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 …

Rangers remain high on Tejeda  —  ARLINGTON — After watching Rob Tejeda hit a batter, give up four singles, a walk and a home run during a stretch of seven batters, some Rangers fans were probably wondering: "Where's David Dellucci?"  —  After looking at the season statistics and seeing …

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 …

Wood dominant in Class A rehab start  —  Righty strikes out 12 in five innings of work with Peoria  —  PEORIA, Ill. — Class A batters were outclassed by Kerry Wood on Sunday night at O'Brien Field.  —  Pitching for the Peoria Chiefs as part of his comeback from shoulder surgery …

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 …

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.

Cole fails to fail, slows timetable  —  MOOSIC - Two-and-a-half hours south of here, which is about 120 miles as the freak show flies, they gathered again last night to celebrate baseball's peculiar collision of history and pharmacology.  Barry Bonds, Babe Ruth, BALCO, belligerent fans …

Sending Perez to the Mets to Be Explored, Sources Say  —  For sale: One starting pitcher.  Left-handed.  Career record over .500.  Perplexingly inconsistent at times.  —  Price tag: If you have to ask, you can't afford him.  —  Would there be interest in Odalis Perez?

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.

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.

Mets roll a 300: Reworked Glavine pact was smart  —  Tom Glavine is coming back to pitch for the Mets next season, meaning he'll very likely earn his 300th victory in a Mets uniform.  —  "We're going to pick up his option," one Mets decision-maker said Friday.

Sheets scratched from start  —  Brewers ace experiencing stiffness in shoulder  —  LOS ANGELES — The Brewers scratched Ben Sheets from Sunday's scheduled start at Dodger Stadium because of stiffness in the front of his shoulder, the latest in a growing list of ailments for the ace right-hander.

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.

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 …

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.