Angels-Marlins
ANAHEIM: The Angels activated RHP Troy Percival from the 15-day DL and placed RHP Mickey Callaway on the 15-day DL. Percival had been on the DL since May 23 with a hip injury. ... Callaway wasn't surprised when the club placed him on the DL, his first stint since 1999. He reported stiffness and soreness in his right shoulder during and after pitching three innings in Thursday's 14-inning loss to the Expos. Doctors diagnosed him with tendinitis Friday. ... SS David Eckstein was out of the lineup for the second straight day following an injury to his left hand during batting practice Friday. Eckstein was bruised when he was hit by a line drive by Garret Anderson.
FLORIDA: 3B Mike Lowell is getting tired of the trade rumors, but he is trying not to allow them to affect his play. ``I hear them, but I just tune them out. I just try to play hard, I really don't think about all of that,'' said Lowell, who reportedly is being pursued by the Cubs and Dodgers. Lowell is in the final year of a $3.7 million contract, and the financially strapped Marlins are not expected to extend it. ``I can't control it, and since I can't, it doesn't bother me,'' he said. ``There have been so many different teams named that I kind of say it's bogus.'' ... Less than a week after striking out four times in one game, C Ivan Rodriguez hopes he is finding his swing. Rodriguez hit a three-run homer Friday, giving him a six-game hitting streak. He leads NL catchers in All-Star voting despite hitting .251 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. ``When you're having a season like I am, you have to keep working, keep swinging the bat, not give up and stay strong. It's going to change.'' ... Florida pitchers had allowed one run in 19 innings and two runs in their last 23.
Red Sox-Brewers
BOSTON: Derek Lowe starts on three days' rest for the first time in his career Sunday at Milwaukee after throwing 85 pitches in seven innings Wednesday in an 8-3 victory at Pittsburgh. Lowe (5-3, 4.93 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in his last four starts after posting a 6.53 ERA in his first eight starts. ... The Red Sox were 51-30 on the road last year, but through Friday's games were 15-17 away from Fenway Park this season. ... RHP Tim Wakefield sustained a deep contusion to his right ankle when hit by a pitch Friday while batting for the first time this season. He's not scheduled to miss a start but will be re-evaluated Sunday. X-rays were negative.
MILWAUKEE: Glendon Rusch, Sunday's starter, has struggled to a 1-8 record. He failed to hold a 5-0 lead in hilast start. ``We've done a lot with his mechanics,'' manager Ned Yost said. ``So I'm anxious for Glendon to start, to see if that's helped him.'' ... Rusch beat the Red Sox 2-0 in 2001 for the New York Mets, pitching eight innings, allowing one hit and striking out a career-high 10. ... Rickie Weeks, the second overall selection in Tuesday's draft, had an impressive workout with the team. The 20-year-old Weeks, who played at Southern University and spent the last two summers with Team USA, is unsigned but said he was eager to join the Brewers and work his way to the majors. ``That wasn't even in my wildest dreams,'' Weeks said of being the No. 2 choice after not being drafted out of high school in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Yankees-Cubs
NEW YORK: Roger Clemens was agitated by some ball-strike calls and appeared to yell at plate umpire Dan Iassogna after he was pulled in the seventh inning. Clemens refused to comment, but manager Joe Torre did. ``He thought some pitches were strikes. The adrenaline was flowing. He does a lot of talking, he is very animated when he pitches. He thought there were some pitches that were strikes,'' Torre said. ``I thought Roger, under the conditions and the ballpark and everything else, I thought pitched great. And it's unfortunate we came away with the loss.'' Iassogna said he didn't think Clemens was yelling at him. But in the sixth, the umpire said Clemens was unhappy with a fastball that was called a ball. As Clemens walked off the mound after the inning ended, he ``pointed and said, 'I hit my spot,''' Iassogna said. ... Torre said one of the reasons he removed Clemens in the seventh with a 1-0 lead was because he was bothered by an upper respiratory ailment. ``I asked him how he felt and he said, `All right,''' catcher Jorge Posada said. ``He said he was having a little shortness of breath a little bit.'' ... Posada and Derek Jeter said they'd like to put the 300-win hoopla behind them. Clemens has failed three straight times to get the milestone victory, and his next chance comes Friday night at home against the Cardinals. ``We want to get it done so we can go on with the season,'' Posada said. ... New York is 2-3 in interleague play this season and 61-46 since it began in 1997 -- 32-20 at Yankee Stadium and 29-26 on the road.
CHICAGO: C Damian Miller said he nearly got sick to his stomach as he watched teammate Hee Seop Choi lay motionless on the ground after colliding with Kerry Wood while they chased a popup. ``I felt bad because it was my ball,'' said Miller, who lost it in the sun. ``It was really ugly at first, his eyes rolled back.'' Miller said he and his teammates were all relieved when doctors asked Choi he if he knew his name and he was able to respond. ... Mark Grudzielanek returned to the team after missing three games for the birth of his son. He had a leadoff single in the first off Roger Clemens. ``To see my son born was the most amazing thing in my life, far more important than being here,'' Grudzielanek said. ... Eric Karros and Sammy Sosa said it was one of the most exciting games they'd ever played in. Sosa was able to play because he is appealing an eight-game suspension for using a corked bat. He had two singles off Clemens, the pitcher who served up his first major league homer back in 1989. ... Approximately 480 single-game media passes were issued. That number does not include season credentials. The only game at Wrigley Field with more media was the first night game (556) on Aug. 8, 1988. ... Kerry Wood has 32 career double-digit strikeout games, including six this season.
Rangers-Expos
TEXAS: SS Alex Rodriguez was out of the starting lineup with a bruised left knee. ``I tweaked it a little bit last night,'' he said. ``I'm not sure what play. It started swelling up last night, so I iced it and took anti-inflammatories.'' Rodriguez had played 445 consecutive games. Oakland's Miguel Tejada has the longest active streak of 491 games. ... The Rangers made two roster moves, activating right-hander Chan Ho Park and outfielder Doug Glanville from the 15-day disabled list. Texas optioned right-hander Reynaldo Garcia to Triple-A Oklahoma and sent outfielder Ryan Christenson outright to Oklahoma. ... Texas agreed to terms with two of its draft picks -- seventh-rounder RHP Matthew Farnum and 25th-rounder C Justin Hatcher.
MONTREAL: Vladimir Guerrero will undergo extensive therapy on his injured back the next two weeks. Guerrero, who went on the disabled list with a herniated disc Friday, flew to Florida to see back specialist Dr. Barth Green of the University of Miami on Saturday. ``The doctor is very optimistic about his condition,'' assistant GM Tony Siegle said. ... Ron Calloway got his third straight start in right field in place of Guerrero. Calloway homered the past two games. ``As long as he's swinging the bat well, he'll get a lot of time out there,'' manager Frank Robinson said. ``If he slacks off, I'll get someone else out there.'' ... Edwards Guzman arrived from Triple-A Edmonton to replace Guerrero. ``He's a utility-type guy,'' Robinson said. ``That's one of the reasons why he's here.'' ... Livan Hernandez, Jose Vidro, Javier Vazquez and Brian Schneider welcomed local kids to the game with free tickets and souvenirs as part of the ``Buses for Baseball'' program.
ANAHEIM: The Angels activated RHP Troy Percival from the 15-day DL and placed RHP Mickey Callaway on the 15-day DL. Percival had been on the DL since May 23 with a hip injury. ... Callaway wasn't surprised when the club placed him on the DL, his first stint since 1999. He reported stiffness and soreness in his right shoulder during and after pitching three innings in Thursday's 14-inning loss to the Expos. Doctors diagnosed him with tendinitis Friday. ... SS David Eckstein was out of the lineup for the second straight day following an injury to his left hand during batting practice Friday. Eckstein was bruised when he was hit by a line drive by Garret Anderson.
FLORIDA: 3B Mike Lowell is getting tired of the trade rumors, but he is trying not to allow them to affect his play. ``I hear them, but I just tune them out. I just try to play hard, I really don't think about all of that,'' said Lowell, who reportedly is being pursued by the Cubs and Dodgers. Lowell is in the final year of a $3.7 million contract, and the financially strapped Marlins are not expected to extend it. ``I can't control it, and since I can't, it doesn't bother me,'' he said. ``There have been so many different teams named that I kind of say it's bogus.'' ... Less than a week after striking out four times in one game, C Ivan Rodriguez hopes he is finding his swing. Rodriguez hit a three-run homer Friday, giving him a six-game hitting streak. He leads NL catchers in All-Star voting despite hitting .251 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. ``When you're having a season like I am, you have to keep working, keep swinging the bat, not give up and stay strong. It's going to change.'' ... Florida pitchers had allowed one run in 19 innings and two runs in their last 23.
Red Sox-Brewers
BOSTON: Derek Lowe starts on three days' rest for the first time in his career Sunday at Milwaukee after throwing 85 pitches in seven innings Wednesday in an 8-3 victory at Pittsburgh. Lowe (5-3, 4.93 ERA) is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in his last four starts after posting a 6.53 ERA in his first eight starts. ... The Red Sox were 51-30 on the road last year, but through Friday's games were 15-17 away from Fenway Park this season. ... RHP Tim Wakefield sustained a deep contusion to his right ankle when hit by a pitch Friday while batting for the first time this season. He's not scheduled to miss a start but will be re-evaluated Sunday. X-rays were negative.
MILWAUKEE: Glendon Rusch, Sunday's starter, has struggled to a 1-8 record. He failed to hold a 5-0 lead in hilast start. ``We've done a lot with his mechanics,'' manager Ned Yost said. ``So I'm anxious for Glendon to start, to see if that's helped him.'' ... Rusch beat the Red Sox 2-0 in 2001 for the New York Mets, pitching eight innings, allowing one hit and striking out a career-high 10. ... Rickie Weeks, the second overall selection in Tuesday's draft, had an impressive workout with the team. The 20-year-old Weeks, who played at Southern University and spent the last two summers with Team USA, is unsigned but said he was eager to join the Brewers and work his way to the majors. ``That wasn't even in my wildest dreams,'' Weeks said of being the No. 2 choice after not being drafted out of high school in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Yankees-Cubs
NEW YORK: Roger Clemens was agitated by some ball-strike calls and appeared to yell at plate umpire Dan Iassogna after he was pulled in the seventh inning. Clemens refused to comment, but manager Joe Torre did. ``He thought some pitches were strikes. The adrenaline was flowing. He does a lot of talking, he is very animated when he pitches. He thought there were some pitches that were strikes,'' Torre said. ``I thought Roger, under the conditions and the ballpark and everything else, I thought pitched great. And it's unfortunate we came away with the loss.'' Iassogna said he didn't think Clemens was yelling at him. But in the sixth, the umpire said Clemens was unhappy with a fastball that was called a ball. As Clemens walked off the mound after the inning ended, he ``pointed and said, 'I hit my spot,''' Iassogna said. ... Torre said one of the reasons he removed Clemens in the seventh with a 1-0 lead was because he was bothered by an upper respiratory ailment. ``I asked him how he felt and he said, `All right,''' catcher Jorge Posada said. ``He said he was having a little shortness of breath a little bit.'' ... Posada and Derek Jeter said they'd like to put the 300-win hoopla behind them. Clemens has failed three straight times to get the milestone victory, and his next chance comes Friday night at home against the Cardinals. ``We want to get it done so we can go on with the season,'' Posada said. ... New York is 2-3 in interleague play this season and 61-46 since it began in 1997 -- 32-20 at Yankee Stadium and 29-26 on the road.
CHICAGO: C Damian Miller said he nearly got sick to his stomach as he watched teammate Hee Seop Choi lay motionless on the ground after colliding with Kerry Wood while they chased a popup. ``I felt bad because it was my ball,'' said Miller, who lost it in the sun. ``It was really ugly at first, his eyes rolled back.'' Miller said he and his teammates were all relieved when doctors asked Choi he if he knew his name and he was able to respond. ... Mark Grudzielanek returned to the team after missing three games for the birth of his son. He had a leadoff single in the first off Roger Clemens. ``To see my son born was the most amazing thing in my life, far more important than being here,'' Grudzielanek said. ... Eric Karros and Sammy Sosa said it was one of the most exciting games they'd ever played in. Sosa was able to play because he is appealing an eight-game suspension for using a corked bat. He had two singles off Clemens, the pitcher who served up his first major league homer back in 1989. ... Approximately 480 single-game media passes were issued. That number does not include season credentials. The only game at Wrigley Field with more media was the first night game (556) on Aug. 8, 1988. ... Kerry Wood has 32 career double-digit strikeout games, including six this season.
Rangers-Expos
TEXAS: SS Alex Rodriguez was out of the starting lineup with a bruised left knee. ``I tweaked it a little bit last night,'' he said. ``I'm not sure what play. It started swelling up last night, so I iced it and took anti-inflammatories.'' Rodriguez had played 445 consecutive games. Oakland's Miguel Tejada has the longest active streak of 491 games. ... The Rangers made two roster moves, activating right-hander Chan Ho Park and outfielder Doug Glanville from the 15-day disabled list. Texas optioned right-hander Reynaldo Garcia to Triple-A Oklahoma and sent outfielder Ryan Christenson outright to Oklahoma. ... Texas agreed to terms with two of its draft picks -- seventh-rounder RHP Matthew Farnum and 25th-rounder C Justin Hatcher.
MONTREAL: Vladimir Guerrero will undergo extensive therapy on his injured back the next two weeks. Guerrero, who went on the disabled list with a herniated disc Friday, flew to Florida to see back specialist Dr. Barth Green of the University of Miami on Saturday. ``The doctor is very optimistic about his condition,'' assistant GM Tony Siegle said. ... Ron Calloway got his third straight start in right field in place of Guerrero. Calloway homered the past two games. ``As long as he's swinging the bat well, he'll get a lot of time out there,'' manager Frank Robinson said. ``If he slacks off, I'll get someone else out there.'' ... Edwards Guzman arrived from Triple-A Edmonton to replace Guerrero. ``He's a utility-type guy,'' Robinson said. ``That's one of the reasons why he's here.'' ... Livan Hernandez, Jose Vidro, Javier Vazquez and Brian Schneider welcomed local kids to the game with free tickets and souvenirs as part of the ``Buses for Baseball'' program.
