Wake cushion eases pain: Strong start saves bullpen  —  Tim Wakefield looked down the lineup card and knew exactly what was needed yesterday.  —  Everyone else knew, too.  —  Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable.  The kid closer had pitched so much of late, had put out so many fires …

Cardinals expect to place Carpenter on DL  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals expect to place pitcher Chris Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, and are preparing to call up right-hander Anthony Reyes from the minors to take his spot in the rotation.

Thomson hit hard early as Braves fall  —  Starter lasts just 1 1/3 innings as Dodgers stave off rally  —  ATLANTA — The Braves have flirted with big and early deficits for much of the season.  On Monday afternoon, they found out how big a hole is too deep to dig out of.

Glass: No GM deal yet  —  Moore is believed to be mulling offer  —  NEW YORK — Royals owner David Glass denied media reports Sunday that he has reached an agreement to hire Atlanta assistant Dayton Moore to replace Allard Baird as the club's general manager.  —  "I don't have a deal yet with anybody," Glass said.

Prior tosses two rehab innings  —  Righty not concerned by reduced velocity in 44-pitch outing  —  PEORIA, Ill. — Mark Prior's heater never topped the temperature in his first Minor League rehabilitation start for the Class A Peoria Chiefs on Monday.  —  Prior threw 44 pitches in two innings …

Maydaze!  Maydaze!  —  Cubs yield 8 homers, popup bounces off Ramirez's head in loss, writes Dave van Dyck  —  The Cubs may be rewriting records for wretchedness, but they also are setting new standards for strangeness.  —  And Sunday's weirdly wild game had it all wrapped up in one nice, not-so-neat package.

Notes: Win brings team together  —  Bay's hot-hitting continues, Tracy expects more of the same  —  PITTSBURGH — A little more than eight hours after winning what is believed to be the longest game ever played in the city of Pittsburgh, the Pirates were back in the clubhouse Sunday morning still trying …

Second thoughts find this guy is no Aaron  —  Barry Bonds is alone now in second-place on the all-time home run list, and that is fitting.  Not because he hit No. 715 yesterday.  Because he is as alone as anybody has ever been in baseball.  —  Bonds finally passed Babe Ruth.

Delgado having positive effect on Beltran, Mets … MIAMI — Carlos Beltran has recaptured his form at the plate, having a solid season with the Mets.  But he acknowledges that the arrival of Carlos Delgado has helped his personal recovery and the team's success.

Thompson to make holiday start  —  Colorado (32-17) at San Diego (25-24), 6:05 p.m. PT  —  The Rockies come to town for the second time this season, starting on Monday night, but the Padres are a very different team this time around.  —  When the Rockies came to San Diego, April 7-9 …

Howard finds left-field stands — again  —  Phils slugger has yet to pull a long ball this year at home  —  PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard waited that extra second to pounce on Milwaukee lefty Dana Eveland's outside fastball, depositing it over the left-field wall.

Rheinecker gets second start  —  ARLINGTON - Rangers rookie left-hander John Rheinecker hopes his second stint with the club lasts longer than his first one.  —  Rheinecker, who will start tonight against Seattle, made his major league debut April 22 against Tampa Bay and allowed two runs in four innings in Texas' 6-5 victory.

Wells to miss next start with sore right knee  —  TORONTO — Red Sox left-hander David Wells will miss a turn in the rotation because of a sore right knee.  —  Wells left his last start after taking a line drive off his knee.  He'll miss his scheduled start on Wednesday.

Kaz's job listed as day-to-day  —  MIAMI - Kaz Matsui has lost the everyday second-base job, though he still may get the majority of the starts.  Willie Randolph met with the .213-hitting infielder before yesterday's game, then started Jose Valentin at second base.