TUESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Nomar Garciaparra Happy birthday Nomar! To celebrate his 29th birthday, the Sox SS belted three homers and drove in eight in the first game of a doubleheader. AB H RBI HR 5 3 8 3 Hero of the day Mariners 1B John Olerud hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth inning as the M's beat the Rangers 4-1 to end a three-game skid. Goat of the day Red Sox relievers Chris Haney and Ugueth Urbina combined to give up five runs in the top of the ninth as the Devil Rays rallied to beat Boston 5-4. For Urbina, it was his third blown save in his last five appearances. Injury report Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said his strained shoulder is feeling better and he plans to have a bullpen catch on Wednesday to see just how good it is. Rivera left Saturday's game against Boston after throwing just six pitches, and an MRI revealed the strain. Rivera said if Wednesday's session doesn't go well there's a chance he'll go on the disabled list. ``We've got to be careful,'' he said. "I don't want to do anything to hurt myself or my team.'' Indians 1B Jim Thome was a late scratch from Tuesday's starting lineup after his back stiffened during pregame batting practice. He has missed five games because of tightness in his back. Braves C Javy Lopez took batting practice Tuesday, but his strained right shoulder probably will keep him out of the lineup until at least Friday, manager Bobby Cox said. Marlins OF Preston Wilson was out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game with a sore right wrist, first injured when he ran into Wrigley Field's ivy-covered wall July 12. Manager Jeff Torborg expected him to return as soon as Wednesday. Yankees' C Jorge Posada received about eight or nine stitches near his left ear after being hit and cut in the fifth inning on the follow-through by Indians' batter Milton Bradley on Tuesday. A precautionary CT scan taken at Cleveland's nearby Fairview General Hospital were negative. A decision on whether Posada will play in Wednesday night's game against the Indians has not yet been made although it appears that he will not start. The Yankees have said that will not be placed on the DL as the result of this incident. Expos 2B Jose Vidro didn't start for the second straight game because of a stiff back. Giants OF Barry Bonds is expected to miss the remainder of the Cardinals series and possibly the homestand, which ends Sunday, when an MRI confirmed Tuesday a right hamstring strain. ''We're just not going to push this,'' said Giants trainer Stan Conte. Giants 2B Jeff Kent was also out of the starting lineup for a second straight game because of a mild strain in his upper left leg. Kent asked to play, but Giants manager Dusty Baker decided not to risk it. ''I don't need another guy going down for an extended period of time,'' he said. Expos RF Vladimir Guerrero came out of Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets with a bruised left knee after crashing into the wall to make a catch in the sixth inning. Stat of the day Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra, 29, became the first major leaguer to have a three home-run game on his birthday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, baseball's statistician. The last word "The kid has good stuff. I'm very impressed. He got a little anxious in the ninth trying for the complete game. When he throws strikes, he can dominate.'' -- Yankees manager Joe Torre on Indians starter Danys Baez, who beat New York on Tuesday.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox-Devil Rays
Tampa Bay: The Devil Rays set team records for runs allowed (22), extra base hits allowed in one inning (6), extra-base hits allowed in a game (12), home runs allowed (7) and total bases allowed (45). ... CF Carl Crawford had his first career assist when he threw out Brian Daubach trying to stretch a single into a double in the seventh inning. ... Randy Winn was 2-for-4 in the first game and has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games. ... Steve Cox matched his career high for homers (12) and RBI (51) with a two-run homer.

Boston: The Red Sox hit seven or more home runs in a game for the fourth time in team history in Tuesday's 22-4 win over Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Boston's single-game high is eight home runs, set July 4, 1977, against Toronto. ... In the 22-4 win over Tampa Bay, Boston scored its most runs at Fenway Park in the regular season since a 23-3 win over Detroit on June 18, 1953. The Red Sox also had a 23-7 win against Cleveland in their 1999 division series. ... Manny Ramirez had two the 31st multihomer game of his career. ... Boston is 20-1 in games in which Johnny Damon has scored at least twice.

Blue Jays-Orioles
Toronto: RHP Kelvim Escobar, whose 19 saves lead the Blue Jays, will be unavailable for at least the rest of the Baltimore series following the death of his grandmother Tuesday. He traveled to his native Venezuela to be with his family. Manager Carlos Tosca said he would use RHP Cliff Politte to close games until Escobar rejoins the club over the weekend in Minnesota. ... Though Politte struck out the side in the eighth inning of Monday's victory over the Orioles, Tosca never considered having him pitch the ninth to protect a 6-3 lead. ''One inning is basically (enough),'' Tosca said. ''He leaves it all out there.'' ... 2B Dave Berg was available only in an emergency Tuesday night. Berg left Monday's game with a tight hamstring. Joe Lawrence started in his place Tuesday. ... With an off day Thursday, RHP Pete Walker will be skipped in the rotation and RHP Steve Parris will pitch in Minnesota on an extra day's rest to keep RHPs Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter on their regular five day's rest.

Baltimore: Howie Clark got a third straight start in left field because Marty Cordova continues to be bothered by a sore foot. Clark, who made his debut with Baltimore last week, hit safely in each of his first six games before being limited to a HBP and a walk Monday. ... Baltimore relievers led the league with 20 wins through Monday. The bullpen accounted for 43 percent of the Orioles' wins, the highest ratio in the majors. ... RHP Pat Hentgen, who has missed the entire season after undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery, has been throwing on the side and has his velocity up to 86 mph. But manager Mike Hargrove said it's unlikely Hentgen will return before September. ... Jason Johnson lost up to 4 mph on his fastball around the fifth inning Monday and subsequently allowed four homers in a loss to Toronto. Hargrove said the team checked the pitching chart, and determined the dropoff in velocity was ''not dramatic, and nothing to cause concern.''

Royals-Tigers
Kansas City: Mike Sweeney's MRI exam, which was taken Sunday, came back negative. Sweeney has missed eight games because of a back strain and left hip soreness. He remained in Kansas City on Monday and was expected to join the Royals in Detroit at around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Kansas City manager Tony Pena said he would talk to the doctor and to the Royals' trainer about Sweeney, who isn't on the disabled list.

Detroit: Jose Lima will replace the traded Brian Moehler in the starting rotation on Wednesday night. Lima began the season in the starting rotation, but is 1-4 with a 8.91 ERA. He allowed three runs on four hits in 4 2-3 innings in a no decision against Boston in a July 15, spot start. And he allowed a run in two innings in a relief appearance against Minnesota on Friday night. Tigers manager Luis Pujols said Lima will remain in the starting rotation. ''I chose him because he threw the ball well in that one start,'' Pujols said. ... If things go according to plan, third baseman Chris Truby -- on the 15-day disabled list with a pulled ribcage -- will have a two-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Friday and Saturday, according to Pujols. And if that goes well, he'll accompany the team to Seattle from Cleveland on Sunday night.

Yankees-Indians
Closer Mariano Rivera said his strained shoulder is feeling better and he plans to have a bullpen catch on Wednesday to see just how good it is. Rivera left Saturday's game against Boston after throwing just six pitches, and an MRI revealed the strain. Rivera said if Wednesday's session doesn't go well there's a chance he'll go on the disabled list. ''We've got to be careful,'' he said. ''I'm don't want to do anything to hurt myself or my team.'' ... RHP Roger Clemens, on the 15-day DL with a strained groin, will make a rehab start on Saturday in Tampa, Fla. Clemens threw some long toss on Tuesday in Florida and did some running drills. Yankees manager Joe Torre said Clemens will throw 80-90 pitches in the rehab assignment. ''That's as much as a game,'' Torre said. ''It's not like we have to build up his arm strength.'' ... LHP Sterling Hitchcock, out since June with sprained lower back, threw 36 pitches of batting practice on Tuesday and reported no problems. He is expected to pitch in a Gulf Coast League game on Thursday. ... Entering Tuesday, New York's last five victories -- in a six-game span -- all came in the Yankees' final at-bat. It's the first time they've done that since 1972.

Cleveland: Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he wouldn't be disappointed if he doesn't make another trade before the July 31 deadline. ''I want to do what I can to expedite the rebuilding,'' he said. However, Shapiro, who has already traded Roberto Alomar, Bartolo Colon and Chuck Finley in his first year on the job, said it's a tough market right now. ''There are at least 16 teams that are trying to dump players,'' he said. ''That's not what we're trying to do.'' ... 1B Jim Thome was a late scratch from Tuesday's starting lineup after his back stiffened during pregame batting practice. He has missed five games because of tightness in his back. ... OF Matt Lawton is at Double-A Akron on a rehab assignment until he is eligible to come off the disabled list. He has been sidelined since July 12 with a strained left calf. ... After hitting .219 in June, the Indians entered Tuesday night's game batting .283 in July. ... The Indians are 21-29 in the AL Central this season after losing six of their last in the division. They were 47-29 in the Central last season, and started 2002 9-0.

Twins-White Sox
Minnesota: Fourteen Twins attended a meeting and question-and-answer session with union chief Donald Fehr to update them on the labor situation. Player rep Denny Hocking characterized Fehr ''as more optimistic than I've ever heard him.'' ''Maybe the sides are getting closer, I don't know,'' Hocking said. ''Negotiations never get done until there is a sense of urgency.'' Fehr said earlier in the week that the players had not set a strike date. ... The Twins activated RHP Bob Wells from the disabled list Tuesday. Right-hander Kevin Frederick was sent to Triple-A Edmonton after Monday's game to make room on the roster. Wells had been on DL since June 12 after surgery to remove bone chips from in his right elbow. ... Torii Hunter was back in the Minnesota lineup after serving a three-game suspension for throwing a ball at Indians pitcher Danys Baez.

Chicago: Fehr also met Tuesday at a downtown hotel with several White Sox players. Chicago pitcher Kelly Wunsch said Fehr ''was just letting us in on the status of things as they are'' and that the meeting was a ''reiteration of the meeting at the All-Star break'' and was for players who couldn't attend earlier this month. ... Manager Jerry Manuel says he'll keep struggling RHP Todd Ritchie in rotation, despite his latest outing. Ritchie (5-14) has the most losses in the majors and lasted just 4 2-3 innings Monday, giving up five runs and 11 hits. Entering play Tuesday, he'd given up the most hits (164) in the AL. In seven of his 22 starts this season, he's failed to make it past the fifth inning.

Rangers-Mariners
Texas: Entering their series with Seattle, the Rangers had hit a major league-leading 34 homers in the month of July, but 23 had been with the bases empty. Of Rafael Palmeiro's 25 homers in 2002, his last 16 have been solo. His last homer with someone on base was a two-run shot off Minnesota's Eric Milton on May 21.

Seattle: When the Mariners went 5-6 on their last road trip that ended Sunday, it was the first time they had a losing record on a road trip since the 2000 season. They went 1-5 at Cleveland (0-3) and Detroit (1-2) Aug. 18-24, 2000. Seattle had gone 20 trips without a losing record, winning 17 and splitting three. ... LHP Norm Charlton threw on flat ground before Tuesday's game. The 39-year-old reliever, who underwent surgery for a torn labrum and rotator cuff in January, is still aiming for a return to Seattle's active roster in September.

Athletics-Angels
Oakland: The Athletics recalled 31-year-old RHP Jeff Tam from Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League and optioned rookie RHP Aaron Harang to their Triple-A affiliate. Tam, who has appeared in 21 games for the A's with a 6.55 ERA this season, is in his third stint with the club since opening day. ''Mechanically, I was kind of messed up for a while, I think I've got it figured out now,'' he said. ''I've been throwing the ball real well lately.'' Tam made at least 70 appearances for the A's in each of the last two seasons, and pitched in two division series for them. ... Harang hadn't pitched since July 6. ''We want him to be a starter down the road,'' manager Art Howe said. ''He will be if I have anything to say about it. He needs to pitch. He knows he did a good job for us.'' ... There's no room for Harang in the A's rotation now with Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, Ted Lilly and Cory Lidle the five starters. When asked who would replace Harang in the role of long reliever, Howe replied: ''We'll see. I've got a candidate.''

Anaheim: LHP Scott Schoeneweis confirmed the team voted unanimously to give its authorization to the players' union if and when it sets a strike date. ''Setting a date will be done in order to spur the negotiations and if it doesn't spur them, we have to strike,'' said Schoeneweis, the Angels' player representative. Schoeneweis said he was uncertain as to when a date would be established. ... Closer Troy Percival, on the 15-day disabled list due to an infection near his left Achilles tendon in a cut suffered during the All-Star break while boating with his family, said he's ready to pitch. Percival, 3-1 with 22 saves in 24 chances, is eligible to be activated Saturday. ''We probably erred on the side of caution,'' he said, regarding being placed on the disabled list. ''I threw a bullpen today, I'm fine.''

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Phillies-Cubs
Philadelphia: Phillies RHP Vicente Padilla hasn't won in a month and manager Larry Bowa thinks it may be because Padilla (10-6) may be tipping off his pitches to hitters. ''He's got to do the same thing on every pitch, because he does something different on breaking balls and fastballs,'' Bowa said. ''We saw it occasionally, but it wasn't as evident today.'' Padilla started Tuesday's 7-4 win, allowing four runs and eight hits. He is 0-2 ... LF Pat Burrell was hit below the right elbow by a pitch from Chicago's Matt Clement in the seventh inning Tuesday. ... The Phillies are expected to make a roster move on Wednesday, clearing the way for 21-year-old RHP Brett Myers, who is to make his major league debut Wednesday at Chicago.

Chicago: Interim manager Bruce Kimm gave reliever Kyle Farnsworth a vote of confidence, even though Farnsworth gave up a ninth-inning homer to Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu on Monday ahead and a three-run shot to Scott Rolen on Tuesday. ''He's going to have a lot of big pitching opportunities for us,'' Kimm said. ''He's going to face a lot of home-run hitters. He throws the ball well, but sometimes things just don't work out.''... Although he had an RBI single Tuesday, CF Corey Patterson is in a 4-for-33 slump. In the eighth inning of Tuesday's game, Angel Echevarria pinch hit for Patterson.

Braves-Marlins
Atlanta: OF Gary Sheffield singled in the first inning Tuesday night, reaching base for the 49th consecutive game and breaking Dale Murphy's club record set in 1987. ... C Javy Lopez took batting practice Tuesday, but his strained right shoulder probably will keep him out of the lineup until at least Friday, manager Bobby Cox said. Lopez injured the shoulder Sunday against Philadelphia while making an off-balance throw to first base. He first hurt the shoulder during spring training, and it has bothered him on and off since. With Rodriguez not wanting to go on the DL, 1B Matt Franco will be the emergency backup catcher behind Henry Blanco. ... RHP Darren Holmes is eligible to come off the DL but probably won't do so before Friday, Cox said. Holmes scraped the tip of his right thumb when he fell on a Montreal sidewalk July 12. He was placed on the DL retroactive to July 7, the day after he last pitched.

Florida: SS Alex Gonzalez had surgery Tuesday to repair a dislocated left shoulder. He will be sidelined for at least six months but could be ready for the start of spring training in February, manager Jeff Torborg said. ''He's young, he works hard and he's not afraid of rehab,'' Torborg said. Gonzalez, on the DL since May, had hoped to play through the pain and have surgery after the season. But after a consultation with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., it was determined that Gonzalez needed surgery now. ... OF Preston Wilson was out of the starting lineup for the third consecutive game with a sore right wrist, first injured when he ran into Wrigley Field's ivy-covered wall July 12. Torborg expected him to return as soon as Wednesday.

Expos-Mets
Montreal: Cliff Floyd was hitless in 14 at-bats heading into Tuesday night's game. ... All-Star 2B Jose Vidro didn't start for the second straight game because of a stiff back. ... SS Orlando Cabrera had X-rays on an injured left rib, which were negative. He was in the starting lineup Tuesday.

New York: OF Roger Cedeno didn't start because of a cut in his right pinky, sustained when he misplayed a line drive Monday. ''It's probably better not to aggravate it,'' manager Bobby Valentine said. ''If necessary, we can use him.'' ... OF Jay Payton is hitting .422 over his last 12 games, raising his average to .288. The biggest change, Valentine said, is Payton's selectivity at the plate. ''He's taking pitches he can't hit,'' Valentine said. ''That has put him in a really hot streak.''

Pirates-Reds
Pittsburgh:The start of Tuesday's game was delayed 29 minutes because of rain. Pittsburgh has had 20 rain delays in 100 games this season, totaling 22 hours, 7 minutes. ... RHP Ryan Vogelsong has been moved up to Double-A Altoona as part of his rehabilitation from reconstructive elbow surgery last Sept. 20. Vogelsong went 1-1 with an 8.04 ERA in four starts for Class A Lynchburg. ... The Pirates and the Reds are the only teams in he majors with losing records at home and winning records on the road. ... Kevin Young singled in his first at-bat. He has hit safely in 12 of his 13 games since the All-Star break. ... After 100 games last season, the Pirates were 38-62. Pittsburgh was 47-52 heading into their 100th game Tuesday night.

Cincinnati: RHP Brian Moehler, acquired as part of a five-player deal with the Tigers, is scheduled to start against Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon. Moehler was driving to Cincinnati from Detroit on Tuesday night. ... The Reds picked up the 2003 option on manager Bob Boone's contract. ... RHP Seth Etherton was returned to the Reds after baseball voided his waiver claim by the Yankees. Etherton spent last season on the disabled list following shoulder surgery, and went back on the 60-day disabled list this spring. The Reds put him on waivers after he made three rehabilitation starts in the minors. The Yankees claimed him on July 11. Baseball voided the claim because Etherton wasn't able to pitch. ... 1B Sean Casey was out of the lineup for a second straight day with a sore shoulder.

Brewers-Astros
Milwaukee: INF Tyler Houston was a late scratch from the lineup, then was traded to Los Angeles for two minor league pitchers. ... Robert Machado has only 18 hits for the Brewers but nine of them have been for extra bases, including seven doubles, a triple and a home run.

Houston: The Astros announced that Dave Mlicki likely will come off the disabled list and start Friday against Pittsburgh. Mlicki had been out since May 26 with a strained muscle in his rib cage and has completed three rehab assignments at Triple A. ... Ricky Stone leads all major league rookies in appearances with 49, ERA at 2.10 and innings pitched with 51 1-3.

Rockies-Diamondbacks
Colorado: The next appearance for RHP John Thomson, the starter for this game, will be Monday in Cooperstown, N.Y., at the annual Hall of Fame game. Manager Clint Hurdle said Thomson will work two or three innings against the Chicago White Sox on his regular day to pitch, a restful break from the normal routine. ''The reason is to keep the balance of the rotation as well as we can,'' Hurdle said. ''He'll miss a start, which we don't think is a bad thing. I think, if anything, a pause will keep him fresh.'' ... The Rockies will call up six minor league players for the exhibition game: RHP Chris Buglovsky, C Bryan Peck and INF Ronnie Merrill from Class A Salem and RHP Ryan Cameron, SS Clint Barmes and OF Choo Freeman from Double-A Carolina. ... C Bobby Estalella and INF Jose Ortiz are scheduled for arthroscopic surgery Wednesday in Englewood, Colo. Estalella will have his left rotator cuff repaired and is expected to miss the rest of the season, while Ortiz might be able to return from a repair of torn cartilage in his right knee. ... When LHP Mike Hampton tried to steal second twice in a loss to Arizona on Tuesday, he became the first pitcher with two stolen-base attempts since Philadelphia's Dick Ruthven on July 16, 1974, at San Diego. Hampton succeeded the first time and was thrown out the second.

Arizona: C Damian Miller started his second straight game after coming back from back spasms that first him to miss nine starts. ... Luis Gonzalez has batted .368 (21-for-57), with two doubles, three homers and 15 RBI in 15 games since he was moved from No. 3 in the batting order to cleanup. ''I think it was going to happen with Gonzo no matter where he hits,'' manager Bob Brenly said. ''He was due. Having him there has worked out well for us; it's allowed us to slide Junior (Spivey) between the left-handers.'' ... Brenly has made out a different lineup in 25 consecutive games, contributing to a record of 86 combinations in the first 100 contests. ... INF Erubiel Durazo had a double (1-for-3) in six innings with Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday night, and Brenly said the slugger could return this week from a right oblique strain.

Cardinals-Giants
St. Louis: The Cardinals announced they will open Busch Stadium at noon on Sunday to allow fans to witness the induction of Ozzie Smith into the Hall of Fame. The local celebration will be televised by ESPN Classic. The induction ceremony will be simulcast on the stadium big screen. ... 3B Placido Polanco was hit by a pitch in the first inning, becoming the first batter San Francisco RHP Jason Schmidt has hit this season.

San Francisco: OF Barry Bonds is expected to miss the remainder of the Cardinals series and possibly the homestand, which ends Sunday, when an MRI confirmed Tuesday a right hamstring strain. ''We're just not going to push this,'' said Giants trainer Stan Conte. ... 2B Jeff Kent was also out of the starting lineup for a second straight game because of a mild strain in his upper left leg. Kent asked to play, but Giants manager Dusty Baker decided not to risk it. ''I don't need another guy going down for an extended period of time,'' he said. ... OF Reggie Sanders also missed the game because of a mild right hamstring strain. ''You can't pick the time for some of these things to happen,'' said Baker. ''It's never a good time.'' ... Baker indicated RHP Livan Hernandez could be used as a pinch-hitter, a pinch-runner or even an outfielder in an emergency. ''You should watch him shag in the outfield,'' said Baker. ''He can run it down. He runs down more fly balls than anybody. He also takes ground balls at short and third. He's one of the best players we have overall.''

Dodgers-Padres
Los Angeles: Dodgers RHP Andy Ashby made his first appearance at Qualcomm Stadium since he was traded from the Padres to the Philadelphia Phillies in November 1999. He signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in December 2000. Ashby is 0-2 lifetime against the Padres in five games, both losses coming this year at Dodger Stadium. ... INF Tyler Houston was traded from Milwaukee to the Dodgers for minor league pitchers Ben Diggins and Shane Nance.

San Diego: While winning six of seven games, the Padres have trailed after just two of 63 innings beginning in a 5-1 victory against Colorado on July 16. ... With a perfect ninth inning in Monday night's 5-2 win against the Dodgers, Trevor Hoffman earned his 338th career save and now trails Rollie Fingers by just three saves. Fingers ranks sixth on the all-time list with 341. He got 108 of them while with San Diego from 1977-80.