Zito looks good enough to acquire  —  Barry Zito looked good pitching in the Bronx last night.  But will he look good pitching there, or in Queens, later this season?  —  Zito, who allowed just one run over six innings in the A's 2- loss to the Yankees, conceivably could be headed …

Offense dries up in rain  —  Rangers' Loe blanks Red Sox before game is called in the bottom of the sixth  —  Last night, the Red Sox were fighting the weather.  They were fighting Texas starter Kameron Loe's heavy, biting sinkers.  Most of all, they were fighting the pace that the Rangers …

Carmona in, Graves out for Tribe  —  Indians hopeful prospect, Betancourt can help right ship  —  CLEVELAND — First, Danny Graves' hair was cut.  —  Then, Graves himself was cut.  —  The Indians designated the veteran Graves for assignment after Friday's 5-4 loss to the Tigers, giving them 10 days to trade or release him.

Dreary day on all counts  —  Ernie Banks was at Wrigley Field on Friday, but his trademark "Let's play two today" would have been a bad joke.  —  Lee improving faster than Cubs  —  Walks leave Guzman on the outs  —  Adam Caldarelli: Cubs-Padres  —  Rick Sutcliffe's self-described …

Good as advertised  —  Prized Phillies prospect Hamels sparkles in debut  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Cole Hamels' numbers in the minor leagues suggested he was ready for big things.  —  His major league debut suggested the same.  —  The 22-year-old left-hander pitched five shutout innings on a raw …

Notes: Rumors fly about outfielders  —  Injured Matsui leaves Yankees looking for alternatives  —  MINNEAPOLIS — When Torii Hunter heard the news of Yankees left fielder Hideki Matsui breaking his wrist, it wasn't something that really seemed to impact him.  —  But on Friday, the news took a much more personal turn.

Search is on for new left fielder  —  With Matsui sidelined, club will look internally for replacement  —  NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui will not be in left field for approximately three months, possibly longer.  That much the Yankees know.  —  What they don't know is who will be out there on a daily basis.

Penny, Lofton lead Dodgers past Giants  —  Starter gets win despite leaving after five innings with stiff back  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Former Giant Kenny Lofton drove in three runs and winning starter Brad Penny battled through five innings despite a stiff lower back Friday night as the Dodgers shut …

Upcoming Series: Milwaukee Brewers Pitchers  —  Well, that was fun.  After a fairly disappointing 1-2 series loss to the Phillies where the Mets stranded seven hundred and sixteen runners and then lost the final game in a rainout where it was no longer raining, they now get to take their act to Milwaukee …

Nationals give back game in 11  —  CINCINNATI — The Washington Nationals have seldom lost a game in as excruciating fashion as last night.  —  In a series finale at Cincinnati, the Nationals took a three-run lead in the 11th inning after Chad Cordero pitched two brilliant, scoreless innings.

Tracyblah  —  What happens when humbling experiences fail to humble?  —  I've only been following the mess in Pittsburgh from a distance, not enough to monitor lineups or in-game maneuvers, but enough to see that whatever excuses there might be for the Pirates' losing …

Notes: Building a DC team the right way  —  Nats' brass are holding a state of the team meeting in Atlanta  —  ATLANTA — New principal owner Mark Lerner and team president Stan Kasten were at Friday night's game between the Nationals and Braves, along with Lerner's two sons.

Notes: Sore knee lands Mueller on DL  —  Dodgers start three rookies; Gagne mixes in changeups  —  SAN FRANCISCO — It's looking like last year all over again for the injury-riddled Dodgers.  —  They had to place third baseman Bill Mueller on the 15-day disabled list Friday …

Pavano exits rehab start early  —  Righty departs after 63 pitches with tightness in right biceps  —  NEW YORK — Carl Pavano made his second rehab start on Friday night, leaving after 63 pitches with tightness in his right biceps.  —  Pitching for Double-A Trenton against Bowie …

Think-Pink Week  —  Mother's Day is special to Tomko, after his biggest fan was diagnosed with breast cancer  —  The mother talks to the son before every start.  —  For 10 years, she has talked to him before every start.  —  It's never deep, it's never original, but it's always Mom, and it always matters.