Papelbon, Sox overpower the Rangers  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — One could sense Curt Schilling tensing up in the clubhouse.  Relieved of his duties after just 102 pitches, after seven "shut-up" innings of four-hit, one-run baseball, Schilling was helpless as the man once heralded …

3-3 and headed home.  4/9/07 vs. Texas  —  All things considered this trip could have been worse.  Offensively we aren't even close to clicking yet we still managed to break even on the road.  Jon Papelbon was incredible last night.  It's not what he did as much as it is how he did it and who he did it against.

Another Yankees starter gets blistered  —  Even Pettitte needed as overworked relievers keep it close, to no avail  —  For all the good vibes surrounding Alex Rodriguez at Yankee Stadium, it was a bad opening week for the Yankees.  —  Sunday's game was a perfect microcosm of a chilly …

Rangers safe with Gagne decision  —  Making Gagne earn the closer's role will benefit player and team  —  jjtaylor@dallasnews.com  —  FRISCO - Everything about Eric Gagne says closer.  From the thick shock of curly, black hair that refuses to be restrained by his baseball cap to the bushy patch …

Reyes taking his game to a new level  —  Braves manager Bobby Cox and his coaches raised an almost unthinkable question while talking baseball early Saturday afternoon.  —  Is the Mets' Jose Reyes a better leadoff man than Rickey Henderson?  —  While the discussion is premature — Reyes …

Atlanta 3, NY Mets 2  —  ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are alone in first place for the first time in a year.  —  That's not a surprise to New York Mets manager Willie Randolph.  —  Kyle Davies pitched 6 2-3 strong innings and the Braves scored two runs in the eighth on three doubles …

Matsui placed on 15-day disabled list  —  Strained hamstring sidelines outfielder; Thompson recalled  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees placed Hideki Matsui on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, one day after the outfielder strained his left hamstring while running out a ground ball.

Toronto 6, Tampa Bay 3  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Roy Halladay has put last season's rough finish behind him.  —  Halladay won for the first time since last August and Reed Johnson hit a three-run homer to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-3 on Sunday.

MLB considering schedule switch  —  Angels-Indians series could be moved because of weather  —  Maybe you can't change the weather.  But following a week in which wintry conditions played havoc with its Midwestern schedule, Major League Baseball is considering changing the games due to be played in it.

Carpenter won't start Tuesday  —  Cards ace to meet with team doctor to determine next step  —  HOUSTON — Chris Carpenter will not make his scheduled start Tuesday due to swelling in his right elbow, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Sunday.  —  Carpenter threw on flat ground Friday and in a bullpen session Saturday.

Milwaukee 9, Chi Cubs 4  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers might have temporarily handed their ballpark over to Cubs fans for the weekend.  At least for now however, nobody will joke that Miller Park was named after Wade Miller.  —  The Brewers finally got to their longtime nemesis …

Mazzone reinvigorated in second season with O's … NEW YORK // It was only a few weeks after one of the most frustrating seasons in his baseball life had ended when Leo Mazzone was on the phone with his close friend, Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo.  —  The two had spoken so many times during the season …

Bloggers, the new big brother  —  It's not surprising that Seattle-area author Derek Zumsteg is extra vigilant these days when he thinks he sees players, or teams, flouting the rules.  —  When you've just written a book called "The Cheater's Guide To Baseball," you tend to get obsessive that way.

The perfect diamond … When Camden Yards hosted its first home opener 15 years ago, many already regarded it as a triumph for Baltimore and the Orioles.  —  "Field of Dreams Comes True in Baltimore," gushed the headline in The New York Times.  —  Less obvious was that the park …