Lackey ejected two pitches into debut  —  Starter throws behind Kinsler, then hits him in ribs  —  ARLINGTON — John Lackey was upset — not with Ian Kinsler or the Rangers, but with the way his season debut ended as abruptly as a burp.  —  Two pitches into his return to the mound …

Nats expected to place Olsen on DL  —  Starter to be disabled with tendinitis; Detwiler set to join club  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals are expected to place left-hander Scott Olsen on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with left shoulder tendinitis and recall left-hander Ross Detwiler from Double-A Harrisburg.

A-Rod home run lifts Yankees over Twins in 11th  —  Alex Rodriguez, right, is greeted by his teammates at home after hitting a walk-off home run in the 11th inning.  (Photo by David Pokres / May 16, 2009)  —  The thin line between love and something dramatically less that Yankees fans feel …

Josh Beckett, Red Sox get it done  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  SEATTLE - For once on this road trip, a 4-0 lead was good enough.  —  And for that, the Red Sox [team stats] can thank their defense.  —  Last night's 5-3 victory over the Mariners pivoted …

Pirates add Corsaletti, Newsom to mix  —  Minor Leaguers to be assigned to Double-A Altoona  —  PITTSBURGH — The Pirates acquired outfielder Jeff Corsaletti from the Red Sox organization and right-handed pitcher Randy Newsom from the Indians on Sunday.  —  Both Minor League players …

Mookie disappointed about lack '86 Series display  —  Mookie Wilson is responsible for perhaps the most indelible moment in Mets history, even if Bill Buckner is more famous for letting the ball sneak through his legs in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

Paige: It's time to bail on Hurdle  —  They think we're not watching closely, or at all.  —  They think that because we've been overwhelmed by the John Philip Sousa victory march of the Nuggets and traumatized by the changing of everything but the guards at Broncos Palace, we've accepted the status woe.

Tampa Bay Rays' clubhouse, like club, lacks spark  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The starting pitching has been ineffective, the offense spotty and the defense untidy.  But there has been something else missing for the Rays.  —  Call it joy.  Call it youthful enthusiasm.  Call it fun.

UNC's Ackley one of the top draft prizes  —  Dustin Ackley is probably going to be the pick after Stephen Strasburg in the June 9 draft.  The University of North Carolina junior can really hit, as his career 100 extra-base hits, 127 walks and 73 strikeouts underscore — not to mention the 1.273 OPS he has put up in this his draft year.

Milton's return doesn't go as scripted  —  Left-hander's first start in two years marred by wildness  —  MIAMI — It's not just Manny Ramirez the Dodgers are trying to win without.  —  They've been in front despite the loss of Opening Day starter Hiroki Kuroda for the last five weeks and more to come …

Cooper leaves himself open to doubts  —  Cecil Cooper had a difficult day at the office Saturday at Wrigley Field.  —  It's never a good thing when players are text messaging beat writers or asking them in the clubhouse afterward: “Why didn't he have Jason Michaels sacrifice?  Why didn't he walk Alfonso Soriano?”