FRIDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Roy Halladay Combined with Kelvim Escobar on a three-hit shutout against the Red Sox in a 5-0 victory. IP H ER SO 8 3 0 5 Hero of the day Despite starting the night 0-for-5, Twins outfielder Jacque Jones singled in the winning run in the 11th inning to lead the Twins over the Rangers 4-3. Goat of the day Expos rookie shortstop Henry Mateo made a three-base throwing error in the top of the ninth, contributing to the Braves' five-run ninth in Atlanta's 8-3 victory. Injury report Marlins outfielder Preston Wilson injured himself crashing into a wall trying to make a catch in the 16th inning. He has two sprained and swollen wrists and is day-to-day. Yankees starter Roger Clemens left in the fifth inning with a strained right groin. Yankees outfielder Raul Mondesi bruised his sturnum crashing into the wall during the 10th inning. He was taken to the hospital for X-rays. Braves starter Greg Maddux left after the fifth inning after aggravating a strained left calf. Indians' Jim Thome missed his fifth straight game with back spasms. Expos shortstop Orlando Cabrera was a late scratch because of a sore left ankle. Diamondbacks catcher Damian Miller left the game after the eighth inning with back spasms. Streak of the day Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo has a 23-game hitting streak on the road. Stat of the day Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell continued to torment the Mets with another homer in a 9-8 victory over New York. Burrell has more homers (14) and RBI (41) against the Mets than any other team in his career. The last word "I can't come up with a legitimate excuse for losing every night. It's foolish to try." -- Devil Rays manager Hal McRae after Tampa Bay lost to Seattle 2-1.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rangers at Twins
Texas: LHP John Rocker returned to Arlington after being placed on the DL Thursday with bursitis in his left shoulder. He'll work with a physical therapist over the next four to five days before throwing again. ... Narron's pre-All-Star Break speech to his players on hustling apparently didn't get through to everyone. In Thursday night's 4-3 loss, rookie Kevin Mench smashed a line drive off the right field wall but was slow coming out of the batter's box, took a wide turn around first and was tagged out on a close play trying to get back to the base. "The thing that I talked last Sunday night about was running balls out,'' Narron said. "It applies to everybody.''

Minnesota: The Twins traded OF Brian Buchanan to San Diego on Tuesday in exchange for minor league SS Jason Bartlett, who will report to Class A Fort Myers. Minnesota called up OF Michael Cuddyer, who was scheduled to arrive in the Twin Cities Friday evening. "This is a good move for our ballclub. He's going to help us and he's deserving,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said. Gardenhire said he would start Cuddyer in RF for Saturday's game against Texas. ... RHP Joe Mays will make a rehab start for Double-A New Britain on Monday and could be ready to return to the Twins against Detroit on July 20. "But it has to go well,'' Gardenhire said. "We don't want to bring him up just because he can throw 90 pitches. I don't want him to throw 90 pitches in three innings. We don't need that.''

Athletics at Orioles
Oakland: Athletics pitcher and player representative Barry Zito held a players-only meeting before Friday's game to discuss the union meeting held Monday, and the new contract negotiations. "I'm trying not to think about it,'' manager Art Howe said of the negotiations. "It's obviously out of my control.'' ... All-Star SS Miguel Tejada's father, Julio, accompanied him on the trip to Baltimore and watched Friday's batting practice from a seat next to the dugout. Tejada played in his 360th consecutive game Friday, the third longest active streak behind Luis Gonzalez (415 through Thursday) and Carlos Delgado (411). ... The A's are one of only five teams in the AL over .500 on the road. Thursday's 4-1 win broke a three-game road losing streak. ... Tim Hudson's start Friday was his 20th, tying him for the major league lead.

Baltimore: The Orioles purchased the contract of infielder Luis Lopez from Triple-A Rochester and optioned 2B Brian Roberts to Rochester. Lopez has played in parts of nine seasons with San Diego, Milwaukee and the New York Mets. He hit .324 in 17 games with Rochester after beginning the season in the Brewers' organization. ... Baltimore plays 12 of its first 14 games in the second half. They were 18-21 at home before the All-Star break. ... Friday's starting pitcher, Jason Johnson, had a 2.14 ERA over his previous three starts. He gave up a first-inning run against the A's.

Yankees at Indians
New York: Manager Joe Torre said that LHP Sterling Hitchcock threw for "about five to seven minutes,'' but there is no timetable for his return. "We want to get him ready for the rest of the season because his experience would be a help to us,'' Torre said. Hitchcock is on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained lower back. ... Torre also said that OF Juan Rivera, sidelined since June 9 with a fracture in his right knee, did a bit of light rehab work. ... RHP Steve Karsay, a native New Yorker, admitted it took some adjustments to readjust to the Big Apple lifestyle after playing elsewhere, including nearly four years in Cleveland. "I thought I knew what to expect, but it really is different,'' Karsay said. "Just getting to the ballpark is completely different than Cleveland. The traffic, the fans, the park itself. It was more of a change than I thought it would be.''

Cleveland: New manager Joel Skinner said his father Bob, a former big-league manager, was particularly excited by his son's promtion on Thursday. "I could tell how proud he was,'' Joel Skinner said. "We talked for awhile about it. He just told me the same stuff he has since I was 15 years old, about believing in yourself. And a lot of baseball talk.'' ... Skinner and GM Mark Shapiro both said they were close to naming an addition to the coaching staff. "We've discussed a lot of names from inside the organization,'' said Shapiro. Said Skinner: "I'd like it done sooner than later. We're close.'' ... OF Matt Lawton was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf muscle and INF-OF Bill Selby was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Lawton hurt the calf Thursday night. The 30-year-old has played with a strained right shoulder since mid-April and was batting .242 with 10 homers and 37 RBI. ... Two ex-Indians, OF Karim Garcia and RHP Jason Rakers, were re-signed. In two deals involving minor-leaguers, INF Anthony Medrano was dealt to Montreal for minor-league 1B Nick Dempsey and RHP Jeff D'Amico sent to Cincinnati for a player to be named. "Karim is an older prospect, but we still consider him a prospect,'' Shapiro said. Garcia, 26, has already played for six big-league teams and was released by the Yankees last week. He batted .311 with five homers in 20 games for Cleveland last season.

Red Sox at Blue Jays
Boston: Manager Grady Little gave All-Star 3B Shea Hillenbrand a day off. "He'll get a little bit of his All-Star break today,'' Little said. ... Little called a team meeting before the game. He said it was just a midseason meeting. "I just have a few things I want to say,'' said Little, who was wearing a T-shirt that read: "I like the way you do it.'' ... INF Carlos Baerga, on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring, won't go on a rehab assignment when he's activated.

Toronto: INF Dave Berg's wife had a baby boy on Friday. Berg is expected to rejoin the team on Saturday. ... The Blue Jays entered Friday's game with 11 straight losses against Boston. "The Red Sox are an excellent baseball team,'' manager Carlos Tosca said. "You can't make mistakes against them. You can't make mistakes with location and you can't make defensive miscues. They look for ways to beat you.''

White Sox at Tigers
Chicago: D'Angelo Jimenez, acquired from the San Diego Padres on Friday for a pair of minor leaguers, was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte after the trade. Manager Jerry Manuel isn't sure when, or where, he will play in Chicago. White Sox general manager Ken Williams says Jimenez will play shortstop, his natural position. He also played second base in San Diego. On the White Sox, those positions are currently filled by Royce Clayton and Ray Durham, respectively. "I don't know much about him,'' Manuel said of Jimenez. "He's a guy you'd like to see, but I like the people we have right now. If there's a place for him and a need for him in our lineup, I'd like to take a look at him. But I like the people we have right now.'' ... The White Sox went into Friday night's game having won 21 of their last 27 games. Of the six losses, two came at the hands of the Tigers on July 3-4.

Detroit: SS Ramon Santiago was out due to flu-like symptoms, including a fever of 101 degrees, while reliever Jose Paniagua was held out due to a pulled muscle on his left side, sustained during his last appearance at Boston on July 5. "We can't stay healthy for two or three days in a row,'' manager Luis Pujols said. "I've never seen anything like this.'' Both Santiago and Paniagua were expected to be available for Saturday's day-night doubleheader. ... George Lombard played center field for the Tigers as Wendell Magee got the night off. "We're going to find ways to get him into the lineup,'' Pujols said of Lombard. ... Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who is retiring after the season, will be honored by the American Stock Exchange in New York on July 17, when he rings the bell to start the day's trading.

Mariners at Devil Rays
Seattle: LF Mark McLemore (sore throat) was back in the starting lineup after missing Thursday's game. "We've had it passed around a little bit,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ... RHP Ryan Franklin, placed on the 15-day disabled list June 28 with a viral infection, is scheduled to start Monday's game against Baltimore. ... Piniella said he doesn't know if RHP Rafael Soriano (right shoulder) will require a rehab start before rejoining the team.

Tampa Bay: Manager Hal McRae said he plans to continue the platoon for catchers Toby Hall and John Flaherty, who each play two games in a row. "Until they indicate I should do something different,'' McRae said. "The plan is to keep both guys busy.'' ... OF prospect Josh Hamilton (shoulder) was placed on the disabled list by Class A Bakersfield. ... Former major league C Mike Figga has joined the organization and is playing for Bakersfield. ... RHP Kevin McGlinchey, placed on the disabled list during spring training, underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

Angels at Royals
Anaheim: RHP Jarrod Washburn's 10-game winning streak is still four behind the team record set by Chuck Finley July 1, 1997-May 2, 1998. In his 15 starts during the streak, Washburn's ERA is 2.58. After being 1-12 in shutouts last year, Thursday's 1-0 victory left the Angels 7-4 in them. The Angels are 18-6 when facing left-handed starters.

Kansas City: Thursday night's 1-0 loss to Anaheim was the Royals' fifth straight one-run game, and the fourth they lost. Their major league-leading 11 shutouts is the most since the 1992 club was blanked 13 times. The team record is 18, set in 1971 and 1989. RHP Runleyvas Hernandez, who plays for Double-A Wichita, was at the stadium Friday and could be called up as an extra pitcher when the Royals play nine games in seven days. Manager Tony Pena would not discuss the matter.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves at Expos
Atlanta: RHP Greg Maddux is undefeated in his last 13 starts. The four-time Cy Young winner is 6-0 with a 2.52 ERA since May 5. ... RF Gary Sheffield has reached safely in 37 straight games. He is two games short of Chipper Jones' team record set in 1999.

Montreal: LF Cliff Floyd batted cleanup in his first game with Montreal since 1996. Floyd, who played for the Expos from 1993-96, was acquired from Florida on Thursday as general manager Omar Minaya completed his second big trade in two weeks. RHP Bartolo Colon, who will make his first Expos start at Olympic Stadium on Saturday night, was acquired from Cleveland on June 27. ... SS Orlando Cabrera was a late scratch due to a sore left ankle. Cabrera was hurt when he collided with CF Jose Macias during Thursday's 8-5 loss.

Phillies at Mets
Philadelphia: The Phillies are in the midst of playing 13 straight against the NL East. Thus far, they are 3-5 during the stretch. ... LF Pat Burrell came into Friday's game hitting .364 against the Mets (12-for-33) with three homers and nine RBI. He has more home runs (13) and RBI (39) against the Mets than any other team. ... While watching his team stretch before batting practice, manager Larry Bowa said to third-base coach John Vukovich, "This is a waste. All they do is talk.''

New York: The Mets recalled RHP Mark Corey from his rehabilitation assignment, activated him from the 15-day DL and then optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Corey went on the DL on June 27 after having a seizure after the Mets' game with Atlanta on June 26. GM Steve Phillips said the medical tests were "inconclusive.'' Corey had said he was smoking marijuana before the seizure. ... RHP Aaron Heilman, the Mets' first round pick in 2001 draft, was promoted to Norfolk after starting the season with Double-A Binghamton. He was 4-4 with a 3.82 ERA in 17 starts with Binghamton.

Reds at Astros
Cincinnati: While the Reds do not have a complete game, newly acquired Ryan Dempster had three of them this season for Florida. ... Cincinnati's winning record has come mostly at the expense of losing teams. The Reds are 28-15 against teams with record of .500 or below. They are 18-27 against teams with winning records.

Houston: 2B Craig Biggio missed his second straight start because of flulike symptoms. Biggio was at the park and said he was able to play but manager Jimy Williams chose to rest him another day. ... Houston, Cincinnati and Colorado are the only three teams in the major leagues that do not have a complete game.

Pirates at Brewers
Pittsburgh: Richie Sexson was held out of the starting lineup Friday night because of left hamstring tendinitis. Sexson has played with the injury for about three weeks, but aggravated it while fielding a ball and running to first base during Tuesday night's All-Star Game. Manager Jerry Royster said Sexson could be available for pinch-hitting duty, but also would be out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game and possibly on Sunday. ... Ryan Thompson has played in 369 major league games with six different teams, but Friday night's game was the first time he had ever batted in the cleanup position. ... Since pitching an inning in the 2001 All-Star Game, Ben Sheets is 5-15 over 29 starts. This season, he is 4-10 with a 4.09 ERA.

Milwaukee: Mike Williams recorded his 26th save Thursday night and needs only eight more to equal the club record of 34 by Jim Gott in 1988. He is leading a bullpen which has given up only one earned run in its last 17 2-3 innings before Friday night's game. The bullpen has not given up a home run since June 27 when Vladimir Guerrero hit one off Mike Lincoln. ... Going into Friday night's game with Milwaukee, Pittsburgh had hit 15 of its 70 home runs against the Brewers.

Marlins at Cubs
Florida: RHP Carl Pavano took the loss in his first game, Friday but he hopes to begin anew with the Marlins. Pavano, one of the players acquired by the Marlins in the Cliff Floyd-Ryan Dempster trades, had been on the road with Montreal's Triple-A club at Ottawa when he got the call about the deal. "It's a great opportunity to be here. It's going to be a good change of environment,'' said Pavano, who knows Marlins manager Jeff Torborg and pitching coach Brad Arnsberg from their days at Montreal. ... Pavano said he is aware of the negative feelings many Marlins players have about dealing Floyd and Dempster, but said he can't worry about it. "I know those guys were a big part of their success and chemistry,'' Pavano said. "Once the guys get to know me, they'll find I'm a good teammate and competitor.'' ... LHP Graeme Lloyd, also acquired from Montreal, was not with the team Friday. Lloyd expressed concern to Canadian Press about being reunited with Florida owner Jeff Loria -- who used to run the Expos before swapping franchises. Team spokesman Dave Copses said he was not sure when Lloyd would arrive.

Chicago: RHP Tom Gordon warmed up a couple of times, but did not pitch in Friday's game. Interim manager Bruce Kimm said he was being cautious with Gordon, who is coming off a torn shoulder muscle. ... Fred McGriff's homer was his 466th, giving him sole possession of 23rd place all-time, ahead of Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

Cardinals at Padres
St. Louis: The Cardinals are poised to activate RHP Andy Benes from the disabled list next week to help shore up the starting rotation. Benes has been on the 60-day disabled list with an arthritic right knee. On Monday, he allowed seven earned runs and six walks in a rehabilitation start for Class A Potomac. Benes' rehab assignment was scheduled to end Saturday, but the Cardinals thought it more important to make him available for next Tuesday's start against the Los Angeles Dodgers than to make another rehab start. He was with the team in San Diego before Friday night's game. ... Cardinals starter Woody Williams probably will be placed on the disabled list before Tuesday with a strained muscle in his left side. GM Walt Jocketty said Williams is expected to miss at least his next two starts, with Benes appearing in his place.

San Diego: The Padres, last in the NL West, welcomed back slugger Phil Nevin and made several other moves Friday as they started the second half in last place in the NL West. Nevin, who had been on an injury rehab assignment, was activated from the 15-day disabled list. Nevin missed 35 games because of a broken left arm. ... The Padres activated RHP Bobby Jones (5-4, 5.34 ERA) from the 15-day disabled list. He'll start Sunday against Bud Smith (0-5), who no-hit the Padres as a rookie on Sept. 3. ... San Diego also purchased the contract of RHP Tom Davey from Portland and put RHP Kevin Jarvis, the opening day starter, on the 60-day DL, three days after he had surgery to repair his right flexor tendon. ... LHP Eric Cyr was put on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 3, with left rotator-cuff tendinitis. ... INF D'Angelo Jimenez was traded to the Chicago White Sox for two minor leaguers, and the Padres acquired OF Brian Buchanan from the Minnesota Twins for minor league shortstop Jason Bartlett. ... Bench coach Rob Picciolo returned to the Padres on Friday. He'd been out since undergoing surgery on June 3 Monday to repair an aneurysm in his descending aorta.

Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Arizona: LHP Rick Helling, who sprained his right ankle in a July 2 game against the Dodgers, was scratched from Saturday's start. LHP Brian Anderson was shifted from Sunday to Saturday, with RHP Miguel Batista starting Sunday's series finale against the Dodgers. ... Closer Byung-Hyun Kim recorded his 23rd save Thursday night despite having lost a tooth. But his dentist was in Los Angeles for the series and no doubt will be thrust into action. "A little toothache pain keeps you sharp, keeps you focused,'' manager Bob Brenly said. "I may have all their teeth pulled if they can pitch like BK.'' ... RHP Mike Fetters, acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh last month, is glad to get a chance to help the Diamondbacks try to overtake the Dodgers in the NL West. "I'll be happy to get to the postseason, no matter who's in our way,'' said Fetters.

Los Angeles: The Dodgers activated C Chad Kreuter from the 15 day disabled list and optioned C David Ross to Triple A Las Vegas. Kreuter was sidelined since June 25 because of a bruised lower leg ... RHP Darren Dreifort had an "excellent'' bullpen session Friday, manager Jim Tracy said, adding that the next step for Dreifort is pitching in simulated games as he recovers from last July's elbow surgery. "We're getting closer to that,'' Tracy said. ... RHP pitcher Kevin Brown, who underwent surgery for a herniated disk in his back a month ago, has begun playing catch but is not expected to throw off the mound for at least a couple more weeks. The Dodgers' ace hopes to pitch again this season. ... Going into Friday night's game against Arizona, Los Angeles had averaged 5.22 runs a game in their last 49 games. They had a 32-17 record over that stretch. Rockies at Giants
Colorado: Going into Friday night's game against the Giants, LHP Mike Hampton was 12-1 with a 3.29 ERA record against San Francisco. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only three other pitchers have higher winning percentages against a single team, with a minimum of 10 appearances: Randy Johnson, who is 10-0 against the Cubs, Pedro Martinez, 10-0 against Seattle and Jamie Moyer, 13-1 against Baltimore. Walker's only loss against the Giants came in San Francisco last July 18. ... Walker is the active leader among pitchers with nine home runs. He has hit two this season. Andy Benes is second with seven. ... RHP John Thomson, set to start Saturday against the Giants, has not walked a batter in eight starts. He has walked just 20 batters -- three intentional -- overall.

San Francisco: OF Barry Bonds and C Benito Santiago were back in the lineup Friday night after getting a day off to recuperate from their All-Star appearances. ... Last July 12, in the first game after the All-Star break, Bonds hit his 40th home run. It came off Paul Abbott of the Mariners in a 4-3 San Francisco loss. ... RHP Jason Schmidt, scheduled to start Saturday against the Rockies, is 2-0 with a 1.55 ERA in his last five starts at home. Schmidt is 5-0 with a 5.03 ERA against the Rockies in his last 10 appearances, eight of which were starts. ... The Giants have won four of five against Colorado after a five-game losing streak. ... In their last 35 games, the Giants have hit .289, raising their overall average from .251 to .267, third best in the National League.