TUESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Salomon Torres Came within two outs of a shutout in his first outing since ending a five-year retirement. IP H R K 8 1/3 4 0 5 Hero of the day Tigers rookie Andy Van Hekken became the first American League pitcher to debut with a complete-game shutout since the Oakland A's Mike Norris on April 10, 1975, and the first Detroit pitcher to do it since April 15, 1933, when Schoolboy Rowe shut out the White Sox 3-0, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Goat of the day Justin Wayne's big-league debut was not a good one. The Mets drilled the right-hander for seven hits and five runs through four innings in an 11-5 victory, New York's first win at home in 16 games. Injury report Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who took a cortisone shot and had an MRI on his shoulder, is expected to be sidelined until the weekend. Isringhousen has a sore right shoulder. Brewers 3B Lenny Harris left the game against the Cubs with a strained left quadricep in the fourth inning. Stat of the day Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit set a major league record for longest outing resulting in a save, lasting seven innings and combining with two other pitchers to one-hit the Orioles. Left-hander Jarrod Washburn became the Angels' first 16-game winner in nine years. Chuck Finley and Mark Langston accomplished that feat in 1993. Streak of the day Texas third baseman Herbert Perry homered in a victory over the Orioles, extending the Rangers' streak of games with a home run to 21 -- matching a club record set earlier this season. The last word "He must have given himself some good tips." -- Braves starter Tom Glavine, who was outdueled by the Pirates' Salomon Torres, a former pitching coach for the Expos' affiliate in the Dominican Republic.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox at Yankees
Boston: The Red Sox aren't sure when ace Pedro Martinez will be ready to return to the mound. Martinez, who missed his start Tuesday night against the New York Yankees because of an injury, played catch Monday for the first time since starting against the Yankees on Aug. 28. "I'm not sure when he'll be able to pitch. Hopefully by his next start but it's not clear right now,'' manager Grady Little said. ... The Red Sox recalled OF Benny Agbayani, INFs Shane Andrews and Freddy Sanchez and RHP Josh Hancock from Triple-A Pawtucket. Agbayani spent much of this season at Triple-A Colorado Springs before the Red Sox acquired him last month. "It was tough, but I couldn't sulk down there because 29 other teams were watching me,'' he said. "I just had to play hard and see what happens.'' ... Little admits that he's paying attention to the scores out West to see how wild-card contenders Anaheim and Seattle are doing, but he's more concerned with how his team is playing. "We have a club that's going to win between 90 and 95 games I believe,'' he said. "Where that leaves us, I don't know.''

New York: Nick Johnson was activated from the DL and started at DH. Johnson, who missed three weeks with a bone bruise on his left wrist, went 1-for-11 in a rehab stint at Triple-A Columbus. "Not seeing the ball for a while was difficult,'' he said. ... Once again, the Yankees are searching for answers in left field. Rondell White, in an 8-for-74 slump, was not in the starting lineup. "We want Rondell White to be that person but he's pressing a bit right now,'' manager Joe Torre said. ... The Yankees came in with three straight losses and their lead in the AL East had been cut to 6{ games over Boston. "You're never comfortable until you have a bigger lead than games left,'' Torre said.

Rangers at Orioles
Texas: SS Alex Rodriguez was named AL player of the month for the second consecutive month. Rodriguez led the league with 12 homers and a .706 slugging percentage in August while batting .339 (37-for-109) with 27 RBI in 27 games. He became the first player to win the award in back-to-back months since Cleveland's Albert Belle in August and September 1995. ... Rodriguez entered needing two home runs to become just the fifth player with consecutive 50-homer seasons. ... The Rangers were looking to tie the club record of 21 straight games with at least one home run. ... OF Carl Everett was batting .256, his highest mark of the season following a 16-for-30 stretch over eight games. ... OF Kevin Mench's 15 homers are the most for a Texas rookie since Dean Palmer hit 15 in 1991. ... Ruben Rivera has started the last three games in center field.

Baltimore: The Orioles recalled five players: RHP Steve Bechler, OF Larry Bigbie and 3B Jose Leon from Triple-A Rochester, and OF Luis Matos and SS Ed Rogers from Double-A Bowie. ... Baltimore has 11 rookies on its active roster. ... RHP Scott Erickson will probably work out of the bullpen the rest of the season, but the club plans to return him to the rotation next season, manager Mike Hargrove said. ... The Orioles had been outscored 64-24 during their nine-game losing streak coming in. ... The nine-game skid was Baltimore's longest since a 10-gamer last September. ... RHP Sidney Ponson, activated from the 15-day DL over the weekend (partially torn labrum), will start Wednesday against Texas. ... SS Mike Bordick was hitting .184 (7-for-38) since returning from the DL on Aug. 17. ... LHP Buddy Groom had not allowed a run in 15 outings (13 2-3 innings) before giving up a three-run homer to Anaheim's Adam Kennedy on Sunday. Groom entered Tuesday needing eight appearances to reach 70 for the seventh straight year.

White Sox at Blue Jays
Chicago: 3B Joe Crede was named AL player of the week. Crede hit .409 with four home runs and 11 RBI in five games. He made his major league debut July 30. ... RF Magglio Ordonez (109) and 1B Paul Konerko (93) entered having combined for 202 RBI, the third-highest total of any duo in the majors. ... At 6-foot-11, RHP John Rauch is the tallest player in professional baseball history. ... OF Joe Borchard didn't start after making his major league debut Monday. Borchard homered for his first major league hit.

Toronto: General manager J.P. Ricciardi said Chris Woodward will be the team's starting shortstop next year. "It's his job to lose,'' Ricciardi said. Woodward entered hitting .288 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI. He replaced Felipe Lopez as the starter July 18, when Lopez was optioned to the minors. Lopez hit .318 with three home runs and 16 RBI at Triple-A Syracuse before being recalled Monday. ... Manager Carlos Tosca and his staff got a two-year contract extension. "I really think we have a chance to do something special here. We have a lot of young players with a high ceiling. I'm very thankful and appreciative of the fact that I'm getting the opportunity,'' Tosca said. Tosca doesn't have a bench coach, and doesn't think he'll name one for next season. "In the American League the bench coach is not a big a deal as in the National League. Right now I'm leaning toward just keeping the same staff as I have,'' Tosca said.

Indians at Tigers
Cleveland: Manager Joel Skinner will try to balance getting a look at minor league prospects with keeping regulars active enough in September. "You're trying to take advantage of the situation to get them (younger players) playing time,'' he said. "But at the same time, you don't want to let other guys go dormant.'' ... LHP Terry Mulholland made his first start since Oct. 2, 2001.

Detroit: RHP Jose Lima is still simmering about being removed from the starting rotation Monday. "I'm hurt. This is embarrassing to me,'' Lima said. "I thought when I came back here last year (from Houston), it would be a piece of cake.'' Lima is 4-6 with a 7.77 ERA this season. He allowed 11 runs in his last start (Aug. 24). ... 3B Chris Truby was not in the starting lineup because of a sore neck. He was replaced by Craig Paquette.

Angels at Devil Rays
Anaheim: OF Tim Salmon (bruised left hand) could return to the starting lineup as soon as Wednesday. He took part in a simulated game, facing LHPs Dennis Cook and Mark Lukasiewicz. "Tomorrow may be a little of a long shot, but he's very close,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ... RHP Aaron Sele (right rotator cuff) has started throwing off flat ground. The Angels have not ruled out Sele returning this season. ... RHP Ramon Ortiz will start Thursday at Tampa Bay in place of RHP Mickey Callaway, who will pitch Saturday against Baltimore. The move lets Ortiz pitch in his normal rotation spot. ... Rookie INF Chone Figgins, from nearby Seffner, Fla., expected 45-to-50 family members and friends to attend his first game at Tropicana Field.

Tampa Bay: RHP Paul Wilson (tired arm) is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Thursday and Sunday before rejoining the rotation next week after missing one start. ... OF Damian Rolls was recalled from Triple-A Durham and started in left field as rookie Carl Crawford was rested. ... OF Greg Vaughn, activated from the disabled list when rosters expanded Sept. 1, will be mainly a pinch-hitter as the Devil Rays look at young players. Vaughn had been sidelined by a right shoulder injury.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Pirates at Braves
Pittsburgh: The Pirates called up six players on Tuesday, including top prospect Tony Alvarez and former first-round pick J.J. Davis. Alvarez, an outfielder, hit .318 with 15 homers and 59 RBI at Double-A Altoona. Davis, an outfielder, was a first-round pick in 1997 but struggled offensively until this season. He batted .287 with 20 homers and 62 RBI for Altoona. The Pirates also recalled were C Humberto Cota, RHP Duaner Sanchez and RHP Sean Lowe. The other callup was OF Adrian Brown, who started for the Pirates on opening day. His contract was purchased Triple-A Nashville. ... RHP Salomon Torres became the 11th pitcher to start a game for the Pirates this season, one short of their total a year ago. ... OF Brian Giles has a shot at becoming the first Pittsburgh player since Willie Stargell in 1973 to reach 40 homers in a season. Giles hit his 33rd on Monday and had 24 games (including Tuesday) to reach the mark.

Atlanta: 3B Vinny Castilla has been using Gary Sheffield's bats, hoping the change will help snap an extended slump. Sheffield uses a thicker-handled bat than Castilla, who came into Tuesday night's game in a 21-of-117 (.179) slide. More striking, Castilla had gone a career-high 233 at-bats since his last homer on June 11. "He knows what the problem is, but he doesn't know how to correct it,'' said Sheffield, who believes a thicker bat will help keep Castilla from swinging at so many pitches outside the strike zone. Castilla said the bat didn't feel comfortable, but his teammate said that's OK. "It's going to make him think about other things,'' Sheffield said. Using the new bats, Castilla had two hits Monday night, including a double off the wall. Asked if he planned to keep using Sheffield's bats, Castilla replied, "Believe it. If you don't believe anything else, you'd better believe that.'' ... In 2001, IF Travis Wilson nearly made Atlanta's opening day roster after playing at Class-A Myrtle Beach the year before. On Tuesday, the New Zealand native was designated for assignment so the Braves could add RHP Trey Hodges to their 40-man roster. Wilson played at Triple-A Richmond this season, batting .263 with 13 homers and 71 RBI. If he clears waivers, he'll have 10 days to decide if he wants to remain with the Braves organization or sign elsewhere.

Brewers at Cubs
Milwaukee: The Brewers purchased the contract of OF Jim Rushford from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... LHP Wayne Franklin, the player to be named in the deal that sent Mark Loretta to Houston, is to join the team Wednesday. ... RHP David Pember will be making his major league debut Tuesday night against the Cubs. He was selected in the eighth round of the 1999 amateur draft. He went 10-6 with a 3.17 ERA in 27 games for Double-A Huntsville. Brewers manager Jerry Royster is getting a good look at his pitching prospects. On Monday RHP Ben Diggins made his major league debut and lost 17-4. Royster thinks you can't judge a pitcher on just one outing because the amount of pressure. "As far as pitching goes, it so much different from being a hitter because you got to throw the ball over the plate'' Royster said. "This is an opportunity to show your stuff.''

Chicago: Cubs recalled 1B Hee Seop Choi and RHP Carlos Zambrano from Iowa and purchased the contract of LHP Jesus Sanchez from the Triple-A team. The Cubs also transferred RHP Jon Lieber to the 60-day disabled list. Lieber had reconstructive right elbow surgery on Aug. 8. Choi will be looking to make his major league debut after having a successful season in Triple-A. He batted .287 with 26 homers and 97 RBI in 135 games.'' He is a good player, a good all around player, a good defensive player, a good hitter, he has power, good baserunner and he has a lot of pop,'' Cubs interim manager Bruce Kimm said. The 23-year-old rookie is one of the top prospects in the Cubs organization and could be the starting first baseman next season. McGriff and the Cubs have a mutual option. Sanchez opened the season in the bullpen with Chicago and was sent to Iowa on April 24 after going 0-0 with a 7.36 ERA in five relief outings. In 24 starts and two relief appearances, he went 8-9 with a 5.90 ERA. ... RHP Jason Bere will miss the rest of the season due to an injured groin.

Phillies at Expos
Philadelphia: RHP Jose Mesa needs one more save to become the first Phillies closer to have two 40-save seasons. Mesa, who got his 39th save on Friday, had 42 saves last season. ... The Phillies are 20-12 since 3B Scott Rolen was traded to St. Louis for 3B Placido Polanco, RHP Mike Timlin and LHP Bud Smith on July 29. ... Despite Sunday's 5-1 loss, Philadelphia has won 10 of its last 12 games. ... The Phillies have won 29 of their last 42 road games.

Montreal: CF Endy Chavez started and batted leadoff. Chavez, called up from Triple-A Ottawa along with RHPs Sun-Woo Kim and Tim Drew following Sunday's 5-1 win, hit .343 with Ottawa to win the International League batting title. He hit .194 (7-for-36) in 14 games with Montreal earlier this season. ... SS Orlando Cabrera has five hits in his last 10 at-bats, including two doubles. Cabrera's 37 doubles -- he had a career-high 41 doubles last season -- through Sunday were third in the NL. San Francisco's Jeff Kent and Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu were tied for the league lead with 40 doubles.

Reds at Cardinals
Cincinnati: Bob Boone managed his 300th game with the Reds. He was 133-166 before Tuesday. ... Reds relievers retired 15 straight batters on Monday and hadn't allowed a home run since Aug. 19, a stretch of 46 1-3 innings. ... RHP Scott Sullivan has appeared in 65 games and has a chance to lead the team for the fifth straight year. Closer Danny Graves and LHP Gabe White each had been in 62 games. ... CF Ken Griffey Jr. missed his sixth straight start with a sore left hip. He's in a 1-for-23 slump. ... With 25 games left, Adam Dunn was 19 walks shy of the team record of 132 set by Joe Morgan in 1975. ... Aaron Boone, the Reds' player representative, was 8-for-59 in the 16 games leading up to last Friday when the strike was averted. Since then he was 6-for-17 with a homer and four RBI.

St. Louis: RHP Garrett Stephenson will stay in the rotation, at least for one more start, after giving up five runs in 4 1-3 innings against the Reds on Monday. Stephenson is scheduled to make his third start since coming off the 60-day disabled list from a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Cubs. ... RHP Matt Morris, on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, will throw in the bullpen on Wednesday. It's his first action since being hurt trying to beat out a ground ball on Aug. 23. ... The Cardinals recalled RHP Jason Simontacchi, in the rotation most of the year, from Triple-A Memphis and he'll available for starting or relieving duty this weekend after starting Monday in the minors. "He's in a cast of guys and a lot depends on what guys do with their opportunities, and whether Matt comes back right away,'' manager Tony La Russa said. The Cardinals also recalled RHP Gabe Molina and purchased the contract of IF Wilson Delgado from Memphis. ... RHP Andy Benes will oppose younger brother Alan Benes of the Cubs on Friday.

Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Los Angeles: The Dodgers are 23 games over .500 for the first time since the last two days of the 1991 season. ... Los Angeles has scored first in seven of its last eight games and are 61-16 in games when they tally the first run. ... In his last 33 games, 3B Adrian Beltre is hitting .373 (50-for-134) with nine doubles, 27 RBI and 27 runs scored. ... RHP Kevin Brown worked an inning of relief in Monday night's 19-1 win. Manager Jim Tracy says he will continue to bring Brown along slowly, and that the right-hander's quality of pitches is good but his command still needs work as he comes back frrom back surgery.

Arizona: RHP Armando Reynoso pitched a simulated game Tuesday and may be activated for the remainder of the season. Reynoso has missed all season while recovering from neck surgery. ... The Diamondbacks called up 1B Lyle Overbay from Triple-A Tucson, giving them four first basemen on their roster. Overbay was second in the PCL in hitting at .343. ... Arizona has allowed runs in the first inning in five of its last seven games. The Diamondbacks didn't allow a run in the first on Monday night, but gave up five in the second. ... A loss by Arizona on Tuesday or Wednesday would mean the Diamondbacks have lost three consecutive series since July 21-30 of 2000.

Marlins at Mets
Florida: The Marlins called up RHP Justin Wayne, the starter in the second game of the doubleheader, and INF-OF Brian Banks from Triple-A Calgary. Florida also recalled RHP Gary Knotts, INF Pablo Ozuna and OF Abraham Nunez from Calgary. ... Derrek Lee went 3-for-5 in the first game of the doubleheader, then homered in his first at-bat of the nightcap to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. ... C Charles Johnson threw out his 17th runner in 49 attempts. ... The Marlins tied a season high with their fifth straight win in the first game of the doubleheader, but the streak was snapped in Game 2.

New York: Mike Piazza, who had his sore left wrist heavily taped, batted fifth for the first time this season and had two singles before leaving for a pinch-runner in the seventh inning of the first game. Piazza has batted third 62 times and fourth 44 times. He did not start the second game. Mets manager Bobby Valentine said before the opener that Piazza was batting fifth because of the wrist, not because he was 5-for-40 in his previous 11 games. ... The Mets recalled INF Ty Wigginton from Triple-A Norfolk. ... Closer Armando Benitez blew his fourth save in 33 chances in the first game. He doesn't have a save at Shea Stadium since July 28 against Cincinnati.

Rockies at Giants
Colorado: OF Larry Walker was held out of the starting lineup because of recurring back spasms. Manager Clint Hurdle had hoped to sit him Wednesday and then have him rest Thursday on the off day, but Walker's back was too stiff to play Tuesday. He could be available to pinch-hit. ... Hurdle said the Rockies strayed from their game plan last week when they gave up five home runs to the Giants' Barry Bonds and four to Jeff Kent at Coors Field. "If we can make pitches, we can get them out,'' Hurdle said. "They're human beings. The pitches (Bonds) had available to hit, he's not going to miss. We've got to do better.'' ... Hurdle's infant daughter Madison, whom he learned last week has a birth defect, has gained nine ounces -- a positive sign, he said. "This was a real big day today,'' Hurdle said. She has Prader-Willi Syndrome, which can sometimes lead to mild mental retardation. Madison was born Aug. 7, but spent the next 18 days in the hospital. ... RHP Jason Jennings was selected NL rookie of the month for August. He was 5-1 with a 3.55 ERA.

San Francisco: The Giants recalled RHPs Kurt Ainsworth and Joe Nathan and INF Cody Ransom from Triple-A Fresno. They also purchased the contract of C Trey Lunsford from Fresno. To make room for Lunsford on the 40-man roster, INF Nelson Castro was designated for assignment. When asked how he will use the added players, manager Dusty Baker said, "They'll probably do more pinch-hitting, pinch-running, pinch a lot of stuff.'' ... Barry Bonds was named NL player of the month for August and player of the week for Aug. 26-Sept. 1. Bonds hit .447 with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in August. ... David Bell couldn't complain about San Francisco's 6-1 road trip. The Giants scored in the first inning six times and remain in the playoff chase. "Any time you win six of seven on the road it's a good trip,'' Bell said. "This is what you play for, it's going to be a fun last few weeks. We have a good chance.'' ... Closer Robb Nen entered needing two saves to tie Rod Beck for the franchise career record at 199. Beck did it from 1991-97.

Astros at Padres
Houston: RHP Roy Oswalt was named NL pitcher of the month for August. He was 6-0 with a 1.22 ERA in six starts, and opponents hit only .184 against him. ... With six wins in a month, Oswalt accomplished what only three other Astros pitchers have done. Darryl Kile was 6-0 in July 1997, Mike Scott was 6-1 in June 1989 and Vern Ruhle was 6-0 in August 1983. ... The Astros sent LHP Wayne Franklin from Triple-A New Orleans to Milwaukee as one of the players to be named in the trade for INF Mark Loretta.

San Diego: Sean Burroughs, the highly touted rookie who hurt his shoulder in May and then spent the last month and a half in the minors, rejoined the Padres. Also recalled from Triple-A Portland were OF Kory DeHaan, C Wil Nieves and INF-OF Cesar Crespo. Burroughs started at third base and batted sixth. Burroughs, the son of 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, was San Diego's opening day third baseman, which forced the Padres to move Phil Nevin to first base and Ryan Klesko to right field. But Burroughs was benched May 27 as his average dipped to .221, and four days later he was diagnosed with a slight tear in his right rotator cuff. He originally hurt the shoulder last September while with Portland. When he came off the disabled list July 15, he was sent to Portland. ... CF Mark Kotsay batted cleanup for just the second time in his career. The first was Aug. 14, 1999, when he went 0-for-4 against the Padres while with Florida.