FRIDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Cory Lidle Makes his emphatic bid to stay in Athletics' rotation. IP H R K 9 1 0 6 Hero of the day Tim Salmon had a monster game for the Angels, just when they needed it. Anaheim beat Seattle 15-3, thanks in large part to Salmon's 5-for-5, five RBI effort. Salmon had a home run and scored three times as the Angels cut Seattle's AL West lead to three games. Goat of the day The umpiring crew in the Mets' 4-2 win over the Reds. It might have been a different story if the right call had been made on a bases-loaded flyball that bounced off the wall before settling in Timo Perez's glove. It was ruled an out, but Perez -- who through out a runner for an inning-ending double play -- admitted it shouldn't have been. Injury report Yankees right fielder Raul Mondesi didn't play after being hospitalized Thursday with shortness of breath. He is expected to join the team Saturday. Indians OF Milton Bradley left the game in the seventh inning with a strained right hamstring. He is day-to-day. Meanwhile, Cleveland 1B Jim Thome didn't start with stiffness in his lower back. Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins was a late scratch from the starting lineup against the Braves because of a left thumb injury. He was hurt last Saturday and feels pain while hitting right-handed. Brewers CF Alex Sanchez did not play against the Rockies after straining his oblique muscle against Houston on Thursday night. Diamondbacks RHP Rick Helling, who had been scheduled to start Saturday night, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle, retroactive to Tuesday. The Padres plan to put C Wiki Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained quad. Streak of the day The Rangers' streak of 21 straight games with a home run ended four short of the MLB record, but Texas did keep alive its losing streak, which stretched to a season-high seven games. Stat of the day Anaheim beat Seattle for just the seventh time in 28 games and ended a 12-game home losing streak to the Mariners. The Angels, who closed to within three games of the AL West-leading M's, trailed Seattle by 21 games at this point last season. Angels starter Ramon Ortiz didn't allow a homer for the second in his last 15 starts -- he has given up a major league-worst 28 homers this year. The last word "Yes, it hit the wall.'' -- Mets outfielder Timo Perez, admitting through an interpreter that his bases-loaded "catch" against the Reds was, in fact, trapped and a missed call. The Mets won 4-2.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Devil Rays at Blue Jays
Tampa Bay: LHP Joe Kennedy made his first start since a seven-game suspension for throwing at Toronto's Ken Huckaby on June 6. ... RHP Luis De Los Santos will make his major league debut for the Devil Rays on Saturday. A former prospect in the Yankees organization, De Los Santos is recovering from two major operations since 1999. He had elbow surgery and knee surgery. De Los Santos went 6-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 18 games, including 11 starts with Triple-A Durham this season. Toronto: Manager Carlos Tosca gave rookie 3B Eric Hinske the day off because they faced a tough left-hander in Joe Kennedy. "He's got a chance to be one of the top left-handers in the league,'' Tosca said. "He knows how to pitch.'' ... A win against the Devil Rays would give the Blue Jays a 21-21 record since Tosca took over from the fired Buck Martinez on June 3. "We've been playing good,'' Tosca said. "Our starting pitching has helped. Vernon Wells and Eric Hinske know they are major leaguers now. Ken Huckaby has emerged to become our everyday catcher.'' ... Huckaby, a 31-year-old rookie, is hitting .308 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 36 games. He has caught all three Blue Jays shutouts this season.

Red Sox at Yankees
Boston: RHP Dustin Hermanson, on the disabled list since early April with a right groin strain, might be activated Saturday. ... The Red Sox came into the weekend series 7-4 against the Yankees this season, including 4-1 in one-run games. RHP Ugueth Urbina had saved four of Boston's seven wins. ... RHP Pedro Martinez entered 7-6 career against the Yankees. ... The Red Sox came in 12-12 in their last 24 road games after starting the season 20-4 away from home. ... Martinez, RHP Derek Lowe and RHP John Burkett entered a combined 30-3 against the American League. ... OF Manny Ramirez, who grew up just a few miles from Yankee Stadium, came in hitting .321 with 15 homers and 42 RBI lifetime at Yankee Stadium. New York: RF Raul Mondesi was hospitalized overnight because of shortness of breath and released Friday, but he was not with the team. "My understanding is, he is now home resting,'' general manager Brian Cashman said. "We don't expect him here tonight. We thought he might be, but he needs to rest up and regroup.'' Tests on Mondesi were negative. He was expected to rejoin the team Saturday afternoon. "I don't have a direct explanation. Whatever it was, it resolved itself quickly,'' team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon said. "I don't think it's much of a concern.''

Twins at Tigers
Minnesota: OF Torii Hunter was suspended for three games and fined Friday for throwing a ball at Cleveland's Danys Baez. Hunter decided not to challenge the penalty and will start serving the suspension on Saturday. "This will be Torii's All-Star break,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ... RHP Joe Mays will make his first start Saturday since he faced Detroit April 14. Mays, who is 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA this year, made four rehab starts after being sidelined with muscle and tendon inflammation in his right elbow. "I wasn't holding back,'' Mays said. "I was releasing the ball naturally and I felt like I was getting the results I needed to get.'' ... RHP Brad Radke began his rehab assignment Friday afternoon in the Gulf Coast League and gave up three hits and had four strikeouts over three innings. Radke, who is 4-2 with a 5.23 ERA this season, will make another rehab start on Wednesday. He has been on the DL twice this season, for the first time in his career, with a pulled right groin. Detroit: When the Tigers sent RHP Jose Paniagua to Triple-A Toledo and recalled LHP pitcher Jamie Walker on Friday, they knew Paniagua had 72 hours to accept the assignment or choose to be a free agent. "It's up to him because he's been in the big leagues for three years,'' Tigers manager Luis Pujols said. The Tigers acquired Paniagua, who was 4-3 with Seattle last season, from Colorado on March 25 to help the bullpen, but he hasn't. Paniagua is 0-1 with a 6.19 ERA in 35 games with the Tigers. ... 3B Chris Truby was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, but his ribs are still sore. "I took some swings today and I've been taking some ground balls and throwing,'' Truby said Friday. "It's just a matter of when the discomfort leaves.'' Pujols hopes to send Truby on a rehab assignment in Toledo next week.

White Sox at Orioles
Chicago: CF Kenny Lofton opened Friday's game with his 100th career homer. He's hit 23 leading off a game, including three this season. He also led off Thursday's game against Kansas City with a home run. ... 1B-DH Frank Thomas, moved to sixth from his customary third in the batting order last Saturday, is showing signs he's regained the swing that helped him win the 1997 batting title and two league MVP awards. "He's always worked hard at his craft,'' manager Jerry Manuel said before Fridays game. Thomas reached base 10 of 15 times through Thursday. ... The White Sox played their AL-high 51st road game Friday. ... Chicago's 5-3 loss to Kansas City on Thursday left the White Sox 4-18 in their last 18 games decided by two runs or less. Baltimore: 1B Jay Gibbons learned Friday that the inflammation in his sore right wrist was caused by a stitch that had not dissolved following last summer's operation on his hamate bone. "I'm happy. Everything is structurally sound,'' said Gibbons, who was in the starting lineup after receiving a shot to deaden the pain. ... OF Luis Matos, called up Wednesday from Triple-A Rochester, was still waiting for his first start. But Howie Clark, who was called up from Rochester on Monday, received a fourth straight start after hitting .364 in his first three games. ... 1B Jeff Conine has come to the realization that he's going to need at least a few games on a rehabilitation assignment before coming off the disabled list. Conine strained his hamstring on June 14th and reinjured it after the All-Star break. "I'm not going to embarrass myself or the team by going out there and looking like a fool,'' he said. ... Melvin Mora, who tied a major league record by being hit by a pitch three times in a game Thursday, has been hit a team-high 13 times this season. "I'm a magnet for the baseball,'' he said. ... Orioles broadcaster Mike Flanagan was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame on Friday. The former major leaguer spent 1{ years in Rochester, going 19-5 in 34 games.

Indians at Royals
Cleveland: With the expected departure of Chuck Finley in a trade, the Indians sent Jason Phillips (1-1, 3.95) to the mound Friday. Phillips is making the third start of his major league career. He was signed as a minor league free agent in 2001 after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He spent 10 seasons in the Pirates organization. He was called up from Triple-A Buffalo July 6 where he was 6-4 with a 3.13 ERA. ... Jaret Wright, who was scheduled to pitch the second game of Saturday's doubleheader for the Indians, will pitch the first game instead of Phillips. Charles Nagy will pitch the second game. ... The Indians came into action Friday with a three-game losing streak, despite scoring four or more runs in each of the three losses. Kansas City: Kansas City's seven-game winning streak is the club's longest since the Royals won seven straight from June 10-16, 1995. The Royals have won eight straight games eight times in their history, the last time Sept. 2-8, 1985. ... The Royals are 7-2 on their current 13-game, 11-day homestand, the longest of the season. ... Saturday's doubleheader is a result of a rainout on the Indians first trip to Kansas City in May. ... The Royals starters have a combined ERA of 3.83 since June 19, when John Cumberland took over as pitching coach. Prior to Cumberland's arrival, the starters combined for a 5.24 ERA.

Mariners at Angels
Seattle: With the Mariners and St. Louis leading their divisions, there is a possibility of a World Series rematch between managers Lou Piniella and Tony La Russa, whose Oakland A's were swept by Piniella's Cincinnati Reds in 1990. "We were eliminated in the playoffs a day after the Cardinals in each of the last two years,'' Piniella said. "I was rooting for them more than Tony was. The last time I saw him, I told him, 'You're my black cat.''' ... CF Mike Cameron had struck out a league-leading 102 times entering Friday, his sixth straight season with at least 100. Last year he had 155, fourth-most in the league behind Jim Thome, Ben Grieve and Troy Glaus. ... Ichiro Suzuki, who entered Friday with a league-leading .357 average, has been intentionally walked 19 times -- the most in the AL and six shy of the club record set in 1993 by Ken Griffey Jr. Suzuki drew only 10 intentional walks last season, when he won the batting title and was named MVP and rookie of the year. ... The Mariners are 14-0 when their pitching staff doesn't walk anyone. Anaheim: It's going to be a tough weekend for the Angels against Seattle for more than the obvious reasons. Closer Troy Percival is on the DL with an infected abrasion in his left Achilles. C Bengie Molina, who has the best percentage in the AL at throwing out runners trying to steal, is on the DL with a strained left hamstring -- which will prevent him from testing his arm against a Mariners offense that leads the AL in stolen bases. ... RHP Al Levine is expected to be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, after being sidelined with tendinitis in his shoulder. ... The Angels entered Friday leading the AL with a .986 fielding percentage and only 50 errors in 94 games, the second-fewest in the majors to Houston's 43. ... CF Darin Erstad, in a 1-for-20 spell, returned to the lineup Friday after missing three games because of an infected blood blister on his left foot.

Rangers at Athletics
Texas: The Rangers shuffled their pitching staff on Friday, promoting RHPs Aaron Myette and Reynaldo Garcia from Triple-A Oklahoma and sending right-handers Anthony Telford and Colby Lewis back to the RedHawks. Myette got his second start of the season against Oakland on Friday night, while Garcia prepared for his major league debut out of the bullpen. Telford, who couldn't be optioned back to Triple-A, agreed to the outright assignment. ... Myette was inserted into Dave Burba's spot in the rotation. Burba, who's 4-4 with a 4.98 ERA, was bumped to the bullpen on Tuesday, and he appeared in relief against the Twins on Wednesday. ... Closer Hideki Irabu was released from a Kansas City hospital five days after being diagnosed with a series of small blood clots in his lungs. Irabu was hospitalized after complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath Monday night. Irabu, who leads the Rangers with 16 saves, returned to Arlington for an examination. Oakland: It was Asian Community Night at the Coliseum, and about 20 dancers and performers warmed up on the field before the game. They were soon joined by Tim Hudson and David Justice, who laughingly went through the warmups with the dancers. ... Cory Lidle might have been pitching for his spot in the rotation on Friday night. Lidle, who won 13 games last season, had won just once in his previous 12 starts. He had been the only blemish on the A's otherwise formidable starting rotation, which added Ted Lilly shortly before the All-Star break. Manager Art Howe left Lidle in the rotation at the expense of promising rookie Aaron Harang, but Howe's patience with Lidle was ebbing. "Every start is critical for us,'' Howe said. "We evaluate every start every day.'' ... Thursday night's victory put the A's a season-high 16 games over .500 for the second time this season. In 2001, the A's won 102 games and finished 42 games above .500. To repeat the feat, Oakland would need to go 46-20 over its final 66 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Astros at Cubs
Houston: Houston starter Nelson Cruz didn't feel any lingering effects from the muscle spasm that forced him out of Monday's start after just two innings. "I was feeling a little stiffness the first two innings. After that, everything went back to normal. It loosened up,'' Cruz said. But manager Jimy Williams wasn't taking any chances, lifting Cruz in the sixth inning after he'd thrown 94 pitches. "I think he wanted to stay in, but I just wanted to make sure he stays healthy,'' Williams said. ... After the game, the Astros recalled RHP Kirk Saarloos from Triple-A New Orleans. Saarloos will start Saturday's game against the Cubs. ... After going 8-for-16 with nine RBI in two games at Milwaukee, Houston's "Killer Bs'' -- Craig Biggio, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman -- were 3-for-12 Friday. ... The Astros are now 5-4 since the All-Star break. Chicago: Though Mark Prior wanted a chance at his first complete game, manager Bruce Kimm pulled him after the eighth inning. Prior had thrown 114 pitches, his third-highest total in 11 starts. "With Mark, you've got to keep him healthy,'' pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We're going to err on the side of caution.'' ... The Cubs have won six of their eight games since the All-Star break. "We have a very good team here,'' Moises Alou said. "It's not too late. We're playing good and hopefully we can get hot. And the teams on hot can go cold.'' ... Players' union chief Don Fehr is expected to visit the Cubs sometime in the next two weeks to give the team an update on labor negotiations. "A strike date has not been talked about, we've not been asked to vote on a strike date,'' said Joe Girardi, the Cubs player representative. "I'm still hopeful that the deal's going to get done and we won't ever have to worry about it.'' ... Girardi, who went on the disabled list Wednesday for the first time since 1994 because of a strained muscle in his rib cage, said he's feeling better. "Tuesday, it was really sore when I played,'' he said. "When I went out for BP. I thought it would go away but it didn't go away. But when you only play once or twice a week, you don't give up your days.''

Expos at Marlins
Montreal: Vladimir Guerrero entered the weekend with seven homers in his previous eight games. ... Cliff Floyd returns to south Florida to face his former teammates with the Expos in town for a three-game series against Florida. "I don't think it will be all that emotional,'' said Floyd, who was traded to Montreal July 11. "I just want to do well there and help us get some victories.'' ... The Expos are seeing just how durable newly-acquired pitcher Bartolo Colon can be. Colon tossed his second straight complete-game on Thursday, throwing 134 pitches in a 2-1 win. "He's a winner,'' Montreal manager Frank Robinson said. "With him, it's 'Give me the ball and let's get the next guy.' You ask me if he's an ace. I'm not concerned about that. He's an outstanding pitcher who never quits.'' Florida: The latest trade rumors have the Red Sox showing interest in Marlins OF Kevin Millar and 1B Derrek Lee. ...The Marlins lead the NL in two undesirable categories -- runners left on base (730) and strikeouts (692). ... Manager Jeff Torborg offers one explanation as to why the club has lost eight straight heading into the weekend -- opposing pitchers. Among the pitchers the Marlins have faced during their recent slide are Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine of the Braves, Al Leiter of the Mets and Kerry Wood of the Cubs. Said Millar: "In five of the last seven games we have faced aces. Atlanta has the best staff in baseball. They make all their pitches.''

Braves at Phillies
Atlanta: The Braves entered the weekend with a franchise record 20 straight non-losing series (16-0-4). ... 2B Mark DeRosa was in the starting lineup for the first time since coming off the DL on Wednesday. He suffered torn tissue in his right ankle running the bases on May 17. DeRosa's visit to Philadelphia was sort of a homecoming: he was the starting quarterback for the University of Pennsylvania football team from 1993-95. ... Going into the game, the Braves were 14-1 on Fridays.... Saturday's starter Jason Marquis has a career-best six wins. Philadelphia: The Phillies will honor Tony Taylor and the late Rube Walberg on Saturday with induction into the Wall of Fame. Taylor played a club record 1,003 games at second base for the Phillies. Walberg, a southpaw, posted a 134-114 record in 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. ... Jason Michaels made his sixth start of the season in center field. He is one of four different starting center fielders used by the Phillies this year. ... The Phillies have lost six of their last eight series at home. ... OF Jeremy Giambi (nine home runs) is averaging a homer every 9.8 at-bats since being acquired from Oakland on May 25. ... Saturday's starter Terry Adams is 0-1 with a 13.09 ERA in his last three starts. During the span, the right-hander has walked 12 batters in 11 innings.

Cardinals at Pirates
St. Louis: OF J.D. Drew had an RBI double Thursday against San Francisco, but was out of the Cardinals' lineup Friday night in Pittsburgh for the fifth time in seven days. The Cardinals are trying to keep from playing Drew on consecutive days because of his knee tendinitis. ... The Cardinals spent only 42 hours in St. Louis during a two-game homestand against the Giants. The team was in town for so little time, manager Tony La Russa didn't bother unpacking his suitcase before a seven-game trip to Pittsburgh and San Francisco. ... Travis Smith, who starts Saturday night in Pittsburgh, is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts since his June 27 recall from Triple-A Memphis. Smith was called up following Darryl Kile's death June 22. Pittsburgh: OF Armando Rios, currently on a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Nashville, isn't close to returning to the Pirates. Rios hasn't played for the Pirates since early June because of knee and calf injuries. Manager Lloyd McClendon said, "It's still going to take some time. He's been out a long time now. It's almost another spring training situation for him.'' ... With starters Kip Wells, Josh Fogg and Jimmy Anderson already well over the 100-innings mark and Kris Benson still recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, McClendon may go to a six-man rotation later this season. The obvious candidate to join the rotation would be right-hander Sean Lowe, unless the Pirates swing a deal before the July 31 trading deadline. McClendon said, "We'll do what we have to do to keep our pitching healthy. I think we learned (during a 100-loss season) last year how important starting pitching is.''

Mets at Reds
New York: IF/OF Joe McEwing was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 14, with a left ribcage strain. His roster spot was filled by IF Marco Scutaro, who was recalled from Norfolk of the International League. Scutaro was batting .336 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBI for the Triple-A Tides. He began the year in the Milwaukee Brewers system and was claimed off waivers on April 5. While with Norfolk, Scutaro played 43 games at second base, 24 games at shortstop, seven games at third base and one game in the outfield. ... Mike Bacsik, who will start for the Mets on Saturday, is 2-0 in two starts since being called up from Norfolk on July 5, including a complete-game seven-hitter his last time out. "I can go deep into a game, and I'll probably have more of a chance to do that in the major leagues than in the minor leagues,'' Bacsik said. "In the major leagues, they're interested in winning games; in the minor leagues, the emphasis is on developing players.'' Cincinnati: Manager Bob Boone went with a pinch-hitter rather than a 12th pitcher, and the Reds recalled OF Brady Clark from Triple-A Louisville to fill the roster opening left by the placement of Joey Hamilton on the 15-day DL on Wednesday. "This gives us another bat off the bench,'' Boone said. "I thought we were all right for the weekend in pitching, and when Junior comes back, he'll take a position player's spot.'' Ken Griffey Jr. went on the 15-day DL effective June 24 with a strained right hamstring. It had been thought that following the All-Star game he would skip the trip to Houston but rejoin the team this week in Milwaukee or Pittsburgh. But Boone said he was not counting on Griffey to be activated before Monday, when the Reds continue their homestand with the Pirates. ... RHR Jose Silva, on the DL since June 28 with a sore right shoulder, was sent to Louisville of International League for rehab assignment.

Brewers at Rockies
Milwaukee: Manager Jerry Royster has many recollections of his one-year stay with the Rockies, but none better than opening day in 1993. "I'd never seen anything like it, but I missed shaking hands with Eric Young when he rounded third base after his home run,'' Royster said. "I didn't get there to the coaching box until the third inning because I was away for my grandmother's funeral, so Don Zimmer was their to shake EY's hand. When I got there I couldn't believe there were over 80,000 people in the park.'' ... The Brewers have been outscored 73-42 in the first inning of games. "You get that with a young pitching staff,'' Royster said. "Glendon Rusch and Jamey Wright are my veteran starters and they are 27 years old.'' Also contributing to their woes is a lack of run production. Milwaukee is hitting .129 (8-for-62) with runners in scoring position and .091 (2-for-22) with a runner on third base while scoring three or fewer runs in seven of eight games since the All-Star game. ... RHP Nick Neugebauer threw a bullpen session on Friday. Neugebauer went on the DL on May 11 (rotator cuff tendinitis right shoulder) has been eligible to come off since May 26. "He's close to going out on a rehab assignment,'' Royster said. "I hope to have him back in five or six starts.'' Colorado: LHP Kent Mercker threw 46 pitches without pain to live hitters before batting practice. Mercker has been on the DL since June 6 after having surgery for a laceration and broken little finger of his left hand. "The hand, elbow and shoulder all felt great, and I was able to do everything I need to do in a game,'' Mercker said. "My main concern was how my elbow and shoulder would feel and they haven't gotten sore yet.'' Mercker is scheduled to throw again on Sunday, but manager Clint Hurdle said he isn't close to returning yet. ... Despite beating the Diamondbacks 6-4 Thursday night, Hurdle said he is still looking for his team to put it all together. "My challenge to our ballclub is to go out there and put together a complete ballgame, which we still have not done,'' Hurdle said. "Yesterday we won a ballgame, but it wasn't a complete ballgame. I'm still looking for that day we go out and pitch real well, we hit real well and we play real good defense.'' ... Hurdle said he has enjoyed 2B Brent Butler's development over the past few months. "It's fun watching the way he approaches the game. He's very conscientious. He doesn't take anything for granted. He pays attention, he takes instruction. He plays three positions, he has just enough thump in his bat to be dangerous and he can hit the ball the other way.''

Giants at Dodgers
San Francisco: The Giants opened the season with a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Then the Dodgers won two of three at Pacific Bell Park. ... None of the Giants had faced Dodgers LHP Kazuhisa Ishii prior to Friday night, although CF Tsuyoshi Shinjo faced 89 pitches from Ishii when both played in Japan. ... Manager Dusty Baker needs one win to become the third Giants manager with 800 career victories. John McGraw (2,604 wins) and Bill Terry (823) are the only managers in club history with more. ... Baker tweaked his lineup Friday, starting Ramon Martinez at first base instead of J.T. Snow in order to face Ishii. Los Angeles: RHP Kevin Brown will throw off the mound Monday in Los Angeles, when the rest of the team begins a three-game series in San Diego. Brown is on the disabled list after undergoing back surgery in June. ... RHP Darren Dreifort threw 41 pitches in a simulated game Friday. "The plan is he will do a couple more simulated games,'' manager Jim Tracy said. "Where we go from there, we'll see how he does.'' Tracy said Dreifort will do a rehabilitation assignment before rejoining the team. ... Los Angeles has had no extra-base hits in consecutive games for the first time this season. The team is 3-10 in games in which it hasn't had an extra base hit.

Diamondbacks at Padres
Arizona: RHP Rick Helling, who had been scheduled to start Saturday night, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right ankle. The move was retroactive to Tuesday. Helling (7-8) had lost three straight starts. He hurt his ankle July 2 in a collision with Los Angeles' Brian Jordan while covering home plate. RHP John Patterson was recalled from Triple-A Tucson and is scheduled to make his major league debut in place of Helling on Saturday night. INF Greg Colbrunn was also put on the DL, with a strained right calf, retroactive to Thursday. 2B Jay Bell was recalled from his minor league rehab assignment and activated from the 60-day disabled list. Bell has missed the entire season with a torn right calf muscle. He had been on a rehab assignment with Class A Lancaster. To make room for Bell on the 40-man roster, LHP Erik Sabel was designated for assignment. San Diego: C Wiki Gonzalez missed his second straight game after his wife gave birth to their first child, a boy. Gonzalez was due at the ballpark, though. He missed Thursday night's game at Los Angeles to be with his wife. ... LHP Kevin Walker made his first rehab appearance on Thursday night, throwing one perfect inning and striking out two for Class A Lake Elsinore against Lancaster. He threw 12 pitches. Walker had reconstructive elbow surgery on Aug. 2.