Harper: Yankees swallow pride in weak stand  —  As it turned out, maybe Joba Chamberlain should have plunked Jacoby Ellsbury, the very first batter of the game, square in the back and stared down the Red Sox dugout and dared Boston to do something about it.  —  At this point …

Dodgers' 12th home win ties MLB mark  —  Weaver allows one run in five innings in first start since '07  —  LOS ANGELES — With a dreadlocked left fielder hustling on the bases, a second baseman who channels Jackie Robinson and a starting pitcher who leaves tickets for a 1970s rock star …

Meet the New Nats.  Same as the Old Caps.  —  In the bottom of the 11th inning of a 10-10 farce of blunders at Nationals Park yesterday afternoon, a shroud was put over the field.  Okay, a tarp.  At the sight of the Nats and Astros bullpens, the sky had laughed 'til it cried.

Press Box Layoff: How the Baltimore Sun Fired Me  —  Full disclosure: the first two times I was given stunning news about my newspaper job - in 1986 at the about-to-merge St. Petersburg Evening Independent, and in 1991 at the about-to-be-defunct National Sports Daily - I didn't get it face-to-face either time.

Castro, Wright back Livan as Mets top Braves  —  ATLANTA - So who are these Mets?  The soft, smiling do-gooders as characterized by their own general manager last weekend?  Or the serious, take-care-of-business grinders who swept the Braves out of Turner Field in this two-game mini-series?

No Tipping, Please  —  Alex Rodriguez is in a horrible spot.  —  Where do you go when, having focused your life on that one thing you can be the best at, you realize that because of choices you made things will never again be the same in anyone else's eyes?

Top beginning to click as Halos win  —  Figgins, Matthews Jr. have big nights; Loux gets win No. 2  —  OAKLAND — Gary Matthews Jr. is quietly putting together a productive season despite appearing in just 64 percent of the Angels' games to date.  He says it's all about preparation.

Bio hazard: A-Rod author has credibility issues  —  Jason Whitlock brings his edgy and thought-provoking style to FOXSports.com.  Columnist for the Kansas City Star, he has won the National Journalism Award for Commentary for “his ability to seamlessly integrate sports and social commentary …

Tim Lincecum relates to kid pitcher from ‘Rookie of the Year’  —  says he loves pitching at Wrigley Field and his performance there on Tuesday suggested as much.  —  But no matter the results, the Cy Young award winner says he appreciates the ballpark's history, its bricks, its ivy and …

Homestand Highlights — May 6-10  —  • Magnet giveaway: 5,000 magnets will be given to fans, compliments of Jones the Florist.  —  • “Straight A” Game: 1,000 7th- 12th grade students who achieved an “A” average (over a designated period during the 2008-09 school year) are attending the game for free.

B. Pena assigned to Triple-A  —  Manager Hillman happy to keep catcher in organization  —  KANSAS CITY — Catcher Brayan Pena didn't get away after all.  —  The Royals announced on Tuesday that Pena cleared outright waivers and has been assigned to their Triple-A Omaha club.