MINNESOTA: The Twins are missing five starters. LF Shannon Stewart missed his second straight game because of a left foot injury. He's day-to-day. 1B Doug Mientkiewicz is sidelined with a hyperextended lower back. He's also day-to-day. 2B Luis Rivas missed the game with a strained groin, and 3B Corey Koskie and C Joe Mauer are on the 15-day DL. ...
TORONTO:LF Frank Catalanotto missed his second straight game with tightness in his groin. ... CF Vernon Wells and RF Reed Johnson each extended their hitting streaks to 12 games, tying 1B Carlos Delgado's season high by a Blue Jay. ... DH Josh Phelps hit an RBI double in the second -- his first RBI in 29 at-bats. ... Justin Miller hasn't allowed a homer in his last four starts. ... The Blue Jays have not won a series at home against Minnesota since taking two of three July 21-Aug. 2, 2001. ... OF Marvin Benard, signed to a minor league contract, went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. Benard, 34, is a career .271 hitter in nine seasons with San Francisco. He hit .197 in 46 games with the Giants last year.
CHICAGO: LHP Neal Cotts will get a chance to win the No. 5 starter's job. He'll make his first start this season Saturday, replacing RHP Felix Diaz, who was sent back to Triple-A Charlotte after two shaky starts. ``I'm just going to try and pitch like I have before,'' said Cotts, who went 1-1 in five starts last season. ``I'll stick with the plan and see how it goes.'' Chicago's plan is not to use Cotts before his start, but manager Ozzie Guillen can't make any promises. ... Utilityman Ross Gload made his first career start in center field. Guillen is looking for a spark, particularly from a left-handed hitter. ``We want to see if we can get our offense going with another lefty,'' Guillen said. ``Hopefully, he will help create more runs by giving us a different look.'' ... Frank Thomas entered needing six doubles to break Luke Appling's club record of 440. Thomas already owns the team marks for homers, RBIs, total bases, extra-base hits and walks.
Game Notes
CHICAGO'S WILLIE HARRIS AND MAGGLIO ORDONEZ LEFT THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH INNING AFTER COLLIDING GOING AFTER A FLY BALL.
both questionable for thursday game.
BOSTON: Manager Terry Francona plans to talk with SS Nomar Garciaparra (right Achilles' tendinitis) when the team returns home Friday night. Garciparra is working out at Fenway Park while the team is on the road. ``We'll sit down and talk a little bit about where he is and where he feels he is,'' Francona said. ``We're going to communicate and make sure when he plays, he's ready to go.'' When asked if Garciaparra was ruled out of possibly starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment this weekend, Francona said: ``I'm not sure I can rule it in. We're not there yet.'' ... Manny Ramirez (sore groin) was the DH for the fourth consecutive game. ``I think he's more worried about starting and stopping for a ball in left field, which I understand,'' Francona said. ... The Red Sox start a 10-game homestand Friday. ... CF Johnny Damon was in the lineup, one day after he was hit in the neck and had his helmet knocked off at second base on his seventh-inning double by Tampa Bay shortstop Julio Lugo, who was running after a loose ball. Damon stayed in the game, but was replaced in center by Cesar Crespo in the bottom of the inning.
TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays reinstated RHP Jason Standridge (right shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list and called up RHP Rob Bell from Triple-A Durham. Bell started Wednesday's game against Boston. Standridge will work out of the bullpen, but could get a chance to join the rotation later this season. ... RHPs Chad Gaudin and Jeremi Gonzalez were optioned to Durham. Gaudin, 21, will be moved from the bullpen into a starting role. ``Right now for his best interest, and eventually for ours, we need to get him stretched out,'' GM Chuck LaMar said. ``I expect him to come back, and I really expect him to be called up at that time as a starter.'' ... LaMar said RHP Todd Ritchie (rotator cuff surgery) will join one of the Devil Rays' minor league teams shortly and will probably get an opportunity to join the rotation later this year. ... RHP Dicky Gonzalez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Durham. OF Midre Cummings also cleared waivers and has until Friday to accept an assignment to Durham. ... LaMar said it would not surprise him if highly regarded prospects SS B.J. Upton and OF Joey Gathright join the team before Sept. 1.
TEXAS: RHP Colby Lewis had rotator cuff surgery in Fort Worth. Lewis should be cleared to begin throwing in about five months, and is expected to be ready for spring training in 2005. ... 1B Mark Teixeira was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the seventh inning Tuesday night against the Royals and was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday. X-rays were negative, and Teixeira is day-to-day. ... 3B Hank Blalock remained in the lineup despite a 1-for-20 slump.
NEW YORK: Jason Giambi returned to the lineup Wednesday night against the Angels, as the DH and not at first base. The Yankees' slugger had missed the last two games because of back spasms. Manager Joe Torre plans to use Giambi at DH until his back is better. ... RHP Steve Karsay threw two innings in a simulated game in Tampa, Fla., his first such action since rotator cuff surgery a year ago. He is scheduled to pitch in another simulated game Saturday at the Yankees' spring training complex. He missed last season because of the shoulder injury. He went 6-4 with a 3.26 ERA and 12 saves in 78 games for the Yankees in 2002. ... Also in Tampa, RHP Orlando Hernandez had his second bullpen session in three days. He received a cortisone shot for bursitis in his right shoulder this month. Hernandez had shoulder surgery last May.
DETROIT: Injured INF Dmitri Young won't run the bases until Friday -- one of the final steps in his rehab on his fractured right fibula, which he hurt in the second game of the season. Young will probably do a short minor league rehab assignment. While there had been talk he would probably join the Tigers as early as Tuesday, manager Alan Trammell said it could be longer. ``We've got to make sure Dmitri's right,'' he said. ... The Tigers used a right-handed heavy lineup to face lefty Mark Redman. Aside from leadoff hitter Alex Sanchez, all of Detroit's hitters were batting from the right side of the plate, including switch-hitters Carlos Guillen, Greg Norton and Omar Infante. ... Trammell was considering giving C Ivan Rodriguez a day off Thursday. Trammell knows Pudge will need to rest on occasion. ``It's going to have to happen,'' the skipper said. But he's not willing to think about a possible schedule for days Rodriguez will catch or play DH until Young returns. ``I'm not good atlooking that far, I'm just not,'' Trammell said.
SAN DIEGO: RHP Justin Germano was called up from Triple-A Portland to take the injured David Wells' spot in the rotation Saturday in Philadelphia. It will be Germano's major league debut. He was recalled after Padres GM Kevin Towers saw him limit Memphis to one run in 5 2-3 innings on May 11. ... RHP Brian Lawrence is still scheduled to start Sunday in Philadelphia, even though his scheduled start in Pittsburgh was pushed back by rain from Tuesday to Wednesday. ... The Padres went 2-1 in Pittsburgh each of the last two seasons. ... RF Brian Giles received warm applause from the several thousand on hand for the start of Wednesday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh. Giles hadn't played in PNC Park since being dealt from Pittsburgh to San Diego in late August. ... This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Padres' first game in Pittsburgh, a 4-2 victory at Forbes Field on May 6, 1969 -- just over a year before the Pirates moved into Three Rivers Stadium. Cito Gaston had an RBI triple in a four-run first against Steve Blass and LHP Dick Kelley allowed eight hits and one run over eight innings. The crowd was 5,793.
PITTSBURGH: Beginning with Wednesday's doubleheader, the Pirates play 14 of 17 games in Pittsburgh, leaving only for three games in St. Louis on May 25-27. The Pirates haven't had much of a home-field advantage, winning only four of their first 14 games in Pittsburgh. They are 13-8 on the road. ... LHP Paul Maholm, the Pirates' top draft pick last year, was evaluated by team doctors Wednesday in Pittsburgh. He was struck by a line drive while pitching last weekend for Class-A Lynchburg, breaking his nose and fracturing a left orbital bone. He may require surgery. ... Pirates RHP prospect Bobby Bradley was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday for Double-A Altoona with a strained muscle in his upper chest, but is expected to make his next start this weekend. He pitched six shutout innings against Akron in his last start. ... OF Ruben Mateo, brought up Wednesday from Triple-A Nashville, once was one of the majors' top OF prospects, but never developed into a star with the Rangers or Reds. Mateo, 25, has a .257 career average with 18 homers and 75 RBIs in 750 career at-bats. He signed with Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent.
TORONTO:LF Frank Catalanotto missed his second straight game with tightness in his groin. ... CF Vernon Wells and RF Reed Johnson each extended their hitting streaks to 12 games, tying 1B Carlos Delgado's season high by a Blue Jay. ... DH Josh Phelps hit an RBI double in the second -- his first RBI in 29 at-bats. ... Justin Miller hasn't allowed a homer in his last four starts. ... The Blue Jays have not won a series at home against Minnesota since taking two of three July 21-Aug. 2, 2001. ... OF Marvin Benard, signed to a minor league contract, went 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. Benard, 34, is a career .271 hitter in nine seasons with San Francisco. He hit .197 in 46 games with the Giants last year.
CHICAGO: LHP Neal Cotts will get a chance to win the No. 5 starter's job. He'll make his first start this season Saturday, replacing RHP Felix Diaz, who was sent back to Triple-A Charlotte after two shaky starts. ``I'm just going to try and pitch like I have before,'' said Cotts, who went 1-1 in five starts last season. ``I'll stick with the plan and see how it goes.'' Chicago's plan is not to use Cotts before his start, but manager Ozzie Guillen can't make any promises. ... Utilityman Ross Gload made his first career start in center field. Guillen is looking for a spark, particularly from a left-handed hitter. ``We want to see if we can get our offense going with another lefty,'' Guillen said. ``Hopefully, he will help create more runs by giving us a different look.'' ... Frank Thomas entered needing six doubles to break Luke Appling's club record of 440. Thomas already owns the team marks for homers, RBIs, total bases, extra-base hits and walks.
Game Notes
CHICAGO'S WILLIE HARRIS AND MAGGLIO ORDONEZ LEFT THE GAME IN THE BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH INNING AFTER COLLIDING GOING AFTER A FLY BALL.
both questionable for thursday game.
BOSTON: Manager Terry Francona plans to talk with SS Nomar Garciaparra (right Achilles' tendinitis) when the team returns home Friday night. Garciparra is working out at Fenway Park while the team is on the road. ``We'll sit down and talk a little bit about where he is and where he feels he is,'' Francona said. ``We're going to communicate and make sure when he plays, he's ready to go.'' When asked if Garciaparra was ruled out of possibly starting a minor league rehabilitation assignment this weekend, Francona said: ``I'm not sure I can rule it in. We're not there yet.'' ... Manny Ramirez (sore groin) was the DH for the fourth consecutive game. ``I think he's more worried about starting and stopping for a ball in left field, which I understand,'' Francona said. ... The Red Sox start a 10-game homestand Friday. ... CF Johnny Damon was in the lineup, one day after he was hit in the neck and had his helmet knocked off at second base on his seventh-inning double by Tampa Bay shortstop Julio Lugo, who was running after a loose ball. Damon stayed in the game, but was replaced in center by Cesar Crespo in the bottom of the inning.
TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays reinstated RHP Jason Standridge (right shoulder) from the 15-day disabled list and called up RHP Rob Bell from Triple-A Durham. Bell started Wednesday's game against Boston. Standridge will work out of the bullpen, but could get a chance to join the rotation later this season. ... RHPs Chad Gaudin and Jeremi Gonzalez were optioned to Durham. Gaudin, 21, will be moved from the bullpen into a starting role. ``Right now for his best interest, and eventually for ours, we need to get him stretched out,'' GM Chuck LaMar said. ``I expect him to come back, and I really expect him to be called up at that time as a starter.'' ... LaMar said RHP Todd Ritchie (rotator cuff surgery) will join one of the Devil Rays' minor league teams shortly and will probably get an opportunity to join the rotation later this year. ... RHP Dicky Gonzalez cleared waivers and was outrighted to Durham. OF Midre Cummings also cleared waivers and has until Friday to accept an assignment to Durham. ... LaMar said it would not surprise him if highly regarded prospects SS B.J. Upton and OF Joey Gathright join the team before Sept. 1.
TEXAS: RHP Colby Lewis had rotator cuff surgery in Fort Worth. Lewis should be cleared to begin throwing in about five months, and is expected to be ready for spring training in 2005. ... 1B Mark Teixeira was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the seventh inning Tuesday night against the Royals and was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday. X-rays were negative, and Teixeira is day-to-day. ... 3B Hank Blalock remained in the lineup despite a 1-for-20 slump.
NEW YORK: Jason Giambi returned to the lineup Wednesday night against the Angels, as the DH and not at first base. The Yankees' slugger had missed the last two games because of back spasms. Manager Joe Torre plans to use Giambi at DH until his back is better. ... RHP Steve Karsay threw two innings in a simulated game in Tampa, Fla., his first such action since rotator cuff surgery a year ago. He is scheduled to pitch in another simulated game Saturday at the Yankees' spring training complex. He missed last season because of the shoulder injury. He went 6-4 with a 3.26 ERA and 12 saves in 78 games for the Yankees in 2002. ... Also in Tampa, RHP Orlando Hernandez had his second bullpen session in three days. He received a cortisone shot for bursitis in his right shoulder this month. Hernandez had shoulder surgery last May.
DETROIT: Injured INF Dmitri Young won't run the bases until Friday -- one of the final steps in his rehab on his fractured right fibula, which he hurt in the second game of the season. Young will probably do a short minor league rehab assignment. While there had been talk he would probably join the Tigers as early as Tuesday, manager Alan Trammell said it could be longer. ``We've got to make sure Dmitri's right,'' he said. ... The Tigers used a right-handed heavy lineup to face lefty Mark Redman. Aside from leadoff hitter Alex Sanchez, all of Detroit's hitters were batting from the right side of the plate, including switch-hitters Carlos Guillen, Greg Norton and Omar Infante. ... Trammell was considering giving C Ivan Rodriguez a day off Thursday. Trammell knows Pudge will need to rest on occasion. ``It's going to have to happen,'' the skipper said. But he's not willing to think about a possible schedule for days Rodriguez will catch or play DH until Young returns. ``I'm not good atlooking that far, I'm just not,'' Trammell said.
SAN DIEGO: RHP Justin Germano was called up from Triple-A Portland to take the injured David Wells' spot in the rotation Saturday in Philadelphia. It will be Germano's major league debut. He was recalled after Padres GM Kevin Towers saw him limit Memphis to one run in 5 2-3 innings on May 11. ... RHP Brian Lawrence is still scheduled to start Sunday in Philadelphia, even though his scheduled start in Pittsburgh was pushed back by rain from Tuesday to Wednesday. ... The Padres went 2-1 in Pittsburgh each of the last two seasons. ... RF Brian Giles received warm applause from the several thousand on hand for the start of Wednesday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh. Giles hadn't played in PNC Park since being dealt from Pittsburgh to San Diego in late August. ... This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Padres' first game in Pittsburgh, a 4-2 victory at Forbes Field on May 6, 1969 -- just over a year before the Pirates moved into Three Rivers Stadium. Cito Gaston had an RBI triple in a four-run first against Steve Blass and LHP Dick Kelley allowed eight hits and one run over eight innings. The crowd was 5,793.
PITTSBURGH: Beginning with Wednesday's doubleheader, the Pirates play 14 of 17 games in Pittsburgh, leaving only for three games in St. Louis on May 25-27. The Pirates haven't had much of a home-field advantage, winning only four of their first 14 games in Pittsburgh. They are 13-8 on the road. ... LHP Paul Maholm, the Pirates' top draft pick last year, was evaluated by team doctors Wednesday in Pittsburgh. He was struck by a line drive while pitching last weekend for Class-A Lynchburg, breaking his nose and fracturing a left orbital bone. He may require surgery. ... Pirates RHP prospect Bobby Bradley was scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday for Double-A Altoona with a strained muscle in his upper chest, but is expected to make his next start this weekend. He pitched six shutout innings against Akron in his last start. ... OF Ruben Mateo, brought up Wednesday from Triple-A Nashville, once was one of the majors' top OF prospects, but never developed into a star with the Rangers or Reds. Mateo, 25, has a .257 career average with 18 homers and 75 RBIs in 750 career at-bats. He signed with Pittsburgh as a minor league free agent.
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