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Thursday, July 18
 
Thursday's Around the Horn

ESPN.com

THURSDAY'S TIDBITS

Line of the Day

Matt Morris
Shut down the Giants to win for the first time in five starts.

IP H R K
8 81 8

Hero of the day
Jason LaRue hit a grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning to cap a five-run burst that carried the Reds to a 7-5 win over the Pirates.

Goat of the day
Brian Boehringer took the loss against the Reds in relief, giving up five earned runs on three hits and three walks over 2/3 an inning.

Injury report

  • Indians 1B Jim Thome left in the seventh with tightness in his back.

  • Indians 3B Travis Fryman didn't start for the fifth straight game with a sore right shoulder.

  • Detroit C Brandon Inge was scratched with a bad back and is day-to-day.

  • Kansas City 1B Mike Sweeney missed his sixth straight game with stiffness in his lower back.

  • Milwaukee CF Alex Sanchez suffered a strained left oblique muscle while taking a pitch leading off the fifth. He's day-to-day.

    Streak of the day
    Boston's Johnny Damon has not committed an error in 213 consecutive games, which leads all major league outfielders.

    Stat of the day
    Orioles outfielder Melvin Mora was hit by a pitch three times in a loss to the Blue Jays, tying a major league record with 21 others.

    The last word
    "Sometimes a pat on the back is a lot better than a slap on the butt and there is only 3 feet difference. I know he is going to play here for a long time so I have to pick my spots when I go to the whip and when I encourage. I have been doing a lot of encouraging lately.''
    -- Rockies skipper Clint Hurdle on struggling shortstop Juan Uribe, who broke an 0-for-26 slump with a two-run single that helped beat the Diamondbacks.

  • AMERICAN LEAGUE
    Orioles at Blue Jays
    Baltimore: Manager Mike Hargrove missed Thursday's game to attend a memorial service for Jim Warfield, the longtime Cleveland trainer who died Tuesday. Warfield died after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Hargrove, a friend for nearly 30 years, spent 21 seasons with the Indians as a player, coach and manager. Bench coach Sam Perlozzo managed the team Thursday. Hargrove will rejoin the team on Friday. ... Wednesday's game was the first meeting of the season for Toronto and Baltimore. The divisional rivals play 19 times a year, and compose over 20 percent of each other's remaining schedules.

    Toronto: INF Chris Woodward is now the everyday SS after Felipe Lopez was optioned to Triple A-Syracuse. The 26-year-old Woodward entered Thursday's game hitting .293 with four home runs and eight RBI in 29 games. He has received more playing time since manager Carlos Tosca replaced the fired Buck Martinez on June 3. "We think he can be our shortstop for a very long time,'' Tosca said. Woodward, drafted in the 54th round in 1994, was thrilled to become an everyday player after spending parts of the last four seasons as a utility infielder. "I was really hoping that these guys would look at me as an everyday player,'' Woodward said. "I had my doubts. They've given me a chance now and I have to take advantage of it.'' Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said he doesn't regret trading SS Cesar Izturis, who is starting for the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The guy is hitting .230 with a .270 on base percentage,'' Ricciardi said. "He catches the ball real well. I just have serious doubts if he's going to hit.'' ... Lopez struggled this season after being made the everyday SS in spring training after Alex Gonzalez was traded to the Chicago Cubs. "We think Lopez is a very talented player that was probably rushed to the majors,'' Tosca said. "Shame on us for having tried to rush him.''

    Tigers at Yankees
    Detroit: OF George Lombard went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts but manager Luis Pujols didn't consider pinch-hitting for him. "I can't panic because he's had a tough day,'' Pujols said. "I need to show confidence.'' ... LHP Mike Maroth allowed four runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings and got a no-decision. "I thought he pitched OK,'' Pujols said. "He lost his command in that inning where he got up to about 70 pitches.'' ... C Brandon Inge was scratched with a bad back and is day to day. ... 1B Dmitri Young and OF Jacob Cruz underwent surgery Wednesday in Detroit. Young had hernia surgery and is expected to miss six weeks. Cruz had bone chips removed from his left elbow and will miss the rest of the season.

    New York: Derek Jeter wasn't offended that the Tigers intentionally walked Alfonso Soriano to load the bases in front of him in the eighth inning. "I would have walked him, too,'' Jeter said. The move paid off when Jeter grounded out to end the inning. ... RHP Jeff Weaver is excited to see the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry up close this weekend for the first time. Weaver said there was nothing like it when he played for Detroit. "This is the stage you want to perform on,'' said Weaver, who is scheduled to start Sunday. "These are the pressure games you want to succeed at. It's a challenge.'' ... The Yankees signed former top prospect Ryan Bradley to a minor league contract and assigned him to Class A Tampa. ... Tom Nieto coached first base for the Yankees in place of Lee Mazzilli, who missed the game for personal reasons.

    Twins at Indians
    Minnesota: With their 8-6 win over the Indians on Thursday, the Twins opened an 11-game lead in the AL Central. It's Minnesota's largest lead during a season since Sept. 24, 1969. "I'm not even looking at that stuff,'' CF Torii Hunter said. "We can't worry about it. We got comfortable last year and it cost us. Anything can happen.'' The Twins had a six-game lead at the All-Star break last season and finished the season six games out. ... Four relievers combined for six shutout innings in Thursday's win, yet another strong out for Minnesota's bullpen. "You know you can go to them and have a good chance of shutting an opponent down,'' said manager Ron Gardenhire. "The good teams have that. Our bullpen has been unbelievable.'' ... RHP Bob Wells, recovering from elbow surgery, allowed one hit -- a home run -- during a one-inning rehab stint at Triple-A Edmonton on Wednesday. ... The Twins do not expect to sign OF Denard Span, their first round pick, in time for him to play to this season. Span's agents have been in discussions with the club but so far have been unable to work out a deal. Span, from Tampa, Fla., was taken with the 20th pick overall.

    Cleveland: With Thursday's loss, the Indians are 10 games under .500 (42-52) for the first time since the end of the 1993 season. Cleveland's 12½-game deficit in the AL Central is its largest since the Indians finished 19 out in '93. ... The sixth blown save by Cleveland's bullpen dropped the Indians to 34-7 when leading after six innings. They were 65-7 in 2001 when leading after six. ... Ellis Burks, who may be traded before the July 31 deadline, homered on Thursday and has seven in his last 18 games after hitting two in his previous 20. ... RHP Jaret Wright will be activated from the disabled list on Saturday to start the second game of a doubleheader in Kansas City. Wright hasn't started since June 21 last season. He has undergone two shoulder surgeries the past two years. ... 1B Jim Thome left Thursday's game in the seventh inning with tightness in his lower back. ... 3B Travis Fryman didn't start for the fifth straight game Thursday because of a sore shoulder.

    Red Sox at Devil Rays
    Boston: U.S. Senator John Glenn will be among those attending a tribute Monday night for Ted Williams at Fenway Park. Glenn and Williams served together as Marine fighter pilots during the Korean War. ... The Red Sox conclude an 11-game road trip with a three-game weekend series at the AL East-leading New York Yankees. "This is will be an exciting weekend,'' manager Grady Little said. "Everybody has a tendency to get up for those games (against the Yankees).'' ... RHP Dustin Hermanson (right groin strain) did not allow a hit over 1 1-3 relief innings for Triple-A Pawtucket. He could return as soon as Saturday. ... A roster move involving a position player might occur when Hermanson is activated because Little indicated he would prefer having 12 pitchers with a doubleheader scheduled for Tuesday. ... Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will start game 1 Tuesday against Tampa Bay. He said the thought of starting both games is in the back of his mind, but "that will never happen in this day.'' ... INF Carlos Baerga (left hamstring strain) will resume running Friday, and might return next Wednesday or Thursday.

    Tampa Bay: LHP Wilson Alvarez (left elbow) started his rehab at the team's minor league complex. In the final season of a $35 million, five-year contract, Alvarez hopes to pitch for somebody next year. "I'm not ready to retire,'' said Alvarez, who missed the past two years with a left rotator cuff injury. "I still have some game left in my arm.'' ... RHP Luis De Los Santos was selected from Triple-A Durham and will make his major league debut Saturday at Toronto. The former New York Yankees farmhand was 6-1 with a 2.30 ERA for Durham. "We're looking for starters, we're looking for help,'' manager Hal McRae said. "Hopefully he'll provide some.'' ... Top OF prospect Carl Crawford had his batting average drop under .300 -- to .299 -- for the first time since April 9 after going 1-for-4 Wednesday for Triple-A Durham. ... Unlike last season, there will be no major infusion of young players during the second half as Tampa Bay finished the 2001 season at 62-100. "I knew this year would be more difficult for the players,'' McRae said. They had to play 162 games instead of 60. The stakes are raised. That's the situation we're confronted with.''

    Mariners at Rangers
    Seattle: RF Ichiro Suzuki wasn't in the starting lineup Thursday, and it was a good night for manager Lou Pineilla to give him a break. Ichiro is a .143 career hitter (2-for-14) against Texas starter Kenny Rogers. ... 3B Jeff Cirillo finally got a hit, ending an 0-for-22 slump with an RBI single in the ninth inning Wednesday night at Texas that was his first hit since the All-Star break. But the career .305 hitter is still struggling. Going into Thursday night's game, Cirillo had just three hits his last 43 at bats (.070), dropping his season average from .260 to .233. He has batted over .300 in five of the last six seasons and his career low for a full season was .277 in 1995 with Milwaukee. ... LHP Norm Charlton hopes to be throwing off a mound again by Aug. 1, and hopes to return to the Mariners by Sept. 1. He threw more than 30 pitches on flat ground from 110 feet Wednesday. Charlton has been out all year after tearing his left rotator cuff and undergoing surgery in mid-January.

    Texas: OF Rusty Greer was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Thursday because of left elbow, neck, hip and back problems. He would be eligible to return Sept. 10, when the Rangers have just 19 games left. Greer has played only two games since making two great diving catches on June 2. He came off the 15-day DL last week, played one game, then went back on the DL. He has missed the end of the last two seasons because of injuries. If Greer doesn't play again this year, he will have missed 268 games over three seasons after missing just 50 games the previous four years. ... After his two-homer game Wednesday, Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez had 204 career homers -- 199 of them while catching. Carlton Fisk has the most homers while catching at 351, and Rodriguez is 10th on that list.

    White Sox at Royals
    Chicago: The White Sox were 14-5 against the Royals last year but the Royals lead the series 6-3 this season. In five appearances in Kansas City, including four starts, Buehrle is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA.

    Kansas City: 3B Joe Randa and All-Star 1B Mike Sweeney were both out again, Sweeney for the sixth straight day. Both said they hope to play on Friday. ... Three of Brandon Berger's seven career home runs have come off the White Sox. Byrd now has seven complete games in his career. When Aaron Guiel leads off, the Royals are 7-0.

    Angels at Athletics
    Anaheim: The Angels recalled C Jose Molina from Triple-A Salt Lake, and he was in the starting lineup. It's a big break for the career minor leaguer -- but it came at the expense of his older brother, Bengie, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hamstring. "Is Molina playing?'' a fan yelled at the Angels as they took the field for batting practice. ``Yes!'' one player yelled back. ... The idea of big crowds in Anaheim this weekend for the Angels' key three-game series against Seattle doesn't excite manager Mike Scioscia. "We compete the same way no matter what's going on,'' Scioscia said. "It'd be great to have a lot of fans, but that doesn't affect the way we prepare or compete.'' ... OF Darin Erstad wasn't expected to play for the third straight game because of an infected blood blister on top of his left foot. Scioscia hopes to have his starting center fielder in the lineup this weekend. "This doesn't look like it's anything that's going to be prolonged,'' Scioscia said.

    Oakland: The A's held a players-only meeting before the game. ... 3B Eric Chavez entered in a career-worst 0-for-25 slump. Extra video study and e-mails from his friends and family haven't helped. ``I'm at the stage where I don't know who I am as a hitter,'' Chavez said. ... The A's are a major league-best 19-6 in one-run games this season. Oakland is 17-8 in games decided in the seventh inning or later, and 14-4 in games decided in the last at-bat. ... LHP Ted Lilly got the first look at the retro uniforms the A's will wear when they play Texas on Saturday night. Lilly will pitch in the bright-yellow tops worn by Oakland's 1972 championship team, while the Rangers will wear old Washington Senators uniforms. Lilly whistled as he tried on his nearly fluorescent jersey.

    NATIONAL LEAGUE
    Marlins at Braves
    Florida: CF Preston Wilson nearly extended the game in the ninth, driving a pitch off John Smoltz deep into the right-field corner with the Marlins trailing 3-1. But Atlanta RF Gary Sheffield ran the ball down and made the catch, slamming against the wall in the process. "He made a great play, there's not a lot else you can say about it,'' Wilson said. "I didn't hit it high enough for the wind to carry it out.'' ... The Marlins were swept for the third straight series. They just completed a 0-7 road trip, their longest winless trip since they lost nine straight in 1998.

    Atlanta: After a brief two-game homestand, the Braves travel to Philadelphia and Florida for a six-game trip. ... RF Gary Sheffield went 0-for-3 and had a 10-game hitting streak stopped. 3B Vinny Castilla extended his hitting streak to seven games with a first-inning single. ... LHP Tom Glavine lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.55, just ahead of teammate Greg Maddux (2.59). ... RHP John Smoltz got his 20th straight save, one behind the club record of Mark Wohlers' set in 1995.

    Mets at Expos
    New York: LF Timo Perez and C Mike Piazza each had three hits as the Mets got to RHP Bartolo Colon for 13 hits but only had one run to show for it. ... 2B Edgardo Alfonzo's one-out RBI double in the eighth tied the game but the Mets failed to push across any more runs despite loading the bases in the eighth and ninth. ... New York left 13 runners on base as Montreal's 2-1 win ended the Mets' four-game winning streak. ... LHP Shawn Estes allowed six hits and one run in six innings as he remained winless in his last six starts. ... Mets rookie LHP Mike Bacsik will try for his third straight win in Cincinnati on Saturday. RHP Steve Trachsel, who has been eligible to be activated from the 15-day DL since Tuesday, will start against Montreal on Monday.

    Montreal: A crowd of 13,757 was on hand to see Colon pitch his second straight complete game. Colon scattered 13 hits as he threw 134 pitches to improve to 3-0 in four starts since he was acquired by the Expos from Cleveland on June 27. Colon, who remains tied for the AL lead with four complete games, allowed the most hits in a complete-game win since Jim Abbott allowed 13 and led the Chicago White Sox over the New York Yankees 9-4 on July 18, 1995. Jeff Fassero had a 13-hit complete-game loss for Seattle at the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 16, 1998. ... Colon is the first Expos pitcher to pitch consecutive complete games since July 1999, when RHP Javier Vazquez went the distance in consecutive starts against Pittsburgh and Chicago. ... RF Vladimir Guerrero homered for the third time in two games with one out in the eighth. Guerrero has hit seven of his 26 homers in eight games since the All-Star break. ... Guerrero's homer was the 107th of his career at home, moving him ahead of Gary Carter for the most at Olympic Stadium by any player. Carter hit 98 homers here for the Expos from 1977-84 and 1992, seven for the Mets from 1985-89 and one with Los Angeles in 1991. ... Montreal drew 117,655 to Olympic Stadium during its 3-5 homestand to boost home attendance to 432,516 and increase its per-game average from 8,427 to 9,496 during the homestand.

    Reds at Pirates
    Cincinnati: The Tigers are scouting the Reds, leading to speculation Cincinnati -- which needs another starter -- might be interested in Brian Moehler. The left-hander came off the disabled list earlier this month after being sidelined since April 2001. The Tigers are believed to be interested in several Reds prospects, including C Dane Sardinha, SS Rainer Olmedo and OF Wily Mo Pena. However, the Reds might be more inclined to wait until closer to the July 31 trading deadline to see if teams falling out of the race might want to deal. ... Manager Bob Boone's scouting report on the newly acquired Ryan Dempster isn't exactly a glowing one. Dempster, who lost 6-3 Wednesday in Pittsburgh, is 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA in two Cincinnati starts. Boone said, "He threw some good pitches, but he made a lot of mistakes in the strike zone ... just a lot of mistakes. He threw some breaking balls a little bit better, but he had flat fastballs that were up in the strikes zone that they were hitting.'' Boone also said there might be some mechanical flaws in Dempster's delivery.

    Pittsburgh: Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon was unhappy with an error given 2B Pokey Reese in a 6-3 victory Wednesday over Cincinnati, only Reese's second error this season. Reese was breaking toward second base when he couldn't come up with Austin Kearns' high-bounding grounder. McClendon said, "We're trying to get a Gold Glove for this guy ... that was a tough call.'' Reese won Gold Gloves with the Reds in 1999 and 2000. ... Because of speculation LHP Jimmy Anderson might be headed to the bullpen, McClendon called his outing Tuesday against the Reds, "The biggest win of this kid's career. He knew he was going to hear it if he didn't win.'' Anderson (7-10) limited the Reds to two runs in seven innings, only a couple of days after McClendon and general manager Dave Littlefield decided to keep him in the rotation. ... The 27-minute rain delay at the start of the Reds-Pirates game Thursday was the Pirates' 19th of the season -- 17 at PNC Park. The delay was the third in the Pirates' last two home stands and came in what otherwise has been a mostly rain-free month in Pittsburgh. The National Weather Service reported that less than two-tenths of an inch of rain fell during the first two weeks of the month.

    Cubs at Phillies
    Chicago: Umpires reviewed the final play of Philadelphia's 4-3 victory Wednesday night and ruled that Cubs 2B Mark Bellhorn never tagged Pat Burrell on Travis Lee's game-winning fielder's choice, meaning reliever Jeff Fassero, who took the loss, is credited with pitching 1-3 of an inning instead of 2-3. ... The Cubs are 6-3 under manager Bruce Kimm, who replaced Don Baylor. ... Catcher Mike Mahoney threw out Bobby Abreu trying to steal second in the first inning of his first career start. ... Sammy Sosa needs one homer to reach 30 for the ninth time in his career and Fred McGriff needs one more for his 15th 20-homer season.

    Philadelphia: The Phillies will wear 1980s-style uniforms starting Friday for their series against Atlanta, which will wear uniforms from 1974, the year Hank Aaron hit his 715th home run. ... Former 2B Tony Taylor will be inducted into the team's Wall of Fame on Saturday along with pitcher Rube Walberg of the Philadelphia A's. ... One of the runs charged to starter Robert Person on Wednesday night was changed to unearned. Person allowed three runs -- two earned -- in 5 2-3 innings. ... RHP David Coggin hasn't allowed a run in 10 innings. He has a 2.49 ERA in his last 14 games. ... LHP Dan Plesac has pitched five scoreless innings over his last seven appearances.

    Astros at Brewers
    Houston: Player representative Gregg Zaun said if he was going to believe any owner about claimed losses it would be Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr., "but it's hard for any players to believe what owners say when they won't open their books to an independent audit.'' McLane said Wednesday he has lost $106 million since buying the Astros and he will sell the team unless the economic structure of baseball is changed...RHP Kirk Saarloos will be recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to pitch against the Cubs in Chicago on Saturday. Saarloos made three starts in June after being called up from Double-A Round Rock. He was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA at New Orleans ... RHP Nelson Cruz will start Friday against the Cubs. Cruz was forced to leave Monday's game after only two innings when he suffered a muscle spasm in his neck.

    Milwaukee: CF Jeffrey Hammonds was not in the starting lineup Thursday for the second straight game after fouling a ball off his left ankle Tuesday. X-rays have shown that there is no fracture. Manager Jerry Royster said he wanted to rest Hammonds to get ready for the series this weekend at Colorado. ... 1B Richie Sexson had two singles and a double Thursday despite nagging tendinitis in his left hamstring. Royster said doctors have said that Sexson would need six weeks of rest for the hamstring to completely heal, but Sexson wants to continue to play. "My concern is the injury. If it looks like he could hurt himself more, I'll sit him down,'' Royster said. ... RHP Ben Sheets turned 24 Thursday ... CF Alex Sanchez was removed from the game in the fifth inning after he strained his left oblique muscle checking his swing. He is day to day.

    Giants at Cardinals
    St. Louis: J.D. Drew will not play Friday in Pittsburgh but he will play Saturday and possibly Sunday. He had tendinitis in his right knee and came off the disabled list last Saturday. ... Edgar Renteria went 9-for-10 against the Giants in the two-game homestand and is 13-for-21 in his last five games. "He's a key player,'' manager Tony La Russa said. "We get good production from Edgar. He's been hot. I hope he stays hot. He's a complete player.'' ... RHP Matt Morris sat out of the All-Star game with a sore back. He said it has healed. "It's much better now,'' Morris said. "Everybody has to put their piece in and when it's my turn, I want to be able to put my piece in.'' ... LHP Bud Smith will pitch against Pittsburgh's Joe Biemel in the series opener Friday.

    San Francisco: 2B Jeff Kent extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2-for-4 Thursday against the Cardinals. He also made his second error in as many days when he misplayed a ground ball by pinch-hitter Kerry Robinson in the eighth inning that allowed run to score. Kent dropped a throw from Robb Nen on a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning Wednesday. "He's probably tired,'' Giants manager Dusty Baker said. "He didn't get a whole lot of rest over the All-Star break. He's swinging the bat great. He'll be OK. He'll go on a streak where he won't make an error for a lot of games.'' ... LHP Chad Zerbe hit Placido Polanco and Jim Edmonds in the eighth inning Thursday to load the bases. When Albert Pujols flew out to end the inning, Edmonds said something to David Bell at third base. Both benches emptied but nothing happened. "I've never see Jim get like that,'' Baker said. "David told him not to worry about it and he went off again. Nobody hit anybody. I don't think there's anything between them.''

    Diamondbacks at Rockies
    Arizona: The Diamondbacks are in a hurry to return 2B Jay Bell to the major league roster. Bell, who has missed all 94 Arizona games due to a torn right calf muscle, remains with Class A Lancaster. "If needed, Jay is ready to go,'' manager Bob Brenly said. "Right now we are doing well without him and he will stay at Lancaster.'' ... 1B Erubiel Durazo appears closer to coming off the DL where he has been since June 30 with a strained right oblique muscle. He took batting practice Thursday and Brenly is considering a weekend rehab assignment. "I'd like him to get as many at-bats as possible on a rehab assignment, but haven't decided when to send him out,'' Brenly said. "He's shown no signs of pain and no restriction in his swing.'' ... OF Luis Gonzalez played in his 422nd consecutive game, the longest current streak in the major leagues.

    Colorado: LHP Kent Mercker will throw to hitters on Friday. Mercker has been on the DL since June 6 after fracturing the fifth metacarpal bone and lacerating his left hand fielding a ground ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The wait has been terrible because I would rather be out there good or bad,'' Mercker said. "I'd be better off on a secluded island.'' ... 3B Todd Zeile got a rare day off with a left-hander on the mound. Manager Clint Hurdle was quick to point out the move had nothing to do with Zeile's 0-for-4 night nor an error that started a two-run Arizona first inning on Wednesday. "I wanted to give him a blow and a mental pause,'' Hurdle said. "Fatigue wasn't a factor.'' ... SS Juan Uribe returned to the lineup after missing two games with a bruised left hand. ... Hurdle chose Juan Pierre in CF over Mark Little based on Pierre's success against Arizona starter Brian Anderson. Pierre is 4-for-10 with an RBI against Anderson. ... The Rockies went into Thursday without a home run in four straight home games. ... RHP John Thomson made his 100th start. Thomson joins Pedro Astacio (129) as the only two to start 100 games for Colorado. ... INF Greg Norton was activated from the DL before Thursday's game. Norton had been on the DL since July 1 with a strained right hamstring. OF Ross Gload was optioned to Colorado Springs. ... The Rockies claimed LHP Randy Flores on waivers from the Texas Rangers and optioned him to Colorado Springs. To make room for Flores on the 40-man roster, RHP Chuck Smith was given his unconditional release.

    Padres at Dodgers
    San Diego: C Wiki Gonzalez left Dodger Stadium about three hours before the game and went to the hospital, where his wife went into labor with the couple's first child. ... 1B Ryan Klesko has hit eight of his 17 home runs this season against left-handers. The 11-year veteran entered this season having connected for 16 of 179 homers off lefties, including four of 26 last season. ... Wednesday's 7-0 victory marked only the sixth time in a 54-game span that the Padres never trailed. ... The Padres' bullpen had allowed just one home run in its last 17 2-3 innings coming in. The starters had given up 73 of the 99 hit against the staff this season -- more than the entire totals of the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians. ... Mark Kotsay is hitting .339 in 27 starts in the leadoff spot. ... OF Bubba Trammell came in with three hits in 33 at-bats this month.

    Los Angeles: The Dodgers entered in a 1-7 tailspin, and some of their more superstitious personnel have pulled out all the stops. Clubhouse attendant Dave Dickinson is wearing his lucky jersey from the NHL All-Star game, which bears the name of Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic. LF Brian Jordan, whose 3-for-25 slump has dropped his average to .263, has started taking batting practice inside instead of on the field because he had more success early in the season with that routine. "I've been on four division champion teams, and I've seen it happen before,'' said Jordan, who came to the Dodgers from Atlanta in the Gary Sheffield trade. "I think everybody's just trying to carry the load themselves. I'm guilty of it, too. Being new here, I'm trying to hit the big home run and I'm just finding myself falling in a hole.'' ... One day after the Dodgers were shut out for an NL-worst 10th time, manager Jim Tracy tweaked his lineup slightly -- shifting Shawn Green from third to cleanup, Paul Lo Duca from second to third and Eric Karros from cleanup to fifth. "A very slight adjustment is all it is,'' Tracy said. "I don't want to make any more of it than that.'' ... RHP Darren Dreifort will pitch another simulated game Friday before the Dodgers open a three-game series with San Francisco.





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