Sox may drop Ortiz in lineup  —  The Red Sox' offensive onslaught today made David Oritz's struggles more glaring.  Every player who went to bat against the New York Mets in a 12-5 victory had at least one hit and reached base at least twice except Ortiz, who went 0 for 5 and saw his average drop to .195 …

K-Rod collapses from spasms  —  (UPDATED 2.0) BOSTON — Chaos reigned in the Fenway Park hallway outside the Mets' clubhouse late Saturday night after closer Frankie Rodriguez suddenly collapsed due to apparent back spasms.  —  Rodriguez, the Mets' prized $37 million offseason addition …

How could Chicago Cubs not see Rich Harden's injury coming?  —  Perhaps Cubs will get the bad stuff out of way early this time around  —  The quote of the season thus far from Cubs manager Lou Piniella (and, yes, it is early):  —  “The amazing thing about it is, every time I've talked to him he's felt really good.

Game 44: Phillies at Yankees  —  YANKEES (25-18)  —  Phillies (23-18)  —  Notes: Melky Cabrera's three walkoff RBIs this season are the most by a Yankee in a season since Claudell Washington had four in 1988. ...  Sabathia's last start against the Phillies was also his last start before becoming a Yankee.

Giants G.M. Sabean exploring trade routes  —  SEATTLE — The Giants aren't hitting, which means Brian Sabean is taking a pounding.  —  With a quarter of the season complete, the club's long-tenured general manager acknowledged what anyone reading the box scores could divine …

Giambi hits 400th homer, but A's lose to D'backs  —  OAKLAND (AP) — Jason Giambi couldn't thoroughly appreciate his latest accomplishment, not with the way his Oakland Athletics are playing these days.  —  On the night Giambi hit his 400th career home run and should have been celebrating, he was left to ponder another one-run defeat.

Rick Ankiel activated by St. Louis Cardinals  —  ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals activated Rick Ankiel from the 15-day disabled list Sunday, reversing course from a day earlier after the outfielder had a strong workout.  —  Ankiel had been on the DL since May 4 after a headfirst crash …

Braves batter Blue Jays, run Toronto's skid to six games  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Brian McCann homered twice, pinch-hitter Chipper Jones drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-2 Sunday to cap a three-game sweep.

Jose Canseco faces Kazuhiro Sasaki's pitches in Japan  —  YOKOHAMA, Japan — Jose Canseco was back in the batter's box Sunday, facing former Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki before the start of a Japanese professional baseball game.  —  Canseco took nine pitches from Sasaki as part of a pre-game ceremony at Yokohama Stadium.

They're getting the short shrift at short  —  Red Sox lacking at a key position  —  It's not that the Red Sox don't value the position of shortstop.  It's just that their decisions involving it - after the one that sent Nomar Garciaparra to the Cubs in a three-team deal that netted them Orlando Cabrera - haven't always worked out.

Bondy: Yankees enjoy homer heaven  —  The flags at the top of the frieze promised a stiff wind blowing in from left field.  But in the Bronx these days, home runs trump nature and every law of baseball known to man.  —  There were four more homers Saturday, a total of 11 in two days at a ballpark averaging nearly four per game.