced that staff ace Roy Halladay will miss one start due to stiffness in his right forearm.

Atkins player of week  —  A year ago, Garrett Atkins opened his rookie season on the disabled list, mending a painful hamstring injury.  —  Monday, the Rockies' third baseman was named National League player of the week.  —  Atkins led the National League with 20 total bases and tied for the league lead with 12 hits.