Mets' pitching coach has no comment on recent woes  —  PHOENIX - Mets manager Willie Randolph defended Rick Peterson and denied there was a gag order to prevent the pitching coach from talking with the media.  —  Beyond Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez being on the disabled list …

Clemens apologizes for ‘mistakes,’ still denies drug use  —  Seven-time Cy Young winner admits flaws, says personal life has nothing to do with performance-enhancing drug allegations  —  In his first comments since a tabloid linked him to extramarital affairs last week …

Yanks sweep Mariners on six-run third  —  Starting for Hughes, Rasner gets much support in season debut  —  NEW YORK — Darrell Rasner, unbowed by all of the chatter of potential young aces like Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, knows he has been given a golden opportunity.

Church's throw helps Mets top Diamondbacks  —  PHOENIX - With the Mets' Johan Santana, a two-time Cy Young winner, matched against Dan Haren, another of the Diamondbacks' elite starters, there was a good chance that one of those golden arms would decide yesterday's series finale at Chase Field.

Guillen goes [bleeping] wild over fickle Sox fans  —  If this was the pregame interview, what could Ozzie Guillen possibly have said after the Chicago White Sox lost again Sunday?  —  Guillen unleashed his verbal wrath before the White Sox faced the Blue Jays in Toronto …

Batting order doesn't matter much to Cody Ross  —  MIAMI GARDENS - Cody Ross joked last week he had plenty of experience leading off.  Not the game, but the third inning.  Sunday, he led off the third inning yet again, only this time it wasn't his initial at-bat.

RHP Wells set to have surgery to remove clots  —  Right-hander Kip Wells is scheduled to have surgery Tuesday to remove blood clots from his pitching hand.  Doctors also want to see what's causing the clots.  The Rockies are concerned because of Wells' history of circulation problems.

And That Happened  —  Braves 14, Reds 7: Mrs. Shyster came into the living room yesterday afternoon and told me that I had to fix the shelves in the garage.  Her view: the screws holding the standards in the wall are hanging by a thread, and sooner or later 75 pounds of garage crap is going to fall onto her station wagon.

Piniella compares Soriano to Bobby Bonds  —  ST. LOUIS - ESPN analyst Joe Morgan asked manager Lou Piniella during Sunday night's telecast if he had contemplated moving Alfonso Soriano down in the order.  —  Piniella didn't chide Morgan but pointed out that he has been asked about it “for quite a while.”

Royals' Bale diagnosed with broken hand after punching door  —  Royals left-hander John Bale won't be returning to active duty any time soon after breaking his pitching hand Friday night by punching a door at the team's downtown hotel.  —  Bale apparently was frustrated by his slow recovery from a fatigued left shoulder.