FRIDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Barry Zito Flirted with perfection and a no-hitter, but settled for his 21st victory of the season in the Athletics' 5-0 victory over the Mariners. IP H R SO 8 2 0 7 Hero of the day Tigers first baseman Carlos Pena smacked his second walkoff home run of the year in the 10th inning of Detroit's 4-2 victory over the Royals. Pena has 18 homers this season. Goat of the day Easily the Mets defense. Gold Glove second baseman Roberto Alomar had three of New York's season-high six errors in the Mets' 11-8 loss to the Expos. The multiple errors led to six unearned runs. New York leads the majors with 130 errors this year. Injury report Cubs 2B Bobby Hill was forced to leave the game in the seventh with a bruise and cuts on two swollen fingers when he was stepped on scoring the winning run. Red Sox OF Cliff Floyd was hit by a pitch in the right arm in the sixth and stayed in the game to run. He was replaced in the field in the seventh by Benny Agbayani but said afterward he was just sore. Twins OF Torii Hunter sat out against the Indians after straining a muscle in his rear end in Thursday's game. Royals OF Raul Ibanez, injured during Thursday's game, did not play Friday because of a strained ligament in his left thumb. He may miss the four-game series against the Tigers. Streak of the day Expos slugger Vladimir Guerrero knocked in 100 RBI for the fifth straight season with three RBI in Montreal's 11-8 victory over the Mets. Stat of the day Jarrod Washburn (18-5) became the Angels' top winner since 1991, when Mark Langston won 19 games and Chuck Finley and Jim Abbott each had 18 victories. The last word "I threw some pretty good pitches that got hit, and I threw some bad pitches that got hit harder. I felt fine. I just couldn't get them to hit it at anybody.'' -- Braves starter Greg Maddux, who was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the third inning of the Braves' 13-3 loss to the Marlins. Maddux gave up seven earned runs in two innings.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
White Sox-Yankees
CHICAGO: The Yankees' scheduled starters this weekend -- Mike Mussina, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte -- have 597 career wins, compared to 37 for Chicago's trio of Rocky Biddle, Dan Wright and Gary Glover. "This time of year it's good to find comparisons in that environment,'' manager Jerry Manuel said. ... Manuel and Yankees 1B Jason Giambi will be enshrined in the Arizona Fall League's Hall of Fame in November.

NEW YORK: Closer Mariano Rivera, out since Aug. 16 with a sore right shoulder, returned to the team and is scheduled to throw BP on Saturday. "I have no soreness. I have no pain,'' he said. "I threw yesterday and I felt good. Today I feel good. I go by my feelings.'' ... Slugger Jason Giambi did not start one night after bruising his right wrist when he was hit by a pitch against Baltimore. "It's a little bit stiff,'' Giambi said. "If it were a dire need I could play. I'm just going to rest it today and go from there.'' ... OF Shane Spencer, sidelined with a tight left hamstring, could return this weekend. "We need to see what he can do leg-wise,'' manager Joe Torre said. "I hope to get him in there this weekend.'' ... Torre knows he will have a difficult decision to make in the next two weeks about his playoff rotation. With five starters for four spots, Torre will have to move one proven playoff performer to the bullpen. "It's a tough conversation to have,'' he said. "But I'd rather have that than have to figure out who's going to pitch Game 3 or Game 4.''

Royals-Tigers
KANSAS CITY: Raul Ibanez will likely miss the weekend because of a strained ligament in his left thumb. "We expect him to be out 3-to-5 days, depending on the amount of swelling,'' trainer Nick Swartz said. Ibanez, who has 99 RBI, was injured when he collided with Aaron Rowand during the sixth inning of Thursday's 5-1 loss to the White Sox. ... The Royals have never lost 100 games in a season, a record manager Tony Pena would like to extend. "I don't want to lose 100 games, but the most important thing is to get this ballclub to stay focused on the field,'' he said. "I'm going to use everyone, but at the same time you have to win.'' The Royals lost their 91st game Friday night. ... RHP Mike MacDougal, a 1999 first-round draft choice, will likely pitch long relief this month. "The guy throws 99 mph with movement,'' Pena said. "I'd like to see him pitch 2-3 innings in tough situations in middle relief. (But) we're not going to push the kid hard right away.''

DETROIT: RHP reliever Matt Anderson, on the 60-day DL since June 9 with a tear in his shoulder, threw on the side before Friday's game. "He threw good,'' manager Luis Pujols said. "We're going to talk to him and see how he feels (Saturday).'' Even if the Tigers activate him Saturday, Pujols said the earliest he would pitch would be Monday ... Ramon Santiago and Omar Infante, who both have played shortstop for the Tigers this season, also will get looks at second base in the final two-plus weeks of the season. "If we put one of those guys there next season, we have to make sure we make the right choice,'' Pujols said. He added the two might also alternate starting at second base and shortstop in the final two weeks.

Twins-Indians
MINNESOTA: OF Torii Hunter was kept out of the starting lineup Friday night after pulling a muscle in his rear end while running out a ground ball on Thursday. "It's a little tight,'' said Hunter, who expects to play Saturday. ... Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has been impressed with his team's intensity all season long. "They've never really let up,'' he said. "Their attitude has always been the same. It's been like that all year. I noticed a little bit more intensity when we played Oakland.'' ... Gardenhire said once the Twins clinch the AL Central he'll try to get his players some rest -- not too much. He knows if might be tough getting guys to sit. "I talked to a number of our players and they don't want any to take any time off,'' he said. "I learned in '91, though, that when you get near the playoffs, I don't think your body needs rest anymore.''

CLEVELAND: Rookie INF Brandon Phillips looked out at the vibrant green grass inside Jacobs Field and could hardly believe his eyes. "Whoa,'' he said sitting in the Indians' dugout for the first time. "I'm just shocked right now. It's beautiful. Just like I saw it in the video games.'' Phillips, acquired in the July trade that sent Bartolo Colon to Montreal, was one of seven players brought up from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, and he was savoring every moment of his first day as a big leaguer. "Being here is beautiful,'' he said. ... Since being promoted from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 6, OF Karim Garcia has 43 RBI -- the majors' most since that date. In just 36 games, Garcia is batting .329 (47-of-103) with 12 homers and 43 RBI. ... Before Friday's game, the Indians gathered near home plate to unveil a plaque honoring late trainer Jimmy Warfield, who died on July 16 after suffering a brain hemorrhage at Jacobs Field. The Indians renamed their training room in Warfield's honor and have established scholarships at Penn State and Ohio State for Warfield, who was a huge college football fan. During the pregame tribute Twins broadcaster Bert Blyleven and Minnesota pitcher Mike Jackson joined the Indians. Both played for Cleveland.

Orioles-Red Sox
BALTIMORE: Tony Batista broke an 0-for-13 slump with a ground-rule double in the second inning. ... OF Melvin Mora missed the game as he began serving a three-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl with the Boston Red Sox on July 28. ... The Orioles led for the 13th time in 20 games when they took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. But they lost 18 of the previous 19 games. ... Baltimore was in sole possession of third place in the AL East from April 27 until losing a doubleheader to the New York Yankees last Tuesday.

BOSTON: RHP Rolando Arrojo was activated from the disabled list. ... Pitching coach Tony Cloninger served his one-game suspension Friday night for his part in the July 28 brawl. 2B Rey Sanchez plans to serve his two-game suspension Monday, missing a doubleheader with Cleveland. C Jason Varitek plans to start serving his three-game suspension in the second game of the doubleheader. ... Four of Boston's major-league high 16 shutouts were against Baltimore. ... Manny Ramirez fell to 0-for-10 in his career against Rodrigo Lopez when he struck out in the second inning and popped out with the bases loaded in the third.

Devil Rays-Blue Jays
TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays recalled RHPs Dewon Brazelton, Delvin James and Jesus Colome from Triple-A Durham on Friday. The moves were made after Durham shut out Buffalo on Thursday night to sweep the best-of-five International League's Governor's Cup Championship. .... Brazelton, the third overall selection in the 2001 amateur draft, made his major league debut Friday against Toronto. The 22-year-old went a combined 6-9 with a 3.21 ERA in his first professional season with Double-A Orlando and Durham. He was added to the major league roster last September after signing on Aug. 25, but he didn't pitch.

TORONTO: Manager Carlos Tosca hopes OF Jose Cruz Jr. will be able to return to the lineup on Monday. Cruz has been sidelined since August 10 with a torn ligament in his right ankle. ... DH Josh Phelps returned to the lineup after missing a game. Phelps injured his left knee on a foul ball on Tuesday. ... 2B Orlando Hudson missed his third straight game because of fatigue. Hudson has been suffering flulike symptoms.

Mariners-Athletics
SEATTLE: Seattle scored 32 runs with five home runs and hit .341 in a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals to start its current road trip, then managed only 15 runs, four homers and .265 batting average in four straight losses at Texas. The four-game losing streak equals the longest for the Mariners this year, and they know they have to start producing again offensively in a hurry to have any chance at getting back to the winning ways that defined this club in 2001. "It gives you a headache if you sit and think about what needs to happen (to reach the postseason),'' catcher Dan Wilson said. "We just have to do what it takes to win each and every game.'' ... Manager Lou Piniella hasn't lost hope. "If we sweep Oakland, and Texas sweeps Anaheim, and Oakland or Anaheim sweeps each other and we sweep Texas, then we're in the wild card,'' a positive-thinking Piniella said. "There's time. Time is of the essence.'' Piniella said he plans to fulfill the final year of his contract next year. ... C Ben Davis will likely return to the lineup Saturday after sitting out because of back spasms. ... Utilityman Mark McLemore took extra batting practice and hopes to return Monday. He had surgery Sept. 5 on his right elbow. He's not quite ready to throw. "Soon,'' he said. I'm playing Monday. That's my plan.''

OAKLAND: Manager Art Howe had no interest in talking about Seattle's struggles. The Athletics entered Friday's game against the Mariners having lost three straight at Anaheim. "We've got our problems,'' Howe said. "We'd like to get it going and turn it around at home.'' He doesn't care how the A's get into the playoffs, as long as they get in. "I can't say we'd like to play this team or that team. We want to get to the postseason,'' he said. ... The A's took a 10-game home winning streak into Friday's game. But they scored only 23 runs on their seven-game road trip with a team batting average of .198. That's after Oakland scored six or more runs 16 times in a 17-game stretch.

Rangers-Angels
TEXAS: C Todd Greene was back in the lineup Friday night at DH. Greene left Thursday's game after being hit on the right cheekbone by a foul tip in the eighth inning. X-rays were negative. ... Heading into Friday night's series opener in Anaheim, SS Alex Rodriguez's 54 homers ranked him No. 8 on the AL's all-time single-season list, topped by Roger Maris' 61 in 1961. Rodriguez also had 132 RBI, tying his 2000 total for sixth place on the all-time list for shortstops, headed by Vern Stephens' 159 in 1949. A-Rod was only three RBI short of his career high of 135, set last year. ... The Rangers' record of 69-77 going into the series at Anaheim would put them in third place in both the AL East and Central, but leaves them last in the West, 22 games back of co-leaders Anaheim and Oakland.

ANAHEIM: RHP Troy Percival, the Angels' closer, did not pitch in Thursday's 7-6 win over Oakland because he had pitched the previous two nights and in five of the past eight games. RHP Brendan Donnelly, a 31-year-old rookie, got the call in the ninth and allowed a game-tying solo homer to Eric Chavez with two outs. But Anaheim scored in the bottom of the inning to give Donnelly his first win in the majors. ... The Angels' 91-55 record going into the weekend series against Texas was the club's best mark ever after 146 games. Their second-best record at the same point of the season was 85-61 in 1986. That was the year the Angels, who haven't played in a World Series, were one pitch away in Game 5 before Boston came back to beat them and win the AL title. ... Anaheim's bullpen has been extremely effective in recent games, having allowed just three earned runs in 40 1-3 innings spanning 13 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cubs-Reds
CHICAGO: Kerry Wood gave up his 17th homer of the season in the first inning, matching his career high from 2000. He has given up more homers than any other Cubs pitcher this season. ... RHP Matt Clement is scheduled to start Saturday. Clement missed his last scheduled start because of a sore back, but threw without a problem during a workout Thursday. ... The Cubs lead the majors in strikeouts on the mound and at the plate.

CINCINNATI: Todd Walker's first-inning homer was his first hit in 14 career at-bats against Kerry Wood. It extended his hitting streak to nine games. ... Jason LaRue's second-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games. ... RHP Brian Moehler was activated from the 15-day DL. He was sidelined Aug. 28 with weakness in his right shoulder. Manager Bob Bone plans to use him out of the bullpen. Moehler has made 183 starts in the majors, but has never pitched in relief. ... Adam Dunn walked in each of his first two plate appearances, giving him 122 walks this season. It's the highest total by a Reds player since Joe Morgan set the club record with 132 in 1975.

Mets-Expos
NEW YORK: RHP John Thomson came in 2-0 over his last three starts. Thomson, who made his seventh start for the Mets since he was acquired from Colorado on July 31, lost his first three starts with New York. ... C Mike Piazza entered needing two homers to reach 30 for the eighth straight season. Piazza has hit at least 30 homers in nine of his 10 full seasons in the majors. He hit 24 homers in 107 games with Los Angeles during the strike-shortened 1994 season. ... The Mets had homered in 12 of their last 13 games. New York had hit a total of 23 homers over that span.

MONTREAL: RHP Tomo Ohka was suspended six games by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson. Ohka, who also was fined $1,000, was ejected after hitting Atlanta's Andruw Jones in the helmet with a pitch last Saturday. Ohka had no comment about the suspension, which was appealed by the players' association. ... Former Expos Tim Wallach, Charlie Lea and Dennis Martinez will be on hand Sunday for Montreal's second "Turn Back the Clock'' promotion of the season. Wallach's 123 RBI in 1987 set a team record, which was broken by RF Vladimir Guerrero in 1999. Lea no-hit San Francisco on May 10, 1981, and Martinez pitched a perfect game in Los Angeles on July 28, 1991.

Braves-Marlins
ATLANTA: LHP Tom Glavine faces his most unlikely nemesis Saturday in Mike Redmond. The Florida catcher is 21-for-37 (.568) with two home runs career against Glavine. ... Chipper Jones began the weekend with eight home runs and 31 RBI on the road. He has 16 homers and 58 RBI at home.

FLORIDA: Rookie RHP Josh Beckett, plagued by blisters on his pitching finger this season, will make his first start since Aug. 22 on Saturday. He'll be limited to about 50 pitches. A.J. Burnett, on the disabled list since Aug. 19 with a bone bruise in his pitching elbow, will be activated and throw one inning. "Spring training in September,'' manager Jeff Torborg said. ... Rookie left-hander Michael Tejera, who has struggled in recent starts, looks tired and might finish the season in the bullpen, Torborg said. ... 3B Mike Lowell has refused to talk to the media the past two weeks. He became angry when a Miami radio talk-show host criticized Lowell for comments made last month regarding baseball's labor negotiations.

Pirates-Phillies
PITTSBURGH: The team's Class-A affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads, won the South Atlantic League championship Thursday night. Last season, the Crawdads finished in sixth place in the Northern Division with a 58-79 record. ... Prior to the series this weekend with Philadelphia, the Pirates had played just three games on artificial turf, all in Montreal. ... Philadelphia and Pittsburgh used to be fierce rivals in the NL East. Now, since realignment moved the Pirates to the NL Central, the teams meet just twice a year and Pittsburgh had not been in Philadelphia since May 2001, when it was swept in a three-game series. ... Saturday's starter RHP Brian Meadows is 3-1 career against the Phillies despite a 5.09 ERA.

PHILADELPHIA: The Phillies gave the Paul Owens Award to their top minor league fielder and pitcher. The top fielder was Chase Utley, the team's top pick in the 2000 draft. He hit .263 with 17 homers and 70 RBI for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre of the International League despite missing 17 games with a sprained ankle. The team's best minor league pitcher was RHP Ryan Madison, the ninth-round pick in the 1998 draft. He was a league-best 16-4 with a 3.20 ERA for Double-A Reading. ... Saturday's starter RHP Brandon Duckworth will be pitching on an extra day of rest. Duckworth, who is 6-9 this season, experienced back spasms after his start last Sunday against New York and was given another day.

Cardinals-Astros
ST. LOUIS: From spring training to his recent callup from the minors has been a big leap for rookie outfielder So Taguchi, the first Japanese player in Cardinals history. He came in 3-for-8 (.375) on three singles. Taguchi hit .247 and drove in 36 runs in 304 at-bats with Triple-A Memphis. "I have more confidence right now,'' Taguchi said. "I made some changes that have helped. I'm hitting the ball harder more often.''

HOUSTON: 1B Jeff Bagwell will host 5,700 children and their families at Saturday's game to honor the late Darryl Kile. Bagwell considered Kile, a former Astros pitcher, among his best friends. Bagwell's foundation has paid for tickets, transportation and lunch for the guests at "DK57 Day.'' All the children will receive "DK57'' T-shirts. "We decided to have some kids here and I thought it'd be a nice tribute to Darryl,'' Bagwell said. "To know Darryl, you know he loved his family and he loved baseball. But most of all, he loved helping other people.''

Dodgers-Rockies
LOS ANGELES: Slumping 3B Adrian Beltre was given the day off, and Tyler Houston was in the lineup. Beltre is in a 1-for-16 slide. "You could see in his body language that he's searching,'' manager Jim Tracy said. "There comes a time when you have to intervene.'' ... LHP Kazuhisa Ishii, hit in the forehead by a line drive last weekend, was released from the hospital. ... The Dodgers didn't know what to expect from RHP Kevin Beirne in his second major league start. "I have liked what I have seen of him and not only do you get to observe more of the physical characteristics of him, but more of the character,'' Tracy said. "Whatever he gives us that stays positive would be realistic.''

COLORADO: OF Larry Walker was a late addition to the lineup. Walker was held out of the previous two games with soreness in his left arm. "He walked into my office and said he was ready to go,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ... Todd Helton, Todd Zeile and Juan Uribe were late for batting practice after floods closed a freeway just south of downtown. ... Hurdle is mindful that RHP Aaron Cook has 31 1-3 innings under his belt and will make sure he doesn't reach 50 innings before the end of the season, the limit for rookie status. "I can't see jeopardizing a kid's rookie status for any reason,'' Hurdle said. "If he goes six innings in his next three starts he is underneath it.'' ... Hurdle said RHP Victor Santos, who is replacing injured LHP Mike Hampton, will be on a pitch count Saturday in his first start of the year.

Giants-Padres
SAN FRANCISCO: If RHP Livan Hernandez (10-15) loses Saturday, he will set a career high for losses. He was 13-15 last year. ... This had been scheduled as a four-game series in San Diego, but the teams were forced to swap dates due to football games in San Diego on Saturday and Sunday. The teams will play in San Francisco on Saturday and Sunday. ... It will be the first scheduled regular-season Saturday night game in Pacific Bell Park's three-year history.

SAN DIEGO: 3B Phil Nevin apologized to team officials for making an obscene gesture at a fan who was riding him for making an error Thursday night. GM Kevin Towers said the team received several e-mails and phone calls from fans who witnessed the exchange between Nevin and the fan, who was sitting near San Diego's dugout. "I was wrong. No question about it,'' said Nevin, who admitted he's been frustrated by injuries and the Padres' losing season. "It will never happen again.'' ... The Padres extended their working agreement with the Class-A Fort Wayne Wizards of the Midwest League through the 2004 season.

Brewers-Diamondbacks
MILWAUKEE: The Brewers have just one home run in their last seven games, and none in their past five. ... Every team remaining on Milwaukee's schedule has a winning record. ... INF Eric Young has reached 30 steals for the eighth consecutive season.

ARIZONA: There is a good chance the Diamondbacks will clinch the NL West on the road. After their three-game series with Milwaukee ends Sunday, Arizona plays nine in a row on the road before finishing the regular season with four at home against Colorado. ... The Diamondbacks named Scott Hairston minor league player of the year and Mike Gosling minor league pitcher of the year. Hairston, 22, hit .332 with Class-A South Bend and .405 in 18 games with Class-A Lancaster. Gosling, with Double-A El Paso, led the Texas League with 14 wins, finished third in ERA (3.13) and third in innings pitched (166 2-3). ... RHP Curt Schilling needs eight strikeouts to make him and Randy Johnson the first teammates in major league history with 300.