Jason Bay

New York Mets left fielder Jason Bay is getting some time off while he’s in the midst of a career-worst hitless streak that’s reached 23 at-bats. Mets manager Terry Collins says Bay is still his starter, but unlike Bay’s last break when he had a day off Sunday, this one would be at least two days. The 32-year-old Bay is hitting .207 with two homers and 10 RBIs and doesn’t have a hit in June. He says hitting is about managing the cold streaks, but acknowledges this one has been a very lengthy drought.

The Red Sox hustled into their dugout after the top of the sixth inning last night, and this is what occurred next: single, walk, double, walk, single, walk, double, single, single, single, single, home run. Now read that line again slowly, and consider just what happened at Fenway Park last night in a 13-3 Red Sox victory before 37,541. Twelve batters crossed the plate before Indians pitchers - three of them - could record one out in the sixth. When Julio Lugo walked toward the batter's box at 8:34 p.m., the Sox trailed, 2-1. When J.D. Drew grounded to second for the third out of the...

The New York Mets recalled outfielder Lucas Duda on Friday and immediately put him in the lineup against the Pirates. Duda was 2 for 20 with one RBI in 10 games with the Mets earlier this season. The 25-year-old was hitting .302 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs in 38 games at Triple-A Buffalo. Mets manager Terry Collins is giving slumping slugger Jason Bay (no hits in his past 23 at bats) some time off to work on his swing. Collins said Duda will likely play against right-handed pitchers to start.

Tommy Hanson put the pitch right where he wanted. It sure didn't end up where he wanted. Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and Dillon Gee pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, leading the New York Mets to another victory over the Atlanta Braves, 6-1 Monday night. The Mets snapped Atlanta's five-game winning streak and kept up their early dominance in the NL East rivalry, winning again after a three-game sweep of the Braves in New York to start the season.

Esteban Loaiza summoned one of his best performances of the season to win a pitchers' duel against Pedro Martinez, throwing eight strong innings last night to lead the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting New York Mets. Loaiza (5-5) allowed one run on six hits, struck out eight, and walked one for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last eight and 10 of 12. Loaiza has won four of his last five starts after enduring a spate of no-decisions with little run support.

The Red Sox hustled into their dugout after the top of the sixth inning last night, and this is what occurred next: single, walk, double, walk, single, walk, double, single, single, single, single, home run. Now read that line again slowly, and consider just what happened at Fenway Park last night in a 13-3 Red Sox victory before 37,541. Twelve batters crossed the plate before Indians pitchers - three of them - could record one out in the sixth. When Julio Lugo walked toward the batter's box at 8:34 p.m., the Sox trailed, 2-1. When J.D. Drew grounded to second for the...

PITTSBURGH -- Lloyd McClendon was the first Pittsburgh Pirates manager brought back after four consecutive losing seasons. One loss away from a fifth such season, the Pirates decided they wanted someone else running the club. McClendon, an aggressive former player known for his competitiveness and frequent run-ins with umpires, was fired yesterday after averaging more than 90 losses since 2001 for a perennially noncontending team. Bench coach Pete Mackanin will handle the team for the rest of the season.

Two games into the season, Xavier Nady has emerged as a nemesis for the Houston Astros. Not even he can explain how. Nady singled home Jason Bay for the go-ahead run off Dan Wheeler and homered for the second straight night, leading visiting Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win last night. In Monday's opener, Nady hit the tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning off closer Brad Lidge as the Pirates won, 4-2, in 10 innings. "It's just one of those things," said Nady, who has knocked in a run with each of his three hits in the series.

Even against a makeshift lineup, Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t stop the New York Mets from slapping one ball after another through the infield. Josh Thole hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and the depleted Mets, minus Jose Reyes, beat Pittsburgh 7-3 on Monday night, dropping the Pirates to 0-8 at Citi Field. “They just him ‘em where we weren’t. I think they got eight groundball hits,’’ Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. Dillon Gee (5-0)

Tommy Hanson put the pitch right where he wanted. It sure didn't end up where he wanted. Ike Davis hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and Dillon Gee pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, leading the New York Mets to another victory over the Atlanta Braves, 6-1 Monday night. The Mets snapped Atlanta's five-game winning streak and kept up their early dominance in the NL East rivalry, winning again after a three-game sweep of the Braves in New York to start the season.

The New York Mets recalled outfielder Lucas Duda on Friday and immediately put him in the lineup against the Pirates. Duda was 2 for 20 with one RBI in 10 games with the Mets earlier this season. The 25-year-old was hitting .302 with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs in 38 games at Triple-A Buffalo. Mets manager Terry Collins is giving slumping slugger Jason Bay (no hits in his past 23 at bats) some time off to work on his swing. Collins said Duda will likely play against right-handed pitchers to start.

New York Mets left fielder Jason Bay is getting some time off while he’s in the midst of a career-worst hitless streak that’s reached 23 at-bats. Mets manager Terry Collins says Bay is still his starter, but unlike Bay’s last break when he had a day off Sunday, this one would be at least two days. The 32-year-old Bay is hitting .207 with two homers and 10 RBIs and doesn’t have a hit in June. He says hitting is about managing the cold streaks, but acknowledges this one has been a very lengthy drought.

Even against a makeshift lineup, Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t stop the New York Mets from slapping one ball after another through the infield. Josh Thole hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning and the depleted Mets, minus Jose Reyes, beat Pittsburgh 7-3 on Monday night, dropping the Pirates to 0-8 at Citi Field. “They just him ‘em where we weren’t. I think they got eight groundball hits,’’ Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. Dillon Gee (5-0)

A few more inches, and maybe the ball stays in Paul Janish’s glove. A few more inches, and Johnny Cueto pitches one of the best games in Cincinnati Reds history. Even if the Pittsburgh Pirates can’t imagine him pitching much better. Cueto pitched a one-hitter for his first major league complete game, giving up only a third-inning single that went off shortstop Janish’s glove, and the Reds beat the Pirates, 9-0, last night in Pittsburgh for their fourth consecutive win. “He completely dominated the game,’’ Reds first baseman Joey Votto said.

Two games into the season, Xavier Nady has emerged as a nemesis for the Houston Astros. Not even he can explain how. Nady singled home Jason Bay for the go-ahead run off Dan Wheeler and homered for the second straight night, leading visiting Pittsburgh to a 3-2 win last night. In Monday's opener, Nady hit the tying homer with two outs in the ninth inning off closer Brad Lidge as the Pirates won, 4-2, in 10 innings. "It's just one of those things," said Nady, who has knocked in a run with each of his three hits in the series.

PITTSBURGH -- Lloyd McClendon was the first Pittsburgh Pirates manager brought back after four consecutive losing seasons. One loss away from a fifth such season, the Pirates decided they wanted someone else running the club. McClendon, an aggressive former player known for his competitiveness and frequent run-ins with umpires, was fired yesterday after averaging more than 90 losses since 2001 for a perennially noncontending team. Bench coach Pete Mackanin will handle the team for the rest of the season.

A few more inches, and maybe the ball stays in Paul Janish’s glove. A few more inches, and Johnny Cueto pitches one of the best games in Cincinnati Reds history. Even if the Pittsburgh Pirates can’t imagine him pitching much better. Cueto pitched a one-hitter for his first major league complete game, giving up only a third-inning single that went off shortstop Janish’s glove, and the Reds beat the Pirates, 9-0, last night in Pittsburgh for their fourth consecutive win. “He completely dominated the game,’’ Reds first baseman Joey Votto said.

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jonathan Papelbon isn't sorry he called Manny Ramírez a "cancer" in an Esquire interview this offseason, nor is he backing away from the comments. "I'm not going to sugarcoat anything," he said yesterday. And he didn't. "It takes 25 guys on a team to win, not 24, and that was blatantly obvious," Papelbon said after the Red Sox' workout at City of Palms Park. "It doesn't matter who you are - you could be Babe Ruth - if you're not in that same cubbyhole with the rest of the guys going to war with you, you're all going to die. That almost happened.

Esteban Loaiza summoned one of his best performances of the season to win a pitchers' duel against Pedro Martinez, throwing eight strong innings last night to lead the Washington Nationals to a 3-2 victory over the visiting New York Mets. Loaiza (5-5) allowed one run on six hits, struck out eight, and walked one for the Nationals, who have won seven of their last eight and 10 of 12. Loaiza has won four of his last five starts after enduring a spate of no-decisions with little run support.