Sox rally for tie but fall to Jays  —  Concern for Clement overshadows near comeback  —  TORONTO — A late comeback that fell just short couldn't eclipse a potential problem for the Boston Red Sox: What's wrong with Matt Clement?  —  Boston used a trio of homers — including a three-run blast …

Hermida just about back to full speed  —  · A popular preseason National League Rookie of the Year pick, Jeremy Hermida has to make up ground to prove the prognosticators right.  —  One of his swings Sunday showed he might not be far from starting his push.

Dodgers' Gagne ready to return to team  —  Closer completes successful Triple-A rehab assignment  —  LAS VEGAS — It didn't take long for Eric Gagne to declare himself ready to face Major League hitters.  —  Gagne capped a successful rehab assignment at Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday …

Notes: Whirlwind weekend for Kemp  —  ATLANTA — When a Minor Leaguer is promoted into Grady Little's clubhouse, he gets thrown into the action, not eased.  —  Matt Kemp learned that lesson Sunday, and the result was that Monday morning, he was watching video of his three strikeouts …

Expectations were too high, but Mazzone staff is too low  —  We believe in miracle workers because we see them every day.  We see them in classrooms, above operating tables, patrolling our streets.  They really do exist in this world.  —  The Orioles needed a miracle worker.  What they got was a pitching coach.

Mailbag: Could Ray take over as closer?  —  Beat reporter Mark Bowman answers fans' questions  —  If Chris Reitsma continues struggling in the closer role, do you think Bobby Cox will turn to Ken Ray?  If not Ray, who else do you think might fill in the closer spot?

Wells feels he's ready to start  —  David Wells was so encouraged about his right knee yesterday, a clubhouse source said the pitcher was telling people he could make his scheduled start in Toronto Wednesday.  —  How good did Wells feel?  —  The southpaw was able to put all of his weight …

Pirates Notebook: Vogelsong perseveres, performs in long-relief role  —  Ryan Vogelsong can go a week without pitching in a game.  —  He can go a year without pitching in one that matters.  —  Still, as those who are close to him in the Pirates' bullpen will attest, his demeanor does …

At RFK, Nats Enjoy Comforts of Home  —  Perhaps it was their way of thanking the home team for not completely giving away the season before summer set in.  Or maybe it was a moment to say goodbye, an acknowledgement that they will next appear at RFK Stadium more than a week into June.

Monday Morning QB (cont.)  —  Ten Things I Think I Think  —  1. I think the one thing I'll always remember about Ironhead Heyward, who died of cancer over the weekend at 39, is how honest he was with the press.  I always got a straight answer from him, even in some tough times.  I'll miss him.

Fan taunting Jones gets earful from player's mom  —  It has been a tough first two months at Wrigley Field for new Cubs right fielder Jacque Jones.  —  He has been booed brutally and even had a ball whiz past his head, courtesy of a drunken fan in the bleachers.

O'Connor suffers left ankle bruise  —  Nationals rookie left-hander not expected to miss a start  —  PHILADELPHIA — Nationals left-hander Mike O'Connor left Monday's game against the Phillies in the bottom of the sixth inning after being hit in the left ankle by a hard shot off the bat of Chase Utley.

Notes: Harden set to return  —  Starter to complete rehab assignment this week  —  OAKLAND — As bad as things have gone for the injury-ravaged A's this month, they seem to take a measure of comfort in knowing that last May was even worse.  A lot worse.  —  "At this time last year …

Breaking down the 64-team NCAA tournament baseball field  —  Team-by-team look at the Division I NCAA baseball tournament field, compiled by Jack Carey, Ben Dooling and David Kay (stats as of end of regular season):  —  Alabama: The Crimson Tide have been helped by superlative pitching …

Lieber on DL with strained left groin  —  Right-hander departs after two innings against Nationals  —  PHILADELPHIA — Jon Lieber turned funny fielding a comebacker and wound up on the 15-day disabled list.  —  The right-hander left the game after two innings, providing a dark spot …

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 …

Rockies-Padres Preview  —  The last time the Colorado Rockies visited Petco Park, they set scoring records at the San Diego Padres ' three-year-old stadium.  —  The Rockies (26-24) hope to put forth another strong offensive performance at the venue when the teams open a three-game set on Monday.