Jumping at chance to face NY  —  The standings will look familiar when the Red Sox take the field at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night.  The Sox and Yankees will be sitting on top of the American League East, separated only by a few percentage points.  —  It'll be a homecoming of sorts for 25-year-old Josh Beckett.

Dontrelle is the answer  —  The Victor Zambrano news doesn't really strike a blow to the Mets.  It simply creates a void, and a silver lining: It underscores what they must do to carry out their impressive beginning.  —  Just as they thought last winter, the Mets will need another frontline starting pitcher …

Phillies run winning streak to eight  —  Burrell, Rowand go deep to support Lieber's effective outing  —  PHILADELPHIA — In a three-game series that featured 12 home runs, you have to figure Barry Bonds would hit one.  —  Did he ever.  —  "I was trying to get my lips off the floor," …

Peña could become very big attraction  —  He says his mother is kind of short.  His father, sister, and brother are big, just like him.  —  And we mean big.  Has anybody ever seen a guy in center field bigger than Wily Mo Peña?  —  It's an odd sight.

Notes: Robinson says season not lost  —  Manager says Nationals can rally like Astros did last season  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Frank Robinson saw the 2005 Astros start the season at 15-30, but then rally to finish the season with an 89-73 record and win the National League Wild Card.

Who's on first?  Doumit sparks Pirates' victory  —  Bay's home run in 11th, perfect bullpen beats Nationals, 5-4  —  WASHINGTON — It took 31 games and 23 losses, but the Pirates finally found that panic button.  —  And, at 7:11 p.m. yesterday, they pushed it with both hands.

Notes: 'Super Joe' back in the bigs  —  Versatile utilityman gets the call after Burke is injured  —  DENVER — The turnaround time between Joe McEwing finding out that he was called up to the big leagues and his arrival in the visitor's clubhouse in Denver on Sunday morning was only about eight hours …

Rox wrap up 4-1 homestand  —  Cook yields two runs and six hits in eight-plus innings  —  Rockies starter Aaron Cook, above, delivers a pitch to Houston's Lance Berkman during the first inning on Sunday at Coors Field in Denver.  The Rockies won 5-3 to complete a 4-1 homestand.  (AP / David Zalubowski)

Notes: Matthews reinjures right quad  —  Teixeira's streak continues; Shouse visits with teammates  —  ARLINGTON — Center fielder and leadoff hitter Gary Matthews Jr. was forced out of the Texas Rangers' lineup Sunday after straining his tender right quadriceps again.

Royals are far from a K.C. masterpiece  —  Royals general manager Allard Baird is a goner, and deservedly so.  But let's see who owner David Glass hires as the team's next GM.  Let's see if Glass continues to nickel-and-dime his baseball operation while receiving tens of millions in welfare payments from Major League Baseball.

Notes: Pierre familiar with pressure  —  Speedster says struggles are not result of trying too hard  —  SAN DIEGO — Juan Pierre says he's not pressing and that he's not trying to do too much to impress his new team.  —  "I just stink," Pierre said before Sunday's Chicago Cubs game against the San Diego Padres.