Beckett fires and then it gets heated  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. - Josh Beckett found himself in a difficult situation early into his workday yesterday afternoon.  —  The first inning wasn't complete, and a speedy baserunner, Chone Figgins, stood on second.  Beckett wanted to throw off Figgins's timing …

Chicago Cubs beat Milwaukee Brewers 8-5  —  MILWAUKEE - It has been almost one year since Reed Johnson became a cult legend on the North Side with a diving catch into the wall in Washington.  —  Johnson one-upped himself Sunday night at Miller Park, leaping high over the right-field fence …

Manny Ramirez would love second shot with Indians  —  PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez will be back in Los Angeles Monday to renew his love affair with the city, but before his career ends he hopes to be reunited with his first love: the Cleveland Indians.  —  “I would like to play for Cleveland one more time …

ESPN's Steve Phillips apologizes to Lou Piniella  —  MILWAUKEE — ESPN analyst Steve Phillips sought out Lou Piniella in the clubhouse before Sunday's game to clarify his criticism of the manager's handling of outfielder Kosuke Fukudome.  —  Phillips told Piniella not to believe …

Pirates turn first triple play since 1993  —  Wilson to Sanchez to LaRoche does the trick in eighth  —  CINCINNATI — The Pirates turned their first triple play since 1993 in the eighth inning of Sunday afternoon's game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Murphy, Mets drop duel with Marlins  —  MIAMI - Jerry Manuel refrained from introducing Gary Sheffield to right field and sitting Ryan Church Sunday because the skipper wanted to use his best fielding lineup with ace Johan Santana on the mound.  The tradeoff for Daniel Murphy's bat, however …

Ballpark Statisticians Follow a New Count, the Toilet Ratio  —  If nothing else, $2 billion worth of baseball ballparks should buy shorter waits for the restrooms, at least for women.  —  Waiting in longer lines has been an uncomfortable, if not unhealthy, reality for generations of women at places like stadiums, arenas and theaters.

President Obama's new pastor lets loose on Yankees in Easter sermon  —  When it comes to church, President Obama can't avoid trouble.  —  As the First Family attended an Easter Sunday service at St. John's Church across from the White House Sunday, the Rev. Luis Leon unleashed a vicious and unholy attack on New York.

D-backs place Webb on 15-day DL  —  Move is retroactive to April 7; ace could miss one more start  —  PHOENIX — Brandon Webb still is not concerned about his right shoulder, but the D-backs ace is on the 15-day disabled list.  —  The team elected to put him on the DL, retroactive to April 7 …

Dodgers get run on ‘fourth-out rule’  —  Ethier scores before double play ends top of second  — Ethier scores on a double play Watch … PHOENIX — The Dodgers literally were awarded a gift run in the second inning Sunday when a rarely seen “fourth-out rule” was invoked in their game against the D-backs.

Breaking down a breakdown  —  For starters, I can't fault Joe Girardi for not using Mariano Rivera in the 8th inning.  Mo is a 39-year-old coming off shoulder surgery and did not throw more than one inning all spring training.  Oh, and it was raining and 40 degrees.