Mets must lean on other stars  —  Hip hampers cranky Pedro  —  Pedro Martinez answered a few innocuous questions from reporters about making the National League All-Star team last night, but when talk turned to his ailing right hip, the Met righty snapped, "I got no comment," and walked away.

Twins pitching star leaves Morris in awe  —  Francisco Liriano's confidence and command of pitches impress the 254-game winner, who knows a little something about those attributes.  —  Jack Morris, one of the all-time great American League pitchers, watched Francisco Liriano blank the Brewers …

Williamson positive he's not negative about Dusty  —  Cubs reliever Scott Williamson strongly denied implying anything negative about manager Dusty Baker during a radio interview Sunday morning.  —  Williamson had told WSCR-AM (670) that playing time can be sporadic on Baker's Cubs …

Cubs club Buehrle, White Sox 15-11  —  CHICAGO — Angel Pagan looked like a man ready to party.  —  BOX SCORE: Cubs 15, White Sox 11  —  The rookie wore a pinstriped suit, shades and a silver chain with a cross after hitting his first two career homers on his 25th birthday.

No-Hitter Requires a Complete Game  —  THERE are as many no-hitters in the front office of the Los Angeles Angels as there have been in the major leagues for more than four seasons.  —  Bill Stoneman, the general manager of the Angels, pitched two no-hitters for Montreal, one in 1969 and the other in 1972.

Moehler to have an MRI on foot  —  Right-hander Brian Moehler will undergo an MRI on his sore right foot today and is hoping he'll be able to come off the disabled list shortly after next week's All-Star break.  —  ''The X-rays were negative.  There's no stress fracture,'' said Moehler …

Eaton on target for late-July return  —  ARLINGTON - Adam Eaton has a calendar of his planned rehab starts for July sitting in his locker.  He's quick to point out July 21, the day planned for his final rehab start.  —  "That means five days later, I could be back in the rotation," Eaton said.

Mets' A.L. Nightmare Is Over, for Now  —  The Mets will wake up today in a place where pitchers bat and No. 8 hitters do not bat .280.  No more Yankees or Red Sox, bleacher creatures or Green Monsters.  —  Their world, the National League, has teams like the Pirates and the Cubs, and the Mets are thankful to be playing them soon.

Finally, Bowden Gets To Deal With a Full Deck  —  For the past 20 months, Nats General Manager Jim Bowden has made what seem like a vast number of trades, free agent signings and draft picks.  The impression among Washington fans is that Bowden deserves to be a controversial figure …

A's All-Stars as elusive as hits  —  THE AMERICAN LEAGUE All-Star team was announced Sunday.  Stop us if you've heard this one before — the A's offense got shut out.  —  So profound is the team's inability to put bat on ball at this point that manager Ken Macha couldn't even feign indignance.

Eight logical All-Star substitutions … I have a confession to make: I never watch the All-Star Game.  I don't think I've watched a full one since I got out of college.  It's just an exhibition game, and with players cycling in and out almost at random, not to mention an introduction ceremony …

Notes: Kinney called up to help 'pen  —  Redbirds to carry 13 pitchers on temporary basis  —  ST. LOUIS — With a bullpen stretched to its seams, the Cardinals called for a reinforcement on Sunday.  Right-hander Josh Kinney had his contract purchased from Triple-A Memphis, and outfielder Timo Perez was optioned to Memphis.

Lo Duca's hot over A-Rod's trot  —  Alex Rodriguez struck the big blow of the night, but Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca didn't think he handled it in a classy way at all.  —  When Rodriguez crossed the plate after his third-inning grand slam, the two of them had such a heated exchange …