SUNDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Johan Santana After getting pounded in his last two starts, Santana tossed a gem againt Toronto in a 4-0 victory. He allowed only two hits in eight innings. IP H ER K 8 2 0 13 Hero of the day Indians slugger Jim Thome hit a one-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Indians to a 9-6 victory over the Tigers. It was Thome's second grand slam of the year and seventh of his career. Goat of the day Rockies starter Mike Hampton couldn't protect a three-run lead and lost to the Brewers 5-3. He gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings to raise his ERA to 6.87. Goat of the day II Rangers reliever Dave Burba gave up eight earned runs and seven hits in a third of an inning in Texas' 12-2 loss to the Athletics. Injury report Reds shortstop Barry Larkin missed his second straight game with an injured lower right calf. He expects to play Tuesday and is day-to-day. Mets outfielder Jeromy Burnitz didn't start because of a bad shin. He pinch-hit in the seventh and popped out. Astros starter Wade Miller left after the fifth inning with right biceps fatigue. Rangers starter Ismael Valdes left after the sixth inning with a finger injury. Stat of the day Yankees third baseman Robin Ventura hit the 16th grand slam of his career in a 9-1 rout of the Devil Rays. He is tied for sixth all-time with Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Dave Kingman. Stat of the day II The Marlins recorded the first triple play in club history -- a span of 1,496 games -- against the Expos in a 4-1 loss. Streak of the day Braves outfielder Gary Sheffield failed to reach base in Atlanta's 7-1 loss to the Phillies to end his streak at 52 games. The last word "They hit Manny [Ramirez] and we take one and that's fine. I don't have a problem with that. But if you're [Derek Lowe] going to get upset and pop off at me because I'm trying to steal second, then I have a problem with that.'' -- Orioles outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. on the bench-clearing brawl with the Red Sox that caused him to be ejected.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Athletics-Rangers
OAKLAND: Oakland allowed 22 runs in the first two games of the three-game series against Texas, 12 on Friday night and 10 on Saturday night. A's pitchers hadn't allowed 10 or more runs in consecutive games since Aug. 9-11, 2000 when they did it in three straight. ... Since throwing back-to-back shutouts on July 18 and 19, the A's pitching staff have a 6.39 ERA and allowed opponents to hit .288 over the next seven games. Oakland won only two of those seven. ... A's pitchers gave up seven homers in the first two games of the series with the Rangers. Oakland allowed only eight home runs in the first 14 games after the All-Star break.

TEXAS: Alex Rodriguez's walkoff grand slam in the 10th inning on Saturday night was the third in team history. Buddy Bell (Aug. 31, 1984 vs. Milwaukee) and Oddibe McDowell (June 1, 1987 vs. Chicago White Sox) had the other game-winning grand slams. ... Saturday night's 10-6 victory was Texas' first extra-inning win of the season at home. That made the Rangers 3-9 in extra innings for the season. ... Carl Everett had three homers during a span of four at-bats on Friday and Saturday nights after hitting only two homers over 133 at-bats entering the weekend series with Oakland.

Tigers-Indians
DETROIT: Manager Luis Pujols said he will keep RHP Juan Acevedo in the closer's role. Acevedo blew his fourth save in 23 chances this season when he yielded five runs, including a grand slam to Jim Thome, in the ninth inning Sunday. "I don't think I have anyone better,'' said Pujols. "Things like that are going to happen.'' ... The Tigers' 3-4-5 hitters went a combined 35-for-74 (.473) in the three games in Cleveland. ... RHP Erik Sabel, acquired Wednesday from from Arizona, became the 49th player used by the Tigers this season, four more than were used all of 2001. ... Sabel threw just five pitches, yielding a homer to Omar Vizquel and double to Ellis Burks, who also scored. ... The Tigers have 11 stolen bases in their last 23 games, after swiping just 30 in their first 80 games.

CLEVELAND: Manager Joel Skinner said that RHP Chad Paronto will be placed on the disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow. "The elbow has been barking, so we want to get him back to health,'' Skinner said. ... LHP Terry Mulholland, acquired Sunday along with two minor league pitchers from Los Angeles for RHP Paul Shuey, will take Paronto's roster spot before the Indians open a three-game series in Oakland on Monday. ... The Indians are 3-26 in games in which Paronto (0-2) has appeared. ... INF John McDonald is the team's player representative, replacing Shuey. "I'll try to keep everybody informed because this is an important time for all of us,'' McDonald said in reference to talks between owners and players. ... McDonald made two errors, could have been charged with another that was ruled a hit, and was hit by a pitch Sunday. "Midway through the game, I was thinking, 'This just is not my day,''' he said. ... RHP Charles Nagy was used as a pinch-runner in the ninth and scored. "The first run I ever scored was in the All-Star Game in 1992,'' Nagy recalled. "I felt a little strange running the bases. We had a big rally going and I didn't want to screw it up.''

Orioles-Red Sox
BALTIMORE: Mora hit his 12th homer Sunday, 10 have come off of right-handed pitchers. ... Jerry Hairston's three hits tied a season-high. ... After getting hit by Derek Lowe in the fourth inning, Gary Matthews said he yelled out to him: ''`Okay, now we can play ball. That's fine.' If I was mad about getting hit, I would have went out there from the get-go.''

BOSTON: It was Family Day at Fenway Park, which served as a strange backdrop for Sunday's bench-clearing brawl. "It was good that it was family day. Families got to see us out there in full color.'' Two years ago on Family Day, former OF Carl Everett headbutted umpire Ron Kulpa. Last year, Everett fired down his helmet and was ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke. ... Lowe felt like he was struggling despite the six scoreless innings. "It's probably good that (the brawl) happened. You guys didn't see how I pitched,'' he said to the media afterward. ... Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez were both lifted for rest after innings. Garciaparra went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. ... Mirabelli's pinch-hit homer was his third this season.

Yankees-Devil Rays
NEW YORK: 1B Jason Giambi was the designated hitter, one day after being hit by a pitch on the right elbow. "I talked him into it,'' said Giambi after a brief meeting three hours before the game with manager Joe Torre. Giambi, who normally is the DH in day games after the Yankees play a night contest, went 1-for-5 ... Closer Mariano Rivera (right shoulder strain) is expected to play catch Monday at the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla. ... OF Shane Spencer (sore right elbow) could play the field if needed. "He's not going to have the arm he normally has,'' Torre said. "He's playable, but his arm is staying right there. It's really not improving that much.'' ... 1B Nick Johnson -- who went 2-for-2, walked twice and was hit by a pitch -- reached base five times for the second time in four games.

TAMPA BAY: The weekend series with the New York Yankees drew 86,692, the best attended three-game series at Tropicana Field since the Atlanta Braves attracted 100,958 July 16-18, 2000. ... The Devil Rays walked 21 batters -- including nine Sunday -- the past three games. They also hit four batters. ...INF Felix Escalona started at third, his first appearance since straining his right groin July 16. He went 0-for-3. ... DH Jared Sandberg batted fourth for the first time this season. He struck out three times and hit into a double play in four at-bats. ... Sandberg has struck out at least once in 43 of his 52 starts. ... Former major league C Mike Figga was promoted from Class-A Bakersfield to Double-A Orlando. ... RF Ben Grieve struck out three times and has a team-high 89. He hit six homers in April, but has gone deep just four times since.

Blue Jays-Twins
TORONTO: After losing three straight to the Twins this weekend, the Blue Jays came away looking at Minnesota as the model for its own rebuilding process. "We could be this team (Minnesota) in a year,'' manager Carlos Tosca said. "That's a compliment to Minnesota. What's the saying? Imitation is the best form of flattery?'' ... The Blue Jays lost their third game in a row and dropped to 1-6 against the Twins this year. They are 3-12 in their last 15 road games.

MINNESOTA: The Twins and Latino Midwest News on Sunday sponsored a Spanish-language radio broadcast on KCCO 950 AM. It was believed to be the first professional or major college sporting event broadcast in Spanish in Twin Cities history. Current Texas Rangers Spanish-language play-by-play broadcaster Edgar Lopez teamed with former Twins great Tony Oliva in the booth for the broadcast. ... DH David Ortiz extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an opposite-field single in the first. Over that span, he is hitting .438 (21-48) with six homers. ... 3B Corey Koskie extended his hitting streak to nine games with an RBI-double in the first. ... Prior to the game, the Twins hosted a family game, in which wives, sons and daughters of Twins players donned the jersey numbers of their husbands/dads and took the field for a minigame. Among the stars of the contest was 10-year old Johnny Prince, son of C Tom Prince, who laced an RBI triple to the gap between shortstop and second base.

Royals-White Sox
KANSAS CITY: The Royals dropped their sixth straight against the White Sox on Sunday, the most since they lost eight straight from June 12-21. They have scored just eight runs in the six-game road trip against Detroit and Chicago. This is the first winless road trip since they lost all nine in April 2000. Royals manager Tony Pena does not believe it is because it is from a lack of effort. "They play hard for me every single day,'' Pena said. "We're just trying too hard.'' Chuck Knoblauch doesn't understand why they are struggling so much on the road. "I have no idea. Just make up something, write whatever you want to write,'' Knoblauch said. "We're the same guys, we approach the game the same from the visitors dugout as the home dugout.'' ... RHP Jeff Suppan is trying to not to let trade rumors effect him. "That's out of my control,'' he said.

CHICAGO: With the speculation that the White Sox are going to make more trades in the upcoming week manager Jerry Manuel thinks the team has handled it in a positive manner. "Obviously there is possibility of something happening,'' Manuel said. "I think other guys are looking it at as opportunities to play.'' ... In 1996 Royce Clayton won the shortstop job over Ozzie Smith for the Cardinals. Smith did not feel that the best man won the job. Looking back, Clayton feels that Cardinals manager Tony La Russa made the right decision. "I tip my hat to the way that Tony did handle it, but looking back at it as 26 year-old guy I think I did handle it pretty well.''

Angels-Mariners
ANAHEIM: Garret Anderson has a 14-game hitting streak. ... The Angels have nine shutouts and four in July. ... The Angels are 9-4 against Minnesota, Oakland and Seattle in their last 13 games and now go home to face Boston for three games and the New York Yankees for four. ... Kevin Appier's 15 victories against the Mariners are the most he's had against any opponent in his career. ... Appier pitched eight innings for the second consecutive start, his only two outings of eight or more innings this season. ... David Eckstein was 2-for-4 and is 11-for-21 in his last five games.

SEATTLE: Bret Boone extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a bunt single in the fourth. ... Mike Cameron increased his AL-leading strikeout total to 114 with two strikeouts. Cameron is on a pace to strike out 176 times. The Mariners' single-season strikeout record is 175 set by Jay Buhner in 1997. ... The Mariners have been shut out five times this season. ... In his last 12 starts, Jamie Moyer is 7-2 with a 1.64 ERA. He has reached the seventh inning 10 times.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cubs-Cardinals
CHICAGO: RHP Jon Lieber is not on pace to match his 20-6 record of last year. Lieber, who was diagnosed with tendinitis in his pitching elbow in April, is 6-8 this season. Lieber said he has been frustrated at times this year. "I'm not saying all my pitches are where I want them to be, but my velocity is still there. I don't think its a big deal.'' ... Sammy Sosa is trying to lead the league in runs scored for the second straight year. Entering Sunday night's game he had scored 78 times, three ahead of the St. Louis' Albert Pujols. ... The Cardinals are in a stretch where they have only five home games between July 8 and Aug. 5. ... Hundreds of fans braved 95 degree heat Sunday to watch Ozzie Smith's induction into the Hall of Fame on the giant video screen in right field, The fans had to leave after the ceremony to make way for Sunday night's game against the Cubs.

ST. LOUIS: Placido Polanco says he is not upset about speculation that he might be traded to Philadelphia for Scott Rolen. "I went through this situation about this time last year,'' Polanco said. "I was going to Colorado. You can't control the situation. If I get traded, its a fact of business. I'll pack and leave. Whatever happens, happens,'' GM Walt Jocketty said Sunday that the two teams were not close to a deal.

Pirates-Astros
PITTSBURGH: The Pirates were shut out three times in the four-game series. Pittsburgh hadn't been shut out three times in four games since August 1986. ... Pittsburgh is 37-17 when it scores first but only 10-41 when opponents score first. ... It was the first time in 11 games an opponent failed to hit a home run against Pittsburgh. ... The Pirates were swept for the fourth time this season. ... Pittsburgh is 5-19 in three seasons at Minute Maid Park.

HOUSTON: Houston swept the four-game series, outscoring Pittsburgh 19-3 with three shutouts. ... It was the first time the Astros had three shutouts in a series since August 1974 and the first back-to-back blankings since July 1997. ... RF Barry Wesson hit an RBI single in the seventh for his first career RBI. ... Houston is 20-8 since Gregg Zaun's ninth-inning walkoff grand slam that gave the Astros a 7-4 come-from-behind win over Arizona on June 27.

Marlins-Expos
FLORIDA: The Marlins turned the first triple play in team history in the third inning of Sunday's 4-1 loss when 3B Mike Lowell caught Vladimir Guerrero's liner with two runners on the move. With runners on first and second, Guerrero hit a 3-2 pitch from Julian Tavarez. Lowell grabbed the liner for the first out, then got the second by tagging out Brad Wilkerson, who broke from second on the pitch. Vidro also was running with the pitch and was standing at second base when Tavarez motioned to Lowell to throw to first. Lowell threw to first baseman Derek Lee for the third out. It was the first triple play in 1,496 games for Florida, which began play in 1993. ... There have been three triple plays in the majors this season. Texas got one against Seattle on April 14, and the New York Mets turned one May 17 in San Diego. ... Lowell was involved in the only other triple play in Marlins' history as he hit into one against Atlanta on May 11, 2000.

MONTREAL: RHP Bartolo Colon pitched a two-hitter for his seventh complete game of the season. Colon, who had four complete games with Cleveland, pitched his third complete game since he was acquired from the Indians on June 27 to improve to 4-1 in six starts with Montreal. Colon pitched a one-hitter against the Yankees on Sept. 18, 2000. ... Each of Colon's wins since joining the Expos have followed a loss. Two of the wins ended a pair of three-game losing streaks. ... SS Orlando Cabrera had two RBI, and 2B Jose Vidro and 3B Fernando Tatis homered in front of a crowd of 16,770 on hand for an Andre Dawson bobblehead giveaway. ... Dawson, who hit into the only other triple play in the Expos' 34-year history -- on Sept. 27, 1983, at St. Louis, was on hand for the giveaway of 5,000 dolls in his likeness. Dawson was given a warm ovation as he threw baseballs to the crowd while riding around the field before throwing the ceremonial first pitch to 1B Andres Galarraga, his teammate with Montreal in 1985-86.

Reds-Mets
CINCINNATI: Reds players shook their heads in amazement while watching acrobatic highlights of former big league SS Ozzie Smith in the clubhouse before the game. Smith was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday. ... SS Barry Larkin missed his second game in a row after injuring his right Achilles' on Friday. He is day to day, and expects to return to the lineup Tuesday night against Los Angeles. "I'm feeling better today than yesterday,'' Larkin said. "I think I'll be all right. I don't feel the same sensations I did when I tore my left one.'' ... The Reds made two errors, and one was costly during New York's seventh-inning rally. "When you play a team of this magnitude, you've got to be almost perfect,'' reliever Scott Williamson said. ... OF Ken Griffey Jr., still troubled by a tender hamstring, hit his third home run of the season. "There's good days and bad days,'' he said.

NEW YORK: RHP David Weathers has not allowed any of his last 14 inherited runners to score. ... The Mets are 4-0-2 in series since the All-Star break. ... The Mets are 23-18 in one-run games, most wins in the majors. ... 2B Roberto Alomar had three hits, giving him seven multihit games in his last 11. ... Utility player Joe McEwing, on the disabled list with a ribcage strain, will begin a rehab assignment at Class-A Brooklyn on Monday. ... 3B Edgardo Alfonzo sat out with a sore left shoulder. "We're going to try to let these two days calm it down,'' manager Bobby Valentine said, referring to an off day Monday. "He felt it swinging. It looked weird swinging.'' ... GM Steve Phillips did not seem excited by what's available on the trade market as the July 31 deadline approaches. "I'm not overly optimistic about anything right now,'' he said. ... New York is 5-2 in Steve Trachsel's last seven starts. ... It was Jewish Heritage Day at Shea Stadium.

Phillies-Braves
PHILADELPHIA: OF Doug Glanville provided a rare bit of power when he homered against Tom Glavine leading off the third. It was Glanville's first homer since May 11 vs. Arizona and third of the year. ... Meanwhile, cleanup hitter Pat Burrell has gone 11 games since his last homer on July 17. "The only good thing about that is that we have (Monday) off,'' manager Larry Bowa said. "A lot of guys need that day off. We have more days games than anybody. I don't know who made the schedule, but it's terrible.'' Despite his slump, Burrell still leads the team with 25 homers. ... RHP Terry Adams, who lost his spot in the starting rotation, gave the Phillies some good work out of the bullpen in the series at Turner Field. He pitched out of a jam Friday night and finished up Sunday's victory by throwing 1 2/3 scoreless innings. "He gives us the experience we need out there,'' Bowa said.

ATLANTA: C Javy Lopez was back in the lineup for the Braves after missing five games with a sore right shoulder. Lopez had a cortisone shot after injuring himself in a July 21 game at Philadelphia when he attempted to pick off Doug Glanville. He had been available as a pinch-hitter the previous two games and decided it was time to get back in the lineup. "There's pain, but I can handle it,'' Lopez said. "I've been going through stuff like this all season. It's nothing new for me.'' He was a little apprehensive about making his first throw to second, and the Phillies decided to take advantage right away when Glanville led off the game with a single. He stole second, barely beating a strong throw from Lopez. At the plate, the Braves catcher went 1-for-3. ... The Braves' other Lopez, Albie, made a rare appearance. The right-hander pitched for only the second time in more than a month, giving up three hits and two runs in the ninth. One disgruntled fan shouted "Four million!'' -- referring to the salary paid the team's most disappointing player. Lopez, who began the season in the starting rotation, is 1-4 with a 4.95 ERA, highest on the team. ... LHP Tom Glavine lost to the Phillies for the first time since June 16, 2000. He also threw 131 pitches, the most since a 133-pitch effort on June 2000, against Toronto.

Rockies-Brewers
COLORADO: CF Juan Pierre opened Sunday's game with a bunt single then beat out another bunt in the second with two runners on base. He now has 18 bunt singles and leads the majors in infield hits with 39. ... Slumping 3B Todd Zeile didn't start Sunday after going 0-for-8 in the first two games in Milwaukee. He's 0-for-19 on the road trip in which the Rockies are 0-6. ... RF Larry Walker, leading the NL in hitting with a .361 average, didn't waste any time extending his hitting streak to 12 games, belting a 3-1 pitch from Jamey Wright for a 433-foot home run. ... LHP Mike Hampton after dropping to 5-14 in a 5-3 loss Sunday in Milwaukee: "It's past the point of embarrassment,'' Hampton said. "The team gave me a 3-0 lead and that should have been enough. I made stupid pitches and it cost us the game.''

MILWAUKEE: 2B Ronnie Belliard, who has started 37 times and appeared in 66 games in 2002, knows his future with the team is uncertain, so he's hoping to make the most of any chance he gets in the final two months of the season. "I'm still here, but I don't know for how long,'' said Belliard, who is in the final year of his contract. "It's tough because I've always played -- through the minors and here in the my first three years and in winter ball. This is the first year I haven't played.'' He was 3-for-4 with a tiebreaking two-run single in Sunday's 5-3 victory over Colorado. ... LHP Jimmy Osting, who joined the team last Wednesday after RHP Nelson Figueora was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, is waiting for his first chance to pitch. "Whenever they call my name, I'll be ready,'' said Osting, who was 5-6 with a 3.35 ERA in 20 starts at Indianapolis. Osting pitched in three games as a reliever in 2000 with San Diego. ... The Brewers are 19-22 all-time against the Rockies, but had never swept a series until taking three straight this weekend.

Padres-Diamondbacks
SAN DIEGO: Deivi Cruz was 3-for-4, including his sixth homer, and drove in two runs. ... Brian Buchanan also had a solo homer off Arizona's Brian Anderson. It was his first with the Padres, the team he joined July 12 in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. ... San Diego, which set the NL record last year for fewest sacrifice bunts (29), is last in the league this year with 21.

ARIZONA: Luis Gonzalez's inside-the-park homer was the third in franchise history. Tony Womack had the first on July 21, 1999, at Houston off Billy Wagner, and Junior Spivey had one off Chris Hanley in Boston on June 9, 2002. ... LHP Brian Anderson had a career-high 11 strikeouts. His previous high for strikeouts was eight, done twice. The most recent time was April 24, 1999, against Los Angeles. ... The Diamondbacks ended the 10th inning with an unusual double play. SS Tony Womack fielded a grounder by Ryan Klesko and stepped on second to force Phil Nevin, but his throw to first got away from Mark Grace. Klesko tried to get to second, and C Chad Moeller threw back to Womack for the tag.

Dodgers-Giants
LOS ANGELES: RHP Andy Ashby is winless in six straight starts following a 3-1 defeat Sunday, but the Dodgers are pleased with his performances. Ashby held the Giants to five hits and two runs over six innings, getting most of his outs on fly balls. "That's the best game he's pitched in a while,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ... Ashby has tinkered with his pitching motion during a season of intermittent struggles. "My rhythm is a little better now, but I think I get in more trouble trying to change it,'' Ashby said. "It's tough. I still don't feel right.'' ... After the Dodgers acquired RHP Paul Shuey from Cleveland, they sent RHP Guillermo Mota back to Triple-A Las Vegas to ensure he gets consistent work. With the departure of Terry Mulholland in the trade, Mota would have been bumped to the last seat in Los Angeles' bullpen.

SAN FRANCISCO: Robb Nen struck out the side on 13 pitches in the ninth inning Sunday for the 299th save of his career. He'll soon become the 16th major leaguer with 300 saves -- and at 32, he'll be the youngest pitcher to reach the milestone. If the 300th comes in his next 13 appearances, he'll be the fifth-fastest to the mark. "I'll be glad when 300 is out of the way and I don't have to keep answering questions about it,'' Nen said. "I'll be glad to get No. 301. I have bigger plans right now, like helping us get victories. I'll think about it more after I retire.'' ... OF Tony Torcato had two hits, including a seventh-inning double, in his second major league game. Torcato, the Giants' top draft pick in 1998, was recalled from Triple-A Fresno for the weekend series against the Dodgers because of the injuries to San Francisco's top four outfielders, and he was sent back to Fresno after the game when the Giants acquired Kenny Lofton from the White Sox. ... The Giants are 21-8 in RHP Jason Schmidt's 29 starts since arriving in a trade with Pittsburgh last season. ... Shawon Dunston, who has struggled all season, hit .421 (8-for-19) with three RBI on the Giants' seven-game homestand.