MONDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Paul Byrd Threw his fifth complete game of the season -- and fourth in a row -- in a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays. IP H ER K 9 5 1 5 Hero of the day John Olerud's RBI single in the eighth lifted the Mariners to a 4-3 comeback victory over the Tigers. Goat of the day Rangers left-hander Kenny Rogers lost his sixth straight decision against the Yankees, giving up eight runs on nine hits and three walks through 4 1/3 innings. Injury report Indians 2B Ricky Gutierrez left after the seventh with a bruised left calf. Stat of the day The Devil Rays tied a franchise record by stranding 16 runners in a 6-1 victory over the Orioles. Streak of the day Royals starter Paul Byrd became the first K.C. pitcher with four consecutive complete games since Tom Gordon in 1990. The last word "I introduced myself and asked him about what he's been doing from a pitching standpoint. His answer was: 'Just give me the ball.'" -- Indians manager Joel Skinner on latest acquisition Terry Mulholland, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief to pick up his first win with his new team.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees at Rangers
New York: Manager Joe Torre is showing patience with rookie 1B Nick Johnson, hitting .247 coming in. "You can't rush experience,'' Torre said. "You've got to take it as it comes. It's a slow process and he's been a good student.'' ... Torre said he hasn't spoken with OF Ruben Rivera since he was released by the Yankees in spring training after stealing SS Derek Jeter's glove. Rivera has been starting in center field for Texas. "I'm happy he's in the big leagues,'' Torre said. "It's just unfortunate what happened and what had to be done. He's a good kid.''

Texas: The Rangers entered with 44 homers in July, most in the majors. Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez each had 10 this month, tying for first in the majors. ... In all three games of a series against Oakland last weekend, the starting pitcher left with a lead only to watch the bullpen lose it.

Tigers at Mariners
Detroit: The Tigers activated 3B Chris Truby from the DL and sent LHP Erik Sabel to Triple-A Toledo. Truby was on the DL since July 4 with a pulled ribcage. ... Sabel pitched in his first game for the Tigers on Sunday in Cleveland, becoming the 49th player to be used by Detroit this season.

Seattle: The Mariners were without utilityman Desi Relaford because of a strained muscle in his right side, near his ribcage. "It's been bothering him for a little bit,'' manager Lou Piniella said. Relaford, who is hitting .236 with three homers and 28 RBI in 72 games, aggravated the injury when he flied out to end Sunday's loss to Anaheim. Relaford had X-rays of his side Sunday night and they proved normal, trainer Rick Griffin said. ... After scoring three runs, getting 15 hits and being shut out twice in a three-game series against the Angels, the Mariners did not take batting practice Monday night before opening a series against Detroit. "Just let people relax and come out to the ballpark and play,'' Piniella said. "We hit enough here. Sometimes I feel we hit too much. We're in July now and not April or May. They pay you to hit at 7 o'clock, not 5.''

Orioles at Devil Rays
Baltimore: RHP John Stephens will make his major league debut Tuesday night, replacing injured RHP Jason Johnson (shoulder). Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Stephens was recalled from Triple-A Rochester. ... 1B Jeff Conine (right hamstring) is taking batting practice. ... RHP Pat Hentgen, who underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery last August, could rejoin the team in September. He is currently throwing at Baltimore's minor league complex in Sarasota, Fla. ... OF Chris Richard, coming off left shoulder surgery, homered for Triple-A Rochester on Sunday.

Tampa Bay: CF Randy Winn, often mentioned in trade talks, was out of the starting lineup. "I just decided to give him a day off,'' manager Hal McRae said. "I'm trying to rest them all.'' ... McRae and GM Chuck LaMar have talked about possible trades, but the manager doesn't know if anything will happen. "There are a lot of clubs that need to do something,'' McRae said. "Things can get crazy.'' ... LF Greg Vaughn, sidelined since June 23 by a shoulder injury, took batting practice and said the real test is to see how he feels Tuesday. ... LHP Wilson Alvarez (left elbow tendinitis) threw off a bullpen mound and could throw batting practice Thursday. "I feel fine,'' Alvarez said. "All I need is to face some guys.'' ... LHP Joe Kennedy was on the mound working on pickoff moves to first base four hours before the game.

Blue Jays at Royals
Toronto: Manager Carlos Tosca does not think the Blue Jays are close to completing a deal before the trade deadline. "I don't anticipate any,'' Tosca said. "I'd be surprised if we did.'' It is no secret the Blue Jays would listen to offers for RHP Esteban Loaiza, but he is 4-6 with a 5.63 in 14 starts with a salary of $6.05 million, making it unlikely he will be moved. ... The Blue Jays have lost 12 of their past 15 road games. ... 3B Eric Hinske has 17 home runs, three shy of Fred McGriff's club rookie record set in 1987.

Kansas City: On a six-game road trip to Chicago and Detroit, the Royals were outscored 41-8. The Royals hit only .188, while the pitching staff had a 7.50 ERA. The Royals were outhomered 10-0. ... Rookie OF Aaron Guiel went 1-for-15 on the trip, while catchers Brent Mayne and A.J. Hinch went a combined 1-for-17. ... Raul Ibanez has 30 RBI in July. The club record for a month is 32, set by Jermaine Dye in July of 1999 and John Mayberry in July 1975. ... 1B Ken Harvey, one of the team's top prospects, had three homers and seven RBI on Sunday for Triple-A Omaha.

Red Sox at Angels
Boston: LHP Alan Embree, who had elbow inflammation, was activated from the 15-day DL. ... The Red Sox were 3-4 against Anaheim last season, and they've lost four of the last five season series with the Angels since winning five in a row from 1992-96.

Anaheim: C Bengie Molina, on the 15-day DL since July 17 with a strained left hamstring, worked out. "He felt great out there,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. Molina, whose hamstring only hurts when he runs, could complete a rehab assignment Tuesday in the California League, take Wednesday off and be ready to play Thursday, when he is eligible to come off the DL, Scioscia said. ... RHP Ramon Ortiz will start Tuesday night against his idol, RHP Pedro Martinez, who is a year older than the 29-year-old Ortiz. Both are natives of the Dominican Republic. "I'm sure it'll be a tremendous pitchers' duel,'' Scioscia said. "Ramon goes out there feeling he's the best pitcher in the world, so I don't know if Ramon is going to take it as much as he's pitching against Pedro as he's pitching an important game for us.'' Ortiz is 2-1 with a 2.03 ERA lifetime against Boston. Martinez is 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA against Anaheim.

Indians at Athletics
Cleveland: OF Ellis Burks was a late scratch with shoulder soreness. He said it wasn't serious. ... The Indians placed RHP Chad Paronto on the 15-day DL with tendinitis in his right shoulder, making room on the roster for newly acquired pitcher Terry Mulholland. Paronto is 0-2 with a 4.04 ERA in 20 relief appearances for the Indians. ... RHP Jaret Wright, coming off serious shoulder injuries, made his second start of the season.

Oakland: The Athletics called up LHP Micah Bowie from Triple-A Sacramento and sent LHP Mike Venafro to the Rivercats. Bowie was 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA and four saves in 46 relief appearances for Sacramento. He allowed just two home runs in 54 2-3 innings. ... Venafro was 2-2 with a 4.67 ERA in 42 relief appearances for the A's this season. His ERA was 13.50 over his last 12 games after a 1.48 mark in his previous 25 appearances. ... The A's had Ray Durham, acquired last week from the Chicago White Sox, batting second as the DH, behind leadoff hitter Mark Ellis. "He's led off and batted second in his career,'' A's manager Art Howe said of Durham. "The way Ellis swung the bat in Texas, we want to leave him at the top of the order.''