FEELING THE STRAIN  —  LEFT LEG STILL SORE POINT FOR DL'D ALOU  —  Moises Alou had an MRI yesterday, and the pain in his strained left quad isn't going away.  —  The Mets said the MRI revealed that the quad continues to have "inflammation and soreness."  —  "Nothing's better," manager Willie Randolph said.

Tigers' Verlander no-hits Brewers  —  DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander pitched the first no-hitter in Comerica Park history, mixing 100 mph heat with crazy curveballs to lead the Detroit Tigers over the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0 Tuesday night.  —  Verlander struck out a career-high 12 and got …

Losing my Sunday thing  —  Someday, when I make my exit from doing this, I hope my column will just go black at the end, or like Tony told Bobby that I won't hear it when it comes.  I've been thinking a lot about The Sopranos, the detail-filled ending, and losing shows either gone too long …

Teen: Dukes got me pregnant … A 17-year-old foster girl living with a relative of Elijah Dukes told police the Devil Rays outfielder got her pregnant.  —  Detectives believe the sex was consensual and no crime was commited, but the incident has sparked a state investigation into the foster home.

The Story of O  —  How did Omar Minaya, the major leagues' first Hispanic general manager, turn the Mets back into contenders?  By welcoming one and all into his ever-expanding circle  —  Once upon a time, in a castle he had rebuilt from ruins, there lived the most fortunate of men.

hurly buehrle  —  according to USA today, 2 of the top 25 sports stories of the last quarter-century involve the cardinals. 2 of the top 6, actually: the paper ranks the 1998 mcgwire-sosa home-run chase at #6 and the red sox's long-awaited world championship at #1. interesting …

2007 MLB All-Star Balloting : American League 1st Base  —  1.  —  Ortiz, D.  —  Red Sox  —  1,055,260  —  2.  —  Morneau, J.  —  Twins  —  519,432  —  3.  —  Giambi, J.  —  Yankees  —  358,164  —  4.  —  Casey, S.  —  Tigers  —  312,943  —  5.  —  Hafner, T.

Ex-ESPN broadcaster Reynolds hired by MLB  —  Former Baseball Tonight anchor to debut Tuesday  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Harold Reynolds was back talking about baseball Tuesday, hired as a broadcaster by MLB.com while he pursues his lawsuit against ESPN.  —  Reynolds sued ESPN in October …

Phils' Garcia faces surgery  —  Getting Freddy Garcia looked like a steal, but now the Phillies might be left empty-handed.  —  The injured right-hander will see renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday for a second opinion on his ailing shoulder.

Helton in Boston but as a visitor  —  Potential trade to Red Sox fell apart during offseason  —  BOSTON - Ever since the schedule came out, Todd Helton knew he would be playing in Fenway Park this week.  He just wasn't sure whether he'd be playing for the home team or the visiting team.

Notes: Nationals promote prospects  —  Daniel, Marrero, Maxwell, McMillan rewarded for great stats  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals outfielders Mike Daniel, Chris Marrero and Justin Maxwell and first baseman Brett McMillan have made tremendous progress for Class A Hagerstown …

All-Time Lead Glove Awards  —  I call it the Michael Jackson list-they wear a glove on one hand and nobody knows why.  The Lead Glove Awards list the worst fielders currently in the game, but who are the worst of all time?  Though it's always a matter of opinion, here's a look at the slowest …

Greetings from Fenway  —  Greetings from an overcast Fenway Park, where the Red Sox (40-22, first place AL East) will host the Colorado Rockies (31-32, fourth place NL West) in an interleague contest.  RHP pitcher Aaron Cook (4-2, 4.54 ERA) will oppose Sox starter Tim Wakefield (5-7, 4.22).

Rowand, Sox share a mutual attraction  —  PHILADELPHIA — He's still in Philadelphia, and he has been rumored to be headed to San Diego in a trade.  —  But one can't help but think that somehow, some way, Aaron Rowand will be wearing a White Sox uniform on Opening Day next season — if not sooner.

BREAKING DOWN THE YANKEE BULLPENS  —  I keep hearing how the Yankees' bullpen is their great Achilles heel, but having watched this team for the past seven seasons, I have to disagree.  Sure, some of the relievers have struggled and might be less than perfect (Vizcaino, Farnsworth) …

34-26  —  As the eighth inning came about and I watched all of our hope dissipate away into nothing, I knew I had my intro.  It came together in my head during the Peralta at bat, and it went something like this: the Mariners will have these kinds of games.  They will make defensive miscues on easy plays.