New York Mets second baseman Damion Easley fields a ground ball hit by Florida Marlins' Josh Willingham in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Miami, Monday, July 28, 2008. Willingham was safe at first base with an infield single. The Marlins won 7-3. " align="left" border="0">

With another come-from-behind win, the surprising Florida Marlins are on the verge of erasing the New York Mets' lead in the NL East. Dan Uggla and Cody Ross hit RBI singles to spark a five-run eighth inning, and Florida overtook New York 7-3 Monday night. The Marlins have rallied to win 31 times this year, most in the National League.

New York Mets' Damion Easley, left, Carlos Beltran (15), Nick Evans (6), Jose Reyes and Fernando Tatis (17) celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies 7-0 in their baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 13, 2008. " align="left" border="0">

Jerry Manuel insisted that the All-Star break was coming at a good time for the Mets. A chance to rest a tired bullpen and maybe get some banged up guys back. Then Carlos Beltran hit a three-run homer Sunday night, Mike Pelfrey dominated over eight innings and New York pounded the Colorado Rockies 7-0 for a ninth straight win.

Tonight, it really counts at new Nationals Park.

The National League season begins when the Atlanta Braves visit the Nationals (7 p.m., ESPN), the first official game at the new $600-million-plus stadium in Washington, D.C.

The dress rehearsal was Saturday night when the Nationals beat the neighbor Baltimore Orioles 3-0 before a crowd of about 25,000. Workers were putting finishing touches on the park -- including the curly"W"in center field. The stadium is close enough to downtown Washington that you can see the Capitol Building dome beyond the left-field fence.

So long, RFK Stadium -- the long-ago home of the Redskins and the old Senators, and the Nationals since 2004.

"It's a new feel. It makes us a little bit more excited to come here every day, and it gives us a sense of pride,"Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said."It's going to be tough to beat us here."

The Orioles'Aubrey Huff -- from White Settlement Brewer -- agreed, saying"It sure beats last year's park -- unbelievable clubhouse and a beautiful field. It's definitely a good thing for the city."

A game with meaning in Memphis

This was more than just a baseball game in Memphis. This was symbolism.

The annual Civil Rights Game on Saturday night brought the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox to AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, only a short way north of the National Civil Rights Museum, the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed 40 years ago.

"Anytime you can bring attention to a part of our society that needs improvement, and you have a chance to make things better as a result of your participation, you can only be supportive of it,"said White Sox general manager Ken Williams, who is black.

Grammy Award-winning artist BeBe Winans sangI Have A Dreamwith a Memphis-area gospel choir and later the national anthem. Honored in pregame ceremonies were actress Ruby Dee (baseball's Beacon of Change award), Frank Robinson (Beacon of Life award) and late publisher John H. Johnson (Beacon of Hope award).

"The game is an awareness of what happened in the past, not just to Martin Luther King, but in general,"Mets infielder Damion Easley said. Both teams toured the National Civil Rights Museum, and several players said they got chills standing in the room King exited before his assassination.

Astros release Williams

Woody Williams was put on unconditional release waivers, although Houston owes the 41-year-old right-hander $6.5 million. That leaves Chris Sampson as the Astros'fifth starter.

Williams was 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA last season, had an 11.32 ERA in spring training this year, and gave up five runs and five hits in three innings Friday in a 10-0 loss to Detroit.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman said the release was"possibly a bit premature. The game is completely different in the regular season than it is in spring training, especially from a guy like Woody, who has been around the block a few times."

Williams reportedly plans to retire.

Meanwhile, the Astros beat the Tigers 9-4 on Saturday, with Ty Wigginton's three-run homer keying a five-run sixth inning.

Enter the Coliseum

As he walked down the Los Angeles Coliseum tunnel and glanced toward the left-field screen, Boston catcher Jason Varitek smiled and said sarcastically:"Wakie is a fly ball pitcher. That's great."

ANewsdayreport said Joe Torre's talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers are"headed in the right direction and going well,"according to a"informed source,"and that Torre could become the team's manager as soon as today.

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti confirmed to The Associated Press on Wednesday that the team has talked with Torre and he is the leading candidate. Reports are Torre will sign a three-year deal for morer than $4 million per season.

Don Mattingly, spurned by the Yankees for their manager's job, reportedly will join Torre's staff in Los Angeles, and the staff also could include former Yankees coaches Lee Mazzilli and Larry Bowa.

It would be the fifth managing job for Torre, 67.

"I think Joe, he's proven he's an outstanding manager,"former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda told ESPN."He's a winner. He knows how to handle players. He certainly knows the game. He was an outstanding player in his own right. I think he's going to be a tremendous asset to our ballclub."

Briefly

Yankees:Agent Scott Boras maintained that the Yankees should treat A-Rod the same way they deal with reliever Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada, who also are free agents, and that they could still negotiate with him.

Padres:Gold Glove center fielder Mike Cameron was suspended for the first 25 games of next season after testing positive a second time for a banned stimulant. Cameron, who plans to file for free agency, said he believes he took a tainted supplement.

Reds:Outfielder Adam Dunn (.264, 40 homers, 106 RBI last season) became Cincinnati's highest-paid player when the team picked up his contract option for $13 million next season. The Reds also picked up the $1.85 million option for first baseman Scott Hatteberg and a $1.35 million option for catcher/pinch-hitter Javier Valentin. They declined a 2008 option for reliever Eddie Guardado, who had reconstructive elbow surgery.

Cardinals:John Mozeliak was given a three-year contract as St. Louis'new general manager, promoting him to replace the fired Walt Jocketty. Mozeliak, 38, was the assistant GM for the last five years.

Red Sox:Free-agent pitcher Curt Schilling says his first choice remains Boston, but said on his blog that he would consider a dozen other teams for a"last year"based on quality of life and a chance to make it back to the playoffs. He previously said he would only rule out the rival Yankees.

Rockies:Colorado picked up pitcher Aaron Cook's $4.5 million option, declined its $3.75 million option on reliever LaTroy Hawkins and announced it will bring back manager Clint Hurdle's entire coaching staff next season.

Pirates:Pittsburgh plans to talk to White Sox bench coach Joey Cora about its manager's job, which has been open for nearly a month. Another candidate could be Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell.

Mets:Outfielder Moises Alou will return to the team after his option for $7.5 million next season was picked up and free-agent infielder Damion Easley was re-signed for $950,000.

White Sox:Options were declined on Infielder/outfielder Darin Erstad ($3.5 million) and left-hander Mike Myers ($1.1 million).

New York Mets pitcher John Maine throws against the Philadelphia Phillies in the ninth inning of the second baseball game of a day-night doubleheader in Philadelphia on Friday, June 29, 2007. Carlos Beltran hit two home runs and Maine dominated the Phillies again, helping the Mets complete a sweep of the day-night doubleheader with a 5-2 victory." align="left" border="0">

Facing a potent Phillies lineup, John Maine again was at his best. Maine dominated Philadelphia and Carlos Beltran homered twice, helping the New York Mets complete a sweep of a day-night doubleheader with a 5-2 victory Friday night. Damion Easley also connected for the NL East-leading Mets, who moved five games ahead of the Phillies.

New York Mets' Carlos Gomez, making his major league debut, kisses his bat as he steps up to the plate to bat against the Milwaukee Brewers in the Mets' 9-1 victory over Milwaukee in their baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York, Sunday, May 13, 2007. omez, called up from the minors to replace struggling pitcher Mike Pelfrey, who was sent down, had two hits and scored twice in the game. " align="left" border="0">

Oliver Perez pitched so well that Mets manager Willie Randolph grinned while criticizing the left-hander for committing one of his pet peeves. Perez took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning and Damion Easley drove in four runs, leading New York to a 9-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

New York Mets' David Wright, right, is greeted at home plate by teammate Carlos Delgado after hitting a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning in Major League Baseball action Friday, May 11, 2007, at Shea Stadium in New York. " align="left" border="0">

Buzz cuts have been a perfect tonic for the Mets. David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Damion Easley homered, helping New York to a 5-4 victory over Milwaukee on Friday night that gave the Mets three straight wins since a shaving spree in San Francisco left nearly all of them with close-cropped hair. They returned home to signs of "Play Bald!" on the videoboards inside and outside the ballpark.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Jose Valverde, of the Dominican Republic, reacts after giving up a three-run home run to New York Mets' Damion Easley in the ninth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 3, 2007, at Chase Field in Phoenix. The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks, 9-4. " align="left" border="0">

When the New York Mets build their new ballpark, they might want to model it after Chase Field. The Mets have won 11 straight games in the hitter-friendly home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Thursday night's 9-4 victory topped them all. Damion Easley and David Wright each hit three-run homers in the ninth inning as the Mets extended their domination in the desert.

New York Mets' Endy Chavez is congratulated by first base coach Howard Johnson after he hit a bunt single against the Colorado Rockies to score Shawn Green during the 12th inning of their baseball game, Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at Shea Stadium in New York. " align="left" border="0">

Two backups came up big for the New York Mets, one with a long drive and the other with a deft bunt. Pinch-hitter Damion Easley hit a tying homer with two outs in the 10th inning and Endy Chavez drove in the winning run with a beautiful bunt single in the 12th, giving New York a 2-1 victory Tuesday night over the Colorado Rockies.