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.

Banged up Dodgers continue to struggle  —  Navarro and Mueller injured as skid reaches five games  —  LOS ANGELES — Thursday's game marked the Dodgers' fifth straight loss, but they may have lost much more than that in the process of being shut out, 3-0.  —  The game was hardly underway …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carpenter handed second loss  —  Cardinals ace outpitched by Astros' Pettitte  —  HOUSTON — New Busch Stadium may or may not turn out to be a hitter-friendly facility, but this much is certain so far in 2006 — the rest of the parks in the National League have been most unfriendly to the Cardinals' offense.

Control goes to D-backs, Cruz  —  PHOENIX — When the Cubs have to issue a mayday distress call by May, it's a sign another long year could be upon fans before Memorial Day signals the real start of summer.  —  While getting rung up 6-0 by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday night …

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 …

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!"

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 …