AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox vs. Devil Rays
Boston: RHP Tom Gordon (right elbow surgery) is scheduled to throw off a mound for the first time Sept. 14. The injured Red Sox closer, who is rehabbing at the team's complex in Fort Myers, Fla., visited his teammates before the game. Gordon, who's contract has a club option for 2001, hopes to remain with Red Sox. "I enjoy Boston and I enjoy the fans," said Gordon, who should be ready for start of spring training. "I want to be here next year." ... RHP Ramon Martinez (bruised right knee), who is scheduled to start Saturday's game against Seattle, reported no problems after throwing 45 pitches in a simulated game. ... LHP Pete Schourek (left shoulder) said he is ready to rejoin the Red Sox after throwing 4 1-3 innings in a minor league rehab start for Class-A Sarasota Monday. The Red Sox are not expected to activate him until after rosters are expanded Friday. ... LHP Jeff Fassero will make his first start Wednesday since voicing his displeasure about being pulled in the sixth inning of his outing last Friday at Kansas City. "It was something that built up and I let it off my chest," Fassero said. "I'm just going on from there." Tampa Bay: Manager Larry Rothschild said the status of 3B Vinny Castilla (lower back inflammation) will be re-evaluated in the next 2-3 days. Castilla, who has missed the past 29 games, could begin a minor league rehab stint after that. ... The Devil Rays started the day with a 4.27 ERA since June 1, lowest in the AL. Over the season's first two months, the teams ERA of 5.77 was the highest in the league. "They've been more aggressive going after hitters, working quick and throwing strikes," Rothschild said. ... LF Greg Vaughn, who has been limited to DH since Aug. 7 by a right shoulder injury, has resumed throwing from the outfield.

Indians vs. Rangers
Cleveland: The Indians are looking for more aggressive baserunning from five-time AL stolen base leader Kenny Lofton. Entering Tuesday night's game, Lofton had only three steals since Aug. 5, and 19 overall. ... Starting Sept. 1, the Indians' wild card chances will get a boost with 20 of their last 34 games at Jacobs Field. Cleveland is 35-26 at home this season. Texas: Manager Johnny Oates has benched rookie 3B Mike Lamb in favor of utility man Scott Sheldon. Lamb has been struggling in the field with 25 errors, the most by a third baseman in the majors this season. ... LHP Darren Oliver will make another rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma, meaning one more start for the Rangers by rookie Brian Sikorski on Thursday. Oliver has been on the DL since July 31 with a weak left shoulder. ... The Rangers honored former team president Tom Schieffer in pregame ceremonies. A plague recognizing Schieffer's role with the franchise from 1989-99 was unveiled at an entrance outside the home plate entrance at The Ballpark in Arlington.

Tigers vs. Orioles
Detroit: Detroit is 14-11 when RHP Hideo Nomo starts. Nomo will vie for his third straight win Wednesday. ... The Tigers have clinched their third straight winning month, a feat they hadn't accomplished since 1988. ... Tony Clark, striving to return from a lumbar spine strain, went 0-for-3 Monday in a rehab assignment with Toledo. Baltimore: The Orioles called up C Fernando Lunar from Double-A Bowie to replace C-INF Mike Kinkade, who left to join the U.S. Olympic team. ... RHP Alan Mills, sidelined with right shoulder inflammation since Aug. 4, allowed a run in two innings Monday in a rehab assignment with Class-A Frederick. He will likely be activated Friday. ... The Orioles needed one more error to reach 100 in a season for the first time since 1993. ... Baltimore has won only 11 of 34 series since the end of April.

Twins vs. Royals
Minnesota: The Twins entered play Tuesday with a 21-16 record against the AL Central. It is the only division in which they hold a winning record. The Twins are 17-24 against the AL East, 14-21 against the AL West and 7-11 vs. the NL Central. Kansas City: Three Royals are on pace to establish club records in offensive categories. Jermaine Dye would finish with 38 homers at his current pace, which would better Steve Balboni's club record of 36 in 1985. Mike Sweeney has 116 RBIs entering Tuesday's game, already the fifth best mark in club history. At his current pace, he would finish with 145, well past Hal McRae's 133 in 1982. Johnny Damon is on pace to score 142 runs, which would eclipse Willie Wilson's mark of 133, set in 1980.

Blue Jays vs. Angels
Toronto: Entering Tuesday, the Blue Jays were 16-15 with a 4.70 staff ERA since Dave Stewart replaced Rick Langford as pitching coach on July 24. But over the last nine games, Toronto starters are 5-0 with a 2.44 ERA. ... With his .361 average, 118 RBIs and AL-leading 39 home runs, Carlos Delgado has a chance to become only the third player in history to win a Triple Crown and a league MVP while playing for a team that didn't finish in first place. The only two in that category were Ducky Medwick of the 1937 St. Louis Cardinals, and Jimmie Foxx of the 1933 Philadelphia Athletics. "Anything can happen in this game, but that's something that is completely out of my control," he said. "I can only worry about what I can do, so I'm just going to try to get as many hits as I can, and we'll check the numbers in October." ... The three home runs the Blue Jays hit Monday gave them 39 this month, tying the franchise record for August with two games left. This year alone, they have set club records for homers in April (43), May (43), June (48) and July (44). Anaheim: A protest lodged by the Angels because of a disputed call by umpire Derryl Cousins in an Aug. 21 loss at Boston was denied by major league baseball on Tuesday -- following a hearing held by Paul Beeston, baseball's chief operating officer. "I'm not surprised," manager Mike Scioscia said. "I mean, history shows that a lot of them aren't upheld." ... Mo Vaughn needs two RBIs to reach the 100 mark for the sixth time in his career, and third year in a row.

White Sox vs. Athletics
Chicago: The White Sox were on the losing side of a one-hitter in the opener of the three-game series against Oakland, a 3-0 win by the Athletics' Tim Hudson. Chicago also was one-hit on May 21 by Frank Castillo at Toronto -- and the White Sox went on to win 20 of their next 27 games. ... Frank Thomas needs to score one run and draw four walks to have 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 100 walks for the ninth time in his 10 seasons. He had driven in 120 runs heading into Tuesday's game against the Athletics. Oakland: Despite their 21-23 record since the All-Star break the Athletics had picked up 1½ games since the break on AL West-leading Seattle. ... Jason Giambi was back in the lineup as the DH after missing two consecutive games and seven overall because of a sore left shoulder. An MRI on Monday revealed no damage in the shoulder, and the plan was for Giambi, who was hitting .322 with 30 homers and 104 RBIs, to DH on Tuesday and Wednesday. If his shoulder is still sore, he will have a cortisone shot after Wednesday's game and be able to play by Friday. The Athletics are off Thursday.

Yankees vs. Mariners
New York: 1B Tino Martinez was out of the lineup because of a hyperextended left foot that he sustained while sliding into home plate in the eighth inning Monday. Martinez was available as a pinch-hitter. "I'll see how he feels," manager Joe Torre said. "I think he'll be OK tomorrow. I hope I shut him down for the night. I hope I don't need him to pinch-hit." Martinez said he was injured when his foot hit catcher Dan Wilson's shin guard when he was thrown out at the plate while trying to score from second base. "It's just a little swollen and it's sore a little bit," Martinez said. "I told him (Torre) I could play without any problems without favoring it." Torre had Jorge Posada at 1B in Martinez's place and Chris Turner was at C. ... RHP Roger Clemens, who came out of Monday's game in the eighth when his left hamstring cramped up, is scheduled to make his next start Sunday against Minnesota. Clemens took part in the Yankees' warmup drills and then iced his left hamstring as a precaution. Seattle: LHP Rob Ramsay was activated from the 15-day DL, where he had been since Aug. 14 because of a strained left biceps. He joined Arthur Rhodes to give the Mariners two lefties in the bullpen. The Mariners optioned RHP Joel Pineiro to Triple-A Tacoma. ... In the Mariners' 2-13 slide, they have given up nine or more runs nine times. ... Edgar Martinez's 123 RBI entering the game were the second most ever by a 37-year-old. Babe Ruth had the most RBI by a 37-year-old with 137 in 1932. In third place is Andres Galarraga, who had 121 RBI at 37 in 1998.

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Diamondbacks vs. Expos
Arizona: 3B Matt Williams batted sixth for the second straight game. Williams, who has been on the DL twice this season and missed 58 games, has batted cleanup 62 times and fifth twice. ... Manager Buck Showalter held a 30-minute team meeting before Tuesday's game. Montreal: Montreal is 22-21 in the first game of a series, and 15-27 in the second. ... The Expos entered Tuesday's game with a 15-10 mark against Arizona overall, including a 5-2 record this season.

Cardinals vs. Marlins
Florida: Manager John Boles says he doesn't expect a lot of roster additions when the Marlins make their September callups. "This is not a tryout camp," Boles says. "We're trying to win games." ... Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, who hit his first major-league homer Monday, is batting .357 this season (5-for-12). St. Louis: Through Monday, the Cardinals' 6-7-8 spots in the order were batting .421 on the team's trip after five games. ... Cards shortstop Edgar Renteria went 2-for-4 Monday, raising his batting average to .358 (19-for-53) lifetime against his former team.

Giants vs. Pirates
San Francisco: Former Pirates manager Jim Leyland visited with Giants manager Dusty Baker before Monday's game against the Pirates. Leyland now scouts for the St. Louis Cardinals from his home base in Pittsburgh. "He said around the league he's heard that we play the game the way it's supposed to be played," Baker said. "That's a tremendous compliment." ... Russ Davis had been 1-for-21 as a pinch hitter before he hit a grand slam against Florida on Aug. 21. Exactly one week later, he delivered the game-winning homer in Monday's 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: With Aramis Ramirez likely to miss the rest of the season because of a separated left shoulder, Enrique Wilson is taking over at third. Wilson has mostly played the two middle infield slots since he came to the Pirates from Cleveland in a trade on July 29. ... Three Rivers Stadium was so dark during Monday night's game that Giants Manager Dusty Baker asked the umpires if all the lights were on. With the Stadium facing demolition after the football season, there's a feeling that weakened bulbs aren't being replaced as promptly as they may have been in the past.

Astros vs. Mets
Houston: Jeff Bagwell's two-run single in the third inning gave him 33 RBIs in August, an Astros record for one month. He had shared the previous mark of 31, doing it three times, with Derek Bell. ... Tony Eusebio started the day with a 24-game hitting streak, tied with Arizona's Tony Womack for the longest in the NL this year. Eusebio was robbed of a hit in his first at-bat by center fielder Jay Payton's catch on the warning track and struck out in the third. New York: The Mets purchased the contract of 2B Leandro Arias from Class-A Pittsfield and immediately put him on the 15-day DL. Leandro, 19, had surgery on his right shoulder on May 9. The move gives the Mets added flexibility with their postseason roster, which must be set by Thursday. Players on the DL, however, can later be replaced _ meaning utilityman Joe McEwing, for example, could be promoted from Triple-A Norfolk after the deadline and still be eligible for the postseason. ... 3B Robin Ventura, in a 1-for-16 slump, did not start. He spent part of the afternoon across the street from Shea Stadium watching the U.S. Open tennis tournament.

Rockies vs. Phillies
Colorado: Todd Helton, who leads the majors with a .397 batting average, wasn't in the starting lineup after feeling a slight twinge in his back. ... Wednesday's starter Julian Tavarez is 9-2 with a 3.97 ERA. In his six starts this season, Colorado is 6-0. ... C Brent Mayne is hitting .190 (8-for-42) against left-handers. The catcher wasn't in Tuesday's starting lineup against southpaw Omar Daal. Philadelphia: 3B Scott Rolen wasn't in the starting lineup on Tuesday. Rolen is hitting .355 (27-for-76) with four homers and 14 RBIs in his last 19 games. Manager Terry Francona has rested Rolen after he has played on turf for several nights. Rolen had played seven consecutive games on artificial turf. ... The Phillies are 23-22 in one-run games. ... RF Bobby Abreu has set career-highs in homers (21) and doubles (45).

Reds vs. Braves
Cincinnati: Ron Villone's five-hitter Monday was the first complete game by a Reds left-hander since Mike Remlinger tossed an 8-0 shutout at Arizona on July 11, 1998. Remlinger, of course, is now a reliever for the Braves. ... The Reds had not been held scoreless through their first 131 games, a franchise record to begin the season and the longest stretch by any team since the Phillies scored at least a run in their first 158 games in 1993. The 1932 Yankees are the only team to go an entire season without being on the wrong end of a shutout. ... Cincinnati is the only team with a winning record on the road and a losing record at home. Atlanta: Things aren't getting any better for OF Reggie Sanders, who started in right field while Brian Jordan rested his sore shoulder. Having already endured an 0-for-34 skid in April, Sanders was mired in a 2-of-19 slump after hitting into an inning-ending double play in the second with runners at first and third. ... RHP Greg Maddux has lost five of seven decisions since July 22, which is more defeats than he had for the entire season in both 1995 (19-2) and 1997 (19-4). Maddux (14-8) is trying to avoid his first year with double-figure losses since 1996 (15-11).

Padres vs. Cubs
San Diego: The Padres placed 2B Bret Boone on the 15-day DL with a bruised right knee and recalled infielder Kevin Nicholson. ... The Padres and the Double-A Mobile will be together for at least four more years. The team announced Tuesday it had extended its working agreement though the 2004 season. ... The Padres also extended their working agreement with the Fort Wayne Wizards, their Single-A club in the Midwest League, through the 2002 season. ... At 64-67 heading into Tuesday's game, the Padres were within three games of .500 for the first time since May 5. ... At 17-9 so far in August, guaranteeing San Diego its first winning month since June 1999. Chicago: After getting poked, prodded and tested for more than five hours, Mark Grace was back in the Cubs' lineup Tuesday. Grace left Monday's game with dizzy spells, and spent Tuesday morning being examined by doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. "Anytime a doctor puts you in (an MRI machine), usually they think something's wrong. That's when you get worried," Grace said. "Plus, it's your head." Despite extensive tests, doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him. One doctor told him he might have been dehydrated because he drank a lot of coffee before the game and didn't eat. "They told me try to get more sleep, try to eat better and just go play," he said. "I've never felt that way before and I never want to again." ... While the Cubs are mired in losses again, their minor league teams are enjoying good summers. Double-A West Tenn clinched the Southern League's West Division second-half title Monday, and Single-A Eugene is tied for first in the Northwest League's South Division. Single-A Dayton lowered its magic number to one Monday in the Florida State League's East Division second-half race. All that bodes well for the future, manager Don Baylor said. "Winning never gets old, even at that level," Baylor said. "If guys win in the minor leagues, that's what they expect. ... They're going to want to continue it for a while." ... SS Luis Montanez, the Cubs first-round draft pick in June, was named the Arizona League's MVP at Mesa.

Dodgers vs. Brewers
Los Angeles: OF Gary Sheffield missed his ninth consecutive game with the flu and a five-game suspension. ... The Dodgers have shuffled their pitching rotation. Darren Dreifort will start Wednesday and Carlos Perez will go Thursday. ... Los Angeles has three outfielders injured. Besides Sheffield's flu, Devon White has missed four straight games with a strained quadriceps muscle and Bruce Aven was scratched before Monday's game with a strained left oblique muscle. "We just need to get some healthy bodies," manager Davey Johnson said. Milwaukee: 3B Jose Hernandez began a rehabilitation assignment in Indianapolis on Tuesday. Hernandez, out since Aug. 10 with a strained lower back, is expected to be the DH, but will probably return to the team well before the end of the 20-day stint. ... The Brewers are scoring 4.52 runs per game in the 25 games since Richie Sexson came over from Cleveland, raising their season average to 4.40. SS Mark Loretta also returned from a lengthy stint on the DL during that time. Milwaukee is still last in the majors in hitting at .244. ... Through 131 games, Milwaukee opponents had stolen less than half as many bases in 2000 (68) as in 1999 (131). Credit C Henry Blanco, who had thrown out 34 of 60 potential base-stealers.