WEDNESDAY'S TIDBITS Line of the Day Mark Prior Dazzles Expos, outdueled Javier Vazquez for his first career shutout. IP H R SO 9 4 0 12 Hero of the day One night after walking five times, Ivan Rodriguez finally saw some pitches Wednesday. He made the Mets pay, hitting a home run and a game-winning single in the Marlins' 3-2 victory over the Mets. Goat of the day Greg Maddux had his third lousy start of the season, giving up 10 runs (seven earned) in 5 2/3 innings of the Braves' 16-2 loss to the Phillies. Injuries Padres 3B Sean Burroughs did not start for the second straight game because of soreness in his right shoulder. He pinch-hit in the third. Dodgers SS Cesar Izturis, who bruised his left shin while scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning Tuesday night, didn't play. Tracy said the injury isn't serious. An MRI exam confirmed that Mariners DH Edgar Martinez has a strained left hamstring. The test was done as a precaution to make sure that Martinez, 40, didn't have a tear. He was injured Sunday when he beat out an infield hit. He's day-to-day. Stat of the day Only 14,841 fans, the smallest crowd in Jacobs Field's 10-year history, showed up in near-freezing temperatures. It was the fewest fans to see an Indians home game since Sept. 20, 1993, at Cleveland Stadium. Stat of the day, Part Deux Devil Rays starters have given up 44 earned runs in 42 1/3 innings, yet Tampa Bay is 4-5 thanks to some impressive comebacks. The last word "I think everybody was worried about me, worried about everything going on and that I had a slow start. I don't worry. I know I'm going to be OK. Now I've had a couple of hits and can tell them I'm OK.'' -- Defending AL MVP Miguel Tejada, who went 3-for-4 with a home run in Oakland's 13-5 victory over Texas to end a sluggish start to the season.

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Royals at Tigers
Kansas City: Jeremy Affeldt got his first win as a starter. He was 3-4 last season in 77 2-3 innings pitched. ... Royals closer Mike MacDougal earned his major league-leading fourth save in four opportunities. ... After going 3-for-5, including a three-run homer, Royals C Brent Mayne is batting .600 (12-for-20). "I'm hitting the ball good and I'm not hitting the ball good,'' Mayne said. Detroit: Because of the five inches of snow that fell in Detroit on Monday morning and afternoon and subfreezing temperatures, the Comerica Park grounds crew and operations department had to put in yeoman's work to get the field prepared for Wednesday afternoon's game. Tuesday night's game was postponed and rescheduled for Sept. 15. According to the team, it took 1,400 man hours to remove 950 cubic yards of snow from the field and the stands. The upper deck was closed for Wednesday's game because snow still had to be removed. ... Tigers SS Omar Infante hit his first career triple in the sixth inning.

White Sox at Indians
Chicago: The White Sox can't get warm. The average gametime temperature in their last five games is 34.3 degrees. Despite that, the club's pitching staff came in with a 1.70 ERA during a four-game winning streak. ... The four-game winning streak followed a three-game sweep by Kansas City to open the season. But manager Jerry Manuel said his club can play much better. "When you see all the things projected working, that's when you feel good,'' Manuel said. "Imagine if (Frank) Thomas, (Paul) Konerko, (Magglio) Ordonez and Carols (Lee) get hot.'' ... Manuel hopes RHP Jon Garland, the youngest player on Chicago's roster, can be more consistent this season. Garland started strong last season, struggled through the middle, and won four of his last six starts to finish 12-12. "We'd like to see that consistency more so now than later,'' Manuel said. "We'd like to see him get it going quickly.'' Cleveland: LHP C.C. Sabathia threw a 10-minute bullpen session without any problems and said he will make his scheduled start Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. Sabathia was forced to leave his previous start after hyperextending his elbow. Tests were negative, and passing the bullpen test was all that was left. "I'm ready,'' Sabathia said. "It went fine.'' Sabathia said he threw at "about 85 to 90 percent'' velocity toward the end of his workout. ... Sabathia was still talking about getting to see Michael Jordan for the first time. Jordan made his last appearance in Cleveland on Tuesday night, scoring 26 points with 10 rebounds in Washington's 100-91 win over the Cavaliers. "That was cool,'' said Sabathia, who attended the game with center fielder Milton Bradley. ... Pitching in freezing weather, Jeremy Guthrie, the Indians' top pick in the 2002 draft, was pulled from a start at Double-A Akron after one inning with a stiff neck. "He had trouble getting loose,'' Indians minor league director John Farrell said. "He had a little tightness in the trapezius muscle and felt stiffness in the area between his right shoulder and neck, so we did not take any chances.''

Twins at Yankees
Minnesota: After sweeping a three-game series to open the season in Detroit, the Twins came in having lost four straight to Toronto and New York. The Twins were outscored 26-9 in those games and their starting pitchers threw only 12 innings the past three games. ... The only bright spot for Minnesota has been the bullpen. In the past three games, Minnesota relievers allowed one earned run and four hits in 16 innings. ... The Twins had hit into eight double plays and not turned one all year. New York: The game started on time despite an afternoon of cold rain. Because this is Minnesota's only visit to New York this season, the teams didn't want to postpone the game. "Because of the schedule, we pretty much have to play,'' manager Joe Torre said. "It's tough when the scheduling brings Minnesota here now.'' ... RHP Steve Karsay (shoulder bursitis) resumed his throwing program and reported no problems after making 40 throws off flat ground. "It's getting better,'' Karsay said. "It's a matter of building up strength.'' Closer Mariano Rivera threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session. ... Jason Giambi was the DH and Nick Johnson started at first base for the second straight game because of the cold. "I feel safer with him at DH because of his history of leg problems,'' Torre said of Giambi.

Red Sox at Blue Jays
Boston: Friday's home opener could be postponed because rain is expected. That could mean a day-night doubleheader Saturday. "We'd sure like to play when we're supposed to play,'' manager Grady Little said. "Any time you play a day-night doubleheader, whether it's late in the season or early, it's not much fun.'' ... Pitching coach Tony Cloninger is resting in a Boston hospital with bladder cancer, but Little said he stays in touch with his pitchers. Little said Cloninger watches the games on TV. ... Little said he hopes RHP Derek Lowe will make his next start. Lowe left Tuesday's game in the sixth inning with a blister on his right thumb. Lowe pitched with a blister in three or four starts last season. Toronto: SS Mike Bordick made his first career start at 3B. The 14-year veteran has played 3B in 12 other games, but never started there. ... Manager Carlos Tosca didn't start 3B Eric Hinske or RF Frank Catalanotto because the Blue Jays faced a left-hander in Casey Fossum. Dave Berg replaced Catalanotto in RF. ... Bordick homered off Fossum last season. ... The Blue Jays won last year's season opener against the Red Sox on April 1. Toronto then lost 11 straight to the Red Sox.

Orioles at Devil Rays
Baltimore: Manager Mike Hargrove is not concerned about closer Jorge Julio, who has failed to convert his two save opportunities this season. The right-hander allowed two runs in one-third of an inning in Tuesday's 8-7, 10-inning loss to Tampa Bay. "He's going to be OK,'' Hargrove said. "The difference from this outing as opposed to the last outing is he pitched aggressive. He didn't back down.'' ... Julio came in 3-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 games against Tampa Bay. Against all other opponents, he is 3-6 with a 1.71 ERA in 75 outings. ... RHP Willis Roberts (upper arm) is still day-to-day. Tampa Bay: LHP Jim Parque was placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left shoulder. "I don't really see it as a huge deal,'' Parque said. "I'm looking at it as missing two starts.'' ... RHP Jorge Sosa is expected to replace Parque in the rotation. "He'll probably start Sunday in New York,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ... RHP Al Levine was called up from Triple-A Durham. After pitching for Anaheim last season, Levine went to camp with St. Louis this spring before being released. He signed with the Devil Rays on April 2. "I was looking for a good situation,'' said Levine, who is looking forward to pitching for Piniella. "With Lou here, you know he wants to win.'' ... Damion Easley, who made his first start at third base Tuesday since September 15, 1996, will probably play there for an extended period. "He seems comfortable,'' Piniella said. "We'll see him out there for the next week or so.''

Athletics at Rangers
Oakland: New closer Keith Foulke is making quite an impression. He saved three straight wins, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts in 3 1-3 innings through Tuesday night at Texas, when he got the last four outs. "He's living up to his billing. He's got a good changeup, good command and nerves of steel,'' manager Ken Macha said. Foulke was acquired from Chicago in the offseason trade that sent Billy Koch, who had 44 saves last season, to the White Sox. First baseman Scott Hatteberg has noticed a difference in the two closers. "Billy would come in and be lights out. He might run your blood pressure up, but he'd usually get the job done. Foulke comes in poised and under control no matter what the situation.'' ... LHP John Halama, who will go a week between starts before throwing at Anaheim on Saturday, threw about 20 pitches in a simulated game in an effort to stay sharp. Texas: 3B Hank Blalock, the only Ranger to get a hit in each of the first seven games, wasn't in the starting lineup. Blalock's .464 average (13-for-28) was third-best in the AL. Still, he is an .086 career hitter against left-handers, even after getting a hit off Cy Young winner Barry Zito on Tuesday. Mark Mulder, another tough lefty, started Wednesday for Oakland. ... LHP Aaron Fultz became the first Texas pitcher to pitch in six of the team's first seven games in a season. Fultz worked five straight games, allowing two earned runs over 4 2-3 innings, and struck out four of his last seven batters.

Angels at Mariners
Anaheim: 2B Adam Kennedy was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 7, with a strained right hamstring. Chone Figgins was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake and was in the starting lineup. Kennedy, the MVP of last year's AL championship series, was injured April 2 against Texas when he collided with right fielder Tim Salmon as both chased a pop fly. "He should be all right by the time it's time for him to come off the disabled list,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. "He'll be OK.'' ... 3B Troy Glaus was out of the lineup because of a tight left hamstring. He left Tuesday night's game in the second inning. Glaus took batting practice before the game. Scioscia said he would be available as a pinch-hitter and probably would be able to play Thursday night. Seattle: DH Edgar Martinez, who strained his left hamstring while beating out an infield hit, had an MRI exam as a precaution to make sure there is no tear. "It's feeling a lot better today,'' said Martinez, 40, who is expected to miss three-to-five days with the injury. ... 3B Jeff Cirillo, 1-for-22 at the plate, was given the night off by manager Bob Melvin and replaced by Mark McLemore. Melvin said Cirillo, who went 0-for-4 Tuesday, will be back in the lineup Thursday night.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Expos at Cubs
Montreal: Expos 2B Jose Vidro got the day off Wednesday. Manager Frank Robinson said Vidro hasn't been feeling well, and he was 0-for-3 in Tuesday's loss to the Cubs. "He's not up to snuff,'' Robinson said. "I'm not worried about it. I'm just going to give him a day or two off and hope that's what it takes to get him going.'' ... Conditions at Wrigley Field were chilly for a second straight day, with a temperature of 40 and a 12-mph wind. It isn't easy getting up for games when players are wearing so many layers they're unrecognizable, but Robinson said there's little choice. "I can't make you say, `This weather doesn't bother me,''' he said. ... The total of 27 strikeouts in Wednesday's game was a franchise-record for the Expos. The team's previous high was 25 from an Aug. 27, 1975, game against the San Francisco Giants. Chicago: Cubs manager Dusty Baker said he doesn't have a date for Antonio Alfonseca's return, but he hears the closer is ahead of schedule. Alfonseca is on the disabled list after straining his right hamstring in spring training. "I don't think there's a real target date,'' Baker said. "A lot depends on his body.'' Besides throwing off the mound and to live hitters, Baker said Alfonseca will need to show he can run and cover first. ... Thanks to Mark Prior's 12 strikeouts, Cubs pitchers are averaging 9.6 Ks per outing. ... Damian Miller went 3-for-3, boosting his batting average from .182 to .280. ... Mark Grudzielanek doubled to lead off the first, extending his hitting streak to seven games.

Brewers at Pirates
Milwaukee: The major league schedule maker didn't give the Brewers a break. They opened the season against defending NL Central champion St. Louis and NL champion San Francisco, losing six straight, then were sent to Pittsburgh, where they were 4-15 the last two seasons. They go on to Arizona this weekend, facing Randy Johnson on Friday and Curt Schilling on Saturday. ... RF Jeffrey Hammonds didn't start the first two games of the Pirates series because of an inflamed left elbow. Pittsburgh: Because the Pirates have more speed at the top in their lineup with the addition of Kenny Lofton and Reggie Sanders, they asked groundskeeper Luke Yoder to cut the PNC Park grass a quarter-inch lower. The grass previously was among the thickest in baseball. The Pirates kept the grass higher when they had ground-ball pitchers such as Jimmy Anderson in their rotation. ... The Pirates gave away Manny Sanguillen bobblehead dolls Wednesday night. Sanguillen, who played on both the 1971 and 1979 Pirates World Series champion teams, is the first retired Pirates player not in the Hall of Fame to have his own bobblehead. The Pirates renamed a barbecue restaurant inside PNC Park for Sanguillen last season and he spends each game there, greeting fans and signing autographs. ... Pirates RHP Josh Fogg's mound opponent Wednesday night was the Brewers' Todd Ritchie. The two were traded for each other when the Pirates sent Ritchie and minor league catcher Lee Evans to the White Sox for right-handers Fogg, Kip Wells and Sean Lowe on Dec. 13, 2001. Ritchie left the White Sox after going 5-15 last season and signed with Milwaukee. The Pirates also pursued Ritchie, but the Brewers offered more money.

Mets at Marlins
New York: RHP Grant Roberts, who was placed on the disabled list on March 28 because of tendinitis in his right shoulder, threw on the side Wednesday. He is eligible to come off the DL April 13. ... After going 3-for-3 Tuesday in his first start of the season, OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo was back on the bench Wednesday with the Mets facing a right-hander. "It's been difficult because we've faced so many right-handed pitchers,'' said manager Art Howe. "I've got to pick my spots trying to get him in and keep him sharp. That's a challenge early in the season.'' ... 3B Ty Wigginton, who won a starting job in spring training, is off to a hot start at the plate, but his defense remains a work in progress. Wigginton didn't make an error in the Mets' first seven games, but also didn't look particularly smooth. "We're going to give him the opportunity to show us what he can do defensively,'' Howe said. Florida: Manager Jeff Torborg shuffled his batting lineup for Wednesday night's game against the Mets. Juan Pierre was moved to the leadoff spot in place of Luis Castillo, who was dropped to second. Torborg also moved Juan Encarnacion from sixth to the cleanup spot, dropping Derrek Lee two spots. "I'm just trying to shake it a little bit,'' Torborg said. "There's no big reason. It's something I felt like doing. It's just a feel.'' Torborg said he almost moved Encarnacion to the cleanup spot Tuesday night, but kept Lee in that spot because of Lee's success against Mets starter Al Leiter. ... With pitcher A.J. Burnett coming off the disabled list, LHP Michael Tejera was moved to the bullpen. "Tejera's our secret weapon,'' Torborg said. "He can do a lot of different things. With his versatility, when he gets in there we can stretch it out.'' ... Ivan Rodriguez's hot start is making Torborg hesitant to give the veteran catcher an occasional rest. "It's tough to take him out of the lineup,'' Torborg said. "How do you take him out of the lineup? He's been so good for us.''

Braves at Phillies
Atlanta: RHP Paul Byrd, who was scheduled to make his first start of the season against the Phillies on Thursday, will instead undergo surgery to remove a bone spur from the back of his right elbow. The operation will be performed by Dr. Craig Morgan, in Wilmington, Del., on Friday. Byrd has been on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow since March 21. ... The 10 walks issued by Braves' pitchers in Tuesday's 4-3, 10 inning loss to the Phillies were the most issued by Atlanta's pitchers since they granted 11 last July 14 at Montreal. Philadelphia: The Phillies hosted 160 members of the 253rd Transport Company, stationed at Fort Dix, N.J., at Wednesday's game with the Braves. The 253rd is scheduled to be sent to Kuwait, and then on to Iraq, within the next two weeks. ... RHP Brad Baisley, the club's second-round draft pick in the June 1998 draft, has been placed on waivers for the purpose of his unconditional release. He has spent time on the disabled list every season since 1999. RHP Joe Roa, who allowed six runs and six hits in two innings on opening day against Pittsburgh, gets his second start of the season on Thursday against the Braves.

Reds at Astros
Cincinnati: RHP Luke Hudson will have arthroscopic surgery Friday to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder. He's expected to miss the rest of the season. ... The Reds have sold out seven games at new Great American Ball Park this season. The Reds had a total of seven sellouts in their final two seasons at Riverfront. Houston: Geoff Blum is the fourth opening day starter at third base for the Astros in as many seasons. The others were Ken Caminiti (2000), Chris Truby (2001) and Morgan Ensberg (2002). ... Roy Oswalt has fulfilled his role as the staff ace in two starts. He's 1-0 in 15 innings pitched with a 1.20 ERA, seven strikeouts and four walks. He's allowed only two earned runs. ... Houston's home attendance has dropped each season since they topped the 3 million mark in 2000, their first at what was then called Enron Field. They drew 2.9 million in 2001 and 2.5 million last season.

Cardinals at Rockies
St. Louis: With Eli Marrero nursing a sore right leg, Mike Matheny has caught all 61 innings to begin the season. He handled a team-high 830 1-3 innings last season. Matheny also is hitting .500 (13-of-26), and he won Tuesday night's game with a three-run homer in the 13th inning. ... CF Jim Edmonds, a career .344 hitter in April, is off to a typical fast start, batting .563 with three homers and nine RBI. ... RHP Cal Eldred, who pitched two perfect innings Tuesday, earned his first win since June 28, 2000. An elbow injury cut short his 2000 season, limited him to two starts in 2001 and caused him to miss all of the 2002 season. ... LF Albert Pujols left Tuesday's game in the eighth inning after running out a grounder and feeling discomfort in his left hamstring, a lingering injury. "He's a little stiff,'' manager Tony La Russa said. "We'll have to track him from at-bat to at-bat.'' The Cardinals also are monitoring Edmonds, who has a strained left calf. Both were in the starting lineup. Colorado: RHP Nelson Cruz made his second straight start Wednesday night and might get one or two more before returning to the bullpen. ... 1B Todd Helton set a franchise record by reaching base safely in all seven plate appearances Tuesday night. Helton went 4-for-4 with three walks and three RBI. Previously, a Colorado player had reached base safely on all six plate appearances of a game on four occasions, twice by Larry Walker. ... Chris Stynes also set a club record for most plate appearances with eight. ... Exactly 10 years ago, the Rockies played their first game in Denver. Eric Young hit a home run leading off the bottom of the first, and the Rockies beat Montreal 11-4 before 80,227 fans at Mile High Stadium.

Padres at Giants
San Diego: Ryan Klesko splashed a homer into McCovey Cove, the fifth ball hit into the water by a Giants' opponent at Pacific Bell Park. ... Padres 3B Sean Burroughs did not start his second straight game in the field with soreness in his right shoulder. He pinch-hit in the third. ... Dennis Tankersley, called up from the minors to make an emergency start, walked three straight batters on 16 total pitches in his disastrous 2003 debut. He didn't get a single out in his first outing of 2003, allowing seven runs. Tankersley was called up from Triple-A Portland late Tuesday as a fill-in for Clay Condrey, scratched from his Wednesday start because of a strained right groin. Condrey ended up pitching an inning in relief. In four career appearances against the Giants, Tankersley has allowed 14 earned runs with a 24.71 ERA in 5 1-3 innings. Tankersley was slated to return to Triple-A anyway. San Francisco: Manager Felipe Alou will go for his 700th win Thursday as the Giants open a three-game home series against the Dodgers. ... LHP Jason Christiansen began his rehab assignment Wednesday, pitching one inning for Class A San Jose. He underwent ligament reconstructive surgery on his left elbow last May 30. The Giants hope he can return to the team June 1. ... Pedro Feliz had a career-high four hits in the highest-scoring game at 3-year-old Pacific Bell Park. The first inning alone featured 11 runs. The Giants' first seven batters scored against Dennis Tankersley. ... The 26 runs surpassed the previous high of 22 set in the Dodgers' 14-8 win on June 26, 2001. ... There were 31 hits, 16 by San Francisco. ... Jose Cruz Jr. doubled and made two great plays in right field. Cruz has hit safely in all nine games this season with his new team.

Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Arizona: 2B Junior Spivey, mired in a 1-for-17 slump, didn't play in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. "I'm not getting the job done, that's obvious,'' said Spivey, who hit .301 last season and usually bats third in the Arizona lineup. "I feel fine, I'm just not having much success right now. I'll pull out of it, I'm not worried.'' ... Byung-Hyun Kim was the losing pitcher Wednesday, but he struck out Adrian Beltre the only two times he faced him. Beltre is 0-for-13 with six strikeouts in his career against Kim. ... The two-time defending NL West champion Diamondbacks have lost seven of nine to begin the season, and manager Bob Brenly is searching for answers. One is obvious -- the team has scored only 23 runs in nine games and is hitting .216. "You get your share of breaks in this game. They tell you they all even out, but right now every break, every opportunity seems to be going the other way,'' Brenly said. "And when we do have opportunities, we're just not cashing them in.'' ... Rookie first baseman Lyle Overbay started 3-6-3 double plays on Alex Cora's first two at-bats Wednesday. Los Angeles: The Dodgers have registered quality starts -- at least six innings pitched with three earned runs or less -- in eight of their 10 games. "I feel really strongly that on most nights, five runs is going to be enough for this pitching staff,'' manager Jim Tracy said after a 5-2 victory over Arizona. ... 1B Fred McGriff took Wednesday off. "He needs a day,'' Tracy said of the 39-year-old McGriff, who has 480 career homers. "This is a game today, there are four more starting tomorrow. It's important to sit him here and there.'' ... RHP Guillermo Mota hit a run-scoring single in the seventh inning for his first RBI since June 9, 1999, when he hit a three-run homer off Mark Guthrie in his first big-league at-bat. Mota has four hits in 10 lifetime at-bats. "I used to be a hitter,'' he said. "I can hit the fastball.'' Mota, who began his professional career as a shortstop in the Mets' organization, hit a three-run homer off Mets closer Armando Benitez in an exhibition game last month.