Mets fan killed in two-story fall over railing at Shea  —  NEW YORK — A man attending a New York Mets game with his family lost his balance on an escalator and fell two stories to his death, police said.  —  Antonio Nararainsami, 36, and several relatives, including his two young daughters …

Heckuva 1st game  —  Lowrie's debut a big hit … CLEVELAND - Jed Lowrie finally got his ball.  —  The story of how the toothy-grinned kid arrived in the glory that surrounded his major league debut last night would seem to start on his family's three-quarters of an acre plot where tennis balls …

Another Cubs' lineup fantasy ... it's dirty.  —  Had another lineup fantasy last night on the heels of Alfonso Soriano's hop-related calf injury (and nearing trip to the 15-day DL).  And this one was rated XXX.  —  In my dream, Kosuke Fukudome moves into the leadoff spot and plays centerfield …

Hawkins gives up No. 21 for No. 22  —  Yanks reliever criticized for wearing O'Neill's number  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Tired of receiving flak for wearing a number last used by Paul O'Neill, the Yankees' LaTroy Hawkins has decided to surrender his No. 21 before the club opens a two-game series against the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Sanchez ready for more game action  —  New York Mets (6-6) vs. Washington (4-10), Wed., 7:10 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — He's a veteran, sure, but Duaner Sanchez still strolled around Shea Stadium's home clubhouse Tuesday afternoon as if he had never stepped inside.  Some teammates got hugs; others received high fives.

RIVALRY'S BUZZ TAKES A BEATING  —  I DO NOT want to write this column, but I must, because the Red Sox and Yankees start a series tonight and someplace next to the original Gutenburg press is a journalistic playbook that demands we trumpet each new sighting of The Rivalry as if it were the ball coming down on New Year's.

Pavano can't rehab his image  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The days blur together, distinguished only by minor developments in his throwing program — an extra 10 feet of distance, another dozen throws.  For Carl Pavano, even these marginal increments serve as benchmarks on yet another agonizingly slow journey back to the mound.

Self-examination may bring Rays solutions  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays, the only franchise in the majors never to win more than 70 games in a season, are taking a long, hard look at themselves.  —  One man critiquing the performance is former big-league infielder Tim Bogar …

End of an Era in Buffalo?  —  Opening Day in Buffalo was missing a regular tradition this year.  Sure, fried bologna sandwiches were a hit as always at the concession stands and Buster the mascot was as entertaining as ever.  —  However, unlike the four previous times that Buffalo's player …

The secret to Chien-Ming Wang's success … He's just one man, one man with just one pitch.  The ball comes at hitters on a flat plane, thigh-high, at somewhere between 90 and 95 mph, then it takes a sudden plunge, some seven to eight inches toward the dirt.

Young starters trying to make the long-term leap … Somewhere between the promise of a Johnny Cueto or Clay Buchholz and the $15 million guaranteed payout that Fausto Carmona just received as a 19-game winner, there exists a world of ambitious young starters trying to bridge the gap from hopeful to fulfilled.

A few thoughts...  I'll admit that I'm stunned at the way this team has played the last five games.  Where do we start?  —  • It was a quiet clubhouse yesterday.  Marlon Byrd still looked a little shocked by the time the media walked in.  He said he had a “brain freeze” and thought he was going to get a hold sign.

Baker on Piazza rumor: Huh?  —  CHICAGO — With the Cincinnati Reds apparently in need of catching help and right-handed power, free agent Mike Piazza's name has surfaced.  —  But it is a surprise to manager Dusty Baker and the front office, even though a New York-area Web site said Baker …