Rios emerging in relative obscurity … For almost a half-season, a certain outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays has been a major offensive force in the American League, but few south of the U.S.-Canadian border have noticed.  —  "Who is Alex Rios?" has been one of the most-asked questions …

Add on Cano to Yank woe  —  Hurt as Fish earn a split  —  A day that started with a great win ended badly at night for the Yankees.  Robinson Cano strained his left hamstring running out his sixth-inning double and had to come out of the nightcap of yesterday's split doubleheader against the Marlins at the Stadium.

Kicking and screaming  —  Asheville Tourists manager loses it following ejection  —  LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Minor league manager Joe Mikulik had a major league tantrum Sunday night.  —  The manager of the Asheville Tourists, a Class-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in the South Atlantic League …

McClatchy 'extremely disappointed' in Pirates' play  —  But expresses confidence in Littlefield, Tracy  —  LOS ANGELES — The Pirates' frustration is boiling to the top.  —  "I'm extremely disappointed," owner Kevin McClatchy said shortly after the team's 11th loss in a row, 7-4, to Los Angeles yesterday at Dodger Stadium.

Notes: Johnson returns to lineup  —  Manager Robinson places Clayton in third spot of batting order  —  BALTIMORE — In need of offense, manager Frank Robinson put first baseman Nick Johnson back in the lineup after he missed five games because of a lumbar strain in his lower back …

War Stories  —  On any given day now, you can walk into the Mets' clubhouse and find a friendly player ready to talk baseball with you.  It might not be like the good old days of the Eighties, when Kevin Elster would graphically discuss the previous night's sexual conquests, but in this PC-era …

A victory can solve a lot of problems  —  A's take series from Giants to ease rash of injuries, clubhouse tension  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Just a typical day in the maddening season of A's manager Ken Macha.  —  Before Sunday's game against the Giants, Macha was missing his Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez …

Milledge not lost in the haze  —  TORONTO - Rookie hazing wasn't a drag for the Mets' Lastings Milledge and Alay Soler.  The Mets freshmen didn't seem to mind the annual hazing event, which required them to wear tight and short women's dresses on the trip from Canada to Boston.

Barely 20 Years Old, but Coming of Age Fast  —  Phil Hughes had no big plans to celebrate the end of his teenage years Friday.  He had finished a workday at Waterfront Park in Trenton, and the next day he would be 20 years old.  Twenty years old and still a Yankee.

Duaner OK, gets day off  —  TORONTO - Duaner Sanchez's neck remained sore from the pinched nerve that forced him to leave Friday's game, but the reliever had full range of motion and was upbeat upon rejoining the Mets.  Sanchez went unused at his request yesterday, with Aaron Heilman pitching …

Keeping the Baserunners  —  There are four components to offense in baseball.  Getting on base and batting for extra bases are the two biggies.  Next is advancing once on base; the fourth is avoiding losing runners on the basepaths.  The fourth is probably the one that flies furthest below the radar …

Uggla's return date in doubt  —  NEW YORK — Rookie second baseman Dan Uggla remains hopeful that he'll return this week, but there's a chance he might not play until after the All-Star break.  —  Uggla, who leads the Marlins with 13 home runs, hasn't been able to run without pain since …