Easy does it with Lugo  —  CLEVELAND - Armed with a 10-game winning streak and an effective Nick Green, the Red Sox aren't going to go crazy trying to incorporate Julio Lugo into an everyday role at shortstop until he shows he can handle it physically.  —  That seemed to me the theme of both Lugo and Terry Francona this afternoon.

Houston Astros closer Jose Valverde still out with calf injury  —  CINCINNATI — Houston Astros closer Jose Valverde reached down and pressed his right thumb against the side of his right shin.  The tip of the thumb made an indentation that stayed long after he pulled his hand away.

Padres add Gaudin, designate De La Cruz  —  Veteran righty was signed to Minors deal April 12  —  Chad Guadin has made it back to the big leagues.  —  On Monday, the Padres purchased the contract of the right-handed pitcher from Triple-A Portland.  To make room for Guadin …

Alex Rodriguez, Chien-Ming Wang step up rehab programs in Tampa  —  TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez increased the intensity of his workout and pitcher Chien-Ming Wang threw in the outfield Monday as part of their rehabilitation.  —  Rodriguez, who had surgery …

PUTRID PEREZ FACES BULLPEN OR MINORS  —  The Mets might have been better off lighting that $36 million on fire.  —  Just four starts into Oliver Perez's dubious three-year deal, the Mets already are running out of patience with the mercurial left-hander after he imploded again yesterday in an 8-1 loss to the Nationals.

Irabu to make comeback in independent league in U.S.  —  Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu (file photo) has come out of retirement and made a contract with Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League, his management revealed on April 27.

A painful awakening for Cubs: Bats finally erupt to help snap skid vs. Cardinals, but sore neck puts Lee out of lineup  —  Bats finally erupt to help snap skid, but sore neck puts Lee out of lineup  —  ST. LOUIS — The Cubs escaped St. Louis with a win Sunday as the lineup finally awoke from a four-day slumber.

Game 19: Marlins at Mets  —  Carlos Delgado was scratched from the starting lineup tonight because Jerry Manuel said the first baseman aggravated his hip sliding on a triple in Sunday's loss to the Nationals.  When asked if Delgado was available off the bench, Manuel said he would be careful how he used Delgado this evening.

Expiration Date  —  Next weekend, I plan to meet my former teammate and good friend Marlon Anderson here in Chicago.  His family will be in town for a wedding, and it is one of those rare occasions since I stopped playing baseball when he and I will be in the same city.  —  But isn't he supposed to be in uniform?

Garcia labors in Buffalo; contemplating retirement  —  Let's just say this: Freddy Garcia is NOT the answer if anyone ever gets bumped from the Mets rotation.  Pitching for Triple-A Buffalo on Monday night, Garcia served up a grand slam to Ryan Langerhans in a six-run fifth inning after which he was pulled.

Game 19: Yankees at Tigers (updated with Joe Girardi pre-game audio)  —  YANKEES (9-9)  —  Pitching: LHP CC Sabathia (1-1, 4.81).  —  Sabathia vs. the Detroit hitters.  —  TIGERS (10-8)  —  Granderson CF  —  Polanco 2B  —  Ordonez RF  —  Cabrera 1B  —  Guillen DH  —  Laird C

Phillies' Romero suing supplement makers  —  Suspended Phillies reliever J.C. Romero is suing the makers and distributors of nutritional supplements that he says are responsible for his positive steroid test last August.  —  The 27-page lawsuit, filed Monday in the Superior Court of New Jersey …

Peter King: Jets-Browns trade, thoughts on all 32 draft classes … KANSAS CITY — I'm going to have 32 opinions on 32 teams here in a few paragraphs, and a few will surprise you.  But I've got to start off with a cool story that played a big part in the trade of the weekend — and, in all likelihood, the trade of the year in the NFL.