FRIDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Paul Konerko Had his second straight four-hit game and fourth multihomer game since June 11. Over the last 17 games, he's hitting .439 with 12 homers and 21 RBI. H R RBI HR 4 4 4 2 Hero of the day Fresh off the disabled list nursing a bad back, Yankees right-hander Orlando Hernandez pitched four scoreless innings -- retiring the first seven batters he faced -- to earn his first career save in an 11-5 victory over the Mets. Goat of the day The Indians chased Diamondbacks starter Miguel Batista, who lasted only 3 2/3 innings after giving up seven earned runs on five hits and five walks. Injury report Reds SS Barry Larkin did not start for the second straight game because of spasms in his right upper shoulder and neck. Larkin pinch-ran in the ninth. Tigers catcher Mitch Meluskey will miss the rest of the season with back problems. Yankees LHP Sterling Hitchcock was placed back on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained lower back. Angels RHP Al Levine was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Dodgers reserve C Chad Kreuter was put on the 15-day disabled list with a hematoma, or pooling of blood, in his left shin. Yankees OF Shane Spencer has a sprained left wrist. He jammed his hand making a catch this week in Baltimore and is day-to-day. Rockies 1B Todd Helton was out of the lineup because of a strained back. Yankees INF Ron Coomer was not at the ballpark while recovering from muscle spasms and a pinched nerve in his neck. The Yankees hope he'll be OK to play by Sunday night. Giants 1B J.T. Snow felt pain in his foot when he pivoted on a play in the fourth inning and left the game. He will have X-rays on Saturday. Streak of the day Royals first baseman Mike Sweeney homered for the fourth straight game -- tying his own club record -- and drove in five runs in K.C.'s comeback victory over San Diego. Stat of the day Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood has hit 10 batters this season, tops in the NL. His latest victim: White Sox slugger Paul Konerko, who later returned the favor with a two-run homer. The last word "There's not much managing you can do when you never have anyone on base. Tonight, I was pretty much managing the pitching staff.'' -- Detroit manager Luis Pujols, whose Tigers were two-hit in a 3-1 loss to the Pirates.

INTERLEAGUE
Braves at Red Sox
Atlanta: Greg Maddux was hit in the right leg by Carlos Baerga's first-inning single but stayed in the game. Maddux later picked Baerga off second base. ... Mark DeRosa and Marcus Giles were scheduled to begin rehab assignments at Triple-A Richmond. Both have injured right ankles. ... Darren Bragg started in right field against his former team. He's also played for Seattle, St. Louis, Colorado, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. ... The Braves began their last interleague series Friday night with the NL's best record against the AL, 12-3.

Boston: Brian Daubach, in a 16-for-94 slump, started at first base. He entered the game 7-for-16 in his career against Maddux. ... SS Nomar Garciaparra and C Jason Varitek started for Boston. They were not in the lineup Thursday as manager Grady Little decided to rest them, but the game against Cleveland was rained out. ... Little said Pedro Martinez (9-2) would make his scheduled start Monday night against Toronto. Little had said Thursday night he'd give Martinez an extra day of rest and use him in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. ... Boston began the game hitting .228 in interleague play and .281 overall.

Expos at Blue Jays
Montreal: Expos players were thrilled with the stunning trade that brought RHP Bartolo Colon to Montreal from the Cleveland Indians "You have to congratulate Omar Minaya on making a great trade,'' 2B Jose Vidro said of Montreal's general manager. "He really showed everybody that he's not thinking about contraction and all that stuff. He's just thinking about making this team better. He promised to everybody that if he had to deal our prospects he would to make this team better. And he kept his word. We're happy. Everybody's excited. I just can't wait to see (Colon) out there in an Expos uniform.'' Colon, who will join the team Saturday, is 10-4 with a 2.55 earned-run average. He'll probably make his debut Tuesday in Atlanta. "Every team we play now will know we have a good team and that's what we want to hear,'' said 1B Andres Galarraga, who will play every day with Lee Stevens going to Cleveland in the trade. "We have four pitchers who can go seven, eight, nine innings.'' Montreal's rotation includes Javier Vazquez, Tomo Ohka and Tony Armas Jr.

Toronto: C Darrin Fletcher was on the Expos teams that traded Larry Walker, Marquis Grissom, John Wetteland, Moises Alou and Pedro Martinez. Fletcher was as stunned as anyone to find out the Expos got Colon. "A pitcher of that caliber just automatically puts you in the hunt,'' Fletcher said. "I want them to win the whole thing to be honest with you,'' said Fletcher, who left Montreal as a free agent in '97 and signed with Toronto. "I'd just love to see a team that was destined for contraction or whatever to make it to the playoffs.'' ... OF Shannon Stewart, who injured his hamstring in Thursday's game, was given a day off.

Diamondbacks at Indians
Arizona: Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly is finding that managing an All-Star team can be a headache. Brenly, who will manage the NL squad in Milwaukee next month, said picking the pitchers and reserves is going to be especially tough. "It really is a pain in the neck,'' he said. "It goes with the territory, but I don't want to slight anybody.'' Brenly has a new problem now that Bartolo Colon has been jumped leagues. Colon, traded from Cleveland to Montreal on Thursday, is having an All-Star season but has yet to pitch in the NL. "I don't know what the rule is,'' said Brenly, who planned to call the league office for help. "I mean he's never won a game in the National League and to represent it on the All-Star team? It just makes my job that much tougher.'' ... RHP Curt Schilling returned to the Diamondbacks following the birth of his son, Garrison Michael Schilling, who made his debut Thursday. "He's back and eager to take the ball Sunday,'' manager Bob Brenly said of Schilling, who will start the series finale against the Indians. ... 3B Matt Williams, out all season with a broken left leg he suffered during spring training, went 0-for-2 in his second rehab game at Triple-A Tucson on Thursday night.

Cleveland: C Eddie Perez walked through the Indians' clubhouse before Friday's game carrying several soccer balls and wearing Brazil's national jersey. "I just got traded to the Brazilian team,'' he joked. ... OF-DH Ellis Burks has a no-trade clause in his contract, but said he would consider waiving it if the Indians wanted to trade him to a contender. "I'd think about it,'' he said. "But I'm content where I am. I already put my roots down here. I bought a house. If a contending team came to the Indians, then I'd have to give it thought.'' ... SS Omar Vizquel was back in the lineup Friday night after sitting out one game with a sore left shoulder. ... RF Matt Lawton missed his third straight game after getting a cortisone shot in his right shoulder. Lawton, who hurt his shoulder while trying to make a diving catch in the second week of the season, thinks he'll be ready to play by Tuesday. ... The Indians are expected to activate 2B Ricky Gutierrez this weekend. He's been on the 15-day disabled list since June 16 with a strained left groin.

Mets at Yankees
Mets: Before taking the field for batting practice, OF Tony Tarasco had a question. "I want to know if Jeffrey Maier is here today? Did they bring him to beat us?'' he said. While playing for Baltimore in Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS at Yankee Stadium, a 12-year-old Maier reached over the right-field wall and took a fly ball away from Tarasco. It was ruled a home run, and the Yankees went on to win. ... Chris Chambliss, recently hired as the Mets' batting coach, certainly didn't need to ask directions to Yankee Stadium. He was a star player for the Yankees and later their batting coach.

Yankees: RHP Orlando Hernandez, fresh off the disabled list, will rejoin the rotation -- only manager Joe Torre isn't sure exactly when. For now, El Duque will work as a long reliever. The Yankees weren't expecting Hernandez back so soon, and Torre told him that the pitching plans were set for the next week or so. "I told him he would be a starter after the All-Star break,'' Torre said. When Hernandez returns to start, LHP Ted Lilly will go back to the bullpen. "It's not a knock on him,'' Torre said. "His time will come as a starter.'' ... OF Shane Spencer was having X-rays after jamming his left hand making a catch this week in Baltimore. Karim Garcia, just called up from Triple-A Columbus, started in left field. ... Manager Joe Torre expects to finalize his roster for the AL All-Star players on Saturday. He didn't reveal whether RHP Bartolo Colon would've been selected before being traded from Cleveland to Montreal, but playfully added, "He's not going to make our All-Star team.''

Pirates at Tigers
Pittsburgh: The Pirates have now played the Tigers in five straight seasons after not facing them since the 1909 World Series. Pittsburgh has lost three of the four series with a 5-7 record overall. ... Josh Fogg made his first start against the Tigers on Friday, but has pitched 1 1-3 innings of relief against them as a member of the White Sox. ... Pittsburgh changed designated hitters for the Tigers series. They used Craig Wilson, after using Aramis Ramirez in their three previous games in American League cities.

Detroit: SP Brian Moehler, who hasn't pitched since Detroit's 2001 home opener, will return to the rotation sometime in the next week. Moehler had reconstructive shoulder surgery last July. "I'm going to be very nervous, that's for sure. This has been a rollercoaster, but that's what everyone said to expect.'' Moehler will either start in Chicago or Boston. ... Manager Luis Pujols sent the cap he wore in Tuesday's series opener in Kansas City to the Hall of Fame, as did Kansas City manager Tony Pena. The game was the first matchup of two Dominican managers in major league history.

Phillies at Orioles
Philadelphia: Donald Fehr, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, met with the Phillies in their Baltimore hotel Thursday afternoon to discuss ongoing labor negoaiations. The Phillies are the third club Fehr has updated. ... With Philadelphia playing in an American League park, manager Larry Bowa moved 2B Marlon Anderson to the ninth spot in the lineup usually occupied by the pitcher. Anderson has hit everywhere in the lineup except for fourth and fifth. "I don't think he cares where he hits,'' Bowa said. "I like him anywhere in the lineup. He's flexible.'' ... RHP Jose Mesa's next save will be the 200th of his career.

Baltimore: The Orioles are 13-11 in June, meaning one victory in their weekend series against Philadelphia will guarantee them their first winning month since April 2000, when they went 14-10. ... LHP B.J. Ryan threw one pitch and recorded one out in a relief outing against the New York Yankees on Thursday. But that's a positive step for a struggling reliever who had allowed 14 runs in his previous 24 appearances over 16 2-3 innings. "He did have his problems and it's real important for us with B.J. to build back his confidence,'' Orioles manager MikeHargrove said. "That was a big first step last night.'' ... 2B Brian Roberts was unavailable for Thursday's game. He had leg cramps and Hargrove wasn't sure whether Roberts would be ready Friday night. ... 1B Jeff Conine, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, ran for the first time since the injury Friday. Conine is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday.

Astros at Rangers
Houston: CF Lance Berkman has a nasty baseball-sized bruise on his right side where he got hit by a pitch by Arizona's Byung-Hyun Kim on Thursday. ... The Astros conclude interleague play in this weekend's series against the Rangers. They also start their longest road trip this season, a 10-game stretch that ends July 7 in Pittsburgh right before the All-Star break .... In Thursday's 7-4 win over Arizona, which ended on Gregg Zaun's grand slam, the Astros didn't leave any runners on base. It was only the fourth time in club history they did that. ... RHP Pete Munro was in uniform Saturday after being recalled from Triple-A New Orleans. RHP Scott Linebrink was optioned to New Orleans. ... LHP Carlos Hernandez, who missed Thursday's start with a stiff shoulder, had a good throwing session Friday and is now scheduled to start Monday at Cincinnati.

Texas: RHP Closer Jeff Zimmerman, who has been on the disabled list all season with tendinitis in his right elbow, will throw about 40 pitches during batting practice Saturday. The session could determine if Zimmerman is ready for a rehab assignment. "I want to get a read on my location and arm speed,'' Zimmerman said. "I want to make sure that I'm 100 percent. If not, it's not fair to me or my teammates.'' ... OF Carl Everett, who has been on the DL since June 3 with a strained left hamstring, says he's ready to play again. And he says he's been ready for about a week. But the Rangers don't have a definite plan for Everett's return. "He is on a rehab program now. We are just trying to get him ready to play,'' manager Jerry Narron said.

Marlins at Devil Rays
Florida: SS Alex Gonzalez (dislocated left shoulder) is taking batting practice and might start a rehab assignment next week. "We have to make sure we take our time,'' manager Jeff Torborg said. "Sometimes a pitch bothers him.'' Gonzalez has been sidelined since May 19. ... CF Preston Wilson returned after missing the past two games with a sore right hamstring. ... Kevin Millar, who sat out Thursday's game with a bruised left forearm, was the designated hitter. ... Montreal's acquisition of RHP Bartolo Colon means the Marlins could face the former Cleveland ace a couple times. "That's not a good thought,'' Torborg said. "Let's put that out of our minds.''

Tampa Bay: GM Chuck LaMar believes the market in advance of the July 31st trade deadline will favor the buyers because approximately 20 teams will be out of playoff contention by mid July. "More than one-half the teams in baseball will be sellers and not buyers,'' LaMar said. ... A number of teams, including the New York Mets, Boston and Cincinnati had scouts at the game. ... Manager Hal McRae said he was very surprised that the major league baseball controlled Montreal Expos obtained RHP Bartolo Colon from Cleveland. "It made me pause,'' McRae said. ... RHP Delvin James was placed on the disabled list by Double-A Orlando with right shoulder stiffness. ... C Paul Hoover accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Durham.

Cubs at White Sox
Cubs: The eight-run blown lead was the largest by the Cubs in a loss since April 17, 1976. It was also the second day in a row they lost a game they seemingly had won. "I don't think we felt like, `Oh, no, here we go again,''' Corey Patterson said. "You can't pinpoint one thing why we lost. It's a team thing.'' ... Something about the White Sox don't agree with RHP Kerry Wood, who is 0-3 in five starts against them. At Wrigley Field two weeks ago, he gave up a season-high eight earned runs and lasted just four-plus innings. "My arm's all right,'' said Wood, who missed the 1999 season after having reconstructive elbow surgery. "I've got to find the fire.'' ... Moises Alou was the DH. "Certain guys fight for that DH spot when it's available,'' Cubs manager Don Baylor said before the game. "Alou was telling me he needed a day to get his legs right.'' ... The Cubs have homered in 11 straight games. ... Closer Tom Gordon, on the disabled list all year with a torn muscle in his right shoulder, got a save at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday night.

White Sox: Paul Konerko is making a strong case for his first All-Star selection. He's hitting .439 with 12 homers and 12 RBI over his last 17 games, and his 12 homers in June are a career best for the month. "I think he's been on the All-Star team even before today,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. "It would really be a big surprise to me if he's not there.'' The All-Star teams will be announced Sunday. ... Though the White Sox began the day six games behind Minnesota in the AL Central, they still believe they can make a run at the division. "There's a feeling in the clubhouse that's really good right now,'' Konerko said. "I feel like this team is ready to roll.'' ... RHP Dan Wright is 0-4 with a 7.04 ERA in his last seven starts, and Manuel said he might consider giving him a break if the schedule allows it. "But to completely take him out of the rotation, I don't think we have that option,'' Manuel said. ... Kenny Lofton was the only starter who didn't have an RBI.

Brewers at Twins
Milwaukee: The Brewers flip-flopped Jose Cabrera and Ben Sheets in the rotation, starting Sheets on Friday and Cabrera on Saturday against the Twins. "Actually that was the schedule all along,'' manager Jerry Royster said. "We wanted to keep everyone on a regular schedule. They're all pitching on the fifth day, everybody except for Cabrera -- who's the fifth starter. Last time we backed Sheets up for his sixth and he pitched very well, but we want to keep him on this schedule and get him back on his five-day routine. Every now and then if they need a sixth day we can slip it in there, but our first four starters are going to pitch on their fifth day if the schedule allows it.'' ... The Brewers entered the weekend series with an all-time record of 180-180 against the Twins, their Upper Midwest rivals. The two teams, however, were only in the same division for three years -- 1969-1971 in the AL West. ... The Brewers began the three-game series at the Metrodome without a win on artificial turf. They were swept in Montreal in April. ... With LF Geoff Jenkins out (torn ligaments in his ankle), none of the Brewers' regulars are products of their own farm system.

Minnesota: The funeral for Twins manager Ron Gardenhire's father, Clyde, is Saturday afternoon in Okmulgee, Okla. Batting coach Scott Ullger ran the team for the third straight game in the absence of Gardenhire, who is expected to arrive in the Twin Cities on Sunday night to join the team for its trip to Oakland. ... Minnesota starts a seven-game road trip Monday against the Athletics and then travels to Seattle to finish up the first half. ... LHP Eddie Guardado, a strong candidate to make the All-Star team in his first full season as a closer, leads the AL's Rolaids Relief standings. ... RHP Joe Mays (elbow inflammation) threw a simulated game and is scheduled to throw out of the bullpen again Sunday before leaving for Fort Myers, Fla., to join the Class A Miracle for a rehabilitation stint. He will return to the rotation shortly after the All-Star break. RHPs Brad Radke (pulled groin), Jack Cressend (strained rotator cuff) and Bob Wells (sore elbow) have been throwing on the side, but aren't as close to returning.

Padres at Royals
San Diego: The Padres played the Royals for the first time in their history. Toronto remains the only team the Padres have never played in spring training, regular season or postseason. The Padres and Royals will probably see plenty of each other next March when the Royals move their spring training site from Haines City, Fla., to Surprise, Ariz., which is only seven miles west of the Padres' complex in Peoria. ... C Wiki Gonzalez was not in the starting lineup again after straining his left hamstring Tuesday. ... In their first six interleague games in AL parks, Padres designated hitters were batting .300 (6-for-20) with three homers and seven walks.

Kansas City: Rookie LHP Jeremy Affeldt, on the disabled list with a finger blister, will throw a simulated game Saturday and then is scheduled to make at least two injury rehab starts with Double-A Wichita, the first one on July 4. ... CF Carlos Beltran, who has a bruise under his big left toe and possible strained ligaments, was the DH for the second straight game. Beltran is scheduled for a MRI exam of his foot Saturday. ... 2B Carlos Febles was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game because of tightness in his left hamstring. ... OF Donzell McDonald, designated for assignment June 22, cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Omaha.

Rockies at Mariners
Colorado: 1B Todd Helton was out of the starting lineup because of a strained back. "He came in today and told me he couldn't get it cranked up,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. Helton came out of Thursday night's 7-1 loss in Los Angeles in the eighth inning. He began the night as the NL's No. 2 hitter with a .342 batting average behind Barry Bonds' .350. But Helton was just 2-for-13 in a four-game series against the Dodgers. ... Hurdle will use RF Larry Walker as the DH during the three-game series to give his elbow a rest. ... Hurdle is a big fan of Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki. "His hand-eye coordination is phenomenal,'' Hurdle said. "And when he gets on base, he makes things happen.''

Seattle: DH Edgar Martinez was in the lineup again after hitting a homer and driving in three runs in a 7-4 victory over Oakland on Thursday night, his first start since April 11. Martinez underwent surgery April 13 to remove a ruptured tendon behind his left knee. Martinez, 39, wants to stay healthy so he can stay in the lineup. "I don't see why I have to rest,'' he said. "I've had enough rest.'' Trainer Rick Griffin said Martinez is going to be cautious while running the bases. "He's not going to try to beat out a groundball,'' Griffin said. "He's not going to do anything stupid.'' ... After missing four straight games because of back spasms, Mark McLemore was back in the starting lineup in left field. "He could have played yesterday,'' Griffin said.

Giants at Athletics
San Francisco: Manager Dusty Baker had Jeff Kent batting third and Barry Bonds fourth again. Baker flip-flopped the pair for the first time this season Thursday and it worked, at least for Kent. The second baseman was 3-for-5 with six RBI in an 11-6 victory over San Diego. Bonds was 0-for-2 with three walks, two intentional. ... Kent's career high is seven RBI, done twice. ... Bonds was the DH and Shawon Dunston played left field.

Oakland: The A's won two of three at Pacific Bell Park in the season's first series between the Bay Area rivals. ... The A's entered 14-1 in interleague play, the best record in the majors. ... SS Miguel Tejada set the Oakland record for consecutive games played when he appeared in his 348th straight Thursday against the Mariners. "Miguel's probably the most dedicated guy we have in terms of his conditioning,'' trainer Larry Davis said. "Miguel works hard. It's not a fluke that he's out there every day.'' ... Jermaine Dye was the DH. He hasn't made an appearance in the outfield since June 19 because of tightness in his right hamstring.

Dodgers at Angels
Anaheim: The Angels demoted LHP Scott Schoeneweis to the bullpen and called up RHP John Lackey from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace him in the rotation. Manager Mike Scioscia said Lackey would start Sunday against the Dodgers, adding that his "confidence is at a level now where I think he's ready for the challenge of the big leagues.'' Lackey's major league debut came last Monday against Texas, when he struck out six while allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings of a 3-2 loss. ... RHP Al Levine was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Levine will work on strength training, and Scioscia says "nothing looks like it's structurally defective.'' ... Scioscia complimented the Los Angeles pitchers the Angels will face this weekend, including RHP Andy Ashby and LHP Odalis Perez. "When you look at the Dodgers pitching staff, I think there were a lot of question marks that have turned into exclamation points.''

Los Angeles: Reserve C Chad Kreuter was placed on the 15-day disabled list after Thursday's game with a hematoma, or pooling of blood, in his left shin. Kreuter broke a blood vessel sliding into second against Boston on Sunday. Trainer Stan Johnston said he could return after the All-Star break, adding, "If he were to play and hit it again, it could require surgery.'' David Ross was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to take Kreuter's spot on the roster. ... OF Shawn Green came in with four homers in 11 at-bats against the Angels this season. ... RHP Andy Ashby faced the Angels for the first time since 1998.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Reds at Cardinals
Cincinnati: The Reds recalled RHP Luke Hudson from Triple-A Louisville. He replaces RHP Jose Silva, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Wednesday, with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Hudson was 4-6 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 starts and two relief appearances at Louisville. ... The Reds entered last in the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position, batting only .213. They had an 0-for-26 slump from June 15-20. ... Barry Larkin came in with 387 doubles, third on the team's career list and two behind Dave Concepcion. Pete Rose is No. 1 with 601. ... Aaron Boone started at shortstop for the second consecutive game. He had never started at shortstop before.

St. Louis: Before giving up two runs and blowing his second save of the season in 18 chances Thursday, closer Jason Isringhausen had allowed one earned run in 20 1-3 innings over 19 outings. ... Rookie RHP Travis Smith, who has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis, will make his fifth career major league start Saturday. He was 1-0 with an 8.06 ERA for the Cardinals in a previous stint, and 3-4 with a 1.75 ERA in nine starts at Memphis. ... RF J.D. Drew was out of the lineup with tendinitis in his right knee. ... RHP Dave Veres needed only 24 pitches to retire the Brewers in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings Thursday. Veres, the closer the previous two seasons in St. Louis, has made a team-high 34 appearances. "I threw strikes and they were swinging at the first pitch,'' he said.