Nationals escape with series win  —  Five-run third inning helped Nats to one-run victory  —  WASHINGTON — Manager Frank Robinson was in such a good mood after Sunday's game that he jokingly said that he wasn't going to be around Robert F. Kennedy Stadium on Monday and was taking the day off, which was already scheduled anyway.

Zam: Elbow's been hurting since I got here  —  The Mets are expected to promote Jeremi Gonzalez from Triple-A Norfolk to take a start in Milwaukee this weekend, but that figures to be only a temporary plug for Victor Zambrano's rotation spot.  —  Zambrano, who tore the flexor tendon …

Wagner tosses verbal fire at the Phils  —  The Mets closer says it was "24 against one" in the clubhouse last season.  —  NEW YORK - Three days before returning to Citizens Bank Park in a New York Mets uniform, outspoken former Phillies closer Billy Wagner yesterday painted a grim picture …

Chacon Bends but Does Not Break, and the Yankees Win  —  ARLINGTON, Tex., May 6 — "I'm not an idiot," Shawn Chacon said after Saturday's game, and a sequence in the fourth inning showed why.  —  The Yankees and the Texas Rangers were tied, and Phil Nevin had led off with a double.

Tavarez doesn't want any trouble  —  Julian Tavarez doesn't want to be considered a bad guy.  —  He knows his numerous past incidents have earned him a reputation as something of a hothead.  And after hitting Orioles outfielder Luis Matos in the left hip last night on a 1-and-2 pitch …

Playing with wrist injury no longer on Sheff's menu  —  ARLINGTON - Gary Sheffield has played hurt many times during his career - including last year with an ailing left shoulder - but the Yankee right fielder says he isn't going to do it anymore and it seems likely that he's headed for the disabled list with a bruised left wrist.

Are the Minor League Replacement Umpires Biased?  —  When Delmon Young was called out on strikes and launched his bat at an umpire in Pawtucket nearly two weeks ago, his anger was directed towards a replacement umpire.  Young's actions were foolish and reckless, but he is certainly …

Fielding miscues lead to another KC road loss  —  CHICAGO — This is how a team walls its way into the basement.  —  The Royals managed to work around one misplay Sunday by center fielder Kerry Robinson.  A second one, though, led to the winning run in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.

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.

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 …

Wood strikes out 12 in five-inning rehab start  —  PEORIA, Ill. — Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood struck out 12 in five scoreless innings during a rehab appearance Sunday with Chicago's Class A affiliate, the Peoria Chiefs.  —  In Peoria's 5-3 win over Lansing in 10 innings, Wood …

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)