Darren

Quote: "If the 162-game schedule is an equalizer, then we've got a lot of one-run victories coming." -- Manager Larry Dierker, whose Astros are 0-12 in one-run decisions It's a fact: The Mets are 9-0 in games started by a left-hander. Who's hot: . Extra ushers were in the right-field bleachers near the Braves' bullpen as John Rocker made his first appearance of the year in Milwaukee. Who's not: The Rockies' Darren Bragg is in a 2-for-25 slump. On deck: The Diamondbacks' Todd Stottlemyre goes for his league-leading eighth victory tonight.

In Darren Berry's dream city, there would be parks -- lots of parks. There would be boat slips and markets and neighbors who are not afraid to leave their doors open or unlocked at night.In Darren's dream city, there would be few police officers and no corner gatherings of sleepy-eyed young and middle-age men near his home in the Lexington Terrace public housing development in West Baltimore.And the playgrounds would be glass- and litter-free in Darren's dream city. Most would even have working play equipment.

In Darren Berry's dream city, there would be parks -- lots of parks. There would be boat slips and markets, and neighbors who are not afraid to leave their doors open or unlocked at night.In Darren's dream city, there would be few police officers and no corner gatherings of sleepy-eyed young and middle-age men near his home in the Lexington Terrace public housing development in West Baltimore.And the playgrounds would be glass- and litter-free in Darren's dream city. Most would even have working play equipment.

Wanda Lou Dawson's only brother, Larry Lee Tolliver, was killed in Vietnam in 1967 at age 24. She said her mother still has not recovered from his death.Ms. Dawson's only son, Darren L. Rector, also 24, died in a one-car crash Jan. 22 in Churchville and the 49-year-old Forest Hill resident said she is determined not to let the same thing happen to her, not to turn her grief inward.Instead, Ms. Dawson has turned to music, with the help of a computer expert who is also a musician. She is recording as inspirational songs with a country beat poems she has written about her son and her belief that they will meet again, in heaven.

Ben McDonald's shoulder is sore and he goes on the disabled list. Kevin Brown's finger is dislocated and he's sidelined for perhaps a month. The Orioles are some eight games behind the Boston Red Sox.Much more of this and it could be time to just start planning and playing for the future. Play Manny Alexander every day at second base. Play Jeffrey Hammonds every day in right field (and leave him there). Leave Scott Klingenbeck in the rotation and find out whether he'll ever be more than a guy who just gives you a chance to win. Call up Brian Sackinsky, Jimmy Haynes, Mark Smith, Alex Ochoa, find out what they can do. Find out whether they can help.

Suddenly, on October 8, 2008, DARREN LEE, beloved son of Roy C. and Constance (Van Horn) Tacy; dear brother of Roy and Catherine Tacy. Also survived by his grandfather Cecil Tacy; two aunts, Patricia Tuminelli and Carol Tacy and two cousins, Jason and Patrice. Interment private.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office and Maryland State Police report: Aberdeen Gerald Calvin Vaughn Jr., 62, of the 1900 block of Fletcher Road, was charged Thursday with second-degree assault. Jonathan Alexander Meerdink, 31, of the 700 block of Everist Drive, was charged Sunday with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Jacquan R. Purvis, also known as Jacquan R. Pervis, 29, who has addresses in the 1100 block of South Philadelphia Boulevard and the 1200 block of West North Avenue in Baltimore, was charged Sunday with second-degree assault and possessing a dangerous weapon with intent to injure.

As Maryland contemplates passing one of the nation's strictest gun laws, at least seven other states have courted its gun manufacturers, offering tax incentives and open arms elsewhere. The governor of Texas, West Virginia's House speaker and an Illinois congressman have written to Beretta USA officials, inviting a move and promising a better business climate if the 400-year-old Italian company chooses to abandon its U.S. headquarters on the Potomac. Another arms manufacturer and defense contractor on the Eastern Shore, LWRC International, received offers, some including tax incentives, from elected or government officials in Nebraska, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nevada, Texas and West Virginia, a company executive said.

These Orioles, under manager Buck Showalter, pride themselves on keeping the long baseball season in perspective, not worrying about trends and streaks and snowballing defeats. So when the club is forced to absorb what was arguably its biggest gut-punch of the season on Saturday - a 10-6 loss to the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in which All-Star closer Jim Johnson blew his second consecutive save opportunity in the ninth inning and the team's season-worst losing streak stretched to four games - Showalter and his players aren't pointing fingers of blame.

  I wonder if Darren O'Day's heart has started back up yet. Because when the Orioles' reliever was pranked recently by manager Buck Showalter for a Major League Baseball Fan Cave video, you wondered if the poor guy was going to need a defibrillator before it was all over. This was an absolute classic. It went like this: before a game against the Mets in New York, O'Day was supposedly being interviewed by a Wall Street Journal reporter to talk about something called a "Solowheel.