Mets will play it safe with Heilman  —  MIAMI - The Mets say they will walk a fine line of being cautious with Aaron Heilman's surgically repaired right elbow, but not overly protective.  —  Heilman underwent surgery last winter and was shut down a week in spring training with a mild case of tendinitis.

Wakefield, power overwhelm Jays  —  Knuckler's flutterer flummoxes Toronto; Sox hit three homers  —  TORONTO — Overshadowed by Curt Schilling's intensity, Josh Beckett's electric stuff and Daisuke Matsuzaka's hype, Tim Wakefield has little interest in getting attention anyway.

Notes: Aybar suspended indefinitely  —  Third baseman a no-show for Wednesday's game vs. Chicago  —  ATLANTA — Willy Aybar's suspension was originally supposed to last just three days.  But his continued absence has forced the Braves to make this an indefinite suspension.

Nationals Go 13 Innings, Win on Lopez's Fly Ball  —  If there is a game going late, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals are on the schedule, chances are they are the teams left on the field, long after the children are in bed, the stands have emptied, the local news has started.

A 7-2 victory for Rockies overshadows loss of RHP Lopez  —  Lopez is out, but Rockies savor win against Dodgers  —  Box score  —  Tempered by the loss of right-handed starter Rodrigo Lopez for at least a couple of weeks, the Rockies still got some satisfaction out of their 7-2 victory against the Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Carpenter will resume his efforts to rehab  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will resume an exercise and throwing program today as a hoped-for first step toward returning to the mound next month.  —  Carpenter, on the disabled list retroactive to April 2 due to persistent swelling …

Ten Things I Didn't Know Last Week  —  Every act of terror and murder, such as this week's tragedy at Virginia Tech, is always a kick in the gut.  No matter how many desperate and depraved acts we have seen on TV or the Internet, each one feels like something terribly new …

Kendrick goes on disabled list  —  Broken bone in his left hand will sideline the second baseman a month to six weeks.  —  OAKLAND — A team starved for offense lost another of its top hitters Wednesday when second baseman Howie Kendrick, who was batting .327, went on the 15-day disabled list because of a broken bone in his left hand.

Howard might need MRI on sore leg  —  First baseman pulls up lame running bases, but stays in game  —  WASHINGTON — The postgame limp paled in comparison to the pained look on Ryan Howard's face as the injured first baseman tried to block out the agony.  —  Howard stood, then dragged …

Analysis: Why are Brewers outspending Pirates?  —  Despite similar markets, situations, Milwaukee's payroll $20 million higher  —  MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers, based in the National League's smallest market and a region two-thirds the size of Pittsburgh's, will outspend the Pirates …

Hernandez still loves New York City  —  NEW YORK — Indians relief pitcher Roberto Hernandez always feels tugs at the heartstrings when his baseball travels bring him to New York City.  —  Although he was born in Puerto Rico, the 42-year-old Hernandez grew up in Manhattan.

Who's Picking Up the Tab When it Comes to Player Salary?  —  With baseball awash in cash, the stakes have never been higher for general managers.  The game is "enjoying a golden age of fan support and excitement," as Commissioner Bud Selig is fond of saying.

O's, Bug Give Rays That Run-Down Feeling  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The bug spreading through the Devil Rays' clubhouse Wednesday got so bad that head trainer Ron Porterfield called an emergency pregame meeting.  —  Porterfield wanted to give a quick refresher on the basics of staying healthy in the midst of an outbreak.