Sox lose upper hand without pair of aces: Wakefield victim of bad trend  —  After a complete trip through the rotation at Fenway Park, one thing is perfectly clear: Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett need to pitch a lot more often if the Red Sox expect to maintain home-field advantage.

Are Pirates running out of patience with underperforming Snell?  —  PITTSBURGH - Patience.  Patience.  Patience.  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have preached patience with their young pitching staff since the day spring training started, an understandable sentiment given that only one of their five starters is older than 24.

Honoree Baker reflects on '81 Series  —  Cubs skipper to be recognized before Dodgers game Monday … I started that season with an injury, and I ended with an injury.  We didn't think we were going to go on strike that year.  Jay Johnstone hit two pinch-hit home runs right before …

Bannister, Mets win  —  Xavier Nady drove in three runs with a home run and a sacrifice fly and Carlos Delgado hit a three-run homer to help the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-3 on Sunday.  —  David Wright, leading the National League in hitting with a .421 average coming into the game …

Sox could use starter like Arroyo  —  David Wells is back on the 15-day disabled list.  He's receiving injections of the joint lubricant Synvisc in his right knee.  And Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein could not give an exact date for his return.  —  That means the Sox are down one starter for at least two weeks.

Church's heroics lead Nats  —  Slugger belts pair of homers, including game-winner in ninth  —  MIAMI — Ryan Church said that his confidence was waning entering Sunday's action, and the lack of it started when the Nationals optioned him to Triple-A New Orleans on March 28.

Wood to throw for staff Monday  —  Cubs will then decide on rehab start or more work for righty  —  PITTSBURGH — Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood may be ready for a real game soon.  —  Wood threw 51 pitches in a three-inning simulated game on Saturday in Mesa, Ariz., at the Cubs' extended Spring Training facility.

A Learning Experience for Batters as Games Wear On  —  Last Sunday started poorly for David Wright.  In his first two at-bats against the Florida Marlins and their All-Star left-hander, Dontrelle Willis, Wright grounded out both times as the Mets fell behind, 2-0.  —  But Wright, the Mets' third baseman, was paying attention.

For Now, Wright Happily Forgets How to Strike Out  —  As magnificent as David Wright's first two weeks have been, the number that impresses him most is not .421 (his batting average), .816 (his slugging percentage) or 13 (his runs batted in).  It is the loneliest number, one, which is how many strikeouts he has in 38 at-bats.

Lackey, Guerrero cruise against O's  —  BALTIMORE — Vladimir Guerrero played a big part in breaking the Angels' three-game losing streak on Sunday.  Guerrero went 3-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs as the Angels snapped their recent skid with a 9-3 victory over the Orioles before 19,904 at Camden Yards.

Notes: Garciaparra takes swings  —  Penny won't miss next start; Kuo, Saito eyed for setup role  —  LOS ANGELES — Nomar Garciaparra swung a bat 75 times Saturday afternoon.  —  So much for the highlight of the Dodgers first baseman's workday.  But if his 32-year-old injured right rib cage …

Mets, Yanks could be in pitching duel for Zito  —  The A's, who have almost no hope or expectation of signing Barry Zito long-term, are said to be "discreetly" investigating trade possibilities for the star lefthander.  It must be very discreet, because executives with some teams …