Wells, Sox halted by Jays  —  Southpaw not sharp in first start; Sox winning streak snapped  —  BOSTON — When David Wells enjoys his post-playing life a year from now, Wednesday night does not figure to be an outing the left-hander will reflect back to.  In fact, expect Wells to wipe …

Hernandez is second to none  —  WASHINGTON — The Mets expected a clear-cut winner to emerge in the fight for the second baseman's job by the end of spring training.  They were off by about two weeks.  —  When Kaz Matsui, as usual, was KO'd by an injury, this time a right knee sprain …

Mariners to tangle with Sox at Fenway  —  Seattle (5-5) at Boston (6-3), 4:05 p.m. PT  —  The Mariners' first road trip of 2006 won't get any easier, but they go into Boston on a positive note.  —  Seattle's 9-5 win over the Indians on Thursday capped a series in which the Mariners won …

Boy Who Helped Yankees Is a Hit Again  —  Jeffrey Maier, a senior at Wesleyan, had two doubles against Bates on Wednesday to reach 170 hits.  He hopes for a career in baseball.  —  MIDDLETOWN, Conn., April 12 — The pitch was a fastball on the outside part of the plate …

Vidro, Tavares Argue About Dimensions at RFK Stadium  —  Jose Vidro was quite clear.  He feels RFK Stadium is unfair to hitters.  He thinks the club should have moved in the fences during the offseason.  He said so on Wednesday night.  And he didn't back down yesterday …

Sources: Grand jury looking at whether Bonds lied about steroid use  —  SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNN) — A federal grand jury is considering whether to indict San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds for perjury because of testimony he gave to another grand jury in 2003, CNN has learned.

Same ol' Zambrano  —  WASHINGTON — Yesterday was a standard outing for Victor Zambrano.  Not that great, not terrible.  —  But with the Mets' intimidating lineup, Zambrano may just be good enough this season — if he proves that his shaky five-inning performance in yesterday's 13-4 thrashing …

Wood may be nearing minor-league rehab  —  Kerry Wood could begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in about 10 to 12 days.  If Wood's strong comeback from shoulder surgery last August continues in a simulated game Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., the usual routine would be one more simulated game …

Mariners Notebook: Willie waits his turn  —  Utility player hasn't received much game time  —  CLEVELAND — Ten games into the season, Willie Bloomquist's starting percentage is .200  —  His batting average is .200.  —  The two are not unrelated.  Bloomquist isn't a regular starter …

Low Payroll and High Hopes for Brewers  —  TOM HICKS and Mark Attanasio have conducted business deals with each other, but it is a deal Hicks did on his own for which Attanasio owes Hicks a large thank-you.  Hicks, the Texas Rangers' owner, fired Doug Melvin as his general manager in 2001 …

Every pitcher has a hitting story  —  Who knew?  —  Who knew Bronson Arroyo was a hitter, and not only a hitter but a bonafide sluggah?  —  ''He still isn't," says Curt Schilling (career: BA .150., OBP .176, slugging pct. .  169, 2Bs 13, 3Bs 1, HRs 0, RBIs 29).  ''But you have to say there's consistency in his swing."

Rangers' Alfonseca relies on sinker, not a little extra  —  It's OK to stare.  He's used to it.  —  Antonio Alfonseca, the most famous - actually the only - polydactyl pitcher in major league history, has been around the league long enough to know that his 12 fingers and 12 toes make him more renowned than his leaden sinker.

Looking for his groove  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Imagine for a minute that you're Brad Wilkerson.  —  You had spent your entire career, since being drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1998, in one organization.  —  You rode out the talk of eliminating the franchise, split two home seasons between Montreal …

Zambrano loses focus, game  —  Carlos Zambrano has been the Cubs' biggest disappointment so far this season.  Rather than shouts of "Cy Young,'' his performances have elicited sighs of exasperation.  —  While the Cubs are off to a 5-3 start, Zambrano has fumbled an opportunity to raise …