THURSDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Randy Johnson Tied teammate Curt Schilling for most wins in NL with his 23rd in the Diamondbacks' 3-1 win over the Padres. IP H ER SO 7 4 1 9 Hero of the day Reds catcher Kelly Stinnett hit the first grand slam of his career with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to lead Cincinnati to a 5-4 victory over the Pirates. Goat of the day Rockies reliever Todd Jones didn't retire one of the four batters he faced in the eighth inning of Colorado's 12-6 loss to the Cardinals. Jones allowed four hits, including three homers, and four earned runs in his short stint. Injuries Rockies outfielder Larry Walker left in the fourth inning with soreness in his left shoulder. Mets third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo didn't start because of a stomach virus, but did pinch-hit in the ninth. Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu didn't play because of a tight hamstring. He's expected to return to the lineup Friday. Streak of the day Blue Jays outfielder Shannon Stewart got a career-high five hits in five at-bats in Toronto's 9-3 victory over the Orioles. Stat of the day Expos pitcher Bartolo Colon became the second pitcher ever to win 10 games in each league in the same season after winning his 10th game with Montreal thanks to a 6-5 win over the Marlins. The last word " It just happened so fast. When you get in brawls with the other team, you have a chance to anticipate this type of thing. But not when it's coming totally unprovoked. And from behind. I'm just totally stunned." -- Royals first-base coach Tom Gamboa, who was attacked by a father and son at Comiskey Park.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Blue Jays-Orioles
TORONTO: The Blue Jays signed a two-year player-development deal with the New Haven Ravens of the Double-A Eastern League. St. Louis severed its relationship with the Ravens this year and signed a deal with the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League, who had been Toronto's affiliate for 23 years. ... Vernon Wells snapped a 1-for-35 skid with an RBI single in the first inning Thursday against Baltimore. It was his 36th RBI in the last 37 road games. ... RHP Cliff Politte allowed a run in only one of his previous 18 appearances before giving up an RBI double to Marty Cordova on Wednesday. ... Despite scoring four runs in the top of the first Thursday, the Blue Jays have been outscored 98-85 in the opening inning this season. ... Jose Cruz hit an RBI double in the first inning. Twenty-seven of his last 51 hits have been for extra bases.

BALTIMORE: The four runs allowed by Rodrigo Lopez in the first inning Thursday was more than he gave up in nine of his previous 14 starts. ... 2B Jerry Hairston lost his job as leadoff hitter early in the season, but has reclaimed the spot and impressed manager Mike Hargrove in the process. "Jerry seems to have adjusted his game. He's given us good, consistent at-bats,'' Hargrove said. "For the most part, Jerry has been doing a good job.'' ... Orioles rookies lead the majors with 36 wins. Lopez was vying for No. 37 Thursday. ... All 19 games between Toronto and Baltimore are played after the All-Star break. The Orioles were 4-11 against the Blue Jays before Thursday.

Twins-Tigers
MINNESOTA: CF Torii Hunter and third baseman Corey Koskie were back in the starting lineup for Thursday night's game, which was rained out after two innings. Both were injured on Tuesday night. Hunter was hit in the arm by a pitch and Koskie fouled a pitch off of his foot. Neither played on Wednesday night, but manager Ron Gardenhire said they both could have. ... Jacque Jones was also injured in Tuesday night's game, he sprained his ankle sliding into second base. He also didn't play Wednesday and wasn't in the lineup for Thursday's game. "Still sore, still a couple of days away,'' Gardenhire said. "Feels a little better today, still got some soreness.''

DETROIT: The Tigers placed a temporary fence in left field for the team's batting practice on Thursday. Since Comerica Park opened in 2000, there has been an ongoing debate about whether the fences are too far away, especially in left field. It's 345 feet down the line, but it angles out quickly. It's 395 to the left-field power alley and 420-feet to straight away center. The fence extended from about eight-feet off the foul line to the flag pole in left center. It is believed that the flag pole is over 430-feet away from home plate. The team has said it is considering moving the left-field fence in. "I would like to see the fence moved in to at least right there,'' catcher Brandon Inge said. "Actually, where it needs to be a little more in is in left center, around that flag pole.'' The team is just kicking around the idea. "I don't know if we're leaning one way or the other at this point,'' GM Dave Dombrowski said. ... Unavailable for Detroit on Thursday were Bobby Higginson (sore muscle in his right side suffered in batting cage), Hiram Bocachica (back spasms) and Shane Halter, who couldn't play in the field because of rotator cuff difficulties.

Yankees-Devil Rays
NEW YORK: Closer Mariano Rivera (right shoulder) threw 12 minutes off a bullpen mound and could be activated from the 15-day DL by Saturday. "Roger (Clemens) is sort of lobbying for tomorrow (Friday) because it's his game,'' manager Joe Torre said. "After throwing today, Saturday seems to be an appropriate day.'' ... LHP David Wells (stomach virus) said he felt 100 percent better and is scheduled to pitch Sunday. ... 3B Drew Henson will remain in Florida and work out at the team's minor league complex with former Yankees' great Don Mattingly. He will report to the Arizona Fall League late next week. ... CF Bernie Williams (left knee) missed his second straight game. He could start Friday at Detroit. ... OF Shane Spencer (left hamstring) will likely miss at least 4-to-5 games. ... LHP Randy Keisler (shoulder) is expected to pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico. ... GM Brian Cashman said RHP Adrian "El Duquecito'' Hernandez will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.

TAMPA BAY: C Paul Hoover was selected from Triple-A Durham and RHP Lee Garnder was designated for assignment. ... C John Flaherty has a small fracture in his left middle finger and his day to day. He was hurt in Tuesday's game. ... SS B.J. Upton (dehydration) is expected to resume full scale drills Friday with the Devil Rays' Florida Instructional League team. Taken second overall in this year's amateur draft, Upton required treatment at a local hospital Tuesday after experiencing cramps.

Royals-White Sox
KANSAS CITY: 1B Mike Sweeney, in contention for the AL batting title, was out of the starting lineup with a sore back. "It's bothered him for the last couple of days and today it was really bad,'' manager Tony Pena said. "I want to make sure he doesn't go out and hurt it bad.'' Sweeney was on the disabled list for almost a month earlier this season with a strained lower back and hip. He's hitting .342, one point behind Boston's Manny Ramirez. ... With Sweeney out, 1B-DH Raul Ibanez started at first. Ibanez was back in the lineup Wednesday night as DH after missing five games with a sprained left thumb. "We played catch yesterday,'' Pena said. "I played catch (with him) because I wanted to make sure about it.'' ... RHP Paul Byrd, who started Thursday night, has been one of the Royals' bright spots this season. He'd won a career-high 16 games and had a 3.23 ERA going into Thursday's start. "I imagine he surprised a lot of people,'' Pena said. "He has been great.'' Byrd's contract is up at the end of the season, and Pena doesn't even want to think of the possibility he won't return next year. "Don't even bring it up,'' he said. "I hope he's still with us. Right now, our record is no beauty, but there's a real good atmosphere around this ballclub. I know he feels comfortable here.''

CHICAGO: The White Sox have carried 12 pitchers for all but a handful of games this season, something manager Jerry Manuel wants to avoid next year. "I would hope that coming out of next spring, we'll only need one,'' he said. "That would mean our starters are performing well and our bullpen is settled.'' ... Rocky Biddle, who started Thursday night's game, could put himself in the mix for a starter's job next season if he continues to pitch well. Manuel was impressed with Biddle's last outing, when he allowed two unearned runs and three hits in five innings against the Yankees. "If he can back that up with another good outing, he'd have to guy you'd consider,'' Manuel said. ... Rookie OF Joe Borchard, the White Sox's top draft pick in 2000, has shown promise since being called up, hitting safely in five of his seven starts. But he might need a little more work before he's ready to contend for a regular starter's job. "Winter ball definitely helps a player in development,'' Manuel said. "If he performs extremely well, he could be a guy that could push some people.''

Angels-Athletics
ANAHEIM: 2B Adam Kennedy returned to the starting lineup after getting most of the game off Wednesday, when he came in to pinch-hit in the eighth and stayed in the game. ... Garret Anderson's second-inning double gave him 85 extra-base hits this year to tie the franchise mark set by Troy Glaus in 2000. It was Anderson's major-league leading 56th double of the year. Darin Erstad also doubled, giving the Angels 321 for the season -- third best in the majors. ... Thirteen of the Angels' final 17 games against the A's this season were decided by one or two runs. "I knew our teams match up well, and these games could have gone either way,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. "We've just played them eight games and we played them as evenly as you can play a team. ... Occasionally you're going to hit bumps in the road, but the overall position we're in gives us confidence we're going to rebound.''

OAKLAND: C Ramon Hernandez returned to the lineup after a day off to rest a sore wrist and drove in two runs. ... Manager Art Howe doesn't consider one starter in his remarkable rotation any better than the other. "We have three or four No. 1s,'' he said. "We're lucky. Most managers have a pecking order. We don't. I feel they all are equally as good.'' ... Billy Koch made his franchise-record 79th appearance of the season, breaking the mark of Buddy Groom set in 1997. ... The A's did not hit a double for a franchise-record eighth straight game. ... Is Howe going to miss these stressful showdowns with Anaheim? "Do you miss a toothache?'' he said. ... Tim Hudson (15-9) allowed three runs in 7 1-3 innings to win his eighth straight decision as the A's won for the fifth time in seven games. Hudson's last loss was July 24 at Anaheim.

Rangers-Mariners
TEXAS: After being out of the starting lineup because he was too tired Wednesday night, All-Star SS Alex Rodriguez was back Thursday night to run his consecutive games played streak to 378, third longest among active streaks in the majors. Rodriguez came into Wednesday night's game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and flied out with two men on base. He leads the majors with 55 homers and 135 RBI. ... The Rangers' third straight extra-inning defeat in Seattle on Wednesday night was the 14th time this season that they've lost on the road in the bottom of the ninth inning or later this season. ... Rodriguez (55) and Rafael Palmeiro (41) have combined for 96 homers this season, the most of any pair of teammates in the majors.

SEATTLE: Manager Lou Piniella wasn't feeling any the worse for wear after his wild temper tantrum and ejection in the ninth inning of Wednesday night's game. After the game, he complained that his hamstring and right shoulder hurt. "I'm fine,'' he said before Thursday night's game. "I have no intentions of going into the Senior Olympics, though. But outside of that, I'm fine.'' Piniella kicked his hat and heaved the first-base bag down the right-field line after umpire C.B. Bucknor called Ben Davis out on a close play at first. ... Willie Bloomquist made his first major league start Thursday night in LF.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Expos-Marlins
MONTREAL: SS Orlando Cabrera had five steals in his previous four games to extend his successful attempt streak to 18. Former Expo and current Marlin Tim Raines set the team record of 21 in 1981.

FLORIDA: Kevin Millar extended his career-high hitting streak to 25 games with a first-inning double. ... Manager Jeff Torborg and Expos manager Frank Robinson had a pregame conversation between home plate and the backstop, then stood side-by-side during the playing of the national anthems. ... CF Preston Wilson was a late scratch due to a sore left big toe.

Reds-Pirates
CINCINNATI: LHP Gabe White threw a simulated game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and will pitch another one on Friday. If he passes that test, he could be activated for the weekend. White has been on the DL since Sept. 9 with a shoulder injury. ... CF Ken Griffey Jr. was in the lineup for a second straight game Thursday after missing 17 starts with a sore hip. Manager Bob Boone said he isn't sure how much Griffey will play the rest of the season but he doubts that he'll start every game. ... Boone said Griffey has to have healthy legs to generate power. "When he has that little spring in his legs, he has the swing,'' Boone said. "When he doesn't, it's all his upper body.''

PITTSBURGH: Pirates pinch-hitters had been on a 0-for-13 streak before Rob Mackowiak delivered a two-run single that beat the Reds on Wednesday. ... Mackowiak is hitting .304 as a pinch-hitter this year with eight RBI. Asked if he'd like to do more pinch-hitting, he said he'll take any role that gets him a spot on the club. "I'll clean up the cups in the dugout if it keeps me in the big leagues,'' he said. ... Former Pirates pitcher Nellie King helped out with the call of Wednesday's game on the Pirates' radio and TV networks. King was Bob Prince's partner on the broadcasts from 1967-75. With Wednesday's guest appearance, he has called games in all three modern Pirates parks -- Forbes Field, Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park.

Cubs-Mets
CHICAGO: Manager Bruce Kimm would do some things differently if he had another chance. "Coming up here I thought I knew the personnel pretty well,'' said Kimm, who replaced Don Baylor on June 5 with the Cubs at 34-50. "I might not have known the players as well as I thought.'' The Cubs began Thursday 30-38 under Kimm. "I think we played hard,'' he said. "There's no doubt we haven't done as well as I felt we were going to do.''

NEW YORK: 3B Edgardo Alfonzo was scratched because of a stomach virus and was replaced by Ty Wigginton. ... Manager Bobby Valentine was to address the cyclists Friday at the start of the three-day Face of America ride from the World Trade Center site to the Pentagon and ride for the first 3 miles. Mets executives David Howard and Paul Danforth were scheduled to cycle the entire 270 miles.

Phillies-Braves
PHILADELPHIA: LHP Rheal Cormier had an MRI exam on his ailing shoulder Thursday. The procedure showed tendinitis but no tear. Cormier, who has not pitched since Sept. 11, returned to Philadelphia to get checked out. ... RF Bobby Abreu was a late scratch. A Phillies spokesman said manager Larry Bowa simply "changed his mind.'' Jason Michaels took over in right. ... LHP Bud Smith will need surgery to repair a torn labrum. The date has not been set. Smith was one of the players acquired in the deal that sent Scott Rolen to the Cardinals. Smith hasn't pitched for the Phillies, remaining in Triple-A after the trade. ... SS Jimmy Rollins tripled in the third inning, giving him a "quadruple double'' for the second year in a row: double figures in doubles, triples, homers and stolen bases. The only other player to accomplish the feat this season is Boston's Johnny Damon.

ATLANTA: SS Rafael Furcal, who missed four of the previous five games with flulike symptoms, said he lost three or four pounds while he was sick. Furcal was back in the lineup Thursday night. ... RHP Darren Holmes said he sustained a cramp as he prepared to enter Wednesday's game, forcing the Braves to go with another pitcher in the seventh inning. "It's nothing,'' Holmes said. ... RHP Jason Marquis may be pitching himself off the postseason roster. He's failed to get through the fourth inning in four of his last six starts, his ERA now standing at 5.05.

Astros-Brewers
HOUSTON: Houston's 5-4 loss to the on Brewers Thursday was Roy Oswalt's first road loss since Milwaukee beat him 5-2 on June 17. ... Houston's Jeff Bagwell has 379 career home runs. He needs one more to break a tie for 46th place all-time with Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez. ... Mark Loretta, traded by Milwaukee to Houston on Aug. 31, had a perfect day at the plate with a double, two singles and two walks Thursday against his old team.

MILWAUKEE: Manager Jerry Royster said Thursday he has no idea whether he will be back next season. "I'm going to tell you the truth, I don't know the answer. I wish it wasn't like this, but I understand,'' Royster said. ... LF Geoff Jenkins, on the disabled list, will be at the White House on Sunday to coach third base during a T-ball game on the South Lawn. ... SS Jose Hernandez, who is one strikeout away from tying Bobby Bonds' single-season record of 189, was given a day off Thursday against Houston. Hernandez is expected to start Friday at home against the San Francisco Giants.

Cardinals-Rockies
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals reduced their magic number for clinching the NL Central to two with Thursday's 12-6 win. They begin a three-game series with division runnerup Houston on Friday at Busch Stadium, and one win in the series would clinch it. ... St. Louis used big innings late in all three games to sweep the series from Colorado, including a five-run eighth on Thursday. "A big part of it is we've got a talented ballclub,'' manager Tony La Russa said. "And we've been playing nine innings every day. When you play nine innings, you've got a chance for something to happen.'' ... While declining to compare this year's team to past Cardinal teams, La Russa said, "I just know that right now, our everyday team is as good as anybody who is playing.'' ... The Cardinals hit three consecutive homers for the second time this season. They also did it July 2 against San Diego. ... St. Louis is 13-5 in its last 18 road games. ... The 12 runs and 18 hits matched season highs for the Cardinals. ... RHP Andy Benes, hobbled by an arthritic right knee, was ready to retire in April after three poor starts. Instead, he went on the disabled list and rehabbed, with little expectation of pitching again. At the suggestion of teammate Chuck Finley, Benes developed a split-finger pitch to complement his fastball and slider. Since returning from the DL on July 16, he has gone 5-2 with a 2.15 ERA and is a mainstay in the Cardinals rotation. "He has been nothing short of phenomenal,'' Finley said. "He was somebody who was two feet into retirement, and the last 12 starts he's been like Dwight Gooden.''

COLORADO: OF Larry Walker left Thursday's game in the fourth inning with soreness in his left shoulder, an injury that has bothered him most of the month. He aggravated it on a slide into home plate in the third. ... OF Jay Payton, out since Sept. 11 when he strained his right oblique muscle, pinch-hit in the ninth. ... C Bobby Estalella will begin hitting off a tee in four weeks as part of his recovery from left labrum and rotator cuff surgery. Estalella has seven of the 11 homers hit by Rockies catchers this season, but he knows he faces an uncertain future because of the acquisition of Sandy Alomar Jr. "I want to be back here, but I also know it's business,'' Estalella said.

Diamondbacks-Padres
ARIZONA: By beating San Diego 3-1 on Thursday, Randy Johnson improved to 11-1 with a 1.99 ERA lifetime against the Padres. Since losing to rookie Jake Peavy at San Diego on July 21, Johnson is 10-1 in 12 starts with a 0.91 ERA. ... Arizona was 12-7 against San Diego this year, the fourth straight year the Diamondbacks have won the season series. Even so, the Diamondbacks were only 3-6 in San Diego this season.

SAN DIEGO: The only time the Padres have won the season series against the Diamondbacks was in Arizona's expansion season of 1998, when San Diego was 9-3. ... With his solo homer and a seventh-inning single, both off Randy Johnson, Brian Buchanan has hit safely in his last seven starts, going 9-for-24 with three doubles, two homers and five RBI.

Giants-Dodgers
SAN FRANCISCO: RHP Robb Nen came into Thursday night needing one save for his fourth season of 40 saves. The other pitchers to do so are Trevor Hoffman (five) and Dennis Eckersley (four). ... The Giants are assured of a winning road record for the third consecutive season, the first time the club has done so since 1964-66. ... Going into Thursday night's game, the Giants had already clinched the season series against the Dodgers for the first time since 1992.

LOS ANGELES: RHP Andy Ashby is scheduled to start Friday at San Diego and the blister on the middle finger of his right hand is a non-issue, according to manager Jim Tracy. Ashby threw a bullpen session Thursday for the second consecutive day. "You don't throw twice before you start if the blister is an issue,'' Tracy said. ... Tracy said there's a big difference between the Dodgers being one game behind the Giants in the NL wild-card race or three games back. "If you're one (back) with nine to go, it doesn't get much better than that,'' he said. "Three makes it very difficult, a very big hill to climb up.'' ... The Dodgers have 40 victories by left-handed pitchers this season, the most since 1985 when they had 47. Odalis Perez, who pitched Thursday night, and injured Kazuhisa Ishii, who's out for the season, have contributed 14 wins each. ... 1B Eric Karros is tied with Steve Garvey for second on the club's career extra-base hit list with 579. They both trail leader Willie Davis with 585.