Guillen puts interests of Nats first  —  Risking suspension or diminished value, outfielder stays cool  —  WAHSINGTON — Nationals manager Frank Robinson said that he did not need to talk to outfielder Jose Guillen about how he should handle himself against Mets right-hander Pedro Martinez on Wednesday night.

Sheffield Jolts Bowa, Then Stings the Ball  —  With a runner on second base, the best place for Larry Bowa to stand is in front of the third-base coach's box, about 75 feet from home plate.  That is where the runner can see him, so that is where Bowa was stationed with Gary Sheffield batting in the first inning yesterday.

Red Sox radio deal likely to top $12m  —  Bidding war bucks league trend, reflects team's market power  —  The multimillion-dollar bidding war to secure radio rights to Red Sox baseball is virtually certain to pump more money into the team at a time when stations in other cities are refusing …

Giants, Astros refrain from swinging in rain  —  Consecutive rainouts force teams to squeeze in a makeup game on May 8  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Playing ballgames, which everybody takes for granted in a 162-game season, has become an issue for the rain-soaked Giants.

Cards click in clutch  —  Stringing hits together to the opposite field, turning walks and hit batters into three runs, and clearing the bases on a ball misplayed in the outfield, the Cardinals replaced power with opportunism Wednesday night in an 8-3 beating of the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium.

Fish experiencing growing pains … MIAMI — Way before the first pitch was thrown in Dolphin Stadium this season, trade rumors had already been surrounding the best two players on the Marlins' roster: third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

Nationals hope to get back on track  —  New York (6-1) at Washington (2-7), 1:05 p.m. ET  —  The Nationals hope to snap their four-game losing streak as they take on the Mets at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Thursday afternoon.  —  Livan Hernandez will get the start for the Nationals …

Thinking sweep, Mets tab Zambrano  —  New York (6-1) at Washington (2-7), 1:05 p.m. ET  —  Back to baseball.  —  Since the first day the Mets watched Victor Zambrano throw in Spring Training, they have said he looks different — different, as in better — from how he looked last season.

Griffey exits early with stiffness in knee  —  Slugger leaves in fourth inning, listed as day-to-day  —  CHICAGO — Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. exited in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Cubs, complaining of stiffness in the back of his right knee.

Notes: Hermida given day off  —  Right fielder is listed as day-to-day with sore hip flexor  —  MIAMI — One of the Marlins' top young players was not in the lineup Wednesday afternoon because of tightness in his right hip.  —  Rookie right fielder Jeremy Hermida aggravated his hip flexor …

Mets 3, Nationals 1  —  The Mets manufactured just enough offense to produce win No. 2 for Pedro Martinez, who kept the ball over the plate and didn't allow a hit until the fourth.  In helping the Mets to their fifth straight win, Martinez squirmed out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam in the sixth without any damage.

Towers left feeling down after loss  —  Missed opportunites, four-run second frame haunts Jays  —  BOSTON — It's not how you start, it's how you finish.  At least that's Toronto's response to it's rocky start to this season.  —  As far as the Blue Jays' 5-3 loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday …

Notes: Prior makes more progress  —  Throws 30 pitches in bullpen session on Tuesday  —  CHICAGO — Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior threw 30 pitches off the bullpen mound at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, including some breaking balls at the end, and is making good progress in his rehab from a strained muscle in his right shoulder.

Huff goes on DL; could be out 4-6 weeks  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay placed third baseman Aubrey Huff on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a left knee sprain.  —  Huff could be sidelined four to six weeks after he bumped into shortstop Nick Green near the bullpen while chasing a foul popup Tuesday night.