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 …

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 …

Carpenter doesn't make the trip to Pittsburgh  —  HOUSTON — After receiving a tentative go-ahead to make Tuesday's start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter instead will have an MRI exam today to determine the cause of renewed stiffness and swelling in the former Cy Young Award winner's right elbow.

Z's comment brews trouble  —  Brewers take offense, say they won't forget next time  —  MILWAUKEE — Circle the date: April 23.  The Milwaukee Brewers already have after seeing what Carlos Zambrano said about them after the Cubs' victory Saturday.  —  ''He's full of [it] anyway,'' Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks said Sunday.

Dunn tries to get it all together  —  We've seen this before from Adam Dunn.  From him, we've seen just about everything.  —  What he did in spring training - pounding the ball to all reaches of the playing field - was what he did as a rookie in 2001 and did again as recently as last July …

Shea to lead off with boos for Rollins  —  ATLANTA - He figures to be the recipient of more hostile jeering than Armando Benitez ever did trotting in from the home bullpen.  Or Kaz Matsui stepping into the batter's box.  —  Leading off at Shea today for the 1-5 Philadelphia Phillies …

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.

Cowherd's 'attack' on blog: 'Zero tolerance' … Shortly after introducing myself to ESPN's audience in my first column Thursday, I checked the ombudsman's mailbag.  It was jammed with dozens of messages of outraged complaint against ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd, who had called on his listeners …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …