Red Sox activate outfielder Wily Mo Pena, recall righthander Jermaine Van Buren from Triple-A  —  Lefthander Javier Lopez optioned to Triple-A, infielder Willie Harris designated for assignment  —  BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox today activated outfielder Wily Mo Pena from the 15-day disabled list …

Cashman finding a way to make things work in new era  —  In a bygone era, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman would have pushed the trade button by now, and Washington left fielder Alfonso Soriano would be back in pinstripes.  Or Philadelphia right fielder Bobby Abreu might be wearing them for the first time.

Johnson Is Doubling as Nats' Stalwart  —  MIAMI, July 17 — Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson entered Monday's game against the Florida Marlins leading the National League in doubles with 33.  Ask Johnson, though, about that status and his reply is both bland and serious: "I'm just glad I'm out there playing."

Audition, Round 2  —  Pelfrey gets another look and Peterson is bullish on his future  —  CHICAGO — The Mets' dream of someday adding Barry Zito to their rotation will likely have to wait until the offseason, when he becomes a free agent.  But Zito's former pitching coach, Rick Peterson …

Rangers GM looking for pitchers  —  Market tricky for starters; GM won't mortgage the future  —  TORONTO - A weekend's worth of dreary offense did not dampen the sunny optimism general manager Jon Daniels has about his lineup.  —  He is still making the acquisition of pitching the Rangers …

Rockies recall three players from Triple-A  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Colorado Rockies recalled infielders Jason Smith and Ryan Shealy and right-hander Manuel Corpas from Triple-A Colorado Springs after their 3-1 loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night, their eighth consecutive defeat.

Dodgers lose and may lose Kent to DL  —  Sele allows five runs, nine hits in five-plus innings to D-Backs  —  PHOENIX — Jeff Kent said Monday was "not a good day," and he wasn't talking about the Dodgers' fifth consecutive loss that dropped them below .500 for the first time since May 11.

Notes: Lowe works on pitch mechanics  —  Right-hander has worked three straight days in bullpen  —  PHOENIX — Most starting pitchers throw a bullpen session between starts.  —  Struggling Dodgers starter Derek Lowe on Monday threw his third bullpen session in as many days as he attempts …

2 more years for Baker isn't crazy  —  Actually, there's no better alternative to manage the Cubs  —  More than two months ago, on the subject of the Cubs, I wrote that "firings appear almost inevitable, if not imminent."  Two weeks ago, the view here was the sacking of manager Dusty Baker had become imminent, as well as inevitable.

Krukow adds color to Giants broadcasts — and how  —  In 1976, early in his pitching days with the Cubs, Mike Krukow had dinner with his wife's relatives in Chicago.  One of the other guests that night was Raul Smith, a linguistics professor from Northwestern, who couldn't believe his ears.

Ortiz is hoping 3rd time charm … Russ Ortiz will make his third start for the Orioles tonight, and if it's not better than the first two, his future in the rotation may be uncertain.  —  When asked if Ortiz must pitch well to earn another start, manager Sam Perlozzo did not say yes …

Under The Knife  —  Muse  —  Let's get right to this today.  Powered by Muse's "Revelations and Black Holes," on to the injuries:  — Mets fans like to see Pedro Martinez on the mound, even if it's just a side session.  Despite his problematic hip and a severe case of what the team thinks …

Mets reach rare air  —  But there are tougher feats to accomplish than 2 slams in inning  —  It would be fine with Ed Hartig if he never hears his name over the radio during a Cubs broadcast the rest of this trying season.  That probably would be OK with the Cubs too.