WEDNESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Steve Finley Led Diamondbacks to their first win at Yankee Stadium in six tries. H R RBI HR 3 3 5 2 Hero of the day Long Island native Tony Graffanino homered and then drove in the go-ahead run as the Chicago White Sox beat the Mets 2-1. Goat of the day The Colorado Rockies defense committed a season-high five errors -- one shy of a franchise record -- in a loss to the Red Sox. Injury report Reds OF Ken Griffey Jr. did not start for the fifth straight game because of a strained right hamstring, but got up as a pinch-hitter in the ninth and walked. He was taken out for a pinch-runner. Astros RHP Shane Reynolds will miss his start Saturday against Texas with weakness in his right leg, believed to be related to the lower back ailment he had two years ago. Yankees OF Rondell White did not play for the third straight game because of a ruptured tendon in his left middle finger. Royals starter Paul Byrd left in the fifth inning and was scheduled to get an MRI after the game for elbow tenderness. Royals 1B Mike Sweeney sprained his left ankle Tuesday and was not in the starting lineup Wednesday for the first time this year. The Royals are hopeful he can play Friday at St. Louis after an off day Thursday. Colorado 2B Jose Ortiz left in the first inning with a left hamstring strain. He is day-to-day. White Sox CF Kenny Lofton left in the second inning after aggravating a sprained right hamstring. He is expected to play Friday. Indians RHP Paul Shuey pulled his groin muscle during pregame fielding practice and was unavailable. Shuey could end up on the 15-day disabled list. Expos starter Masato Yoshii has been diagnosed with a contusion on the right side of his jaw. The Expos say that despite having a batted ball hit him on the right side of his face in Tuesday night's game against the Tigers, Yoshii will likely not miss his next scheduled start. Padres 2B Ramon Vazquez left Wednesday's game against the Orioles in the third inning with a mild strain of his left hamstring. The Padres are listing him as day-to-day. Streak of the day Marlins second baseman Luis Castillo singled in the third, extending his hitting streak to 28 games, the longest this season in the majors. He also singled in the eighth. Stat of the day Padres right-hander Brian Lawrence became the fourth pitcher this season and 36th in baseball history to strike out the side on nine pitches, retiring Brook Fordyce, Jerry Hairston and Melvin Mora in the third inning. Stat of the day, part deux The Diamondbacks are 36-0 when leading after eight innings. The last word "It was not a surprise. When you're 0-for-26, I'm surprised I'm not batting 12th." -- Marlins center fielder Preston Wilson, who was dropped to eighth in the lineup after a long slump, then responded by clubbing two homers in a win over the Royals.

INTERLEAGUE
Marlins-Royals
Florida: 2B Luis Castillo was back in the lineup Wednesday, although he was hit by a pitch Tuesday in his right hand. Castillo extended his hitting streak to 28 games, the longest in the majors this season, with a third inning infield single. "I didn't think he would play today,'' Marlins manager Jeff Torborg said. "I thought Homer Bush would be in there.'' Torborg said he asked Castillo if he could play and he replied, "Yeah, yeah, I can play.'' ... The Marlins open a 13-game homestand, their longest of the season, on Friday. They play their next 23 games in Florida with their only road trip before the All-Star break being three games at Tampa Bay.

Kansas City: 1B Mike Sweeney did not play Wednesday because of a left ankle sprain, sustained Tuesday while running to first. Sweeney had started 93 consecutive games since Aug. 28, 2001, when he came back from a 10-game suspension. In Sweeney's absence, OF Michael Tucker made his second start of the season at first base. ... The Royals have five players on the disabled list. Royals players have missed a total of 238 games this season while being on the DL. ... Royals pitchers have tossed four shutouts this season after throwing only one last season.

Reds-Rangers
Cincinnati: OF Ken Griffey Jr. wasn't in the starting lineup for a fifth straight game because of his strained right hamstring. His absence prevented the first meeting between him and the Rangers' Alex Rodriguez since they played together with the Seattle Mariners in the 1999 season. They haven't had much time for interaction during this week's three-game series, but Griffey playfully tossed balls at Rodriguez during pregame warmups, trying to get his former teammate's attention. ... Manager Bob Boone also left third baseman Aaron Boone out of Wednesday's starting lineup. Russell Branyan, acquired in Friday's trade with Cleveland, will play third base while Boone rests. ... The Reds signed infielder Marty Malloy. Malloy appeared in 24 games with the Florida Marlins this year, going 3-for-25 with one RBI. He refusing a minor league assignment and became a free agent last week. The Reds sent Malloy to Louisville, where he hit .303 in 126 games last year.

Texas: Manager Frank Robinson juggled his outfield Wednesday, shifting Brad Wilkerson to left field and starting Jose Macias in center with Troy O'Leary at DH. Robinson said he wanted more speed in the outfield because of the spacious dimensions of Comerica Park. ... Robinson hopes that 2B Jose Vidro will join OF Vladimir Guerrero in the All-Star Game. "I don't know where we would be without those two, and it would be nice to see them make it,'' he said. "Actually, I do know where we would be -- looking up at everyone else in the standings.'' ... RHP Masato Yoshii has no lasting injuries after being hit in the face Tuesday by Randall Simon's liner. Yoshii is not expected to make his next start in the rotation, but only because Montreal will go to a four-man rotation because of off days in the schedule. C Ivan Rodriguez's streak of nine consecutive All-Star Game starts is in danger of coming to an end. In the latest voting update, Rodriguez has been surpassed by the New York Yankees' Jorge Posada among AL catchers. Posada has 280,992 votes, while Rodriguez has 274,842. Rodriguez played only 12 games before being disabled April 15 with a herniated disc in his back. He was activated from the DL on Friday. The final voting results will be announced June 30. ... The Rangers signed 15th round draft pick Sam Narron of East Carolina. The 6-foot-7 left-hander is the second cousin of manager Jerry Narron. ... Narron hopes injured outfielder Frank Catalanotto will be ready to play once the Rangers return from a nine-game road trip on June 24. Catalanotto has been out with a stress fracture in his back since May 11. He was cleared to swing a bat on Wednesday and could begin a rehab assignment on Monday. The Rangers are 14-11 when Catalanotto hits leadoff.

Expos-Tigers
Montreal: Manager Frank Robinson juggled his outfield Wednesday, shifting Brad Wilkerson to left field and starting Jose Macias in center with Troy O'Leary at DH. Robinson said he wanted more speed in the outfield because of the spacious dimensions of Comerica Park. ... Robinson hopes that 2B Jose Vidro will join OF Vladimir Guerrero in the All-Star Game. "I don't know where we would be without those two, and it would be nice to see them make it,'' he said. "Actually, I do know where we would be -- looking up at everyone else in the standings.'' ... RHP Masato Yoshii has no lasting injuries after being hit in the face Tuesday by Randall Simon's liner. Yoshii is not expected to make his next start in the rotation, but only because Montreal will go to a four-man rotation because of off days in the schedule.

Detroit: After two days on the bench, 2B Damion Easley returned to his usual starting spot Wednesday. Easley is hitting just .176 and missed significant time with a pulled oblique muscle, but isn't worried about his status. "I'm not thinking about fighting for a job,'' he said. "That's when you are battling just to stay in the majors, which isn't an issue for me. I'll just keep doing my job and hopefully, I'll be in the lineup.'' ... Brian Moehler (shoulder) made his first Triple-A rehab start for Toledo Tuesday, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on seven hits in six innings against Durham. ... After finishing a season-long 13-game homestand on Wednesday, the Tigers start a season-long 12-game road trip in Arizona on Friday.

Dodgers-Devil Rays
Los Angeles: LHP Omar Daal will miss his next scheduled start Tuesday because of tendinitis in his left biceps muscle. "It's nothing more than that,'' manager Jim Tracy said. Daal is scheduled to pitch again June 22 against Boston. ... Tracy said RHP Bryan Corey (sprained left ankle) will be activated from the 15-day DL Thursday and optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... INF Mark Grudzielanek, who has experienced some minor back stiffness, was the designated hitter. "I want to keep his bat in there, and get him off the (artificial) turf.''

Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays have shifted to their summer workout schedule, which cuts regular home batting practice from an hour to 45 minutes. "We're leaving too many hits in BP,'' manager Hal McRae said with a laugh. Tampa Bay started the game hitting an AL-low .239. ... Tampa Bay begins its first 2002 interleague road series Friday at Florida. "It's not one now,'' said McRae, when asked if there was rivalry between the two Florida teams. "Something has to take place. You just don't put a label on it.'' ... Devil Rays first base coach Lee May and Los Angeles 1B Eric Karros -- two of the 39 different players to homer twice in one inning during a major league game -- were present when INF Jared Sandberg joined the club Tuesday night by going deep twice in the fifth.

Rockies-Red Sox
Colorado: Jose Ortiz left the game in the first inning with a left hamstring strain. He is day-to-day. ... Todd Helton is one start from tying Andres Galarraga for most starts in Rockies history, with 669. ... Larry Walker needs three extra base hits to tie Dante Bichette for most in club history, with 489. Rolando Arrojo and Frank Castillo, the Boston starters on Tuesday and Wednesday, both pitched for Colorado.

Boston: A fan was hit in the face on Juan Pierre's foul ball -- the first batter of the game. Red Sox owner John Henry went over to check on the man before he left to go to the hospital. No other information on the fan's condition was immediately available. ... DH Juan Diaz doubled in his first major league at-bat. ... OF Manny Ramirez will play four games at Triple-A Pawtucket to rehabilitate his broken finger. Red Sox manager Grady Little said Ramirez will play two games in the outfield and two as designated hitter.

Padres-Orioles
San Diego: RHP Trevor Hoffman has recorded 23 straight saves dating to 2001, the longest current streak in the majors. Wednesday's save was Hoffman's 330th, tying him with John Wetteland at No. 7 on the career list. ... RHP Brian Lawrence has pitched six innings or more in each of his last six starts. ... 2B Ramon Vazquez left Wednesday's game in the third inning with a mild strain of his left hamstring. He is day-to-day. ... 1B Kevin Barker made his Padres debut on Wednesday, going 1-for-4. Barker, acquired from Milwaukee on March 24 for C Dusty Wathan, was called up from Triple-A Portland on Tuesday. ... Ryan Klesko has reached base safely in 55 straight games. ... RHP Brett Tomko, Friday's starter against Seattle, has no decisions in his last three starts and is winless since May 13. ... Ron Gant hit three homers on the six-game road trip. ... Ray Lankford went 7-for-25 with five RBI on the trip.

Baltimore: RHP Rodrigo Lopez pitched his first career complete game Wednesday. He has gone five or more innings in each of his 10 starts and allowed three or fewer runs nine times. ... 3B Tony Batista has hit .351 (13-for-37) in his last 10 games. ... Baltimore starters are 16-25. ... The Orioles will make up a May 16 rainout Thursday at Cleveland. ... LHP B.J. Ryan has allowed 12 runs in his last 14 innings (20 appearances). ... OF-DH Jay Gibbons has three homers in 40 games after hitting seven in a 12-game stretch April 6-20. ... OF Chris Singleton has hit .317 (33-for-104) in his last 28 games.

Giants-Blue Jays
San Francisco: The Giants have just six off days after the All Star break. "That's when your bench really comes in,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ... Baker gave OF Reggie Sanders a day off Wednesday. The Giants also have an off day on Thursday. ... OF Barry Bonds hit some tape-measure home runs during batting practice. Bonds hit a home run off the auxiliary scoreboard just above the first level of hotel rooms. ... Baker said OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo has played pretty good. "I give a lot guys the challenge of hitting .250 at 200 at-bats,'' Baker said. Shinjo entered the game hitting .250 in 196 at-bats. "He's a good student.''

Toronto: Rookie 3B Eric Hinske returned to the lineup after missing two games with a pulled left hamstring. ... RHP Steve Parris rejoined the team. Parris, who had shoulder surgery last year, is still on the 60-day disabled list. "You're never quite 100 percent, but you have to go and pitch,'' said Parris, who might start Sunday. "Hopefully, I'll start in the next week.'' Parris said he doesn't want to go to the bullpen. ... RHP Chris Carpenter, on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder, made his fifth rehab start Tuesday. Carpenter allowed five runs on six hits in five innings. He'll make another rehab start June 16.

Diamondbacks-Yankees
Arizona: OF Quinton McCracken is 7-for-12 lifetime (.583) against Yankees starter Mike Mussina. ... 2B Junior Spivey missed his second consecutive game with a mildly strained right hamstring. He is day-to-day. 2B Alex Cintron, called up from Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. He is 5-for-6 with a walk in two games. ... Byung-Hyun Kim, pitching at Yankee Stadium for the first time since his World Series meltdowns last year, got six outs for his 17th save. "He's human, and he's had to listen to all the skeptics all season about the World Series,'' teammate Luis Gonzalez said. "Today was his day. He came in and threw the ball past some pretty good hitters.'' ... OF Steve Finley homered twice for his first multihomer game since Sept. 28, 1999, against Colorado.

New York: The Yankees claimed RHP Nate Field off waivers from Kansas City and optioned him to Triple-A Columbus. ... Yankees manager Joe Torre said RHP Orlando Hernandez, on the disabled list with a strained upper back, threw off a mound and was scheduled for a similar session Friday before possibly making a rehab start in the minors early next week. ... After getting a night off Tuesday, 2B Alfonso Soriano was back in the lineup -- but not in his customary leadoff spot. Soriano batted seventh, going 3-for-4 with three singles. "This is not a demotion,'' Torre said. "It's just a different spot in the lineup where I think he can help us. I just want to get him out of the leadoff spot. He hasn't been very selective. He just doesn't look comfortable right now.'' ... LHP Andy Pettitte will come off the disabled list and start against the crosstown rival New York Mets in the opener at Shea Stadium on Friday night.

Phillies-Indians
Philadelphia: The Phillies held a player's-only meeting before Wednesday's game and several players confirmed it was to straighten out 3B Scott Rolen's situation. Rolen is upset that two unnamed teammates were quoted ''anonymously'' as saying they wished the third baseman would be traded. Rolen has turned down two contract offers from the Phillies, who recently upped their efforts to deal him. ... Phillies manager Larry Bowa has seen great pitchers in his time. He played 20 seasons in the NL, and was a long-time teammate of Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. Bowa would put Indians RHP Bartolo Colon right there with the best. "He's the kind of guy you build a rotation around. I've never seen him have a bad game. "He's got stuff like (Tom) Seaver,'' Bowa said. "He's as dominant as you can get. He's a (Curt) Schilling. He's a (Randy) Johnson. He's a guy as you take the field if you can get one run, you can win 1-0.'' Bowa, who played 2,222 career games at shortstop -- second most in the NL all-time -- is also a fan of Cleveland SS Omar Vizquel. "He's unbelievable, I don't think there's anybody that's a better fielder,'' he said. "I'll put it this way, he's as good as Ozzie (Smith). I'm not saying better. I think they are both great.''

Cleveland: RHP Charles Nagy pitched another simulated game Wednesday and will report to Triple-A Buffalo this weekend. Nagy was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 8 with a sore right elbow. The 35-year-old has pitched the past two seasons with zero cartilage in his elbow. ... RHP Tim Drew is doing everything he can to get back to the Indians. Drew won his seventh straight start Tuesday, giving up no earned runs in seven innings to lead Buffalo to a 5-2 win over Syracuse. Drew, who pitched in eight games for Cleveland last season, is 7-0 in his last seven starts. Since opening the season 0-2, he's 7-1 with a 1.26 ERA in 11 starts. ... In a vote before the game, the Indians chose RHP Paul Shuey as their new player's union representative and RHP Ryan Drese the alternate. Charles Nagy had been the club's rep since 1992.

Braves-Twins
Atlanta: RF Gary Sheffield stared at Twins starter Kyle Lohse when he was hit on his elbow pad with a pitch in the third inning Tuesday night, but Sheffield said he wasn't angry at Lohse. "I was (mad) at myself,'' Sheffield said, "because I had a bad at-bat the first time up and I didn't get a chance to hit the next time.'' ... Manager Bobby Cox won in the Metrodome with the Braves for the first time Tuesday after four losses in the 1991 World Series and a 15-inning defeat Monday. "We finally got one here,'' Cox said. "It wasn't like we were playing that bad. We've played great up here. But most of the time, it was just like last night where we were trying to get a run.'' ... Regular second baseman Marcus Giles is unlikely to be activated from the disabled list for Atlanta's series with Boston as he continues to recover from a sprained ankle.

Minnesota: The Twins placed pitcher Bob Wells on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow. The team recalled left-hander Travis Miller from Class AAA Edmonton. Miller is 0-1 with a 3.99 ERA at Edmonton. ... Torii Hunter is third in the American League All-Star voting for outfielders. The last Twins player to be voted to the All-Star Game by the fans was Kirby Puckett in 1995. ... Manager Ron Gardenhire felt Lohse was trying to throw too hard. "He's supposed to throw 91 mph, and he was 94 to 95 early,'' Gardenhire said. "Maybe he was too excited.'' Lohse didn't completely agree. "The problem was location and falling behind in the count,'' he said. "When you don't throw first-pitch strikes to these guys, you can get in a lot of trouble.'' ... Reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who lost his job as closer last year with a miserable second half, has not allowed an earned run in his last 14 2-3 innings and has a 1.37 ERA. ... Three players on one of Minnesota's Class A teams -- the Fort Myers (Fla.) Miracle -- will play in the Florida State League All-Star Game: pitcher Beau Kemp, third baseman Matt Scanlon and outfielder Josh Rabe.

Mets-White Sox
New York: Manager Bobby Valentine has met with the candidates for hitting coach, and said he expects general manager Steve Phillips will have someone in place for this weekend's series against the Yankees. Valentine would say only that he met with "less than five'' people. "Whomever it is, I will be very comfortable with any one of the guys on this staff,'' Valentine said. Dave Engle was fired Monday. ... Mets 2B Robbie Alomar was back in the lineup Wednesday night. He didn't start Tuesday because of a sprained left knee, but pinch-hit in the ninth inning. "Robbie says he feels fine,'' Valentine said before the game. ... The Mets open a 13-game homestand Friday, their longest of the year. ... To celebrate this weekend's Subway Series, Frank Sinatra Jr. will sing "New York, New York'' during the seventh inning stretch of all three games.

Chicago: Keith Foulke didn't fare too well in his first outing after losing his closer's job, giving up two singles Tuesday night. Foulke will do middle relief until he works out of the jam he's been in the past few weeks, and manager Jerry Manuel said they've already identified one problem. "When he throws well, he has a little more extension,'' Manuel said. "That's what we are working on. A lot of times, a guy can get that back by throwing more than one inning and pitching on a regular basis.'' ... Chicago's 3-4-5 combination of Frank Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko have 146 RBI, most of any trio in baseball. Konerko is hitting a team-high .323 with 11 homers and 52 RBI. ... Tony Graffanino got another start at third base Wednesday. Graffanino has played in 33 games, seeing time at second, third and short. "I guess it's difficult,'' he said of the moving around. "The more you get to play one position, the more you feel comfortable. But I'll take it.''

Pirates-Angels
Pittsburgh: LHP Dave Williams has decided not to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder after getting a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews. ... Jack Wilson entered Wednesday with a .483 batting average this month, second only to Florida's Derek Lee (.519). Wilson leads Pittsburgh with 15 infield hits, one fewer than he had last season. ... Aramis Ramirez, who started all three games of series at Anaheim as the DH because of a troublesome right ankle that put him the DL in April, entered Wednesday in a 1-for-29 slump.

Anaheim: C Bengie Molina has grounded into a team-high eight double plays and is easily the slowest player on the team. But he more than makes up for it with his .270 average, his handling of the pitching staff and his ability to throw out potential base stealers. He is 22-for-44 in that department, the best percentage in the AL. "You've got to have it in your mind that they're running on every pitch,'' said Molina, who never played the position until the Angels drafted him in 1993.

Brewers-Athletics
Milwaukee: The Brewers' faint hopes to put a player in the starting lineup for next month's All-Star game at Miller Park faded further this week. 1B Richie Sexson dropped to fourth in the voting at his position, and SS Jose Hernandez dropped to fifth. Sexson, who's hitting .271 with 16 homers and 53 RBI, is the most likely selection for the NL reserve roster. ... The Brewers' lone All-Star from last season, RHP Ben Sheets, is 3-7 with six straight winless starts following Milwaukee's 8-0 loss to Oakland on Wednesday. Sheets has lost a career-worst four straight decisions, and Milwaukee has scored a total of nine runs in his seven defeats. "I felt real good out there, but they got me early, and they got me good,'' Sheets said. "You try to stay away from the hot guys, but you look at their lineup, and they're all hot.''

Oakland: 2B Mark Ellis has been impressive in a five-game stint in the A's leadoff spot. After going 3-for-5 on Tuesday night against Milwaukee, Ellis went 3-for-5 again on Wednesday, driving in two runs with a fourth-inning double and scoring two runs. Ellis went 7-for-14 against the Brewers, and he is 8-for-19 since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento last Thursday. "I feel very confident,'' Ellis said. "It took a couple of games to get my feet wet, but now I feel like I can get a hit every time, and that's what you need to feel like as a hitter.'' ... LHP Mark Mulder refuses to look at the speed-gun readings on his pitches these days. Since spending time on the disabled list earlier this season, Mulder hasn't recovered all of his normal zip. The A's helped out on Wednesday, turning off the speed meter on the Coliseum scoreboard. "It doesn't read lefties right anyway,'' Mulder said. "I know whether my stuff is right or not. I can tell by how the ball goes into the glove, and how the hitters swing at it.''

Cardinals-Mariners
St. Louis: OF Gerald Williams, a 35-year-old veteran who was released by the New York Yankees last week, has signed a minor league contract with the Cardinals. He was assigned to Triple-A Memphis. Williams, who has played 11 major league seasons, was 0-for-17 with six runs scored in 33 games for the Yankees this season. He owns a career batting average of .258 with 80 homers and 348 RBI. In 2000, he hit 21 homers and drove in 89 runs for Tampa Bay.

Seattle: DH Edgar Martinez, who has been out since the second week of the season because of a ruptured tendon behind his left knee, will be activated by the Seattle Mariners in San Diego on Friday. Martinez, 39, has been on the 60-day disabled list. Manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday that he will use Martinez as a pinch-hitter when the Mariners visit three NL cities -- San Diego, Cincinnati and Houston. Piniella said he won't use Martinez, a one-time regular third baseman who has played some first base, in the field. Martinez hit .243, with two doubles and five RBI, in 10 games before he was injured running to first base on April 11 in Anaheim. He had surgery to remove the ruptured tendon on April 13. Martinez has spent this week on a rehabilitation assignment in extended spring training in Peoria, Ariz.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cubs-Astros
Chicago: There might be a reason 2B Craig Biggio is among the league leaders in hit-by-pitch most seasons. "He doesn't lean, he dives,'' Cubs manager Don Baylor said. "They're two different things.'' Biggio complained about inside pitches by Kerry Wood on Monday and the conversation lingered after Wood watched video of Biggio reacting from the dugout. "I watched it and he was diving,'' Wood said. "I bet that ball was only three or four inches off the plate inside. It was a successful pitch. I got him to swing at a curve for strike three the next pitch on a ball that bounced two feet in front of the plate.'' Biggio is the active career leader in hit by pitch with 209 and leads the majors with 12 hit by pitches this season. Baylor was hit a major league record 267 times in his 18-year career.

Houston: After so much promise in the spring, it's been a tough season for rookie Olympic gold medalist SS Adam Everett. He's hitting .182 with only eight hits in 18 games. Speed and defense were supposed to be his strong points but he has three errors so far and made a baserunning blunder in Tuesday's 9-5 loss to Chicago. He was picked off second base on a fly out to center field by Jose Vizcaino. Never one to criticize his players publicly, manager Jimy Williams said, "It might have doubled me up too. I thought it was a hit. You're one your own out there. In this case, the guy makes a diving catch. It's a matter of inches.''