INTERLEAGUE

White Sox vs. Cubs
White Sox: 3B Herbert Perry's strong arm should come as no surprise. He's a former college quarterback at Florida. Perry made a throw from his knees in the 11th inning Friday that saved the game against the Cubs. He's made just four errors in 45 games with the White Sox. "I know I'm not a superstar and I'll never be one," said Perry, who was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay early in the season. "I've been given a chance to play third." ... The White Sox have won 14 of their last 15 road games. Cubs: Manager Don Baylor credited the White Sox for sticking to their plan to go with young players, a move that has finally panned out. "I remember not so long ago they had Albert Belle and they moved him somewhere else," Baylor said. But would Baylor be willing to wait for several years while the Cubs tried the same approach? "I think I've been pretty patient right now. I don't want to wait three years," he said. ... Damon Buford already has 12 homers, a career high. He hit 10 with the Red Sox in 1998. ... Sammy Sosa's 1-for-4 Friday left him 3-for-18 against his former team, the White Sox, this season. ... Tim Worrell has worked three scoreless innings in each of his two appearances against the White Sox this season.

Braves vs. Red Sox
Atlanta: When Tom Glavine pitches, Braves batters hit. They averaged 5.5 runs a game in his previous 18 starts this season. And after just two innings Friday, they already had five runs. ... If Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, who performed at the traditional Fourth of July concert along the Charles River, ever needs someone to pinch hit for him, he better not choose his namesake. Atlanta infielder Keith Lockhart is 0-for-20 as a pinch-hitter this season. He entered Friday's game at second base in the bottom of the second, replacing Quilvio Veras, who had been hit by a pitch. ... Veras was fourth in the NL with 24 stolen bases but didn't run like it in the first inning. He got only a single on a drive off the top of the left-field wall then was thrown out trying to steal second. Boston: The revolving door kept turning as Boston made four more roster moves. Outfielder Curtis Pride, who had been designated for assignment, was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket, and minor league pitcher Jason Sekany was claimed off waivers by Cincinnati. After Thursday night's game in Minnesota, the Red Sox sent LHP Tim Young to Pawtucket and called up first baseman Dernell Stenson from that International League team. Boston's starting lineup had three players who were not on the team two weeks ago _ Ed Sprague, Bernard Gilkey and Morgan Burkhart. ... Jason Varitek had seven RBIs in his last 11 games. But he was 0-for-12 in his career against Glavine and didn't start. ... Jose Offerman extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning single. He made it to 11 with a ninth-inning single Thursday in his only at-bat.

Blue Jays vs. Expos
Toronto: The Blue Jays, who won two of three from Montreal June 9-11 at SkyDome, are 5-4 against NL opponents this season. ... Toronto is 11-5 against the Expos, including a 4-1 mark at Olympic Stadium. The Blue Jays won two of three in Montreal last season. ... SS Alex Gonzalez did not start after reinjuring his strained right groin in Thursday's 9-6 win in Cleveland. Gonzalez, who is day-to-day, missed nine straight games from June 25-July 4 due to the injury. Montreal: The Expos are 20-9 against AL opponents at Olympic Stadium since interleague play began in 1997, including 4-2 this season. Montreal, 5-4 in interleague play this season, has a 31-27 record overall against AL teams. ... 1B Lee Stevens, who hasn't homered since June 28 against Atlanta's Tom Glavine, remains one homer short of 100 for his career. ... The Expos are 17-10 in the first game of a series and 31-25 on artificial turf.

Devil Rays vs. Marlins
Florida: Pitcher Alex Fernandez, out since May 18 because of rotator cuff and elbow problems, will begin a throwing and exercise program, prescribed by Dr. James Andrews, of Birmingham, Ala. ... Pitcher Ryan Dempster, the Marlins' representative in Tuesday's All-Star Game, will pledge $10 for every strikeout he earns this season to KIDS THAT CARE Pediatric and Cancer Fund. As a result of Dempster's 109 strikeouts so far this season, he has already donated $1,090. Tampa Bay: OF Greg Vaughn was activated from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Vaughn, who had been out with a right hamstring strain, the Devil Rays placed IF Bobby Smith on the 15-day disabled list. Smith suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in a collision with Detroit 1B Robert Fick on Wednesday ... Friday's opener of the three-game series against Florida will be the Devil Rays' first of 14 consecutive games against teams with .500 records or better.

Twins vs. Pirates
Minnesota: A number of fans from State College, Pa., are expected to make the three-hour drive to Pittsburgh to watch Eric Milton pitch Saturday night. Milton grew up in State College, the home of Penn State. ... The Twins recalled OF Chad Allen from Triple-A Salt Lake and sent OF Butch Huskey there outright. Allen hit .317 with 49 RBIs in 67 games for Salt Lake City. ... Interleague note: No Twins pitcher has homered since Jim Kaat off Cleveland's Vince Colbert on June 11, 1972. ... The Twins and Pirates are playing in Pittsburgh for only the second time. The Pirates took two of three in Three Rivers Stadium in 1998. Pittsburgh: The Pirates optioned LHP Jimmy Anderson to Double-A Altoona so he can stay on this throwing schedule. He will start Monday, his normal day to pitch. Anderson, who beat the Cubs on Wednesday for his first victory since April 15, is scheduled to rejoin the Pirates next weekend in Cleveland. OF Chad Hermansen was called up from Nashville because OF Adrian Brown (hamstring) is expected to miss the weekend series against Minnesota. ... With Jason Kendall and Brian Giles headed to Atlanta, this is the first time since 1993 the Pirates have two All-Stars. Kendall was picked for the third time in five seasons and, if he hadn't gotten hurt just prior to the All-Star selections last season, probably would be going for the fourth time in five years. ... The Pirates will honor their "Team of the '70s" before Saturday night's game. The Pirates won two World Series and six division titles in their first decade in Three Rivers Stadium. ... Kris Benson, who missed his scheduled start Wednesday in Chicago because of the flu, will start Saturday night.

Yankees vs. Mets
Yankees: Reliever Jeff Nelson felt snubbed by manager Joe Torre for not making the All-Star team. "I'm sorry he felt that way," Torre said. "Everyone who makes the All-Star team deserves it and so do a lot of players who don't." ... Shane Spencer started in left field after missing the last two games with a banged-up right knee. ... C Jorge Posada appealed his one-game suspension for fighting with Tampa Bay's Bobby Smith last weekend. Mets: Manager Bobby Valentine found one difference with this Subway Series than past ones. "The Yankees aren't in first place. That makes it a lot different, doesn't it?" ... Valentine said he hasn't decided yet whether to start Mike Hampton on three days' rest Sunday or go with left-hander Bobby M. Jones. ... RHP Rick Reed threw and did light running for the first time since going on the DL with a broken left wrist and sore calf.

Orioles vs. Phillies
Philadelphia: The Phillies won their sixth straight series, taking three of four in Milwaukee. The last time the Phillies won six or more consecutive series with no splits was May 2-June 1, 1995 when they won 10 straight. ... Chris Brock did not win any of his five starts, but won five games in relief over the last month. ... The Phillies will honor 11 members of the pennant-winning 1950 team, the Whiz Kids, prior to Saturday night's game. Baltimore: 2B Delino DeShields returned to the starting lineup Friday after missing four games with soreness in his neck and back. ... Jeff Conine started at first base after starting six straight games at third base. Mark Lewis was at third. ... Mike Bordick extended his hitting streak to nine games with a first-inning single. He has hit safely in 33 of his last 40 games.

Indians vs. Reds
Cleveland: Richie Sexson batted cleanup Friday for the first time this season. 1B Jim Thome got a day off with left-hander Denny Neagle starting for Cincinnati. ... Manager Charlie Manuel hopes that outfielder Manny Ramirez will rejoin the club in a week. Ramirez, sidelined since May 29 with a strained left hamstring, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday. ... LHP Chuck Finley was 0-for-18 career at the plate heading into Friday's game. Cincinnati: The Reds made it official Friday: Their new ballpark will be named Great American Ballpark. The Great American Insurance Co., owned by the Lindner family that also owns the Reds, will pay $75 million for naming rights and marketing rights through 2032. The ballpark is expected to open in 2003. ... Dante Bichette and Aaron Boone were out of the lineup. Bichette, hit in the shin by a pitch Thursday night, still had a severe limp. Boone was still bothered by a twisted knee. ... The Reds will move Scott Williamson, the 1999 NL Rookie of the Year, into the starting rotation and demote Ron Villone to the bullpen. Both have struggled this season, and manager Jack McKeon hopes a change in roles gets them going.

Tigers vs. Brewers
Detroit: Manager Phil Garner returned to County Stadium Friday for the first time since being fired by the Brewers last August. Garner spent nearly eight seasons with Milwaukee and is both the winningest and losingest manager in franchise history. ... Juan Gonzalez missed Friday night's interleague game at Milwaukee. The Tigers slugger has been bothered for weeks by tendinitis in his left ankle, causing him to miss games periodically. Tony Clark, who is day-to-day with back spasms, started on Friday. ... Hideo Nomo, who resurrected his career by going 12-8 with the Brewers last year, starts for Detroit on Saturday. Milwaukee: The Brewers, who left the AL in 1998, took a 97-98 County Stadium record against the Tigers into the weekend interleague series. ... RHP Jeff D'Amico's ERA dropped to a team-best 2.45 after allowing one run in 6 2-3 innings in a victory over Philadelphia on Thursday night. D'Amico (4-4) missed all but one inning of the last two seasons because of shoulder injuries. ... Luis Lopez, who has been Milwaukee's starting shortstop while Mark Loretta rehabilitates his broken foot, entered Friday's game hitting .389 in the Brewers' 10-game homestand. Manager Davey Lopes has elevated him to the No. 2 spot in Milwaukee's lineup in recent days.

Royals vs. Astros
Kansas City: The Royals uniform hasn't been too prominent at the All-Star game in recent years. For the first time since 1989, the Royals have two players on the AL All-Star roster, outfielder Jermaine Dye and first baseman Mike Sweeney. Dye was elected and Sweeney was added as a reserve by New York Yankees manager Joe Torre. Bo Jackson and Mark Gubicza represented the Royals in the 1989 All-Star game. Houston: With Billy Wagner out the rest of the season following elbow surgery, the Astros took Octavio Dotel from the starting rotation and put him in the bull pen. Fine, says Dotel. "If they say to me because you throw hard and throw strikes you can help us a lot as a closer, then I say OK," Dotel said. "I just want to help them. They told me when Billy comes back that I will be back in the rotation. They just need me as a closer now. What can I say?"

Padres vs. Rangers
San Diego: Padres closer Trevor Hoffman is trying to join Dennis Eckersley and John Wetteland as the only pitchers with four seasons of 40 or more saves. Hoffman is seeking his third consecutive season with at least 40 saves and he started Friday night one short of becoming the 17th pitcher in major league history with 250 saves. ... Adam Eaton, Saturday night's rookie starter, has only one decision (a victory) in his first six starts. Eaton has six consecutive no-decisions, but has yet to leave a game with the Padres trailing. Texas: Reliever Francisco Cordero will miss the San Diego series due to the death of his grandmother. Cordero returned to his native Dominican Republic for the funeral. Cordero has been bothered recently by a sore right shoulder. ... All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez had 77 RBI in his first 78 games this season. Last season, he did not reach 77 RBI until Aug. 8, his 97th game.

Diamondbacks vs. Athletics
Arizona: The Diamondbacks purchased the contract of OF Rob Ryan from Triple-A Tucson of the PCL following Thursday night's 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros. Ryan, who was hitting .303 in 60 games for the Toros, was in the starting lineup. He appeared in 20 games for Arizona last year, batting .241. ... RHP Geraldo Guzman was optioned to Double-A El Paso of the Texas League after winning his major league debut Thursday night. Guzman is expected to make one start in the minors and return in time to start for the Diamondbacks on July 17. ... OF Steve Finley suffered a bruised behind during Thursday night's victory over the Astros, was in the lineup Friday as the DH, but was scratched after taking batting practice. "I'm sore down there," said Finley. "There's a nice little bruise, but other than that I'll live. Hopefully it won't linger." ... First base coach Dwayne Murphy, who played for the Oakland A's for 10 years, was back in uniform for the Diamondbacks Friday after missing the past week because of his second knee operation in a month. Oakland: RHP Omar Olivares remains on schedule to return to the rotation on July 17, but had to curtail his throwing before Friday's game. His goal was 100 pitches, but he made just 19 off the bullpen mound before reporting pain in his strained shoulder. "This was the worst day yet," said Olivares. A's head trainer Larry Davis refused to call it a setback though and expects Olivares to make a rehab start as scheduled on July 12. "Some days it will be sore," said Davis. "If he feels OK tomorrow, he'll throw again. We didn't expect him to throw a 100 pitches, we just wanted to get him loosened up." ... A's manager Art Howe would love to get RHP Tim Hudson back in the rotation as soon as possible after the All-Star Game, but it all depends how Hudson is used in the midsummer classic. His advice to AL manager Joe Torre? "Don't use him. Let him watch," said Howe, who also said he may save Hudson to pitch at Coors Field when the A's go there on Sunday, July 16. ... The three games against Arizona marks the A's shortest homestand of the season.

Dodgers vs. Mariners
Los Angeles: Manager Davey Johnson said he doesn't expect to use All-Star RHP Kevin Brown in Seattle in the Dodgers' final series before the All-Star break. Brown pitched eight innings in San Diego Thursday night in a 9-3 victory over the Padres. He allowed four hits and had a career-high 12 strikeouts in eight innings. "Probably not," Johnson said when asked if he intended to use Brown this weekend. "Unless it's an extra-inning game." Johnson said he thinks Brown might start for the NL in Tuesday night's All-Star game in Atlanta because Greg Maddux of the Braves and Randy Johnson of Arizona are scheduled to pitch Sunday. "Every manager doesn't even want their pitcher to even pitch," Johnson said when asked if the Dodgers wanted to limit their star pitcher's All-Star game appearance. "But it's out of your control." Seattle: The Mariners activated RHP Freddy Garcia from the DL so he could start Friday night's game against the Dodgers. He was on the DL since April 22 because of a fractured right leg. To make room for Garcia on the roster, the team placed RHP Frankie Rodriguez on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 1, because of an inflammation of his right shoulder. Rodriguez gave up seven earned runs in one inning last Friday in Texas. In 19 relief appearances for Seattle this season, Rodriguez has a 7.08 ERA. Opposing hitters are hitting .331 against him. Asked about Rodriguez's injury, manager Lou Piniella said, "It could explain why he's struggled some."

Rockies vs. Angels
Colorado: The Rockies faced a pitcher named Ortiz for the second consecutive game when they opened their series at Anaheim Stadium. They went against Russ Ortiz on Thursday in San Francisco, a 6-5 Colorado loss, and faced the Angels' Ramon Ortiz on Friday. ... Heading into the game against Anaheim, the Rockies had lost four straight for the first time since dropping five in a row last Aug. 6-10. Anaheim: Pitcher Tim Belcher was suspended for three games and fined Friday for arguing with an umpire during a June 27 game in Seattle. Belcher, who is 2-2 with a 9.69 ERA and is currently on the disabled list, is appealing the suspension. ... Garret Anderson, Troy Glaus and Mo Vaughn are the first Angels trio ever to have 20 or more homers by the All-Star break. Anderson had 24 going into Friday's game against Colorado, Glaus had 23 and Vaughn 22. The last team to have three players with 20 homers by the break were the Rockies in 1997, with Larry Walker at 25, Vinny Castilla 22 and Andres Galarraga 22.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Giants vs. Cardinals
San Francisco: Friday was manager Dusty Baker's 1,153rd game with the team, passing Roger Craig for the longest tenure since the team moved to San Francisco. ... Jeff Kent entered the game with 82 RBI, most before the All-Star break in franchise history. Kevin Mitchell had 81 in 1989, his MVP year. ... Giants pitchers had a 1.33 ERA in six games during their just-completed series against Colorado at Pac Bell Park, and had an 11.68 ERA in their seven games at Coors Field. ... Sean Estes, who starts Saturday, is 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA his last 12 starts. He had no decision against the Cardinals June 22, giving up five runs in four innings in an 11-10 loss. ... The Giants entered the series short in the outfield, with Barry Bonds day-to-day with a hairline fracture in his left thumb and Armando Rios with an injured shoulder suffered in a crash into the outfield wall on Wednesday. St. Louis: RHP Garrett Stephenson is scheduled to start Saturday, although Friday he said he still felt a bit weak after two days of illness. Stephenson was supposed to have pitched Friday but was replaced by Rick Ankiel. "My attitude is give us what you've got," manager Tony La Russa said. The Sunday starter likely will be Pat Hentgen on three days' rest. Andy Benes could go on the normal four days' rest, but the Cardinals want him to start the first game after the All-Star break next Thursday because that sets up the rotation better for the second half. Hentgen threw only 85 pitches in seven innings on Wednesday. ... Ray Lankford hit two home runs Thursday, retying McGwire for the Busch Stadium career homer lead at 105. He was 10-for-24 the last six games with three homers, raising his average to .249. "I'm feeling good at the plate," Lankford said. "Now, I've got an idea."