TUESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Jeff Weaver Shuts out Braves, who had won 13 of their past 16 games. IP H R SO 9 5 0 7 Hero of the day Kenny Lofton's two-run triple in the 12th inning led the White Sox to a 6-3 victory over the Phillies, giving Chicago its first victory this season in a game it trailed after eight innings. Goat of the day Texas' loss to the Cubs, which came in on an Alex Gonzalez home run in the bottom of the ninth, also marked the second straight game in which John Rocker had given up the game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth. Injury report After the seventh inning of Tuesday night's game against the White Sox, Phillies' 3B Scott Rolen left with a mild sprain of the left ankle. Expos starter Tony Armas Jr. left the game against the Royals after he was struck on his right forearm by Mike Sweeney's line drive with two outs in the first. Armas was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which proved negative. Mariners pitcher Paul Abbott has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will undergo surgery later this month. He will miss the rest of the season. Abbott has been on the DL most of the season. Toronto SS Chris Woodward came out of the game against the Dodgers in the second with tightness in his left groin. He was listed as day to day. The Rockies reinstated RHP Rick White from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and optioned lefty Brian Fuentes to Triple-A Colorado Springs. White had been on the DL since May 27 with inflammation in his right shoulder. Streak of the day Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo extended his hitting streak to 32 games, matching the longest in the majors since 1987. Stat of the day When the Rangers met the Cubs on Tuesday night, it marked the first major league game featuring four players with at least 400 career home runs: Rafael Palmeiro (460), Sammy Sosa (475), Fred McGriff (459) and Juan Gonzalez (401). The last word "That's just the way I am. I'll give you 100 percent. If I have to run into the wall, I'll run into the wall.''' -- Ken Griffey Jr., who returned the starting lineup after 10 days with a sore hamstring, on crashing into the wall to make a catch in a loss to the Mariners.

INTERLEAGUE
Athletics at Pirates
Oakland: Manager Art Howe will attend a reunion of his Pennsylvania state championship baseball team at Shaler High School in suburban Pittsburgh this week. Shaler won the state title during Howe's junior year, and he was the only player from that team to play professionally. Howe, an infielder, signed with the Pirates out of a 1970 tryout camp at age 23 and made his major league debut with them in 1974, going on to play 891 games in the majors. Howe was working as a computer programmer at Westinghouse when he attended the tryout camp .... Batting coach Ken Macha also is from Pittsburgh and pitching coach Rick Peterson once was the Pirates' bullpen coach. His father, Harding, was the Pirates' GM when they last won the World Series in 1979. ... Cory Lidle, who starts Wednesday against Pittsburgh, was 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in five appearances -- with one start -- against the Pirates with the New York Mets in 1997. Pittsburgh: The Pirates joined the NL 115 years ago and the Athletics have played 101 seasons in Philadelphia, Kansas City and Oakland, yet they never met in a regular-season game until Tuesday night. They last played an exhibition game in Oakland in 1997. During the 1970s, the Pirates won 916 games and two World Series and Oakland won 838 games and three World Series, but never met in the postseason. ... RHP Josias Manzanillo (right elbow surgery) has progressed slower than expected from May 7 surgery to remove bone chips and is not yet ready to begin a rehabilitation assignment. ... The Pirates play 16 of 19 at PNC Park going into the All-Star break, beginning with Tuesday night's game against Oakland.

Indians at Marlins
Cleveland: Cleveland began the week batting .197 (12-for-61) with the bases loaded. Ricky Gutierrez and Milton Bradley were a combined 0-for-11. ... Indians pitchers had allowed the fewest homers (50) and hit the fewest batters (13) in the AL. Florida: RHP Brad Penny's scheduled rehabilitation start Tuesday in Melbourne was rained out, so he drove to Jupiter and pitched a simulated game. Penny, who is on the DL with a sore elbow, is scheduled to rejoin the rotation June 27. ... Manager Jeff Torborg said slugger Cliff Floyd is slumping in part because he's trying too hard. "He's trying to hit the ball over the moon at times,'' Torborg said. "But you watch. He'll click in.'' ... Jason Stokes, a first baseman for Class-A Kane County, and Miguel Cabrera, a shortstop for Class-A Jupiter, will represent the Marlins at the All-Star Futures Game next month.

Royals at Expos
Kansas City: RHP Shawn Sedlacek started Tuesday night's game as he made his major league debut. Sedlacek, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Omaha earlier in the day, was 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA in his last seven starts in the minors. He was 6-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 11 starts with Omaha after beginning the season 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts with Double-A Wichita. ... Pitching coach Al Nipper was fired and replaced by Omaha pitching coach John Cumberland. Nipper, who replaced Cumberland as Boston's pitching coach during the 1995 season, was hired by Kansas City last May 25. Cumberland, expected to join the team here on Wednesday, was in his first season as Omaha's pitching coach. He spent the last seven seasons in the Red Sox's organization, including his second stint as the team's pitching coach at the end of last season. ... LHP Jeremy Affeldt was placed on the 15-day DL -- retroactive to June 9 -- because of a blister on his left middle finger. ... The Royals also recalled LHP Chris George from a rehab assignment with Omaha, reinstated him from the DL, and optioned him back to the Triple-A team. Montreal: RHP Tony Armas Jr. left the game in the first inning after he was struck on the right forearm by Mike Sweeney's two-out line drive. After allowing Carlos Beltran's single, Armas got ahead 1-2 before Sweeney hit a smash back to the mound that struck Armas on the arm near his right elbow. Armas, who entered the game with a 6-7 mark and a 4.06 ERA and threw just 12 pitches, was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for X-rays. RHP Jim Brower -- acquired from Cincinnati on Friday -- replaced Armas. ... Manager Frank Robinson has taken struggling RHP Carl Pavano out of the starting rotation. Pavano, 3-8 with a 6.11 ERA, will pitch out of the bullpen for the time being. "I think it's the best thing for him right now,'' Expos pitching coach Dick Pole said. "It just seems like when your confidence level isn't good, your concentration isn't good and you don't make the pitches you wanted to make.'' ... RHP Masato Yoshii will start Thursday. It will be Yoshii's first appearance since June 11 in Detroit, when he was struck on the right shoulder and right side of his face by Randall Simon's line drive.

White Sox at Phillies
Chicago: DH Frank Thomas started his third game at first base against the Phillies on Tuesday. Thomas sat out Sunday for the first time all season. ... Aaron Rowand made his third consecutive start in center field in place of Kenny Lofton, who has a strained right hamstring. ... C Josh Paul, recalled from Triple-A Charlotte last week, started his first game of the season. ... RHP Jon Garland goes for his career-best seventh win Wednesday night. Garland (6-5, 4.56 ERA) is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in two interleague starts. Philadelphia: 3B Scott Rolen and SS Jimmy Rollins continue to hold leads in the All-Star voting. Rolen, who is having an off year, has never been an All-Star. Rollins represented the Phillies in his rookie year last season. ... Former Boston manager Joe Kerrigan sat in for Larry Anderson on the Phillies radio and television broadcasts Tuesday. Anderson was attending the high school graduation of his daughter. ... Bobby Abreu made his fifth start in CF in place of Doug Glanville. Jeremy Giambi played RF. ... RHP Vicente Padilla seeks his 10th win Wednesday. Padilla had never started in the majors, and opened spring training fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation.

Twins at Mets
Minnesota: Manager Ron Gardenhire was a utility infielder for the Mets from 1981-85. "Not much is different here. There's still that electric atmosphere,'' Gardenhire said. "It's fun seeing all the faces again. You get the old `How 'ya doin'? I had a ball. This was a great place. People run down 50 rows to tell you you stink.'' Gardenhire said he had an idea he wanted to be a coach while he was still playing for the Mets. "I knew that if I kept playing the way I was playing as a futility infielder, I was going to be a coach or manager sooner than I wanted. Sitting on the bench you learn the game, like when Rusty Staub was going to pinch-hit and I was going to pinch-run for him. You've got to know these things.'' Gardenhire also said he learned a lot from Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who was a New York coach at the time. ... The Mets played a video tribute to Twins RHP Rick Reed before the game. Reed, traded to Minnesota last July for OF Matt Lawton, came through in some big games for the Mets and helped them reach the 2000 World Series. He was scheduled to start Wednesday night but was scratched after cutting his right thumb on a suitcase. ... C A.J. Pierzynski was born in Bridgehampton, N.Y., about a two-hour drive from Shea Stadium. He was expecting about eight or 10 family members at the game. New York: Major league disciplinarian Bob Watson said LHP Shawn Estes will probably be fined for throwing a pitch behind Yankees ace Roger Clemens on Saturday. "There were some rules that were broken,'' Watson said. ... Mets manager Bobby Valentine said he might try to find some at-bats for OF Timo Perez, who leads the team with a .326 average, against left-handed pitchers. That could cost OF Jay Payton even more playing time. "I don't want to start a situation where Jay doesn't play at all. I think he can still be a contributor,'' Valentine said. ... Calgary Flames RW Jarome Iginla, the NHL's leading scorer this past season, was in attendance. He presented Valentine with a Flames jersey on the field before the game. ... Rusty Staub hosted the team's annual picnic to benefit the Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund. ... RHP Grant Roberts, on the DL with a rotator cuff strain, made about 35 throws Monday and was scheduled to throw off a mound Wednesday.

Mariners at Reds
Seattle: RHP Paul Abbott has a torn labrum in his right shoulder and will have surgery later this month, ending his season. A medical exam revealed the tear. Abbott, 34, went on the disabled list May 7 with a sore throwing shoulder. He appeared in seven games this season, including five starts, going 1-3 with an 11.96 ERA. ... 2B Bret Boone grounded out to his brother, Reds 3B Aaron Boone, in his first at-bat. ... The Boone brothers played together for two years with the Reds, before Bret was traded to Atlanta. The series was essentially a family reunion -- the boys' mother flew in, and their father, Bob, manages the Reds. "We got together last night, we had lunch today, and that's about it. I've had enough of 'em,'' Bret joked. ... CF Mike Cameron had fond memories of his 1999 season in Cinergy. The Reds lost to Mets in the wild-card playoff. "That's the most fun I've ever had, followed by last year,'' Cameron said. Cincinnati: Ken Griffey Jr. was back in the starting lineup for the first time in 10 days since he pulled his right hamstring. Griffey has been limited to four pinch-hit appearances -- he singled, flied out and walked twice. ... LHP Bruce Chen threw for pitching coach Don Gullett in the bullpen and got a few pointers. Gullett told him to keep his body moving toward the plate instead of leaning to the side during his delivery. Once Chen made the change, his control improved. "I noticed that when I did it right, the ball would go where I wanted,'' Chen said. "It's encouraging to see a big difference between the new way and the old way. It's a little thing, but it's going to take some time.'' The Reds got Chen from Montreal last Friday for reliever Jim Brower, intending to move him into the rotation. Chen will make his first start for the Reds on Saturday against Oakland. ... Kasey McKeon was reassigned to the role of major league scout. McKeon had been director of amateur scouting. McKeon, who joined the Reds in 1998, is the son of former manager Jack McKeon, who was fired after the 2000 season. Kasey McKeon will scout AL teams.

Tigers at Braves
Detroit: 1B Randall Simon returned to Atlanta for the first time since being released by the Braves on April 6, 2000. "I don't have anything to show them,'' he said. "Everybody over there treated me good. I'm just glad I'm getting a chance to play in the big leagues.'' Simon gained unwanted attention after the 1999 season former teammate John Rocker called him a "fat monkey'' in a Sports Illustrated article. While Simon talked with reporters Tuesday, teammate Shane Halter repeatedly urged, "Ask him about Rocker.'' Simon laughed it off. ... Tigers hitting coach Merv Rettenmund also made his return to Turner Field. He was Atlanta's hitting coach the past two seasons. ... OF Robert Fick, who entered the game riding an 18-game hitting streak, batted .545 last week and was named co-AL Player of the week. Atlanta: OF George Lombard returned from his injury rehab assignment, but the Braves said a roster move wouldn't be made until at least Wednesday. The oft-injured Lombard, 26, began the season on the DL with a strained right calf muscle. Last year, he had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot. "We haven't seen him since spring training,'' assistant GM Frank Wren said. "We just want to take a look at it and see that he's OK and everything's fine. We don't want to throw him into the fire the first day.'' Since Lombard is out of options, he would have to clear waivers before he could be assigned to Triple-A Richmond. ... LHP Chris Hammond, who has four victories out of the bullpen since June 3, shrugged off his recent success. "It could be anybody,'' he said. "That shows the starting pitchers are doing their jobs and keeping up in games, and we find a way to win.''

Rangers at Cubs
Texas: Alex Rodriguez got a firsthand look at Wrigley Field for the first time, arriving early to take batting practice. "I love it. I've been looking forward to it for a long time. It's one of the most beautiful parks in baseball,'' Rodriguez said. And during BP, he found the friendly confines to be quite cozy. "We hit a few out there. What's that avenue called?'' he asked. Waveland, he was told. "I can't believe it. ...It's right in the middle of a neighborhood.'' Rodriguez was booed in his first at-bat of the game ... Rafael Palmeiro returned to Wrigley for the first time since the Cubs traded him away in 1988. He homered in the second inning, the 460th of his career. "It's the first time in 14 years, I didn't think it would take this long,'' he said. His memories from his Cubs days, he said, "are few.'' "We didn't win,'' he said. "I've wondered what it would have been liked if I had played my whole career here,'' he said. Chicago: Sammy Sosa, who began his career with the Rangers, didn't realize that Tuesday night's game marked the first time in major league history that four players with 400 career homers appeared in the same game. He and Chicago teammate Fred McGriff and the Rangers' Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez make four. "It's unbelievable,'' Sosa said, adding that Alex Rodriguez will hit the 400-mark "pretty soon.'' Rodriguez, who has 20 this season, has 261. "He may be the guy who breaks Hank Aaron's record,'' Sosa said. ... The first Rangers-Cubs meeting also marked the first time three players with 450 homers (Sosa, Palmeiro and McGriff) played in the same contest. ... Baylor wouldn't comment directly on the return of Rangers' pitching coach Oscar Acosta, who resigned under pressure from the same job with the Cubs late last season because of a personality conflict with Baylor.

Angels at Cardinals
Anaheim: OF Julio Ramirez was down for several minutes during batting practice after slamming into the center field wall. Ramirez, who said his left foot gave way on the warning track, was diagnosed with a strained left calf and the team said he was day-to-day. He left the field on a cart. ... Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler wore No. 9 when he was with the Cardinals from 1990-92, the same as manager Tony La Russa wears now. "He told me to take care of his number,'' La Russa joked. ... Darin Erstad entered the game with 135 hits in interleague games, the most in the major leagues. Closer Troy Percival had 23 saves in interleague play, second behind the Yankees' Mariano Rivera (28). ... RHP Aaron Sele makes his first career start against the Cardinals on Wednesday. He's 6-3 with a 4.97 ERA this year. St. Louis: CF Jim Edmonds returned from the DL on Sunday from a wrist injury and was in the lineup again on Tuesday against the Angels, his old team. Edmonds lost control of the bat on his final at-bat Sunday, flinging it near the Cardinals' dugout, and he said the wrist just felt OK. "It's sore, I'm not going to lie,'' Edmonds said. "But that's one of those things. I want to play, so I'm going to have to endure some pain. If I was going to wait till it was 100 percent, I might be sitting till July.'' ... Closer Jason Isringhausen, who hadn't pitched since June 4 because of an elbow injury, was cleared for duty before Tuesday's series opener against the Angels. Isringhausen was 15-for-16 in save situations but has fallen back in the league race. "Guys are passing me,'' Isringhausen. "That's the only thing a reliever has to shoot for.'' ... The Cardinals are the toughest team to strike out this year, with 374 in the first 57 games. They set an NL record with 1,253 strikeouts in 2000.

Yankees at Rockies
New York: SS Derek Jeter was back in the lineup after bruising his left knee in a 3-2 loss to the Mets on Sunday. "It's sore, that's about it,'' Jeter said. "I'm good, I'm fine. Everything will be all right.'' ... Manager Joe Torre said he put Alfonso Soriano back in the leadoff spot last week so he could have more speed at the top of the lineup for interleague games in NL parks. "I think I had dropped Soriano out of the leadoff spot there for a couple of days and put him back up in that spot again because in this league you want to utilize that speed up at the top of the batting order because of the pitcher hitting down below.,'' he said. ... Torre had Nick Johnson start in left against Colorado to keep his bat in the lineup. He had been splitting time at 1B and DH with Jason Giambi, but did play in the outfield some during spring training. ... Torre said he doesn't plan to change much for the three games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. "You can't worry about it other than playing your defense accordingly,'' he said. "Really, you can't manage here any differently. You just have to still encourage your pitchers to keep the ball down and hopefully we can do some damage with our bats.'' Colorado: Hurdle said everyone seemed to be excited about the Yankees first regular-season visit to Coors Field. He said about eight people told him that Joe Torre was working out in the Rockies' weight room. "I was like, 'What am I supposed to do, take off my stuff and go work out next to him?''' Hurdle said. "I didn't know how to respond.'' ... Hurdle said the success of RHPs Chris Nichting and Justin Speier against left-handers played a role in taking RHP Rick White off the DL and sending lefty Brian Fuentes to Triple-A Colorado Springs. "That's exactly why I kind of went that way,'' Hurdle said. "They've both been very, very consistent at putting away left-handers and the Yankees have their share of left-handed bats. I don't see the necessity of having a left-hander throw just because he's left-handed when I have a couple of right-handers who are just as efficient after getting them out.'' Lefties are hitting .077 against Speier and .182 against Nichting ... Brent Butler took over at second base after Jose Ortiz went on the DL last week, but Hurdle said the position is now his to lose. "I can't talk me around that one,'' Hurdle said. "It's his job. Based on production, Brent Butler is now our second baseman not Joe Ortiz. Black and white, based on production offensively and defensively.'' ... Rockies fan Mike Bivens arrived at 10:15 a.m. -- nearly nine hours before the game -- just so he could get a good seat. "I thought there was going to be a line,'' he said. "I don't like the Yankees and I hope the Rockies beat them. I got here early just so I can see them beat them.''

Devil Rays at Giants
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays signed three picks from this year's draft: Fourth-round pick OF Wesley Bankston, 19th-round pick RHP Cole Smith, and 31st-round pick LHP Isiah Garner. The Devil Rays have signed 13 of their 50 picks. ... The Devil Rays made their first visit to Pacific Bell Park. They are 3-17 in their first games in 20 opponents' stadiums. San Francisco: Ramon Martinez made his first start this season at first base on Tuesday night. Martinez was reinstated from the disabled list before Sunday's loss to Oakland. He had been out since June 1 because of a concussion he suffered when he was hit in the head by a ball thrown by teammate J.T. Snow on May 31... INF Damon Minor and wife Allison had their first child, son Jackson Reed on Sunday night. ... Going into Tuesday night's game against Tampa Bay lefty Joe Kennedy, the Giants were 6-4 against left-handed starters. They ranked second in the NL with a .299 average and 21 home runs against 21 lefties this season. ... NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett was set to take batting practice with the Giants on Wednesday. Jarrett is in town for the Dodge-Save Mart 350 in Sonoma on Sunday.

Blue Jays at Dodgers
Toronto: The Blue Jays entered having lost five straight and with a 43-51 overall record in interleague play. ... The Blue Jays played 28 road games -- fewest in the majors -- before Tuesday's game. They're on their longest road trip of the season -- 12 games in 14 days. The trip began in Montreal, where they lost three straight, and continues at Arizona before concluding at Tampa Bay. ... Former Los Angeles OF Raul Mondesi, playing at Dodger Stadium for the first time since being traded to the Blue Jays 3{ years ago in a four-player deal that sent OF Shawn Green to the Dodgers, said he expected to be booed. "That's the way it is,'' Mondesi said. "Even the best players in baseball get booed. When Griffey goes back to play Seattle, that's what's going to happen. They're going to boo him. When Alex Rodriguez went back to play at Seattle, he got booed. I know some people boo because they have to -- but inside, they don't feel that way. They treated me real good when I was here. They're the best fans in the world.'' ... RHP Luke Prokopec, traded by the Dodgers to the Blue Jays last winter, is on the disabled list. He said he had been looking forward to pitching in Los Angeles. "For the last month and a half, I'd count on the days on the schedule and try to figure out what day I was going to face the Dodgers,'' he said. "I was really looking forward to it.'' Los Angeles: OF Shawn Green, who entered having hit 17 homers in the last 24 games, played against his former team for the first time. Green spent most of Monday with Toronto's Carlos Delgado, who remains a close friend. "It's great seeing him,'' Green said. "It's going to be fun playing against him and the other guys.'' ... RHP Darren Dreifort, sidelined since undergoing reconstructive surgery on his pitching elbow nearly a year ago, threw 60 pitches in the bullpen. "We're very encouraged by that,'' manager Jim Tracy said. When asked when Dreifort might pitch again, Tracy refused to speculate, saying: "We're going to let Darren dictate his course of action.'' Dreifort is in the second year of a five-year, $55 million contract. ... The Dodgers have won six straight series and eight of their last nine. "We're really starting to jell,'' C Paul Lo Duca said. "Hitting, pitching, it's all coming together.'' ... Tracy said LHP Omar Daal, originally scheduled to start Tuesday night but held back because of tendinitis in his left biceps muscle, threw in the bullpen and is on track to start Saturday against Boston.

Orioles at Diamondbacks
Baltimore: The game opened Baltimore's first series against Arizona. ... It also was 3B Tony Batista's first game at Bank One Ballpark since the Diamondbacks traded him to Toronto on June 12, 1999. Batista, who watched Arizona's Game 7 victory over the New York Yankees on television with his family, was diplomatic about his feelings toward his former team. "It's a business,'' he said. "I've been in this situation since I've been playing, so you've got to prepare for that.'' ... Batista, who leads the Orioles with 16 home runs, has 118 of his 141 career homers in the AL. ... Melvin Mora twisted his left ankle late in Sunday's 4-2 win over Philadelphia, but recovered to make his 10th start in center field. Mora has also started at LF, 2B, SS and DH. ... With the addition of 1B Jeff Conine (hamstring) on Saturday, the Orioles have eight players on the DL. Only Conine and RHP Calvin Maduro (bone chips) are on the 15-day list. Arizona: LHP Brian Anderson has stayed in manager Bob Brenly's good graces despite a 1-6 record. "If he throws 85 pitches, 80 are outstanding and one costs him the game,'' Brenly said. "We're hopeful that he can overcome that one bad pitch.'' Anderson's win came in relief. ... C Damian Miller has thrown out four straight would-be base stealers, improving to 39 percent (13-of-33). ... The Diamondbacks averaged an NL-high 39,058 fans for their first 33 home games. ... Quinton McCracken got a second straight start in right after hitting safely in seven of his last eight games and in 12 of 14 starting assignments. "He's riding a pretty hot hand,'' Brenly said. ... Brenly said Montreal manager Frank Robinson, Brenly's first skipper, has agreed to help coach the NL All-Star Team. "I did invite Dusty Baker, but he had already paid the deposit and made reservations for a fishing trip,'' Brenly said of San Francisco's manager. Brenly said Bobby Cox and Tony La Russa declined so they could spend more time with their families. ... Matt Kata, a 2B with Double-A El Paso, was the MVP of the Texas League All-Star game Monday night.

Red Sox at Padres
Boston: The Padres honored Red Sox OF Rickey Henderson before the opener of their three-game series Tuesday night. Retired Padres batting star Tony Gwynn and Jennifer Moores, daughter of Padres owner John Moores, presented Henderson with autographed balls from every living member of the 3,000-hit club and a base signed by all the Padres from last year. While with the Padres last season, Henderson broke Babe Ruth's career walks record, Ty Cobb's career runs record and he got his 3,000th hit in his final at-bat of the season. To Henderson, the biggest thing about 2001 was playing alongside Gwynn during the batting star's 20th and final season. "Last year was a special year,'' Henderson said. "Tony Gwynn retired, we both accomplished a lot that year. I set some records and stuff like that, but it was special that both of us were together and I got the opportunity to see him retire.'' ... Gwynn and Henderson received standing ovations when they were announced. ... Henderson stood in the Padres' dugout during the national anthem, next to Phil Nevin. San Diego: Slugger Phil Nevin had an MRI on his broken left arm on Monday and said it's healing on schedule. He broke his upper left arm on May 29 while diving for a ball at third base. "I'm optimistic that I'll be back for the first game after the All-Star break,'' Nevin said. "That'll be six weeks, two days.'' The Padres' first game after the break is at home against St. Louis on July 12.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Astros at Brewers
Houston: RHP Kirk Saarloos made his major-league debut against the Brewers. Houston purchased the contract of the 23-year-old right-hander from Double-A Round Rock on Monday night. He was 10-1 with a 1.40 ERA in 13 starts. A third-round pick in the June 2001 draft, he became just the fourth Astro and second pitcher to go from Double-A to the majors since 1991. LHP Carlos Hernandez was the other Houston pitcher to make the jump. ... In his first inning for Houston, Saarloos struck out the first batter looking and then retired the next two on grounders. ... RHP Doug Brocail was moved to the 60-day disabled list Monday night. ... Coming into Tuesday night's game, RHP Ricky Stone (2-2) leads rookie pitchers with 1.98 ERA and 35 appearances. Milwaukee: OF Matt Stairs was scratched from the starting lineup before Tuesday night's game against Houston with a tight right hamstring. Signed by Milwaukee as a free agent last January, he was on the DL May 19 with a strained left hamstring. ... Stairs' absence thins the Brewers' outfield even further. Two starting outfielders were lost to injuries Monday in Milwaukee's 5-2 victory over Houston. LF Geoff Jenkins dislocated his right ankle and tore ligaments in the joint CF Alex Sanchez sprained and cut his left hand and bruised his left knee. Sanchez expects to miss only a few games, but Jenkins' season looks finished. Brewers manager Jerry Royster said, "We're thinking he's going to be fine for spring training. If he comes back sooner, great.'' ... Jenkins, placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday, said that it took too long to get him off the field Monday. Head trainer Roger Caplinger said it took nine minutes before the emergency medical team got Jenkins off the field and on his way to the hospital. Caplinger has asked Scott Jenkins, vice-president of stadium operations, for a review of the first-aid procedures currently in place at Miller Park. ... Taking Jenkins' place is OF Ryan Thompson who had his contract purchased Tuesday from Triple-A Indianapolis.