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 …

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 …

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 …

Notes: Brewers stress fundamentals  —  Yost wants team to emulate Cardinals' winning style  —  ST. LOUIS — It did not take long for Brewers manager Ned Yost to call the first team meeting of 2006.  —  Yost gathered his coaches and players behind closed doors Thursday morning …

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 …

Grand jury investigating Barry Bonds  —  SAN FRANCISCO —Barry Bonds could be facing bigger problems than baseball's probe into his alleged past steroid use.  A federal grand jury is investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he testified in 2003 that he never used steroids …

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 …

Bidders For Nats May Join Forces  —  With Major League Baseball poised to select a new owner for the Washington Nationals within the next week, the family of local real estate patriarch Theodore "Ted" Lerner yesterday was very close to teaming up with former Atlanta sports executive Stan Kasten …

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 …