Lowrie Ties Rookie Record  —  CLEVELAND — When Jed Lowrie hit first base, he said he felt jubilation and relief.  —  His two-run single in the seventh was his first major league hit in his first major league game.  —  “I can't even describe it,” he said.  “It's one of the moments in your life that you'll always remember.

CASTILLO ACHING FOR REST  —  An ailing Luis Castillo admitted he could use some time off after getting dumped all the way to eighth in the Mets order last night.  —  Willie Randolph demoted the slumping second baseman in favor of right fielder Ryan Church.

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.

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 …

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.

Griffey keeps Robinson's legacy alive  —  CHICAGO - The stories stuck with him.  Ken Griffey Jr. would sit at the dinner table and hear old ballplayers like Joe Black and Chuck Harmon wax on about Jackie Robinson.  He would travel to Arizona and listen to Willie Mays tell tales about Jackie.

First place fun, likely fleeting  —  MIAMI GARDENS — Ah, the sweet and April-fresh scent of first place.  An intimate gathering of just 10,462 came to Dolphin Stadium to get a whiff of it Tuesday night, the third such crowd in the past four home games, and that's a shame.

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.

Soriano leaves game early for MRI  —  Piniella will announce lineup after Wednesday results  —  CHICAGO — Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano underwent an MRI Tuesday night to determine the extent of the injury on his right calf, which forced him out of the game after the first inning.

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.

ESPN says lawsuit settled with Reynolds  —  BRISTOL, Conn.—ESPN says a settlement has been reached in the lawsuit filed by former baseball analyst Harold Reynolds over his firing.  —  Reynolds sued the sports network for at least $5 million in October 2006, three months after he was fired.

Mulder works 5 good innings  —  JUPITER, Fla. — For five innings Mark Mulder looked like the groundball pitcher the Cardinals expected to have the last two seasons.  —  Making his first rehab start since shoulder surgery ended his 2007 season, Mulder threw 61 pitches in five innings of work …