No second thoughts about Cano decision  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of Robinson Cano's major-league debut, and the schedule-makers gave him the treat of returning to the stadium where he began his career.  —  So, standing in the Tropicana Field …

Washington pitchers belted by Florida  —  Hernandez gives up seven in five innings, Eischen four more  —  WASHINGTON — Principal owner Mark Lerner and team president Stan Kasten made their first appearance at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium since Major League Baseball announced that the Lerner group would take control of the Nationals.

Marlins' stadium aid in reach  —  TALLAHASSEE — With no warning and just two days left in the legislative session, a second $60 million subsidy for the Florida Marlins on Wednesday made it further than ever in the Florida Senate after Miami members attached it to another sports stadium bill.

Padres take lumps, but Dodgers get goose egg  —  LOS ANGELES - Clay Hensley was Rocky Balboa, bleeding between rounds but continuing the fight.  —  It paid off for the surging Padres, who scored a 3-0 victory at Dodger Stadium last night.  —  The team's fifth straight win …

Mariners Notebook: Sexson held out  —  CHICAGO — When Richie Sexson came to the park Thursday, he was in the starting lineup.  —  When the game began, he wasn't.  —  When the game ended, he was in the on-deck circle.  —  When the Mariners were packing to leave Chicago, he was walking gingerly.

Bonds gets a day off from starting lineup  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) - Barry Bonds' pursuit of the Babe might have to wait until Philadelphia.  —  Bonds wasn't in the starting lineup for the San Francisco Giants' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.  —  He still had a bit of a headache …

It's almost Lima Time  —  Jose Lima was pulled from last night's Triple-A Norfolk game after two innings and received congratulatory handshakes from teammates, but Mets officials insisted they aren't bailing on John Maine for Sunday's start.  Not yet, anyway.

Notes: Coach suspended five games  —  Third-base coach Smith suspended for spitting during spat  —  ARLINGTON — Texas Rangers third-base coach Steve Smith was slapped with a five-game suspension and an undisclosed fine Thursday, penalties stemming from his confrontation last Friday …

Cards Notebook: Pujols is hobbled  —  Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols fouled a breaking pitch off his left ankle during a first-inning at-bat Thursday.  He ended the plate appearance by grounding to second base.  He limped noticeably running to first before slamming his helmet.

These American idols have lost their fear factor  —  George Lucas may not be making any more Star Wars movies, but that doesn't mean we've seen the last of the Evil Empire.  —  Yes, the hated, despised, reviled, insufferable and arrogant Yankees are in town for a three-game weekend series …

Daily Dish: May 4  —  One of the best pitching matchups in the minors on Wednesday was in our backyard in Zebulon, N.C., as Double-A Carolina righthander Anibal Sanchez went up against Mobile righthander Cesar Carrillo.  —  Neither was particularly sharp, however, but they showed flashes of brilliance at times—particularly Sanchez.

Thomson, Braves can't hold off Phils  —  Andruw drives in pair; Renteria extends hitting streak to 20  —  PHILADELPHIA — John Thomson had earned the right to be considered one of baseball's most unfortunate hurlers.  Though he entered May with the National League's best ERA …

Behind the Broadcast Curtain With the Wizard of YES  —  Gary Sheffield's drive looked fated to soar over the left-center field fence at Yankee Stadium last Thursday night.  John Filippelli, watching in his 36th-floor Manhattan office at the YES Network, said, "Oh, that's gone!"

Randolph's hunch pays off  —  NEW YORK — With a hunch like he had last night, Willie Randolph should have gone to Vegas.  —  The Mets' manager had a feeling about outfielder Endy Chavez, and he went with his gut and played him over Xavier Nady in right field.

Franchises at Birth: The Expos and the Padres (Part Three: 1975-1980)  —  Through their first half-dozen seasons, the Montreal Expos had slowly, incrementally pulled themselves up to a level of middle-of-the-pack respectability, while the San Diego Padres hadn't yet gotten a foot on the bottom of the basement stairs.