Struggling Beltran says quad hurts  —  The Carlos and Carlos show of 2006 is suffering a sophomore slump.  —  After hitting a combined 79 home runs and driving in a combined 230 runs in their first season as Mets teammates, Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado have struggled this year, typified by yesterday's dismal showing at the plate.

His role is invaluable  —  Okajima sets up for closing time  —  We write this over and over, but we can't write it enough.  How valuable is Hideki Okajima?  How much of a godsend has he been for the Red Sox?  —  You can grit your teeth and wrench your hands when you talk …

Dukes takes seat again; Gomes benefits most  —  DENVER - OF Elijah Dukes was not in the Devil Rays starting lineup for a fourth straight game Saturday and it's not clear when, or if, he will return.  —  Manager Joe Maddon likes the way the lineup looks without the troubled rookie …

Chicago dogs  —  Chisox & Cubs playin' dead  —  All this Yankees-Mets boomeranging driving you insane, is it?  Had enough agita dealing with the ups and downs of our local nines?  It could be worse, Yankee and Met legions, a lot worse, as a matter of fact.  How do you think the fans in Chicago are liking this baseball season?

Angelos has been slow to fire, but it's clear he's simmering  —  So far, Orioles owner Peter Angelos has exercised his right to remain silent about the status of embattled manager Sam Perlozzo, but it isn't hard to imagine what's going on in his head.  —  He has spent the past month waiting …

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...LEE MAZZILLI  —  June 17, 2007 — The Post's Steve Serby sat down with the SNY pre- and post-game host at Polpo restaurant in Greenwich, Conn., not far from the former Met and Yankee's home:  —  Q: Condolences on losing your 87-year-old father [Libero] last week.

Transition to America lost in the translation  —  But Rockies endeavor to ease culture shock  —  On the mound, Rockies setup man Manny Corpas seems fearless.  Off the field, the 24-year-old is quiet and shy, a product of Panama City, Panama, where he grew up extremely poor.

Notes: Millwood ready to rebound  —  Veteran goes for first win since April 13 on Sunday  —  CINCINNATI — Rangers manager Ron Washington thinks Opening Day starter Kevin Millwood needs one thing.  —  One good game.  —  "He just needs a good game where he hits his spots and has some success," Washington said.

Willis sore but OK after collision  —  KANSAS CITY, MO. — Pitcher Dontrelle Willis said he expects to make his next scheduled start, even though he still felt some minor soreness in his left forearm Friday from where he was accidentally kicked by Cleveland's Grady Sizemore on Thursday.

Angels lose two players to injury  —  Anderson back on DL; Kotchman suffers concussion  —  LOS ANGELES — Angels left fielder Garret Anderson left Saturday's game in the second inning after aggravating an injury in the area of his right hip flexor tendon chasing a first-inning fly ball.

Marlins send Vanden Hurk to Double-A  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Florida Marlins sent Rick Vanden Hurk to Double-A Carolina on Friday night after the rookie right-hander got the win in a 9-8 victory over Kansas City.  —  The Marlins also said outfielder Brett Carroll would be brought …

A Dunn deal?  He thinks so  —  6 teams, including White Sox, said to check out slugger  —  Adam Dunn has heard it before—the Cincinnati Reds are shopping him for a possible trade.  —  But there's a difference this time around.  —  "Unofficially?"  Dunn told the Dayton Daily News.

Cards recall Reyes  —  OAKLAND - Hours after starting pitcher Braden Looper left the fifth inning of a 14-3 loss to the Oakland A's because of shoulder stiffness, the Cardinals addressed their fraying rotation early Saturday morning by recalling Anthony Reyes from Triple-A Memphis and optioning reliever Kelvin Jimenez.