Warm Welcome Doesn't Last  —  Martinez Allows 8 Runs In 3 Innings  —  BOSTON — The reception Pedro Martinez received in his return to Fenway Park was similar to the ones he used to get in his seven years with the Red Sox.  It was enough to give him a lump in his throat.

Nationals' Woes Are 'Getting Very Sad'  —  TORONTO, June 28 — If Frank Robinson had his way, 25 men would have walked out of the visitors' clubhouse at Rogers Center on Wednesday night with one purpose.  They might have headed directly to their hotel rooms or out to grab a beer, but it didn't matter.

Advising A-Rod?  That's Sweet, Lou  —  Ex-skipper manages to help  —  When he walked out of Yankee Stadium Tuesday night, Alex Rodriguez was probably about at his lowest ebb.  It had been another frustrating and fruitless night at the plate in which he had once again struck out …

Notes: No suspensions for ejections  —  Volquez impresses Daniels; Rangers using lots of rookies  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Rangers have been told there will be fines but no suspensions as the result of the four ejections in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Phillies Notes |  Lieber could make his return July 7  —  Phillies Notes  —  BALTIMORE - The Phillies said there is a chance that righthander Jon Lieber could return to the rotation next week.  —  Lieber, who is on the disabled list with a strained left groin, made a rehabilitation start Tuesday with single-A Clearwater.

Figgins Receives Some Rest, Needed or Not  —  Some might find it curious that in the search for an offensive spark, Mike Scioscia would deprive his team of one of its most consistent sparkplugs.  —  But that essentially was the move made Wednesday by the Angels manager …

Future Shock  —  Position Breakdown: Catchers … If there's one thing I've learned on this beat, it's that everybody loves rankings.  I love them too, and I don't want to wait until the end of the season to start breaking them out.  Every Thursday, I'll be ranking the top prospects by position.

Last day to make All-Star vote count  —  Fans cast 2.3 million ballots on final day of voting last season  —  It's the bottom of the ninth for the Monster All-Star Online Ballot here at MLB.com, and let's assume that baseball fans once again break the record for number of ballots cast in the final 24 hours of voting.

Commentary: Marlins scratching another 6-year itch  —  MIAMI GARDENS — This is at least as much about learning as it is about winning.  —  Which is exactly how it should be.  —  What the Baby Marlins are doing is amazing and wonderful and tantalizing stuff even in the wake …

Shawn not happy to wait his turn  —  Shawn Chacon had eight days between his last two starts, and by the time he takes the mound again on Tuesday, it will have been nine days since he was in a game.  In other words, he's been doing an unprecedented amount of waiting recently.

Perez says he's not mad at manager Tracy  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) - Oliver Perez plans to return to Pittsburgh's rotation as soon as possible.  That doesn't mean he's mad about manager Jim Tracy's decision to send the Pirates' opening day starter to the bullpen.

Second thoughts: Phillies say mistakes made in Myers case.  —  BALTIMORE - Under a broiling sun, Scott Palmer sat in the stands at Camden Yards yesterday and spoke of the troubles that had beset the Phillies' organization after pitcher Brett Myers' arrest last week on charges that he beat his wife, Kim, on a Boston street corner.