BOX SCORE  —  A second Mets player echoed that line of thinking.  —  “At some point you have to cut bait,” he said.  “You owe him a lot of money, but for what?”  —  Perez, whom the Mets banished to the bullpen two weeks ago, allowed three runs over two innings on Saturday after Fernando Nieve flopped in a spot start.

Morales' injury may open a spot for Lowell in L.A.  —  BOSTON — The broken leg suffered by Kendry Morales Saturday might provide the Red Sox with a logical trading partner for Mike Lowell.  But to date there have been no talks between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels, sources with both teams confirmed Sunday.

Bits 'n Pieces  —  Rip Van Bisher has awakened.  Pardon my extended absence, but in the interim, I have been collecting a few gems that interest me, and may trigger yours.  Let me open with a few missiles from the thoroughbred track:  —  ****My friend Peter Blum has a long history of breeding …

Rockies send Dexter Fowler to Colorado Springs  —  His starting job gone and the team needing an additional utilityman, Dexter Fowler was demoted Sunday to Triple-A for more seasoning.  —  Fowler was the club's regular center fielder until three weeks ago when an extended hitting slump cost him a job.

Laird changes jersey number  —  DETROIT — Gerald Laird has tried just about every adjustment he can imagine to try to spark his hitting.  Adjusting his jersey number can't hurt.  —  The Tigers opened up their homestand Friday night with Laird donning a new number.

Giving Beckham a break  —  Guillen benches scuffling infielder, feels his pain  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It has become a South Side trilogy: “The Sitting of Gordon Beckham Part III.”  —  White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's hope is that the latest benching of the second-year infielder won't unfold into a tragedy.

The many Mets moments on ‘Seinfeld’  —  On the 20th anniversary of the sitcom's debut, we break down the baseball references  —  “Entertainment Weekly” was kind enough this week to remind us that Monday marks the 20th anniversary of the debut of the television sitcom “Seinfeld.”

TWINS COMPLETE SWEEP OF SLUMPING RANGERS  —  The Sports Network  —  Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Jason Kubel went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs to lead a balanced scoring attack, as the Minnesota Twins completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers with a 6-3 victory at Target Field.

Yoshida, the ‘Knuckle Princess,’ Arrives in U.S.  —  CHICO, Calif. — When the former major leaguer Ivan Ochoa laid a well-placed bunt down the third-base line for a single to lead off the game, it drew boos from the home crowd and a loud rejoinder from one fan: “Hit like a man.”

Sanchez, Paulino carry Marlins past Phillies 1-0  —  MIAMI - Not even 24 hours after making the final out of Roy Halladay's perfect game, Ronny Paulino drove in the only run Sunday to lift the Florida Marlins to a 1-0 victory over the struggling Philadelphia Phillies.

Yankees stop Indians with help from Mark Teixeira's late homer  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Teixeira (FSY) hit a three-run homer, Derek Jeter (FSY) sparked a rally with a two-out, two-run double and the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 7-3 Sunday.  —  Hours after the Indians learned …

Comic relief from Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain is no joke for Joe Girardi  —  With one excruciating pitch after another taken for a ball by their hitters and every exasperating pitching change after another made by their manager, it was as if the Yankees were sending a “take this” …