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 …

Cubs anticipate a cool reception at Wrigley Field after 1-8 road trip  —  SAN FRANCISCO — After ending their West Coast nightmare Thursday with a 9-3 loss to San Francisco, the Cubs know the Friendly Confines may be anything but that when they come home to Wrigley Field on Friday.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

For starting pitchers, 'off days' aren't what they seem  —  If all goes well, a starting pitcher will make an appearance for about two hours every five days.  —  He'll be in the spotlight, with his performance replayed, analyzed and packaged into the nightly recap shows.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …