Lima takes start hoping the end is nowhere near  —  ST. LOUIS - Jose Lima returns to the mound for this afternoon's series finale with the Cardinals, trying to prove he belongs in the rotation after going 0-2 with a 9.31 ERA in starts against Atlanta and Milwaukee.

Nats Get One Hit In Another Shutout  —  CHICAGO, May 17 — Get out the thesaurus and try to think up some words to describe what these Washington Nationals are going through.  You might find something fancy and poetic, perhaps even tragic.  Jose Vidro, their veteran second baseman, can strip all that down and make it mighty simple.

Sox can't steal a sweep  —  Harris misses sign, thrown out stealing at second to end game  —  BALTIMORE — Willie Harris is the consummate role player.  Perhaps his most important duty for the Red Sox is to utilize his speed when given the call in the late innings.  —  In his mind, this was the ultimate chance.

RANGERS NOTES  —  Blalock swinging hot bat  —  NEW YORK — Third baseman Hank Blalock continues to have one of the best seasons of any major leaguer.  He entered Wednesday batting .345 (seventh in the American League) with 33 RBI (tied for sixth in the AL), and nearly as many walks (16) as strikeouts (18).

Yankees' offense leaves Loe low  —  NEW YORK - The first rule of the sinkerball club: Live by the sinker, die by the sinker.  —  A week ago, Kameron Loe became the youngest Ranger in more than a decade to pitch a shutout (albeit a rain-shortened one).  Wednesday he was searching for explanations …

Cards Notebook: Reyes gets call  —  Manager Tony La Russa said Class AAA righthander Anthony Reyes can be "listed as the starter" for Saturday's game in Kansas City, but he'll wait to confirm the roster move that will be made to create room for Reyes.  —  The club probably will reassign a reliever …

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?  —  First, a lesson in history:  — May 2, 2003 — St. Petersburg Times: Magic adding finishing touches against Pistons … Game 6 final score: Pistons 103, Magic 83  — May 16, 2004 — North Jersey Herald: Nets: Skip the trip

Notes: Ramirez has left shoulder strain  —  Shortstop expected to be ready for Interleague set with Rays  —  ATLANTA — An MRI performed on Wednesday confirmed that shortstop Hanley Ramirez has a left shoulder strain that will require a couple days' rest.  —  Ramirez said that he felt …

Brewers win third straight in final at-bat  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Phillies decided to make someone other than Bill Hall beat them, and Geoff Jenkins was ready to give Milwaukee another win in dramatic fashion.  —  Jenkins' RBI single with two outs in the ninth gave the Brewers …

Pavano forced from rehab start  —  Ailing right-hander cites tightness in right triceps area  —  NEW YORK — Carl Pavano's comeback to the Yankees appears to be on hold once again.  —  Pavano, making his third rehab start on Wednesday, the second for Double-A Trenton …

Don't expect vintage Wood yet  —  Kerry Wood once was considered the horse in the Cubs' stable.  He was Citation, Whirlaway and Secretariat rolled into one, sturdy enough to drag this long-depressed organization out of decades of misery.  —  But as Wood makes another much-anticipated comeback today …