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NEW YORK, N.Y. - When he saw Jonathon Niese hop toward home plate and then drop down in the dirt, Mets manager Terry Collins thought he might need another pitcher. Not just for this game, but in the rotation for a while.

WASHINGTON - After their eighth loss in 11 games dropped the Washington Nationals to .500 for the first time in more than a year, manager Davey Johnson promised lineup changes and said he hopes players "get a little mad.

HOUSTON - What proved to be the key run in Houston's 3-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night came with a big price.

CINCINNATI - All the long, long games are wearing down the Reds' bullpen. After Cincinnati rallied to tie in the ninth inning against Chicago's Carlos Marmol on Tuesday night, a tired bullpen couldn't keep the momentum going.

BALTIMORE - R.A. Dickey gritted his teeth, gripped the baseball and threw his knuckleball as best he could against the Baltimore Orioles. Pitching in pain during his fifth start with Toronto, Dickey did a decent job — except for one inning.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Watson scored his first NHL goal. David Legwand netted his 200th. The Nashville Predators needed both to beat the Calgary Flames and end a long losing streak.

SAN FRANCISCO - The commemorative plaque honouring home run king Barry Bonds' record 756th clout has gone missing from AT&T Park.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Mark Ellis waited all winter to hit the 100th home run of his career. Once he got there, he kept going.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The New York Knicks are heading to Boston, then perhaps finally back to the second round. The once-mighty Celtics don't seem capable of stopping them. Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, Sixth Man of the Year J.R.

PHILADELPHIA - Call it a win for the Flyers and Boston charities. Make it one blown opportunity for the Bruins to stand alone atop the Northeast Division.