TUESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Jake Peavy Rookie pitcher also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and a run scored. IP H R BB SO 8 2/3 5 2 1 7 Hero of the day Rick Reed couldn't stop coughing, but he wouldn't stop pitching. Battling the infamous "flu-like symptoms," Reed tossed a complete-game five-hitter to give the Twins' beleaguered bullpen a break in Minnesota's 6-0 victory over Baltimore. Goat of the day After Montreal native Eric Gagne received a standing ovation from Expos fans when he entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning, the Dodgers' closer gave up the go-ahead, two-run homer that led to Montreal's 4-3 win over L.A. Injury report Mets catcher Mike Piazza was scratched with a sore left wrist, but was available to pinch hit. Diamondbacks OF Luis Gonzalez strained his ribcage and had to leave the game in the third inning. Mariners C Dan Wilson stayed in the game against the Red Sox after fouling a ball off his ankle, but might not play Wednesday. Indians CF Milton Bradley was a late scratch against the Devil Rays with the stomach flu. Stat of the day After losing two straight for the first time all season, Barry Zito (16-5) pitched eight innings of four-hit ball to beat the Blue Jays for his 16th victory this season. Of all the remarkable statistics Zito has posted this summer, perhaps the most impressive is his 12-1 record in starts following an A's loss. Streak of the day Phillies' SS Jimmy Rollins went 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch in a 3-1 win over the Brewers. He has nine hits in his last 10 at-bats. The last word "I'm running out of things to tell you. It's been the same all year.'' -- Devil Rays starter Tanyon Sturtze, who has struggled to a 1-13 record this season after leading Tampa Bay with 11 wins in 2001.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Indians at Devil Rays
Cleveland: Manager Joel Skinner said RHP Charles Nagy has been dropped from the starting rotation and will be replaced by RHP Jason Phillips. Nagy allowed six runs and seven hits over 1 2-3 innings in Sunday's game against Texas. ... The Indians purchased the contract of RHP Dave Burba from Double-A Akron. Burba will work out of the bullpen, but Skinner said he also could make spot starts. ... SS Omar Vizquel batted leadoff for the second straight game. He had two hits Sunday after going hitless in 27 at-bats entering the contest. ... Skinner said RHP Chad Paronto (right elbow) returned to Cleveland after making just 10 pitches in a rehab outing for Double-A Akron. Tampa Bay: 2B Brent Abernathy was availble off the bench after being hospitalized Sunday for dehydration. Abernathy said it's the fourth time since 1995 he has required treatment for dehydration. "I feel fine today,'' Abernathy said. "I was a little tired and drained yesterday.'' ... DH-LF Greg Vaughn, out since June 23 with a right shoulder injury, will likely go on a rehab assignment later this month and probably won't be activated from the 15-day disabled list until rosters are expanded Sept. 1. "It's looking that way,'' manager Hal McRae said. "Then we don't have to shuffle the cards if we do that.'' The Devil Rays, with the majors worst record, are looking at several young players including LF Carl Crawford. ... The status of RHP Ryan Rupe (right knee) will likely be determined by this weekend. "We're going to push it real hard this week and then make a decision,'' Rupe said. Rupe might require minor surgery, which he hopes -- if needed -- won't take place until after the season.

Orioles at Twins
Baltimore: Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove said RHP Sidney Ponson did some throwing Tuesday without pain in his shoulder. Ponson was placed on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 10 when an MRI revealed a tear in his shoulder. Hargrove said Ponson will be re-evaluated when the Orioles return to Baltimore on Friday. ... Hargrove said the team is still impressed with C Geronimo Gil, the first rookie to start at catcher for the Orioles since Andy Etchebarren in 1966, despite his struggles over the second half of the season. "What you're seeing is a young player who is learning how to play every day in the big leagues,'' Hargrove said. "As time goes on, he will get better and better. He's one of our good young players.'' But Hargrove isn't as impressed with Gil's hairstyling as he is with his playing ability. Gil showed up to the Metrodome with purple streaks in his hair Tuesday. "I don't know what look he was going for,'' Hargrove said. "Whatever it was, he didn't get it.'' ... Pro golfer Lee Janzen, in town for the PGA Championship being held at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., was at the game to see LHP Buddy Groom, a friend. ... After sweeping a three-game series against Minnesota in Baltimore last week, the Orioles improved to 40-11 against the Twins since July, 1996. Minnesota: Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire said he sees the players' union not setting a strike date Monday as a positive step, but he's learned his lesson about speculation over the last year. "I'm just going to wait and see, just like I did all winter long,'' he said, referring to talk that the Twins would be contracted before the 2002 season. "Speculating about a strike date is just like speculating at the trade deadline. Who knows? Hopefully they'll get a deal done. I know that's what everyone in baseball is hoping for.'' ... When asked if he considered arguing some questionable balls-and-strikes calls against the Red Sox Sunday, Gardenhire wouldn't bite. "I like to protect my players as much as anybody, but you have to trust the umpire in those situations. That's what you have a catcher for, to talk to the umpire during the game.'' ... RHP Jack Cressend pitched three perfect innings, striking out three Monday in a rehab assignment with the Gulf Coast League Twins. ... The Twins signed LHP Johnny Lynch, a 21st round draft pick out of Chipola Junior College, to a contract Tuesday. Lynch played high school baseball at Elk River High School in Elk River, Minn.

Yankees at Royals
New York: The Yankees lost their first series since late June, dropping two out of three to Oakland. They were 8-0-4 in their 12 series since dropping two of three at Baltimore June 25-27. ... Alfonso Soriano needed one home run to become the first second baseman in major league history to collect 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season. ... The Yankees have won 30 of their last 38 games played against Kansas City, including 10 of the last 11. Kansas City: Kansas City made several roster moves since Sunday's game. 1B Mike Sweeney was activated from the disabled list, first baseman Kit Pellow and INF Luis Ordaz had their contracts purchased from Triple-A Omaha. Pellow was hitting .289 with 27 home runs and 76 RBI in 10 games. His first appearance will be his major league debut. Ordaz was hitting .309 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI in 35 games. To make room, the Royals optioned INF Carlos Febles to Omaha, sent outright infielder Mike Caruso to Omaha and 1B-OF Chan Perry to Double-A Wichita.

White Sox at Rangers
Chicago: LHP Mark Buehrle, the first White Sox pitcher since Jack McDowell in 1992-93 to record consecutive 15-win seasons, will make his regular start in the rotation Friday at Oakland. Manager Jerry Manuel had hinted that he might try to get Buehrle an extra start, but decided not this week, even with two off days. The 23-year-old Buehrle (15-8, 3.66 ERA), an All-Star this season, has a chance to become the first White Sox pitcher since McDowell in 1993 to win 20 games. ... LHP Jim Parque (1-1, 6.91) will make his second start of the season Wednesday. He won last Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1-3 innings against Anaheim. He started the season in Chicago, but gave up nine runs on 14 hits in three relief appearances. He then was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, where he was 7-9 with a 6.47 ERA in 20 starts (3-1, 2.35 the last five starts). Texas: RHP Chan Ho Park, on the disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, will make a rehab start this weekend at Triple-A Oklahoma. Manager Jerry Narron said the plan is for Park (4-6, 7.14) to return to the Rangers rotation for a start Aug. 23 at the New York Yankees. ... The Rangers signed INF Edwin Diaz to an Oklahoma contract. The 27-year-old Diaz was the Rangers' second-round draft pick in June 1993 and played five seasons in the organization before being selected by Arizona in the expansion draft. Diaz was playing in the Mexican League, batting .301 with 15 homers and 52 RBI in 103 games this summer.

Red Sox at Mariners
Boston: RHP Dustin Hermanson, on the 15-day disabled list with an infection in his elbow, pitched three innings in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Pawtucket. He started and threw 52 pitches, allowing two runs on one hit, striking out five and walking two. He will make another rehab start Sunday and then be evaluated again, manager Grady Little said. "He was really strong for about 40 of those pitches,'' Little said. "Then he hit a wall. He will gradually get stretched out.'' He needs to reach about 70-75 pitches, Little said, but noted "we're not just going for quantity, we're going for quality.'' ... OF Cliff Floyd, who left Saturday's game against Minnesota in the eighth with a right hip flexor, did not start for the second straight game. He did some running and hitting but still had soreness, Little said. Floyd was available to pinch hit. Seattle: RHP James Baldwin was moved to the bullpen and RHP Ryan Franklin will replace him in the rotation for now, making a start either Friday or Saturday. LHP John Halama will start the day Franklin doesn't go. Baldwin is 7-9 with a 5.05 ERA in 23 starts. "A man's not getting the job done, you know, if he's going out there and giving up hits and giving up runs,'' Baldwin said. "It's not like the whole year has been like that but the last two outings have been pretty shaky. ... I'll get things straightened out.'' Manager Lou Piniella said it wasn't a "spur of the moment decision.'' Piniella said a stint in the bullpen working with pitching coach Bryan Price "may be more of a help than a detriment'' for Baldwin. Franklin is 4-2 with a 4.21 ERA in 32 games. He's made four starts. "I hope I can get more than two (starts) in a row,'' he said. "I haven't gotten the opportunity to go past 80 pitches.'' ... Piniella said the Mariners will not make many call-ups in September -- maybe four or five. RHP Rafael Soriano, sent down to Double-A San Antonio on Aug. 2, is likely to be one of those brought up, Piniella said.

Tigers at Angels
Detroit: The Tigers placed RHP Julio Santana on the disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 11, after an MRI revealed a partial tear of a ligament in his elbow. The injury will not require surgery. RHP Fernando Rodney was recalled from Triple-A Toledo and was expected to join the team late Wednesday night. ... Hall of Fame Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell will be honored during Thursday night's game against the Angels, the last he will broadcast from Anaheim. Harwell, who made only one visit to Disneyland during the Angels' 42 seasons of existence after taking the Tigers job in 1960, said he will be quite busy during the first year of his "second retirement.'' He'll continue doing his column for the Detroit Free Press, some on-camera vignettes for the Fox network, a few local commercials, "and put my feet up when my wife runs the vacuum.'' ... Hiram Bocachica made his fourth start in CF since he was obtained from the Dodgers, but took grounders at 2B in case Damion Easley's two sore wrists keep him out for an extended period. Bocachica, a first-round pick by Montreal in June 1994, has not played at 2B since last season. Anaheim: CF Darin Erstad was a late scratch from Tuesday night's game because of fatigue in his right leg, and RF Tim Salmon missed his third straight due to a bruised left hand. ... The Angels' pitching staff took a streak of 22 consecutive scoreless innings into Tuesday night's game -- including combined shutouts started by Jarrod Washburn and Kevin Appier -- before Aaron Sele gave up two runs in the first inning against Detroit. The club record for consecutive scoreless innings is 32 2-3 in 1974 -- the last time the team posted three straight shutouts. The only other time they did was 1965. ... The Angels usually shoot their team photo in September. But with the rest of the season still in doubt while owners and players haggle over a new collective bargaining agreement, the photo was taken on Wednesday -- just to be safe. ... Prior to Wednesday, LHP Al Levine had pitched 11 2-3 scoreless innings since coming off the DL on July 20. ... Appier's victory Tuesday night was his first at home in eight starts at Edison Field since beating Kansas City on May 20. ... Only six pitchers have started a game for the Angels this season, the fewest in the majors. The club record for fewest pitchers used in a starting role was seven -- in 1976 under Dick Williams and Norm Sherry, and 1989 under Doug Rader. ... LF Garret Anderson, who reached the 20-homer mark for the fourth straight season Monday night, is a prime example of why you don't have to swing hard to hit the ball out of the park. "There are a lot of guys who can watch Garret from now till Doomsday and not have his swing,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. He's just gifted to have an incredibly fluid swing with a lot of leverage. It keeps him in control and helps him hit the ball hard consistently. I don't know where we'd be without Garret. And if that's a criteria for MVP, then he's definitely a front-runner.''

Blue Jays at Athletics
Toronto: The Blue Jays won eight of 10 games against Oakland, capped by Monday night's 2-1 victory. Before that the A's won 14 of 20 games in the rivalry. ... Manager Carlos Tosca said improved defense has been one important factor in the Jays' surge. His players backed him up on Monday night with three outstanding defensive plays: DeWayne Wise threw out Eric Chavez from right field as Chavez attempted to stretch a hit into a double, Orlando Hudson made a diving catch on a popup, and Dave Berg made a sliding catch on another foul pop. ... Since the All-Star break, Toronto is third in the AL with a .281 average. The Jays are batting .301 since the break with runners in scoring position. Oakland: 2B Ray Durham was a late scratch from the A's lineup for the second time in 10 days -- though for entirely different reasons. Durham left the team Tuesday night after his uncle died. During Oakland last homestand, Durham sat out the final game after the A's feared he might have kidney stones. ... After going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Monday night, Oakland is hitting .175 in that situation during August. The A's are dead last in the AL for average with runners in scoring position (.246), increasing their reliance on homers. The A's also lead the majors with 901 runners stranded entering Tuesday night's game. ... Oakland lost the season series against Toronto for the first time since 1998, dropping five of the first six games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Astros at Cubs
Houston: Manager Jimy Williams said he didn't manage any differently in the fifth inning, with the Astros leading 5-1 after one rain delay and more rain on the way. "You don't try to speed things up or you don't try to change anything,'' Williams said. "To me, that's the right way to play it. I see things go south when you try to do something different.'' ... The Astros and Orlando Merced agreed on a $1.7 million, one-year contract extension. "Three years ago, I was not even in the big leagues,'' said Merced, who played most of the 2000 season in Japan. "I've been able to make more money than some people who get lucky and hit the lottery.'' ... SS Adam Everett was in uniform Tuesday after flying all night to join the team. Everett, recalled from Triple-A New Orleans after Julio Lugo broke his forearm, was playing on the West Coast on Monday night. Chicago: The game was interrupted almost two hours by two rain delays. "Staying loose is tough, going out there and not knowing if we were going to get the next inning,'' shortstop Alex Gonzalez said. "The way it looked, we were going to be playing inning to inning.'' ... Gonzalez's homer in the ninth inning gives the Cubs 16 in their last four games. Sammy Sosa has accounted for five of those home runs. ... With a paid attendance of 29,641 on Tuesday, the Cubs passed the 2 million mark for a seventh straight year. ... 1B Fred McGriff was out of the starting lineup with a bruised shin after getting hit Monday night. He pinch-hit in the sixth.

Brewers at Phillies
Milwaukee: C Raul Casanova is batting .367 (11-for-30) with seven RBI in 10 games at Triple-A Indianapolis. Casanova, who is on a 20-day rehab assignment, tore a ligament in his left elbow on May 16. ... 2B Eric Young is batting .312 (83-for-266) over his last 70 games, lifting his season average to .275. ... IF Ronnie Belliard has a .410 batting average at Veterans Stadium. Philadelphia: 3B Placido Polanco is the fifth-hardest batter to strikeout in the NL -- one for every 13.2 plate appearances -- but has whiffed five times in his last seven games. ... RHP Mike Timlin is 3-1 in seven games since being acquired by the Phillies from St. Louis on July 29. He has surrendered four homers in 8 2-3 innings. ... OF Jason Michaels has 14 hits -- eight have gone for extra bases (six doubles, one triple, one home run). ... LF Pat Burrell is hitting .419 with four homers and 39 RBI with the bases loaded for his career. Hitless in his first six at-bats with the bases full this season, Burrell hit a grand slam and a two-run single in his last two at-bats with the bases loaded.

Padres at Mets
San Diego: San Diego's four-run first inning against Steve Trachsel on Tuesday night was a good omen for starter Jake Peavy. The Padres scored a total of three runs in the rookie right-hander's four losses, but 21 in his three wins. ... The Padres' loss to Florida on Sunday dropped them a season-high 23{ games out of first place. It marks the first time the Padres have been that many games out since finishing the 1999 season 26 games behind Arizona. ... With LHP Kevin Walker pitching in Sunday's loss at Cincinnati, the Padres extended their NL record for pitchers used in a season to 31. The 2000 Padres held the previous record of 29. New York: 3B Edgardo Alfonzo, on the disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left side, took 25 swings off a batting tee before the game. "He didn't try to do much -- very cautious,'' manager Bobby Valentine said. "He didn't have any pain.'' ... C Mike Piazza was scratched from the lineup shortly before the start of the game because of a sore left wrist. Piazza, who is battling through a number of nagging injuries, was available for pinch-hitting duty. Vance Wilson started in his place. ... The Mets announced that former outfielder Tommie Agee, a member of the 1969 World Series champions, will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame on Sunday. ... OF Mark Little, designated for assignment after recently being acquired from Colorado, accepted his assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Diamondbacks at Reds
Arizona: LF Luis Gonzalez strained his ribcage and left the game in the third inning. He grounded out in the top of the second, and didn't have any plays in left field in the bottom of the inning. David Dellucci replaced him in the field in the bottom of the third. The Diamondbacks described the injury as day-to-day. Gonzalez is batting .293 and leads the first-place Diamondbacks in hits (125), homers (24) and RBI (87). He snapped on 0-for-24 skid with a sixth-inning single on Sunday as the Diamondbacks finished a sweep of Florida. ... Erubiel Durazo hit a solo homer in his first at-bat, his 14th in only 134 at-bats this season. He hit two solo shots, including a game-winner, in a 2-1 victory Friday over Florida. ... RHP Rick Helling made his first career start against the Reds. He made three relief appearances against them during the 1997 season with Florida. Cincinnati: 3B Aaron Boone has 23 homers and a team-high 25 steals. Every homer brings a reminder that he's closing in on 30-30, a level that only two Reds -- Eric Davis and Barry Larkin -- have reached. "It would be pretty cool, especially the way my season started out,'' said Boone, who struggled in the first half. "But I don't know. Every time I hit a home run, I get about four guys in the dugout yelling that at me. As much as I try not to think about it, I realize that it's possible.'' ... RHP Elmer Dessens is eligible to come off the disabled list Aug. 17, but will get a little more time to let his strained groin heal. "We're shooting for the 22nd,'' manager Bob Boone said. "We think he's close. Of course, close could be a million miles away with those leg things.'' Dessens, the Reds' top starter, strained his groin on Aug. 1. ... Closer Danny Graves, who blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning Sunday, has had a stiff back recently.

Giants at Braves
San Francisco: The Giants opened a seven-game road trip Tuesday night. They play three games in Atlanta before facing the Florida Marlins. The Giants had won 18 of their last 32 away from home entering Tuesday night's game. Since the 2001 All-Star break, San Francisco is 56-43 on the road, tied for second best in the NL with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves (58-35) have the best mark. ... LF Barry Bonds had hit in seven of his past eight games, going 12-for-22 with four homers, two doubles 10 RBI and nine runs. He'd also walked 14 times in that span, including four intentional. Atlanta: Before the game, the Braves celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1982 NL West championship team. Several players took ceremonial laps around the field on the back of convertibles, including CF Dale Murphy, RHP Phil Niekro, RHP Steve Bedrosian, 3B Bob Horner, OF Brett Butler and C Bruce Benedict. ... C Henry Blanco was out of the lineup with a muscle strain in his rib cage, and Steve Torrealba got his first career start. Torrealba, called up from Triple-A Richmond on Aug. 2 when Javy Lopez went on the DL with a sore right shoulder. ... Atlanta, 58-19 since May 15, needed one victory in the three-game series with the Giants to complete the second-best 80-game stretch in franchise history. The 1914 Boston Braves had a 64-16 tear, and the 1993 team had a 58-22 run.

Cardinals at Pirates
St. Louis: The Cardinals have already used an NL-high 13 starting pitchers this season and they may need more. They have two doubleheaders at the end of the month and aren't certain if RHP Garrett Stephenson (left hamstring strain) will be off the disabled list by then. They hope to have RHP Woody Williams back from a left oblique strain before the month ends. The Cardinals may have to summon pitching help from the minor leagues to get through a stretch of seven games in five days. ... Pitching coach Dave Duncan thinks RHP Jason Simontacchi is rushing his delivery, which is causing his pitches to stay high in the strike zone. Simontacchi beat the Pirates on Monday for his first win since July 3. He had gone six starts without a victory and won on Monday despite being charged with five earned runs in 6 1-3 innings. Pittsburgh: LF Brian Giles is just the third player in the Pirates' 116-year history to hit at least 30 home runs in four consecutive seasons. Ralph Kiner (1947-52) and Willie Stargell (1970-73) are the others. "To be mentioned in the same category as two Hall of Famers is gratifying,'' Giles said. "That's something you can look back on after you're done playing and feel proud.'' ... Rookie RHP Josh Fogg was excused Monday so he could attend the Players Association meeting in Chicago. Fogg is the team's assistant player representative. "I didn't say a word,'' he said. "I was there to learn. There was a lot of information.''

Rockies at Marlins
Colorado: The Rockies' 1-0 victory over the Marlins on Monday night gave them a 50-48 lead in the all-time series between the 1993 expansion teams. Winning at Pro Player Stadium has been a rarity for the Rockies in their history against the Marlins. Monday's victory improved the Rockies' all-time visiting record to 16-31. Florida: C Charles Johnson began an injury rehabilitation assignment Tuesday at Class A Jupiter of the Florida State League. Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 6, retroactive to July 28, with a low back strain. Johnson has not played since the Marlins-Montreal game on July 27. ... The Marlins are fourth in the major leagues in shutout losses and tied with Los Angeles and San Diego in the National League with 11. The team's all-time season record for shutouts against is shared by 1993 and '96 Marlins. Both were shut out in 14 games.

Dodgers at Expos
Los Angeles: Dodgers 2B Mark Grudzielanek entered Tuesday night with homers in his last three games. Grudzielanek's career best was a four-game homer streak from April 5-8, 2001. He entered Tuesday's game batting .355 (38-for-107) since the All-Star break with 12 multihit games. He was hitting .407 (11-for-27) with two doubles, four homers and eight RBI in his last seven games. Montreal: SS Orlando Cabrera rejoined the team after missing the entire series in Milwaukee from Aug. 9-11 to attend to a "personal matter'' in his home of Cartagena, Colombia. Manager Frank Robinson said he would give Cabrera Tuesday off to "get his feet back on the ground.'' ... Expos RF Vladimir Guerrero entered Tuesday's game with a 12-game hitting streak. He is batting .426 (20-for-47) over the streak, with five doubles, six homers, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. Of Guerrero's 32 homers this season, 24 of them have been solo shots.