Rare Rivera blown save leads to loss  —  Closer gives up slam to Kubel as Yanks can't finish sweep  —  NEW YORK — The reality of Mariano Rivera coughing up a late-inning lead still serves as a jolt to the senses after all these years, a rare occurrence that seems to compel those in pinstripes …

Tigers on a roll in Motor City with win vs Red Sox  —  DETROIT - Ramon Santiago hit a two-run homer and Armando Galarraga was sharp in his first start of the season, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox [team stats] 5-1 on Sunday.  —  Detroit became the first team …

Reds stifle Cards, move into first in NL Central  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Moments after Jay Bruce caught a routine fly for the final out, the public address announcer called everyone's attention to the standings board behind the right-field seats, the one that was about to reflect a seismic shift in the NL Central.

Storen to join Nats tomorrow  —  DENVER — Drew Storen is about to join the Nationals' roster.  —  The rookie reliever will have his contract purchased from Class AAA Syracuse and is expected to join the big-league club tomorrow in St. Louis, according to a source within the organization.

Davis has heart condition  —  Brewers pitcher Doug Davis was scratched from his Sunday start and placed on the 15-day disabled list with a heart condition called pericarditis, an acute inflammation of the lining around the heart.  He is being treated with anti-inflammatory medication and the situation is not life-threatening.

MLB Committee Fought to Keep Blacks Out Even After Robinson Signing  —  At the Reds' Great American Ballpark, the likes of Willie Mays, Bud Selig, and Jimmie Lee Solomon are taking part in festivities around the annual Civil Rights Game between the Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.

Lee puts onus on himself  —  Derrek Lee played for a team that started 16-22 and won a World Series, so he's not about to write off the 15-22 Cubs in the middle of May.  —  “There was no magic moment,” Lee said of the Florida Marlins' turnaround in 2003.  “We just kept believing in ourselves and kept playing hard.

Padres doing big things in that pitcher's ballpark  —  Run prevention.  It's a philosophy that's working very well these days . . . in San Diego.  —  When he took the job as Padres general manager over the winter, knowing how expansive Petco Park was, Jed Hoyer made it a point …

ROCKIES ACTIVATE FRANCIS, TO START VS. NATS  —  DENVER — Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis will pitch for the first time in more than a year Sunday after being activated from the 15-day disabled list.  —  The North Delta, B.C., native will start in the final game of a four-game series with Washington.

Niese leaves start early with injury  —  MIAMI — Mets starter Jon Niese left Sunday's game in the third inning due to injury.  There was no immediate word as the nature or severity of his injury.  —  The incident forced the Mets to call on reliever Hisanori Takahashi, thrusting their rotation plans in doubt.

Yankees set rotation for the week  —  The Yankees have announced their rotation for the next week, with Javier Vazquez once again having his turn skipped, this time leaving the Yankees top four pitchers to face the Red Sox and Rays.  Vazquez will make his next start in the series opener against the Mets.

Mets, Out of Patience, Send Perez to the Bullpen  —  MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The struggling pitcher Oliver Perez was taken out of the Mets' starting rotation and moved to the bullpen Saturday, Manager Jerry Manuel said, leaving the team in need of a starter for Wednesday's game against the Nationals in Washington.