Top News:
Chris Snow / Boston Globe:
Whiz kids — Fireballing Beckett blazes trail for Sox with his third win of the season — On two occasions this season Josh Beckett has pressed his right cleat against the rubber to see a runner on third base with only one out. The result: four batters faced, four Ks, zero runs.
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David Heuschkel / Hartford Courant:
J Crew — Beckett, Papelbon In Control — BOSTON — Another stellar performance by Josh Beckett was capped off by another breezy save by Jonathan Papelbon. It made the adventures of Wily Mo Pena in right field on a windy day somewhat bearable for a sellout crowd Sunday at Fenway Park.
John Tomase / Boston Herald:
Beckett earns pressure points — Jason Varitek wanted to see what Josh Beckett could do in crunch time. Yesterday, Beckett provided an answer. — Rearing back and firing fastballs - as well as the occasional stomach-turning curve - Beckett overpowered the Seattle Mariners whenever they threatened in the Red Sox' 3-2 victory.
Barry Svrluga / Washington Post:
Church Arrives in Time to Lead Nats to Series Win — MIAMI, April 16 — There was no evidence that this was on the way, not given what Ryan Church did in spring training, where he hit .200, not given what he did when he went to the minors, where he hit .130, and not given what he did in his first seven …
Discussion:
MLB.com, Federal Baseball, Distinguished Senators, William F. Yurasko's … and The Nationals Enquirer
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Notes: Beltran being cautious — After playing hurt in 2005, center fielder takes no chances — NEW YORK — A lesson learned last season and a strained right hamstring kept Carlos Beltran from playing Sunday against the Brewers. The Mets' center fielder, who played hurt …
Discussion:
It's Mets For Me
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Ray Glier / MSNBC:
Mets cream of NL East? Braves say hold on — Atlanta has talent, attitude to show Pedro, mouthy N.Y. who owns division — Pedro Martinez and the Mets may be riding high right now, but the Braves will likely show them who's boss during their series this week, writes NBCSports.com's Ray Glier.
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Long time to reach Trevor time — ATLANTA - Trevor Hoffman exhaled. The reliever was relieved. — Finally, the closer got a change to save a game, and he got it done despite allowing two singles with two outs in the ninth inning yesterday. — "It's nice that it's over," …
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
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Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Notes: Bowen gets surprise start — Third-string catcher bats cleanup while Piazza, Mirabelli rest — ATLANTA — Rob Bowen had an unexpected Easter gift dropped at his locker Sunday. — The Padres' third-string catcher was in the lineup — batting cleanup.
Tony Jackson / L.A. Daily News:
Saito in position to be setup man — Dodgers manager Grady Little said Saturday that right-hander Takashi Saito, technically a rookie but a veteran of 14 seasons with the Yokohama Baystars of Japan's Central League, is emerging as a strong candidate to fill the still-vacant setup role in the club's bullpen.
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Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Aardsma to bolster a very busy bullpen — PITTSBURGH — With the Cubs' bullpen already taxed because the starters aren't going deep into games, the team opted to add a 12th pitcher to take the spot of injured outfielder Angel Pagan. — Right-hander David Aardsma was called up from Triple …
Discussion:
Cub Town
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Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Papelbon has heater, stays cool — He has his own theme music now. ''Bodies," by Drowning Pool. — '' 'Let the bodies hit the floor,' something like that," Jonathan Papelbon said yesterday after stuffing the Seattle Mariners with another 1-2-3 ninth in a 3-2 Red Sox victory.
Discussion:
Dan Shaughnessy Watch
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Brewers rally, but fall short against Mets — Capuano allows four runs — three earned — in six innings — NEW YORK — It's nothing new for Brewers manager Ned Yost to see Tom Glavine change an effort into a performance, having witnessed the lefty's finest years with the Atlanta Braves.
Discussion:
Brewers Bar
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Guerrero Is Taking What He Can Get — BALTIMORE — Vladimir Guerrero finally got a few fastballs to hit Sunday, and the Angel slugger didn't waste them, lining a Kris Benson offering an estimated 413 feet to left-center for a home run in the first inning and a Sendy Rleal offering …
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Nate Latsch / MLB.com:
Notes: No timetable for Griffey's return — Reds center fielder out of lineup for fourth straight game — ST. LOUIS — The Cincinnati Reds didn't appear to miss Ken Griffey Jr. much when the center fielder was out of the lineup on Thursday at Chicago, an 8-3 Reds victory.
Discussion:
Redleg Nation
Associated Press:
Baseball Notes | Baserunning gaffe voids O's home run — Baseball Notable — It might have been the longest single in Javy Lopez's career. Without question, it was the most disappointing. — Lopez hit a pitch from John Lackey into the seats at Camden Yards yesterday …
Associated Press:
Pujols hits 3 homers in Cardinals' win — Albert Pujols was so ecstatic after his third home run of the game gave St. Louis the win, he couldn't help himself from showing off some moves. The normally reserved slugger did a little dance in front of home plate before teammates mobbed …
NY Daily News:
Beltran's sore spot — Carlos Beltran felt his right hamstring tighten as he left the batter's box and tried to beat Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder to the bag on a third-inning grounder Saturday. Yesterday he awoke with the muscle sore and was left out of the lineup for the first time this season.
