Mets blame it on the rain, Rowand  —  Phils can thank Aaron for victory in 4 1/2  —  PHILADELPHIA - The Mets lost only their second series this season.  It took bloodshed and rain to deliver that blow.  —  Aaron Rowand caught Xavier Nady's bases-loaded shot at the base of the wall …

Williams is dejected by ejection  —  At the start of the season, Bernie Williams jokingly mentioned a few things that he'd like to do before his career was over.  One of them was to get thrown out of a game.  —  While Williams finally achieved that dubious feat in the seventh inning …

It All Swings Wrong Way For Nationals  —  After Washington Takes Lead in Top of 11th, Griffey Hits Three-Run Homer in Bottom Half: Reds 5, Nationals 4  —  CINCINNATI, May 11 — It was the kind of swing that replays on television screens and in minds for the rest of the night …

Damon to deal with pain  —  Johnny Damon streaked back to the center field wall, leaped at the 408-foot marker and snared Doug Mirabelli's drive as the ball appeared to be going over the fence for a two-run homer.  —  The spectacular play in the fourth inning was one of two highlight-reel catches …

Tracy: Pirates Not Delivering In Clutch Situations  —  Jim Tracy has no idea what ails this team. … Well, Tracy could fix some of the hitting problems by playing the right hitters.  Not to sound like a broken record, but when you start Jose Hernandez at first base against a right-handed pitcher …

Column: Well, at least Bonds can still hit  —  SAN FRANCISCO —Barry Bonds still uncoils at the plate like a striking cobra.  Unfortunately, he plays left field like a hippopotamus looking for a good mud bath.  —  For one day, or even one historic homestand, it hardly matters.

How is youth being served?  —  A first-place team is sending Jose Lima to the mound tonight, and it is doing so with a straight face.  Injuries in the Mets' rotation have put them in a bind, and their solution somehow calls for the resurrection of Lima Time.  They are calling up minor leaguer Jeremi Gonzalez to start on Saturday.

Phils to take plunge with Hamels  —  The prized prospect will face the Reds tomorrow.  He is being called up after three starts at triple-A Scranton.  —  The Phillies could have kept Cole Hamels with triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a few more starts.  He could have picked up a little …

Live Arm Puts Pelfrey on Mets' Fast Track  —  BINGHAMTON, N.Y., May 9 — Deep in the heart of the bushes, in upstate New York, a tall, lean young man in a Mets uniform stood on a pitcher's mound.  —  The ballpark was cozy, a third full with about 2,000 fans present on a pleasant Tuesday evening.

Infection sends Chavez to hospital  —  A's notebook  —  TORONTO — A's third baseman Eric Chavez missed his third straight game with what the team is calling a bacterial infection.  —  He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital on Thursday morning, receiving IV fluids and undergoing a blood test …

Friars open series in Chicago  —  San Diego (19-16) at Chicago (15-19) 11:20 a.m. PT  —  The Padres hit the road for nine games, taking their sparkling record in May with them.  —  First up on the trip are the Cubs at Wrigley Field, a team the Padres swept in a four-game series last week at PETCO Park.

M's down, but not out  —  TACOMA — The Rainiers clubhouse is cozy and crammed full Thursday afternoon.  Two players sit at a rickety table playing checkers.  Another microwaves instant noodles and eats them with a plastic fork.  —  This is not the big leagues, not The Show …

Koronka deal pays big dividends  —  ARLINGTON — John Koronka's wife, Ashlee, had things figured out long before he did.  She kept telling him that he was going to wind up in Texas with the Rangers.  —  Ashlee had been predicting that Koronka would play for the Rangers since he was a Rule 5 pick of theirs in December 2002.

Dave Myers to Pilot 'Sox in '06  —  Everett - The Everett AquaSox announced today that Dave Myers will serve as field manager for the 2006 season.  Myers, who was with the AquaSox last season as a special assignment coach, fills the void created by the promotion of Jim Horner to manage …

Rangers replace Triple-A manager  —  Texas also swaps minor-leaguers with San Diego  —  It was quiet on the major league front for the Rangers on Thursday, but they sent tremors through their struggling Triple-A Oklahoma club.  —  Manager Tim Ireland, still serving a 10-game suspension …

Mets' Randolph tinkers with lineup  —  PHILADELPHIA — Let's put it this way: moving Cliff Floyd from sixth to second in the batting order couldn't have hurt.  —  Mets manager Willie Randolph juggled his lineup for last night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies by sandwiching …