Missed opportunity hurts Sox  —  Wakefield tosses complete game, but saddled with loss  —  BOSTON — As much as the Red Sox enjoy a wire-to-wire job from one of their starting pitchers, it doesn't feel quite the same when it comes attached to a loss.  —  Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield went …

Casey out 6-8 weeks with back injury  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — First baseman Sean Casey will be out of the Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup for six to eight weeks with two fractures in his left lower back.  —  Casey was injured during Friday night's game against the Cubs while he was stretching for a throw.

Milwaukee 8, NY Mets 2  —  Tony Gwynn: Brewers & Mets: Early season surprises  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Tomo Ohka came up to the plate with the score tied in the fourth inning and two on, just after Chad Moeller's bloop near the right-field line popped out of Xavier Nady's glove for a single.

Brazelton sent to bullpen; Hensley starter  —  MIAMI - Manager Bruce Bochy made it official yesterday, demoting Dewon Brazelton into a long-relief job and filling the No. 4 starting spot with Clay Hensley for Tuesday's game in Denver.  —  "Hopefully it'll be the best for both pitchers," Bochy said.

Padres-Braves Preview  —  John Smoltz is familiar with starting a season slowly.  —  The hard-throwing right-hander looks to rebound from two difficult outings when the Atlanta Braves host the San Diego Padres on Saturday in the second game of a three-game series.

Re-creating a classic  —  Before this story gets to the part where the kid lands his dream job because of a video game, some tired fingers and Bill Buckner, let's go back about 20 years.  —  On Oct. 25, 1986, Conor Lastowka was 5 years old.  He lived in Virginia, and bedtime was long …

Olsen makes first start of 2006  —  Washington (2-9) at Florida (3-6), 6:05 p.m. ET  —  Gaining some positive momentum is crucial for a young team like the Marlins.  —  Now that they've won back-to-back games for the first time this season, the squad with 11 rookies is looking to keep the momentum going.

Bonds threatens to quit if bone chips worsen  —  The problems continue to pile on for Giants outfielder Barry Bonds.  The latest setback for the embattled slugger is bone chips in his left elbow.  —  Bonds told MLB.com that he has "10 to 12 bone chips floating" in his left elbow …

Lefty just what pen needed  —  Wilson comes off DL to add some flexibility; Feldman sent down  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Rangers manager Buck Showalter felt a little more comfortable Friday afternoon.  —  He had a second left-hander he could trust in the bullpen.

2006 Power Rankings: Looking Amazin' so far  —  On paper the New York Mets entered the season looking like the National League's most loaded team.  And only two weeks in, they're backing it up on the field.  In fact, they're playing like the best team in the majors.

Sanchez cleans up Heilman's mess  —  It was pretty clear who would be starting the games.  And with the addition of Billy Wagner, there was absolute certainty about who would be finishing them.  The relief pitchers who would bridge the gap between a formidable rotation and a brilliant closer probably …

Maddux's success driven by his impeccable control … When Greg Maddux made his major league debut in 1986, he was 20 years old, then the youngest pitcher in baseball.  —  "I've always thought it would be cool,'' he said a few years ago, "to leave as the oldest.''  —  Someday, he might get his wish.

Damon would move for Hunter  —  Yankee willing to play right field if New York acquired Twins star  —  Just because the New York Yankees signed Johnny Damon to play center field doesn't mean there isn't room for Torii Hunter.  —  Damon told the Pioneer Press he would be willing to move …