INTERLEAGUE GAMES

Astros vs. Tigers
Houston: RHP Mike Maddux, released by the Astros on July 5, was named pitching coach for Houston's Double-A Round Rock Express. Maddux pitched 15 seasons for nine different teams and was 2-2 with a 6.26 ERA in 21 appearances this season. Maddux replaces Burt Hooton, who became the Astros' major league pitching coach June 23. ... The Astros' six-game swing through Detroit and Cleveland is their only interleague road trip of the season. Detroit: OF Juan Gonzalez was once again out of the starting lineup with tendinitis in his left ankle. Gonzalez missed five of the Tigers' six games before the All-Star break. ... The Tigers would like to call up OF Billy McMillon from Triple-A Toledo, and might trade OF Luis Polonia to do it. Polonia's on-base percentage as a leadoff hitter has been disappointing, while McMillon is batting .360 with a .450 on-base percentage at Toledo.

Phillies vs. Blue Jays
Philadelphia: General manager Ed Wade said he would have to be overwhelmed to trade RHP Curt Schilling. "He's indicated to us that there are some teams that's he's interested in going to. I've let those clubs know that we would have to be overwhelmed to do anything." ... Wade said a team made an offer for LHP Bruce Chen immediately after the Phillies acquired him from Atlanta. Chen was acquired with minor league pitcher Jimmy Osting in exchange for RHP Andy Ashby. Toronto: General manager Gord Ash said the team's owners have given him the go ahead to add salary. "We could afford to add the salary of a premium player, or add two or three players that add up to a salary like that," said Ash, who is looking for pitching. ... The Blue Jays payroll is $47 million, $60 million less than the New York Yankees. "Obviously the Yankees operate in a stratosphere that we can't pretend to be in," Ash said. "They're well over 100 million, but it's not just the taking on of salary. Players like Drew Henson and Jackson Melian cost them close to $4 million in signing bonuses as amateurs. They dominate at every level, which is why the little David's like us are just to happy be with the Goliath."

Pirates vs. Indians
Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 2B Warren Morris was shaky offensively coming into the interleague series with the Indians. He has a .400 batting average (18-for-45) during interleague games this season, but was hitting .152 (7-for-46) in his last 12 games. ... The Pirates bullpen was 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA in the last 11 games, but the relievers have just five saves in nine opportunities in Pittsburgh's last 35 games. Cleveland: The Indians activated Manny Ramirez from the DL before the game. He hadn't played since May 29, when he strained his left hamstring running out a fielder's choice against Anaheim. Ramirez hit three homers in nine at-bats on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. ... The five-time AL Central champs are 1-6-1 in their last eight series, despite having the best fielding percentage in the American League at .987.

Mets vs. Red Sox
New York: Manager Bobby Valentine wasn't concerned by division rival Atlanta's All-Star break trade for pitcher Andy Ashby and the cross-town rival New York Yankees acquisition of pitcher Denny Neagle. "I don't think we missed out on anything," he said. ... Entering Thursday night's game with Boston, Mike Piazza led the league in road batting average with a .424 mark. ... Piazza came back from a beaning in the head by the Yankees Roger Clemens on Thursday to face Pedro Martinez, a pitcher with a reputation for pitching inside who happened to plunk Piazza on the wrist the last time the teams played on June 5, 1998. Boston: Pedro Martinez came off the 15-day DL against the New York Mets on Thursday and Boston can only hope he duplicates last season's post-DL performance. After Martinez returned from the DL on Aug. 3 last year, he went 8-1 with a 2.01 ERA. ... Ed Sprague has had a tough start since being traded to Boston late last month. He batted .118 (4-34) in his first nine games, and was loudly booed by fans after going 0-4 against Atlanta in the game before the All-Star break. ... Red Sox pitchers allowed 100 home runs before the All-Star break, the first time Boston has allowed 100 at the break since giving up 102 in 1996.

Mariners vs. Padres
Seattle: SS Alex Rodriguez, sidelined since suffering a concussion on Friday, worked out with the team trainer and took batting practice, but said he doesn't expect to play until Sunday or Monday. "I feel as good as I have the last couple of days," Rodriguez said. ... LF and leadoff hitter Rickey Henderson got hit on the left elbow by a pitch from Brian Tollberg in the third inning and left the game after the fourth. San Diego: The Padres put C Carlos Hernandez on the 15-day DL with a strained lower back, recalled RH Carlos Almanzar from Triple-A Las Vegas and demoted RH reliever Carlos Reyes. Hernandez's move was retroactive to July 6. Hernandez was on the DL from April 7-22 with a groin injury. ... Anticipating that Hernandez would be sidelined, the Padres recalled Ben Davis from Las Vegas on Saturday. ... The Padres have used the DL a major-league high 19 times.

Expos vs. Devil Rays
Montreal: Closer Ugueth Urbina is scheduled to begin his rehabilitation from elbow surgery Friday at the team's training complex in Jupiter, Fla. Recovery time is projected between 4-6 months. ... Lee Stevens, who missed one game after being hit on the right wrist by a David Wells pitch last Saturday, started at first base. ... OF Rondell White (right hamstring strain) was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game. ... RHP Carl Pavano (right elbow tendinitis) started his rehab program with light throwing. Tampa Bay: DH Jose Canseco (strained left heel) said he is running at probably 70-80 percent, but still has some pain. He has not played since late May. ... LHP Tony Saunders, who broke his left arm delivering a pitch last season, continues making steady progress and will throw four innings in a simulated game Saturday. ... RHP Dave Eiland (pinched left hip bursa sac) is slated to make what could be his final rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Durham.

Marlins vs. Yankees
Florida: The Marlins (45-43) start the second half above .500 for only the second time in their history. "If we want to be .500 in the second half, we'll have to play much better than we did in the first half," manager John Boles said. "We'll have to play a lot better, because the schedule is so much tougher." ... RHP Ryan Dempster, who was selected but did not pitch in the All-Star game, will start Friday night. ... The Marlins enter the series with a major league-leading 37-24 record in interleague play. New York: RHP Dwight Gooden took his move to the bullpen to accommodate Denny Neagle in stride. "I have no problem with it," Gooden said. "I pitched in the bullpen last year with Cleveland and that taught me that I could do it. When I signed here, they said it probably would be in the bullpen." ... The Yankees recalled OFs Ryan Thompson and Luke Wilcox from Triple-A Columbus, placed OF Shane Spencer and Wily Mo Pena on the 60-day DL and optioned right-hander Darrell Einertson back to Columbus.

Braves vs. Orioles
Atlanta: Braves manager Bobby Cox was suspended Thursday for five games for bumping umpire Derryl Cousins during an argument July 4. The ban is scheduled to begin Friday night, but a Braves spokesman said the team will ask for an appeals process in hopes of lessening the suspension. ... RHP Andy Ashby, acquired from Philadelphia on Wednesday in a trade, will make his Braves debut Friday. "I'm excited. I just want to give us a chance to win," Ashby said. ... LHP Mike Remlinger was activated from the DL before the game. Atlanta designated RHP Dave Stevens for assignment. ... 2B Quilvio Veras was a late scratch from the starting lineup because he was feeling ill. He was replaced by Keith Lockhart. Baltimore: The Orioles announced Thursday that 3B Dave Hollins has signed a minor league contract and will report to Triple-A Rochester. ... 3B Cal Ripken, scheduled to come off the 15-day DL Thursday, will remain sidelined for at least a few more days, manager Mike Hargrove said. ... The Orioles took the field at 4 p.m. Thursday to work on cutoffs and other fundamentals drills. Hargrove said the extra workouts will be repeated occasionally during the second half.

Brewers vs. Royals
Milwaukee: Milwaukee is starting the season's second half by playing 12 of 14 games on the road. ... The offcial scorer made a scoring change in the Brewers' game on Sunday against Detroit. An error on 3B Dean Palmer in the fourth inning was changed to a base hit for Jose Hernandez, meaning both runs against Detroit starter Willie Blair were earned. Kansas City: CF Carlos Beltran will have an MRI on his right knee Friday to determine the extent of his injury. Doctors think it's probably a deep bone bruise which is causing discomfort. ... Manager Tony Muser is meeting individually with all his players to talk about goals for the second half of the season. ... Thursday was Muser's 33rd wedding anniversary.

Cubs vs. Twins
Chicago: Former Twin and current Cubs closer Rick Aguilera was honored before the game for becoming the 13th pitcher to reach the 300-save plateau. Aguilera, who spent 10 seasons in Minnesota, has 306 career saves _ 254 with the Twins. ... After winning two in a row heading into the All-Star break, the Cubs were looking to equal their season-best winning streak. Chicago has won three in a row three times in 2000. ... Sammy Sosa headed into Thursday night's game batting just .241 in the Metrodome. Sosa has three homers in 54 at bats. Minnesota: It wasn't exactly the three tenors when former Twins Kent Hrbek and Tony Oliva joined Governor Jesse Ventura to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch. Ventura performed the song at Wrigley Field earlier in the season ... Lights were low as the Twins and Cubs took batting practice. With temps near 90 in Minneapolis and power use at a peak because of all the air conditioners running, the city asked the Metrodome to keep the lights down until gametime in an effort to conserve energy. ... Twins 3B Corey Koskie looks to continue a streak in the second half that has seen him go 20-for-51 (.378) with three homers and 15 RBI in the last 15 games. ... Minnesota has lost seven of eight games.

Cardinals vs. White Sox
St. Louis: Mark McGwire said money's changed the face of baseball, but it can't buy happiness. "I think we are all overpaid anyway," he said Thursday. "It's just unbelievable the money going around. I don't necessarily believe or want to be in the higher echelon of being paid. I took less money and I'm happy where I'm at." McGwire re-upped with the Cardinals in late 1997 after being traded from the A's. During this past offseason, he agreed to exercise a mutual option in his contract for 2001 rather than be eligible for free agency. "If you can't be happy with $11 million there's something wrong with you," he said at the time. ... McGwire was placed on the DL with right knee tendinitis. The Cardinals were also missing J.D. Drew on Thursday. Drew sprained his ankle last Friday and was still sore. ... The game with the White Sox began the Cardinals' season-long 11-game road trip. ... The Cardinals' 149 homers before the All-Star break were a NL record and just two shy of Seattle's major league record of 151, set last season. Chicago: All-Star game winner James Baldwin was not expected back with the team until Friday. He drove to North Carolina after the All-Star game to be with his wife, who is pregnant. ... Jerry Manuel's message to his players after the break was simple: "Sustain the level of play we've been accustomed to. We're doing to be chased. We have to be steady." ... Some are suggesting the White Sox need to pick up a veteran hitter and pitcher to help them make a pennant run. "The way the chemistry is at this time, there is no need to make drastic changes," Manuel said. ... Reliever Sean Lowe was still bothered by a sore right pectoral muscle and not available for Thursday's game. He suffered the injury last week against the Cubs.

Rangers vs. Diamondbacks
Texas: The series opener against Arizona was the start of a season-long, 11-game road trip for the Rangers. ... LHP Darren Oliver, on the DL since June 17 with weakness in his left shoulder, will make his third rehab assignment start for Triple-A Oklahoma on Friday at Nashville. ... Texas starter Rick Helling recorded a decision in 15 consecutive starts since a no-decision April 19 against the Yankees. ... The Rangers went 42-43 before the All-Star game, playing sub-.500 ball before the break for the first time since 1994. Arizona: The Diamondbacks activated 3B Matt Williams and 1B Erubiel Durazo from the 15-day DL and placed INF Danny Klassen on the DL with a sprained right big toe. They also optioned OF Rob Ryan to Triple-A Tucson. ... Although no recall has been made, manager Buck Showalter penciled in RHPs Nelson Figueroa and Geraldo Guzman to pitch against Seattle on Sunday and Monday. Figueroa, who is with Tucson, worked one scoreless inning for the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star game, and Guzman has been with Double-A El Paso since allowing four hits in eight innings to beat Houston 2-1 in his major league debut July 6. ... Ace Randy Johnson, the NL starter in the All-Star game, will start Saturday in the third game of the Texas series.

Angels vs. Dodgers
Anaheim: LHP Scott Schoeneweis, who hasn't pitched since June 16 because of a strained rib cage, will make his first rehab start Friday night for Class A Lake Elsinore against San Bernardino. He will be limited to 50-60 pitches. ... Anaheim won the 1999 season series against the Dodgers 4-2. Los Angeles: Matt Herges was the surprise star of the Dodgers' bullpen in the first half of the season. The 30-year-old rookie is 6-0 with a 3.27 ERA over 52 1-3 innings. ... Catcher Todd Hundley is expected to miss the next few games because of a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb. The switch-hitting Hundley will remain available for pinch-hitting duty from the left side of the plate. ... Shortstop Mark Grudzielanek has a viral illness and probably will be placed on the 15-day DL.

Athletics vs. Giants
Oakland: The Athletics placed DH John Jaha on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his left shoulder. It's possible Jaha will have surgery, which will keep him out for six weeks. The A's recalled Adam Piatt from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the roster spot. Piatt, who joins the A's for the third time this season, hit .283 with eight home runs in 65 games with Sacramento. San Francisco: Giants LF Barry Bonds, who has a slight fracture in the tip of his right thumb and skipped the All-Star game, was in the lineup Thursday night. He missed six of the last eight games before the break with the injury. ... The Giants will continue their charity Until There's a Cure Day at Pacific Bell Park. The event, which raises money for AIDS research and treatment, will be held July 16 when the Giants play the Rangers. The Giants were one of the first teams to raise money for the cause.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Reds vs. Rockies
Cincinnati: Veteran SS Barry Larkin admitted frustration with Cincinnati's disappointing season and said Wednesday's trade of LHP Denny Neagle "can't help us." Still, Larkin said the Reds were not about to surrender in 2000. "We'll go out and find other people. We aren't giving up. We are not out of it." The Reds started the night eight games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. ... Cincinnati placed 3B Aaron Boone on the 15-day DL with a strained left knee and recalled INF Mike Bell from Triple-A Louisville. ... Chris Stynes can claim the title of best career hitter at Coors Field. Entering Thursday, the infielder was 26-for-51 (.516) at Coors. Teammate Ken Griffey Jr. was hitting .387 with five homers and 16 RBIs in eight games. Colorado: For the second time this season, manager Buddy Bell was managing against a son. He faced David Bell when the Rockies played the Seattle Mariners, and looked across the field at Mike Bell on Thursday. Mike Bell was looking to make his major league debut for the Reds. ... The Rockies held a pregame news conference to announce a four-year contract extension for 3B Jeff Cirillo, who could have demanded a trade after this season. The contract will keep Cirillo in Colorado through 2005, and the team has an option for 2006. ... At 28-9, the Rockies had the best home record in the majors before the All-Star break and play 13 of their next 15 at Coors Field.