THURSDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Vladimir Guerrero Homered twice against the Braves in an 8-5 loss, giving him 17 multihomer games in his career. H R RBI HR 2 2 3 2 Hero of the day Brian Giles hit a home run in the top of the 10th inning, allowing the Pirates to edge the Brewers 3-2. Goats of the day Phillies relievers Rheal Cormier and Carlos Silva combined to give up seven earned runs on six hits without recording an out in the eighth inning of Philadelphia's 9-1 loss to the Mets. Injury report Indians outfielder Matt Lawton left after the seventh inning with a strained left calf. Streak of the day Angels starter Jarrod Washburn has won 10 straight decisions, defeating the Royals 1-0. It's the longest streak in the majors this year. Stat of the day Indians' manager Joel Skinner got into the record books with his debut against the Yankees. Skinner's father Bob, who managed 216 games in the majors with Philadelphia and San Diego, and Joel became the second father-son managerial tandem in baseball history, joining George and Dick Sisler. The last word "One thing about it, we weren't going to run out of pitchers." -- Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon referring to the All-Star Game after Pittsburgh won a 10-inning affair against the Brewers at Miller Park.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rangers at Twins
Texas: The Rangers, who used 41 players in the first half and used the DL 15 times, activated OF Rusty Greer from the DL and placed LHP John Rocker on it. They also designated INF Donnie Sadler for assignment, purchased the contract of OF Ruben Rivera from Triple-A Oklahoma, activated LHP Rich Rodriguez (shoulder surgery) from the 60-day DL and sent C Todd Greene outright to Oklahoma after he cleared waivers. Texas also sent outfielder Gabe Kapler, on the 15-day DL since June 24 because of an injured left wrist, to Oklahoma for a rehab assignment. ... Greer, batting .298, has been on the 15-day DL since June 4 with a bone bruise and a hyperextension of his back. ... Rocker, 2-3 with a 6.66 ERA this season after the Rangers traded for the troubled reliever, has bursitis in his shoulder. The move is retroactive to July 4. ... Rivera made his Rangers debut in center field for Thursday's game at Minnesota. He signed a minor league contract in March after he was released by the New York Yankees. ... Since Ismael Valdes' back has loosened up, he'll start Friday. Kenny Rogers will pitch Saturday.

Minnesota: RHP Joe Mays will make one more start on his minor league rehab assignment before rejoining the rotation, probably July 20 in Detroit. Mays has been out since April with inflammation in his elbow. ... RHP Brad Radke pitched to live batters for the first time since he reaggravated a pulled groin in late May. Catcher A.J. Pierzynski batted against Radke and thought the Twins' ace threw well. --Believe me, we want to get those guys back,'' Pierzynski said. --But the guys who've been filling in for them have done a good job, too.'' ... The Twins' 7{-game lead at the All-Star break was the biggest in team history, including 1987 and 1991 when they won the World Series. The last time they had a winning record in the second half was 1991, when they went 48-31 to finish 95-67. ... RHP Bob Wells is also closer to returning. He's been on the DL since June 12 with bone chips in his elbow. ... Manager Ron Gardenhire was saddened to learn of Charlie Manuel's firing by Cleveland. Gardenhire played for Manuel at Triple-A Portland, then a Twins' affiliate, in 1987. --Charlie's a good man,'' Gardenhire said. --He's done a lot of good things for that organization.''

Athletics at Orioles
Oakland: LHP Ted Lilly, acquired from the Yankees in the three-team swap that sent RHP Jeff Weaver to New York, was available out of the bullpen Thursday, when the A's opened a four-game series in Baltimore. Manager Art Howe said Lilly, who will start Monday, would only be available in a blowout, but admitted that he would like to give the left-hander an inning or two of work. ... Lilly's arrival bumped LHP Aaron Harang to the bullpen. Harang, 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in eight starts, said the toughest adjustment will be to come into games in the middle of an inning -- something he hasn't done on a regular basis since 1999 with Pulaski of the Rookie League. --I have to keep a starter's mentality,'' Harang said. --It's easier coming in at the beginning of the inning than it will be coming in at the middle of an inning.'' ... C Ramon Hernandez came into Thursday's game with five home runs and 20 RBI lifetime against Baltimore. Hernandez has hit only one team better -- Seattle, against whom he has seven homers and 34 RBI.

Baltimore: 1b Jeff Conine is still feeling discomfort in his right hamstring, so it could be several days before he leaves the DL. --I don't anticipate Jeff being ready for another three or four days, at least,'' manager Mike Hargrove said Thursday. --But he may be better tomorrow, and if he is, he'll be here.'' ... RHP Sidney Ponson benefitted from the extra rest he received during the All-Star break. Ponson will be operating on eight days rest when he takes the mound Sunday against Oakland. ... The Orioles will listen to all offers, but plan to be prudent in the days approaching the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. --We're not contenders now, and to jump the gun too soon would be just as bad as sitting and not doing anything at all,'' Hargrove said.

Yankees at Indians
New York: Manager Joe Torre figured sooner or later he would manage himself into a corner in the All-Star Game, which is what happened Tuesday night. --I've been flirting with danger every year,'' Torre said of using his entire bench. --It could have happened before this. I feel bad that the commissioner is taking the heat.'' Torre said that he and NL manager Bob Brenly forced Selig into the decision to call the game with the score 7-7 after 11 innings. --We took it out of his hands,'' he said. ... Torre will use six starting pitchers for the next couple of series --to keep everybody sharp.'' ... RHP Roger Clemens, who left his last start July 2 after five innings with cramping in his legs, is scheduled to start Friday night. --I think Roger is finding out that when you are 38 or 39, it is not as easy getting out of bed as it used to be,'' Torre said. --He always wants to compete, but we'll monitor the situation.'' ... RHP Seth Etherton was claimed off waivers from Cincinnati and assigned to Double-A Norwich. The 25-year-old missed all of 2001 after shoulder surgery, and recently made three rehab starts.

Cleveland: After learning he had been fired on Thursday, manager Charlie Manuel said the only player he talked to was first baseman Jim Thome, who considered Manuel a second father. --He was very disappointed,'' Manuel said. Thome declined to comment on Manuel's firing and said he would address the media on Friday. Thome can become a free agent after the season, and might be traded before then. ... RHP Jake Westbrook was activated, and INF/OF Jolbert Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo. Westbrook had surgery on his right elbow Feb. 26 and began a rehab assignment in the minors on June 16. --It's good to be back,'' Westbrook said. --I feel fine, I had one little setback getting rid of some scar tissue when I first went on rehab, but since then everything has gone well.'' Westbrook will be used in long relief. ... RHP Nerio Rodriguez was assigned to Triple-A Memphis of the St. Louis Cardinals' organization, and LHP Billy Traber promoted from Double-A Akron to Buffalo. Traber, 22, part of the deal last December that sent Roberto Alomar to the Mets, went 13-2 with a 2.76 ERA at Akron.

Red Sox at Blue Jays
Boston: Manager Grady Little said everyone is talking about a possible strike. --This thing is hanging over baseball,'' Little said. --The last part of every conversation is `if we are still playing.''' Little said he hopes it doesn't come to that. ... 3B Shea Hillenbrand said he had a wonderful time at the All-Star Game. --I enjoyed every minute of it,'' he said. --I enjoyed hanging out. I enjoyed meeting Joe Torre.'' ... The Red Sox activated second baseman Rey Sanchez from the 15-day DL. Sanchez missed 30 games with a strained right hamstring. He hit .318 in 46 games this season. The Red Sox also optioned RHP Sun Woo Kim to Triple-A Pawtucket. Kim went 2-0 with a 7.45 ERA in 15 games, including two starts.

Toronto: Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi was quoted recently as saying that utility INF Chris Woodward might become the regular shortstop and that rookie Felipe Lopez might move to second base. Manager Carlos Tosca said that likely won't happen this year. --They are both shortstops, and they are going to continue in that direction,'' Tosca said. ... Tosca said he told his players in a meeting before the All-Star break that he would like his team to spoil New York's and Boston's playoff hopes in September. --I told them I'd like to have a shot at rocking the boat of those two teams,'' Tosca said. ... INF Dave Berg wasn't with the team because his wife is expecting a baby. Berg is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday.

White Sox at Tigers
Chicago: White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said he sticks by his criticism of teammate Frank Thomas for arriving less than two hours before a game this past Sunday, but regrets letting it get out in the media. --Two wrongs don't make a right,'' he said. --It's not right what he did, but it's also not right for me to put it out there.'' Konerko said that he already talked to Thomas. When asked about the situation, Thomas said, --No thanks.'' Thomas, who manager Jerry Manual said was fined the normal amount for being late, wasn't in the lineup for the game he was late for nor the two preceding games. He was in the lineup and batted third Thursday night. He's hitting .239 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI. ... The White Sox are 20-10 against the Tigers the past two seasons.

Detroit: Robert Fick was still glowing about his All-Star Game appearance in which he went 1-for-2, stole a base, and scored the tying run. --It was awesome, it was a great experience,'' he said. On the stolen base, he said: --I hope Luis (Tigers manager Luis Pujols) was watching.'' Pujols said: --I told him that's Joe Torre.'' ... The Tigers activated left fielder Bobby Higginson from the DL. Higginson had been sidelined by a pulled left hamstring since June 9. The team placed 1B Dmitri Young and 3B Chris Truby on the 15-day DL. Young is on the DL for the second time this season (April 23-May 14 was the first) because of a hernia. Pujols said he'll have surgery next Wednesday. Truby has a pulled rig cage muscle. The Tigers also recalled RHP Fernando Rodney from Triple-A Toledo.

Mariners at Devil Rays
Seattle: The Mariners started an 11-game, four-city road trip. After four games at Tampa Bay, Seattle will travel to Baltimore (two games), Texas (two games) and Anaheim (three games). ... All-Star pitcher Freddy Garcia will start Sunday's game at Tampa Bay. ... The Mariners won 108 games between the 2001 and 2002 All-Star Games. Garcia and LHP Jamie Moyer both won 19 times. ... Seattle started the game hitting .299 on the road, compared to .256 at home. ... The Devil Rays are the only team to beat RHP Joel Pineiro, Thursday's starter, more than once.

Tampa Bay: LHP Nick Bierbrodt, who was shot in the chest and right arm last month, has lost 25 pounds. Bierbrodt will begin a slow walking program next month, and remains hopeful he will be ready to take part in spring training next year. --It's a fair assumption,'' Bierbrodt said. ... GM Chuck LaMar and manager Hal McRae met for just over an hour before the game on how to make the club better. --There's no question in anybody's mind, even though we're limited in some ways personnel-wise against some of the teams we play, this club is better than 28 wins (at the break) and everybody knows that,'' LaMar said. ... OF Greg Vaughn (right shoulder) hopes to return sooner than the 2-to-3 weeks team officials have projected. ... RHP Jorge Sosa will work long relief with the return of RHP Ryan Rupe (right knee) from the 15-day DL. Rupe is scheduled to pitch Monday against Oakland.

Angels at Royals
Anaheim: Shawn Wooten, an INF/C who'd been on the DL since spring training, was activated Thursday and was the starting DH. Wooten sustained a torn ligament in his right thumb in spring training and then strained an oblique muscle in his right side during a rehab assignment. The Angels, who had more than 49 wins in the first half of the season for just the fifth time in club history, will have to be on top of their game for a quick getaway in the second half. After four games against fourth-place Kansas City, they will meet Minnesota, Oakland, Seattle, Boston and the New York Yankees.

Kansas City: The Royals agreed to terms with first-round pick Zack Greinke, a RHP who was 9-2 with a 0.55 ERA in 12 games in high school in Florida. The Royals have either signed or agreed to terms with nine of their top 10 picks. RHP Cory Bailey, who earlier this year became the only pitcher in Royals history to win both ends of a doubleheader, was designated for assignment Thursday. His spot was taken by RHP Ryan Bukvich, 1-0 with eight saves and a 0.00 ERA in 12 games at Triple-A Omaha.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves at Expos
Atlanta: RF Gary Sheffield had four RBI, three on his 16th homer of the season, in the Braves' 8-5 win Thursday. Sheffield has reached base in 37 straight games, two games short of Chipper Jones' team record, set in 1999. ... CF Andruw Jones also hit a three-run shot for his 20th homer as Atlanta won for the 38th time in 49 games. The Braves opened a 10½-game lead over second-place Montreal in the NL East, improving the best record in the major leagues to 57-32. ... RHP Kevin Millwood won his fifth straight decision to improve to 7-5, despite allowing three home runs. Millwood hasn't lost since May 18. ... John Smoltz struck out the side in the ninth for his 32nd save, tying Los Angeles' Eric Gagne for the major league lead.

Montreal: Following the game, the Expos acquired power-hitting OF Cliff Floyd from Florida. Floyd, who began his career with the Expos, was hitting .287 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI heading into the All-Star break. The deal came two weeks after Expos GM Omar Minaya acquired RHP Bartolo Colon from Cleveland. --He's going to be a welcome addition to this lineup. It's a quality bat, he's a quality fielder, and he's an everyday player so we've upgraded our lineup,'' Expos manager Frank Robinson said. --He's a proven run producer and we need that. With Colon, I think we upgraded our pitching staff and this upgrades the offense. Those two moves make us a better ballclub.'' ... RF Vladimir Guerrero homered twice for his fourth multihomer game of the season, the 17th of his career. ... C Brian Schneider and PH Andres Galarraga also homered. ... RHP Tony Armas Jr. allowed seven runs and six hits in five innings. Armas was 3-0 in six starts since June 1. ... A day-camp promotion drew a crowd of 11,855 to Olympic Stadium for the weekday matinee.

Phillies at Mets
Philadelphia: Manager Larry Bowa said Vicente Padilla, whose spot in the rotation was moved from Thursday to Saturday, could have kept pitching in the All-Star Game Tuesday night. Padilla's was pushed back because he pitched the 10th and 11th innings in the All-Star Game. ... 1B Travis Lee, hitting .346 against the Mets, batted seventh. Jeremy Giambi has made 10 starts at first, his most of any position since joining the Phillies.

New York: RHP Steve Trachsel pitched in the bullpen before Thursday's game. He is expected to make a rehab start before coming off the DL. --I think he'll pitch in a game somewhere,'' manager Bobby Valentine said. --He felt good today. We have plenty of time before he comes off the disabled list to make sure he's OK.'' Trachsel, out because of an injured shoulder, is eligible to be activated July 16. ... LHP Al Leiter started Thursday's game, to be followed by Jeff D'Amico, Shawn Estes, Pedro Astacio and rookie Mike Bascik in Trachsel's spot. ... There was a pregame moment of silence in memory of Ted Williams.

Reds at Astros
Cincinnati: The Reds have counted on pitching from the start this season, they just didn't know that it would include Ryan Dempster, whom they obtained from the Florida Marlins. --We've felt from spring training on that we would go as far as our starting pitching takes us,'' manager Bob Boone said. --We've pitched well, but we haven't been getting a lot of innings. We needed to get our pitchers deeper into the game. This is something we really needed and something Dempster will help with.'' Elmer Dessens went against the Astros on Thursday night. Dempster will jump into the rotation Friday followed by Jimmy Haynes, Jared Fernandez and Chris Reitsma. Joey Hamilton will move to the bullpen.

Houston: Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker thinks it's going to take something like teams missing payrolls for fans to understand baseball has a financial problem. --We've been trying to tell people we have a tough environment, and the more we say it the more people don't want to believe us,'' Hunsicker said. --It's going to take blood in the streets and bodies lying there for people to see we have got real live problems here.''

Pirates at Brewers
Pittsburgh: Shortstop Jack Wilson brought the longest hitting streak in the majors (11 games) into Thursday's game in Milwaukee. Wilson was 20-for-40 in his last 11 games. The streak already was a career-high for Wilson. ... Since sweeping the Brewers on June 7-9, the Pirates have gone 8-17 and have won back-to-back games just once (June 25-26 over Montreal). ... INF Pokey Reese said his strained left oblique muscle was feeling better, enabling him to started at second base on Thursday. Reese had not played since July 2. ... Closer Mike Williams, who pitched in Tuesday's All Star game, went into Thursday's game with saves in his last six outings. Williams also had a streak of seven straight scoreless outings.

Milwaukee: All-Star first baseman Richie Sexson was in the lineup Thursday despite tendinitis in his left hamstring. -- It bothered me during the All Star game and home run derby, but right now it's about like it was right before the break,'' Sexson said. ... Sexson and manager Jerry Royster said the Brewers were ready to put the All-Star Game controversy behind them and --get back to business.'' Both said they considered it --unfortunate'' that the decision to call the game a tie after 11 innings caused so much controversy. --I thought the city did a great job of hosting the event,'' Royster said. --I was proud of it. I think the controversy is completely unwarranted.''... RHP Nick Neugebauer did some soft tossing Thursday, after a session on the mound Wednesday, and could be getting close to a rehab assignment as he comes back from a shoulder problem. ... The Brewers play their next 15 games against NL Central teams.