Pedro records 3,000th strikeout  —  Mets right-hander sets down Harang to join exclusive club  —  CINCINNATI — The baseball moved untouched past the bat of Aaron Harang and popped into the catcher's mitt of Paul Lo Duca for the third strike of the third out of the second inning.

ROCKET MISFIRE HASM'S WITHIN 1  —  CLEMENS HURTS ELBOW IN A LIFELESS LOSS TO SEATTLE  —  After sliding in and out of the Carl Pavano Memorial MRI tube late yesterday, Roger Clemens attended Alex Rodriguez's Labor Day bash at Rodriguez's rented Rye mansion on the water he has an eye on buying if he remains a Yankee.

Peavy wants it now  —  PHOENIX - Thirty minutes after Greg Maddux won for the first time in 11 career starts here, after the San Diego Padres moved into the National League West lead by themselves for the first time in two months, after they'd put a 10-2 beating on the Arizona Diamondbacks …

Ramirez's shoulder may need surgery  —  WASHINGTON — Shortstop Hanley Ramirez gave the Marlins a scare Monday when he grabbed his shoulder and fell down in pain after swinging at and missing a high fast ball..  —  Ramirez stayed in the game and doubled twice, but he said he is considering having surgery …

Pirates Notebook: Bullington caps long road back  —  ST. LOUIS — Bryan Bullington already had lost enough time.  —  He and his family were in Louisville, Ky., yesterday afternoon when he received the word he has been awaiting for two years: He was being called up by the Pirates …

Dodgers rip Zambrano, he rips Cubs fans  —  Carlos Zambrano bit the hand that feeds him Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field, ripping Cubs fans for booing him off the mound after another in a series of erratic outings.  —  As he walked to the dugout after being removed in the fifth inning …

Dice makes own bad luck  —  Poor pitching to blame for fans' lack of patience  —  Red Sox fans were encouraged to be patient with Daisuke Matsuzaka, this being the right-hander's first season in the big leagues.  —  For the most part, the good citizens of Red Sox [team stats] …

First impressions: Buchholz vs. Kennedy  —  Clay Buchholz has made two major league starts.  In case you haven't heard, one was pretty good.  Ian Kennedy has made one major league start.  In a Draft Review I wrote last year, I said this about Kennedy:

Six starters, two weeks  —  Manager Tony La Russa said the club plans to use a six-man rotation for at least the next two weeks, a stretch that includes a day-night doubleheader Sept. 15 with the National League Central Division-leading Chicago Cubs.  —  That means that righthander Joel Pineiro …

Astros to interview Amaro for GM job  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Astros are accelerating the search for their next general manager.  —  Phillies assistant general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. will be in Houston on Thursday to interview for the Astros' GM position, according to major-league sources.

Alex and Victor Rodriguez Are Worlds Apart  —  Very few people call him V-Rod.  Hardly anyone does, actually.  Those who use that nickname with Lt. Col. Victor M. Rodriguez do so cautiously.  —  "They do it in a very respectful way," Rodriguez said.  "They find the right occasion and the right context."

Detwiler, others on fast track to DC  —  Lefty will be third Nats pick to make MLB debut in draft year  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals are expected to purchase the contracts of pitchers Ross Detwiler, Jonathan Albaladejo and Arnie Munoz, and outfielders Justin Maxwell and Ryan Langerhans on Tuesday.

Pitch count: more than just a number?  —  To some coaches, fans, pitch count is more than a number, but to others it just doesn't add up  —  "You really learn a lot about yourself when you pitch late into ballgames," said Hall of Famer Jim Palmer (right), shown with manager Earl Weaver and catcher Rick Dempsey in 1982.

Hunter reportedly turned down $45 million  —  Before Torii Hunter announced that he would wait until season's end to negotiate a new contract, he had discussions with the Twins that quickly hit a roadblock.  —  Before Torii Hunter announced that he would wait until season's end to negotiate a new contract …

Indians beat Santana for 5th time in '07  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — If the Cleveland Indians avoid a colossal collapse and finish with the AL Central title at the end of this month, they can count their mastery of Johan Santana and the Minnesota Twins as one of the reasons for the success.