ANAHEIM: Garret Anderson played in his 106th game, one of three players to appear in every game for their teams this season. The others are Andruw Jones of Atlanta and Alex Rodriguez of Texas. ... When Ramon Ortiz struck out Manny Ramirez in the second inning, it left the Red Sox slugger with four strikeouts in four career at-bats against Ortiz. ... Exactly three years ago, Anderson's club record hitting streak reached 28 games. The next day, Aug. 1, 1998, it ended against Boston. ... Ortiz's first career start against Boston was a 2-1 complete game win over Pedro Martinez last Aug. 8 in which the Red Sox managed two hits.
BOSTON: Catcher Scott Hatteberg served as DH while Dante Bichette got a day off. Hatteberg has thrown out just 4 of 77 runners trying to steal. ... Nomar Garciaparra struck out in his first at bat Tuesday after going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in his first game of the season Sunday, a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Twins-Blue Jays
MINNESOTA: The Twins recalled outfielder Bobby Kielty from Triple-A. Kielty, 24, hit .255 with eight homers and 41 RBIs in 78 games with Triple-A Edmonton. Kielty, Chad Allen, Brian Buchanan and Denny Hocking are expected to share the right-field job following the trade of Matt Lawton to the Mets. To make room, the Twins optioned RHP Adam Johnson to Edmonton. Johnson went 1-1 with a 6.81 ERA in three starts. Rick Reed replaces Johnson in the rotation.
TORONTO: The Blue Jays didn't make a trade, but Toronto GM Gord Ash said he would still try to make a deal. ``The 31st is an important deadline -- there's no question about it -- but it's not the only deadline,'' Ash said. ``We were able to acquire some help after the 31st last year. If nothing else, maybe we've laid down some groundwork.'' Ash acquired OF Dave Martinez and INF Mickey Morandini last August. The Blue Jays, who entered 10 games below .500, also might wait to the offseason for deals. ``Some of the scenarios that we talked about in the last couple of days will be there in the offseason,'' Ash said. In the meantime, Ash said his players have to stop quitting. ``We're going to have to not give up, first of all,'' Ash said. The Blue Jays were heavily criticized for their effort over the weekend when they were swept by the New York Yankees and were outscored 30-5.
Mariners-Tigers
SEATTLE: General manager Pat Gillick he worked the phones with three teams until about 3:40 p.m. but decided not to make a trade. ``I would say we had some good possibilities,'' Gillick said. ``We had a match, but we just couldn't get the right combination. People don't have a lot of extra personnel.'' Manager Lou Piniella was not disappointed. ``We've had success,'' he said. ``Why mess with our chemistry? Why tinker with something that doesn't seem broken.'' ... The Mariners chose to keep Edgar Martinez on the disabled list Tuesday, the day he was eligible to be activated. Martinez has been on the disabled list since July 16 with strained left quadriceps. Piniella said he would be activated in a few days. ... Piniella said the facet of the Mariners he's most surprised with has been their run production, which leads the majors. ``I didn't even know what my lineup would be three days before the end of spring training,'' he said. ``It's even more surprising when you consider we lost Alex and Junior the past two seasons and we've played without Jay Buhner all season.''
DETROIT: Several Tigers were mentioned in trade rumors, but none were dealt Tuesday. ``I'm a little surprised,'' OF Bobby Higginson said. ``But I knew we weren't going to give guys away. But we're going to have to make a decision on our direction. Are we going to go with young guys? Or, are we going to spend some money on free agents? Right now, we're kind of in the middle of those options.'' Manager Phil Garner said the Tigers attempted to make moves, but didn't find a proposed deal they liked. All of the proposed deals would've sent away major leaguers in exchange for prospects. ``If we would've made those deals, we would've had nine, 10 or 11 losing seasons,'' said Garner, referring to the Tigers' current streak of seven losing seasons. ... C Mitch Meluskey has returned to Detroit to continue rehabilitating the right shoulder he had surgically repaired on April 5. ``I can start throwing and swinging the bat on Thursday or Friday,'' Meluskey said. ``It's good to be back here, it gives me more incentive to get back.''
Rangers-Yankees
TEXAS: The near-sellout crowd cheered robustly when Alex Rodriguez struck out in the first inning. It's Rodriguez's first trip to New York since signing a $252 million, 10-year contract with Texas. ... The Rangers used their off day Monday to play a makeup game in Baltimore that was postponed July 18 after a train derailment sent billowing clouds of potentially toxic smoke over Camden Yards. Texas won the game 6-4 in 11 innings. ... Jeff Zimmerman became the seventh Rangers closer to record 20 saves in a season. John Wetteland, Jeff Russell, Greg Harris, Tom Henke, Mike Henneman, and Jim Kern are the others. ... Coming into Tuesday's game, Texas is 16-10 in July, securing them their first winning month since May 2000.
NEW YORK: 1B Tino Martinez and catcher Jorge Posada were late scratches from the Yankees lineup. Martinez was hit in the right cheekbone while in the batting cage during pregame warmups. He was available to pinch hit. Todd Greene got the start behind the plate when Posado came down with a stomach illness. ... Randy Keisler, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Sterling Hitchcock, who will start Wednesday, met reporters after receiving the news and said it's ``part of the game that's no fun. It just makes you wish you were 16 or 17 when you were playing for free and it was fun.''
Athletics-Indians
OAKLAND: The A's began a stretch of 13 games in 13 days on Tuesday with nine coming against Cleveland, Boston and New York, three teams they're chasing for a playoff spot. ``We'll just go out and play and try to do our best,'' said manager Art Howe, whose club entered Tuesday night 12-6 since the All-Star break. ``If we stay healthy, we have a chance.'' ... Howe said the three-game set with Cleveland was important for both clubs and this Indians' team is as good as usual. ``Cleveland still has an unbelievable lineup,'' he said. ``They always talk about them needing pitching, but somehow every year they're playing for the American League championship.'' ... Oakland's pinch hitters are in a 2-for-37 slump with 17 strikeouts. This season, A's called upon to hit are batting .117 (7-for-60) with four walks and 24 Ks. Only Boston (.107) has been worse in a pinch.
CLEVELAND: LHP Chuck Finley, who hasn't pitched since June 25 because of neck spasms, was scratched from a rehab start at Double-A Akron on Monday after feeling discomfort in his upper back. ``They said his back was bothering him, so he's had a little setback,'' Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. Manuel was hoping Finley could throw 70-75 pitches and could be activated later this week. That plan has been put on hold, but Manuel remains confident Finley will be back. ``He balances our rotation,'' Manuel said of the 38-year-old left-hander. ``I think he's going to come back, and as soon as he feels healthy he's going to join us.'' Finley has been on the DL twice this season. ... OF Ellis Burks, who had his right thumb broken by a pitch in Houston, took batting on Tuesday and will be activated on Wednesday. ``It's feeling a lot better,'' said Burks, who survived some extra BP thrown by Manuel. ``Charlie jammed inside a couple of times and that was a good test.'' In his first season with Cleveland, Burks is batting .290 with 22 homers and 55 RBIs. ... 2B Roberto Alomar said the Indians didn't need to make a blockbuster deal. ``We have what we need already,'' said Alomar. ``We just need guys to get healthy. To be where we're at with the injuries we've had is pretty good.''
Devil Rays-Orioles
TAMPA BAY: The trade deadline came and went without Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar making a move. ``The Rays didn't do anything, huh?'' manager Hal McRae said. ``I talked to Chuck,and it didn't look like we were going to do anything.'' ... Rookie C Toby Hall hit fifth Tuesday for the first time since his recall from Triple-A July 26. ``He's better suited there than three because he's not a runner,'' McRae said. ``Four would be asking too much. Five is kind of a sweet spot.'' ... Mired in a 5-for-38 slump over the last 11 games, 2B Brent Abernathy's average has slipped from .365 to .277. ``He's causing his own problems,'' McRae said. ``He's leaving the ball and pulling his head. He might be a victim of the longball.'' ... Damian Rolls, who has played only four games in the outfield in his brief career, started the first of two straight games in center field Tuesday. McRae wants to give Rolls a better taste of the new position and provide a break to OF Randy Winn, who's in a 2-for-20 slump.
BALTIMORE: RHP Mike Trombley, traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, said, ``I came to Baltimore looking to be an Oriole for three years. But it's a business. Changes happen.'' ... Calvin Maduro will replace the injured Willis Roberts as the starting pitcher against Tampa Bay on Thursday. If he turns in a decent performance, Maduro could earn a spot in the rotation, manager Mike Hargrove said. ... 1b David Segui, sidelined since July 15 with a sprained ligament in his left knee, hopes to leave the disabled list later this week.
Royals-White Sox
KANSAS CITY: Manager Tony Muser says he will miss departed SS,0491< Rey Sanchez, who probably had his best seasons as a Royal. Sanchez, who was traded to Atlanta on Tuesday, played in 134 games in 1999 and 143 games last year with Kansas City, and played in 100 of the club's first 105 games this season. ``Rey came over here knowing we needed an everyday shortstop, with the incentive to prove that he was an everyday shortstop, not just a utility-type or platoon-type player. I think he proved he could do that,'' Muser said. ``He might be as consistent and persistent in catching the baseball as any shortstop that I've ever been around, and I've been around some good ones like Mark Belanger and Cookie Rojas. When you become that consistent, you're taken for granted. People don't notice you because you're not a Nomar (Garciaparra) or a (Derek) Jeter. And with the market in Kansas City, you don't get a whole lot of attention. He does it subtly.'' Muser said it came down to money, in the end. ``We offered him what we thought was fair, I think $7.5 million over two years, and he's not a young guy. But then the ball was back in Rey's hands to make a decision. But I don't blame Rey. I wish he would have stayed. But the time came and we couldn't be pushed back any longer.'' Sanchez was grateful for the chance Muser and the Royals gave him to play every day. ``The relationship with Tony will be tough to replace, but you've got to be a man,'' Sanchez said. ``It's sad it has to come to this, but that's the way it is.''
CHICAGO: General Manager Kenny Williams said he wasn't willing to move any more players at the trading deadline because he still believes the White Sox are viable playoff contenders. ``Not at the risk of eliminating our chances to get back into this thing,'' Williams said. ``We are committed in letting this play out and allowing the ballclub to make whatever hit they are going to make down the stretch.'' On Thursday, RHP James Baldwin was dealt to Los Angeles for three midlevel prospects, but that was the only deal Williams made. He didn't rule out doing something during the waiver period. ``Absolutely. You have to keep an open mind. You can still make trades, very good trades,'' Williams said. ... Manager Jerry Manuel is still optimistic his club, which was eight games behind the wild card leader entering Tuesday, can make a move for the playoffs. ``We can take off and have a good month like we had early in the year, when we won 23 or 24 games out of 30,'' Manuel said. ``I would take my chances with that, because we have done it before. We did it basically with the people we have now.'' ... With the addition to the rotation of 23-year-old RHP Danny Wright -- who starts Wednesday night -- Sean Lowe at 30 is the oldest White Sox starter. Kip Wells (24), Mark Buehrle (22) and Jon Garland (21) round out the rotation, which averages 24 years of age.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets-Astros
NEW YORK: Manager Bobby Valentine liked the idea of getting an everyday player in OF Matt Lawton for starter Rick Reed. ``Every fifth day, he was a very quality guy since he's been here, but those other four days, he hasn't made an impact,'' Valentine said. ``In theory, if you can trade a starting everyday player for a pitcher, it's a good deal. ... Valentine says Lawton doesn't care where he hits in the lineup. ``You'll probably see him earlier than later in our lineup,'' Valentine said. Lawton hit second Tuesday and singled in his first at-bat.
HOUSTON: Most trade talk with the Astros involved OF Daryle Ward but when the trade deadline passed, Ward was still with Houston. ``Daryle is one of my favorite players,'' general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. ``In a way, we've done him a disservice by not playing him more. When he gets the opportunity to play every day, he's going to be a top player and a top run producer. I put my arm around him today and told him I wasn't got to keep him hanging. Next year, he'll be playing for us or somewhere.''
Marlins-Brewers
FLORIDA: Florida recalled OF Jeff Abbott from Triple-A Calgary to fill the roster spot opened when OF Ryan Thompson was sent outright to Calgary. Abbott was batting .331 with eight homers in 40 games with Calgary. Thompson, who came up from Calgary on July 3 to replace Preston Wilson, batted .290 in 18 games with Florida. Infielder Nate Rolison moved to Calgary from Double-A Portland on his rehabilitation assignment. Rolison has played 11 games at three minor league levels while recovering from right wrist inflammation that placed him on the 15-day disabled list on April 3. Pitcher Vladimir Nunez will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday at Class A Kane County. Nunez went on the disabled list July 19 with a pulled right quadriceps and is eligible to return Friday.
MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee's top-rated NL bullpen (3.20 ERA) certainly took a hit with the loss of setup man David Weathers, traded Sunday to the Chicago Cubs. Reliever Ray King said he Weathers be missed both on and off the mound. ``Stormy was kind of the ringleader in the bullpen,'' King said. ``He kind of kept everyone laughing and joking. But when he crossed the line, he put up the numbers.'' Pitching coach Bob Apodaca said Mike DeJean and Chad Fox will likely share the job of getting the ball to closer Curtis Leskanic. Bench coach Jerry Royster will fill in for manager Davey Lopes' during Lopes' two-game suspension, earned for threatening to retaliate against Rickey Henderson for his late-inning steal in Sunday's 12-5 San Diego victory. GM Dean Taylor said the Brewers will likely call up hard-throwing pitching prospect Nick Neugebauer on or before Sept. 1, when rosters are expanded to 40 players. Neugebauer was 5-6 with a 3.46 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 106 2-3 innings for Double-A Huntsville before being called up to Triple-A Indianapolis in mid-July.
Braves-Cardinals
ATLANTA: RHP Greg Maddux, who pitches Wednesday, has a 10-game winning streak for the fourth time of his career. He's 18-15 against the Cardinals, but hasn't faced them since 1999. ... OF Brian Jordan could be back in the lineup in a few more days. He rejoined the team in St. Louis on Monday after an examination of his sprained left knee and sprained left ankle revealed no serious damage. ... OF Bernard Gilkey, who was released by the Cardinals at the end of spring training, insists he harbors no ill will toward St. Louis. He also played for the Cardinals from 1990-95. ``It's just the way the game goes,'' Gilkey said. ``I was happy when Atlanta called. I was home and really didn't expect anything to happen.''
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals were 16-19 without OF J.D. Drew, activated from the disabled list Tuesday after missing 35 games with a broken right hand. He had been among the league leaders in batting average (.330), home runs (21) and RBIs (49) when he got hit by a David Wells pitch on June 17. Drew said he ruled out returning Sunday for the finale of a series at Chicago due to fatigue while going 6-for-11 during a three-game rehab assignment at Class A Peoria. ``My legs were shot and my hands were bleeding,'' Drew said. ``Now I've got my wheels back under me.'' ... LHP Jason Christiansen, traded to the Giants on Thursday, can be a free agent after the season ends. He wouldn't mind returning to the Cardinals. ``They might have traded me away for a rental for a couple months,'' Christiansen said. ``I know St. Louis is going to be at the top of my list.'' ... Mark McGwire's last seven hits have been home runs.
Phillies-Rockies
PHILADELPHIA: INF Marlon Anderson, who strained his left hamstring last Thursday, took ground balls and batting practice before Tuesday's game and was expected to be available as a pinch-hitter Tuesday and Wednesday night. Manager Larry Bowa hoped Anderson would return to the lineup on Thursday. ``He's doing a lot better,'' Bowa said. ``We're lucky it was only for this long. I thought it was season-ending, the way it looked. It looked bad.'' ... Reliever Turk Wendell, acquired from the Mets last Saturday, is battling back spasms. ``It cost us a game,'' Bowa said, referring to Robin Ventura's game-winning, ninth-inning homer off Wendell on Saturday. ``He said he's all right. As of right now, he's available.'' ... OF Pat Burrell has been studying videotape with Bowa and hitting coach Richie Hebner, which uncovered flaws in his batting stance. Burrell is hitting only .203 since the All-Star break. ``It's his second year, and the pitchers have made adjustments,'' Bowa said. ``He hasn't made his adjustments yet. Right now he's struggling to be the power hitter we saw last year.'' ...
COLORADO: Just before the trading deadline ended, the Rockies traded RHP Pedro Astacio and cash to Houston for RHP Scott Elarton and a player to be named. Elarton, 25, is a native of Lamar, Colo. ... OF Larry Walker, nursing a sore left hamstring, did not start for the ninth straight game. Manager Buddy Bell said an MRI on Tuesday ``did not show any major problems. There is some swelling there, but nothing serious. We just have to wait on him. Right now we don't plan on putting him on the DL.'' ... The Rockies recalled C Sal Fasano from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Fasano donned his fifth different uniform of the season, having previously played for Oakland and Kansas and in the PCL with Omaha and Colorado Springs. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Craig Dingman was designated for assignment. ... Colorado plans to bring up RHP John Thomson to take Astacio's spot in the rotation. Elarton is on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
Expos-Diamondbacks
MONTREAL: OF Brad Wilkerson said it would take a few days before Ugueth Urbina's absence in the Expos' clubhouse would be noticeable. ``Anytime you lose a pitcher like that who's been around for so long, it's going to affect us. Hopefully, it won't affect us too much.'' ... OF Peter Bergeron, who started Tuesday in center field, can stop looking over his shoulder now that OF Milton Bradley is on his way to Cleveland. Bergeron played in 20 games for Montreal before a .121 average resulted in a self-described ``two-month'' vacation in Triple-A Ottawa. Bergeron returned to the Expos on June 23, the day after Bradley was sent down, and has hit .310 with eight doubles and 23 runs scored since. ``It's good to be back,'' Bergeron said. ``My confidence is a lot better now than it was the first time. This is what you play baseball for, to play in the major leagues.'' ... SS Orlando Cabrera has a 30-game errorless streak through Sunday.
ARIZONA: Sanity returned to the Diamondbacks' lineup on Tuesday as 3B Matt Williams returned to the fifth spot in the order and C Damian Miller was back hitting eighth. In Sunday's loss to San Francisco, Williams batted seventh in the order for the first time since he spent four games in that spot for Cleveland in 1997. Before that, Williams hadn't hit seventh since 1989. Until Sunday's appearance batting fifth, Miller had not hit higher than sixth in his major-league career. ... The Diamondbacks are 8-10 since the All-Star Break and have watched their 3 1-2 game lead turn into a 1 1-2 game deficit. ... Arizona is 28-26 at home and has lost four straight home games for the second time this season. ... Mark Grace is 3-for-22 in the first seven games of the Diamondbacks' current 13-game homestand.
Reds-Dodgers
CINCINNATI: Surprisingly, the Reds stood pat as the trade deadline came and went Tuesday. ``You don't make a move just to make a move,'' manager Bob Boone said. ``So many names were thrown around by so many clubs.'' Boone pointed out the Reds recently traded outfielder Michael Tucker and second baseman Todd Walker. ... Ken Griffey Jr. said he was pleased players like Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese, rumored to be on the trading block, weren't dealt. ``That's great, I'm glad we didn't make any deals,'' Griffey said. ``Nobody knew. Now maybe the guys can relax and have some fun. Hopefully, we can keep the nucleus of this team together.'' ... Griffey said the hamstring he injured near the end of spring training still bothers him. ``There are good days and bad days,'' he said. Griffey entered hitting .267 with eight homers and 21 RBIs while playing in just 54 of his team's 104 games. ... Young said he was pleased to still be around, and added: ``There was speculation of everybody going and nobody going. I'm glad nobody went.''
LOS ANGELES: The Dodgers, who entered with 13 wins in 16 games to take a 1 1/2 -game lead in the NL West, worked to shore up their bullpen before the trade deadline by acquiring veterans Mike Tromley and Terry Mulholland. ``We've been saying all along that we were going to try to address the depth of our relief corps, so hopefully, we did that,'' interim GM Dave Wallace said. ... SS Alex Cora entered with a career-high nine-game hitting streak (13-for-32). ... The Dodgers entered having homered in 16 of 17 games, totaling 31 homers in that stretch. They had hit 143 this season, putting them on a pace to hit a total of 219. They set a franchise record with 211 last season. ... Since ace Kevin Brown was injured July 15 at Pittsburgh, Dodgers starters were 10-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 games.
Pirates-Giants
PITTSBURGH: New OF Armando Rios wanted to make a clean break from the San Francisco Giants when Pittsburgh acquired him on Monday. That's why he told his wife not to take him to the players' parking lot at Pacific Bell Park when the Pirates opened a three-game series on Tuesday. Trouble is, Rios didn't know of anywhere else to park near the stadium. He and his wife were forced to ask fans for parking advice. ``It was embarrassing,'' Rios said with a grin. ... Jason Kendall reacted angrily to the two-game suspension and fine he received from the commissioner's office for bumping and arguing with an umpire last week. ``I just think it's ridiculous,'' Kendall said. ``They're trying to do too much to change the game now. What I did was absolutely in the wrong, but I thought I would get a fine, not a suspension.'' ... The Pirates altered their rotation with the acquisition of Tony McKnight. Left-hander Joe Beimel's next appearance was moved up from Thursday to Wednesday, and McKnight will start on Thursday.
SAN FRANCISCO: RHP Russ Ortiz's wife gave birth to a daughter named Grace on Monday. ... LHP Chad Zerbe was optioned to Triple-A Fresno after the Giants acquired Jason Christiansen from St. Louis. Zerbe was 3-0 with a 4.21 ERA in 24 appearances, but GM Brian Sabean said Christiansen's experience was more valuable than the rookie's potential. ... The Giants have nine players on their 25-man roster who weren't there on opening day. Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Rich Aurilia are the only regular starting position players left from last season's team, which finished with baseball's best record. ... RHP Jason Schmidt will get his first start for the Giants on Wednesday. He will make it against the Pirates, who traded him on Monday. ``I think there's going to be a lot of emotions on both sides,'' Schmidt said. ``The best way (to look at it) is not to think of it as revenge. It's not the Pirates, it's just another opponent.''
Cubs-Padres
CHICAGO: The Cubs optioned reliever Mike Fyhnrie to Triple-A Iowa in order to make room on the roster for reliever David Weathers, who was acquired from Milwaukee on Monday. ... Weathers joined the Cubs on Tuesday in San Diego for the opener of their three-game series against the Padres. ``I was very excited,'' Weathers said of the trade that brought him from a team that's 15 1/2 games out in the NL Central race to first place. ``That's one thing about baseball players and baseball teams. You put on a different uniform and pretty much all the guys are pretty much the same, laid back, and just have one objective, to come out here and win.'' ... Cubs fan and actor Bill Murray was down on the field behind the cage during batting practice, chatting with Sammy Sosa. Murray was wearing a floppy hat and a Hawaiian shirt.
SAN DIEGO: The Padres were unable to trade RHP Woody Williams, who will make $7.25 million next year. But general manager Kevin Towers said there's still a chance the Padres will move Williams. The Padres would have to make a waiver deal to trade Williams, and if another team wanted to put him on their postseason roster, it'd have to be done by Aug. 31. ``I still think there is a deal out there that we're inclined to do,'' Towers said. ``We're not done working just because the deadline has passed.'' Towers said the Padres had an offer to trade Williams for another pitcher, but declined because they want a position player in return. The Padres feel pitching is the organization's strong point, and moving Williams would not only free up salary, but would open the way for a young pitcher. The Padres spoke with Toronto about both a straight-up trade and a three-way deal that also would have involved Cleveland. The Padres also spoke with St. Louis. ... LHP Kevin Walker is scheduled to have ``Tommy John'' ligament transplant surgery on Thursday. Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the surgery at Anaheim Memorial Hospital.
BOSTON: Catcher Scott Hatteberg served as DH while Dante Bichette got a day off. Hatteberg has thrown out just 4 of 77 runners trying to steal. ... Nomar Garciaparra struck out in his first at bat Tuesday after going 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs in his first game of the season Sunday, a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Twins-Blue Jays
MINNESOTA: The Twins recalled outfielder Bobby Kielty from Triple-A. Kielty, 24, hit .255 with eight homers and 41 RBIs in 78 games with Triple-A Edmonton. Kielty, Chad Allen, Brian Buchanan and Denny Hocking are expected to share the right-field job following the trade of Matt Lawton to the Mets. To make room, the Twins optioned RHP Adam Johnson to Edmonton. Johnson went 1-1 with a 6.81 ERA in three starts. Rick Reed replaces Johnson in the rotation.
TORONTO: The Blue Jays didn't make a trade, but Toronto GM Gord Ash said he would still try to make a deal. ``The 31st is an important deadline -- there's no question about it -- but it's not the only deadline,'' Ash said. ``We were able to acquire some help after the 31st last year. If nothing else, maybe we've laid down some groundwork.'' Ash acquired OF Dave Martinez and INF Mickey Morandini last August. The Blue Jays, who entered 10 games below .500, also might wait to the offseason for deals. ``Some of the scenarios that we talked about in the last couple of days will be there in the offseason,'' Ash said. In the meantime, Ash said his players have to stop quitting. ``We're going to have to not give up, first of all,'' Ash said. The Blue Jays were heavily criticized for their effort over the weekend when they were swept by the New York Yankees and were outscored 30-5.
Mariners-Tigers
SEATTLE: General manager Pat Gillick he worked the phones with three teams until about 3:40 p.m. but decided not to make a trade. ``I would say we had some good possibilities,'' Gillick said. ``We had a match, but we just couldn't get the right combination. People don't have a lot of extra personnel.'' Manager Lou Piniella was not disappointed. ``We've had success,'' he said. ``Why mess with our chemistry? Why tinker with something that doesn't seem broken.'' ... The Mariners chose to keep Edgar Martinez on the disabled list Tuesday, the day he was eligible to be activated. Martinez has been on the disabled list since July 16 with strained left quadriceps. Piniella said he would be activated in a few days. ... Piniella said the facet of the Mariners he's most surprised with has been their run production, which leads the majors. ``I didn't even know what my lineup would be three days before the end of spring training,'' he said. ``It's even more surprising when you consider we lost Alex and Junior the past two seasons and we've played without Jay Buhner all season.''
DETROIT: Several Tigers were mentioned in trade rumors, but none were dealt Tuesday. ``I'm a little surprised,'' OF Bobby Higginson said. ``But I knew we weren't going to give guys away. But we're going to have to make a decision on our direction. Are we going to go with young guys? Or, are we going to spend some money on free agents? Right now, we're kind of in the middle of those options.'' Manager Phil Garner said the Tigers attempted to make moves, but didn't find a proposed deal they liked. All of the proposed deals would've sent away major leaguers in exchange for prospects. ``If we would've made those deals, we would've had nine, 10 or 11 losing seasons,'' said Garner, referring to the Tigers' current streak of seven losing seasons. ... C Mitch Meluskey has returned to Detroit to continue rehabilitating the right shoulder he had surgically repaired on April 5. ``I can start throwing and swinging the bat on Thursday or Friday,'' Meluskey said. ``It's good to be back here, it gives me more incentive to get back.''
Rangers-Yankees
TEXAS: The near-sellout crowd cheered robustly when Alex Rodriguez struck out in the first inning. It's Rodriguez's first trip to New York since signing a $252 million, 10-year contract with Texas. ... The Rangers used their off day Monday to play a makeup game in Baltimore that was postponed July 18 after a train derailment sent billowing clouds of potentially toxic smoke over Camden Yards. Texas won the game 6-4 in 11 innings. ... Jeff Zimmerman became the seventh Rangers closer to record 20 saves in a season. John Wetteland, Jeff Russell, Greg Harris, Tom Henke, Mike Henneman, and Jim Kern are the others. ... Coming into Tuesday's game, Texas is 16-10 in July, securing them their first winning month since May 2000.
NEW YORK: 1B Tino Martinez and catcher Jorge Posada were late scratches from the Yankees lineup. Martinez was hit in the right cheekbone while in the batting cage during pregame warmups. He was available to pinch hit. Todd Greene got the start behind the plate when Posado came down with a stomach illness. ... Randy Keisler, who was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Sterling Hitchcock, who will start Wednesday, met reporters after receiving the news and said it's ``part of the game that's no fun. It just makes you wish you were 16 or 17 when you were playing for free and it was fun.''
Athletics-Indians
OAKLAND: The A's began a stretch of 13 games in 13 days on Tuesday with nine coming against Cleveland, Boston and New York, three teams they're chasing for a playoff spot. ``We'll just go out and play and try to do our best,'' said manager Art Howe, whose club entered Tuesday night 12-6 since the All-Star break. ``If we stay healthy, we have a chance.'' ... Howe said the three-game set with Cleveland was important for both clubs and this Indians' team is as good as usual. ``Cleveland still has an unbelievable lineup,'' he said. ``They always talk about them needing pitching, but somehow every year they're playing for the American League championship.'' ... Oakland's pinch hitters are in a 2-for-37 slump with 17 strikeouts. This season, A's called upon to hit are batting .117 (7-for-60) with four walks and 24 Ks. Only Boston (.107) has been worse in a pinch.
CLEVELAND: LHP Chuck Finley, who hasn't pitched since June 25 because of neck spasms, was scratched from a rehab start at Double-A Akron on Monday after feeling discomfort in his upper back. ``They said his back was bothering him, so he's had a little setback,'' Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. Manuel was hoping Finley could throw 70-75 pitches and could be activated later this week. That plan has been put on hold, but Manuel remains confident Finley will be back. ``He balances our rotation,'' Manuel said of the 38-year-old left-hander. ``I think he's going to come back, and as soon as he feels healthy he's going to join us.'' Finley has been on the DL twice this season. ... OF Ellis Burks, who had his right thumb broken by a pitch in Houston, took batting on Tuesday and will be activated on Wednesday. ``It's feeling a lot better,'' said Burks, who survived some extra BP thrown by Manuel. ``Charlie jammed inside a couple of times and that was a good test.'' In his first season with Cleveland, Burks is batting .290 with 22 homers and 55 RBIs. ... 2B Roberto Alomar said the Indians didn't need to make a blockbuster deal. ``We have what we need already,'' said Alomar. ``We just need guys to get healthy. To be where we're at with the injuries we've had is pretty good.''
Devil Rays-Orioles
TAMPA BAY: The trade deadline came and went without Tampa Bay general manager Chuck LaMar making a move. ``The Rays didn't do anything, huh?'' manager Hal McRae said. ``I talked to Chuck,and it didn't look like we were going to do anything.'' ... Rookie C Toby Hall hit fifth Tuesday for the first time since his recall from Triple-A July 26. ``He's better suited there than three because he's not a runner,'' McRae said. ``Four would be asking too much. Five is kind of a sweet spot.'' ... Mired in a 5-for-38 slump over the last 11 games, 2B Brent Abernathy's average has slipped from .365 to .277. ``He's causing his own problems,'' McRae said. ``He's leaving the ball and pulling his head. He might be a victim of the longball.'' ... Damian Rolls, who has played only four games in the outfield in his brief career, started the first of two straight games in center field Tuesday. McRae wants to give Rolls a better taste of the new position and provide a break to OF Randy Winn, who's in a 2-for-20 slump.
BALTIMORE: RHP Mike Trombley, traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, said, ``I came to Baltimore looking to be an Oriole for three years. But it's a business. Changes happen.'' ... Calvin Maduro will replace the injured Willis Roberts as the starting pitcher against Tampa Bay on Thursday. If he turns in a decent performance, Maduro could earn a spot in the rotation, manager Mike Hargrove said. ... 1b David Segui, sidelined since July 15 with a sprained ligament in his left knee, hopes to leave the disabled list later this week.
Royals-White Sox
KANSAS CITY: Manager Tony Muser says he will miss departed SS,0491< Rey Sanchez, who probably had his best seasons as a Royal. Sanchez, who was traded to Atlanta on Tuesday, played in 134 games in 1999 and 143 games last year with Kansas City, and played in 100 of the club's first 105 games this season. ``Rey came over here knowing we needed an everyday shortstop, with the incentive to prove that he was an everyday shortstop, not just a utility-type or platoon-type player. I think he proved he could do that,'' Muser said. ``He might be as consistent and persistent in catching the baseball as any shortstop that I've ever been around, and I've been around some good ones like Mark Belanger and Cookie Rojas. When you become that consistent, you're taken for granted. People don't notice you because you're not a Nomar (Garciaparra) or a (Derek) Jeter. And with the market in Kansas City, you don't get a whole lot of attention. He does it subtly.'' Muser said it came down to money, in the end. ``We offered him what we thought was fair, I think $7.5 million over two years, and he's not a young guy. But then the ball was back in Rey's hands to make a decision. But I don't blame Rey. I wish he would have stayed. But the time came and we couldn't be pushed back any longer.'' Sanchez was grateful for the chance Muser and the Royals gave him to play every day. ``The relationship with Tony will be tough to replace, but you've got to be a man,'' Sanchez said. ``It's sad it has to come to this, but that's the way it is.''
CHICAGO: General Manager Kenny Williams said he wasn't willing to move any more players at the trading deadline because he still believes the White Sox are viable playoff contenders. ``Not at the risk of eliminating our chances to get back into this thing,'' Williams said. ``We are committed in letting this play out and allowing the ballclub to make whatever hit they are going to make down the stretch.'' On Thursday, RHP James Baldwin was dealt to Los Angeles for three midlevel prospects, but that was the only deal Williams made. He didn't rule out doing something during the waiver period. ``Absolutely. You have to keep an open mind. You can still make trades, very good trades,'' Williams said. ... Manager Jerry Manuel is still optimistic his club, which was eight games behind the wild card leader entering Tuesday, can make a move for the playoffs. ``We can take off and have a good month like we had early in the year, when we won 23 or 24 games out of 30,'' Manuel said. ``I would take my chances with that, because we have done it before. We did it basically with the people we have now.'' ... With the addition to the rotation of 23-year-old RHP Danny Wright -- who starts Wednesday night -- Sean Lowe at 30 is the oldest White Sox starter. Kip Wells (24), Mark Buehrle (22) and Jon Garland (21) round out the rotation, which averages 24 years of age.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets-Astros
NEW YORK: Manager Bobby Valentine liked the idea of getting an everyday player in OF Matt Lawton for starter Rick Reed. ``Every fifth day, he was a very quality guy since he's been here, but those other four days, he hasn't made an impact,'' Valentine said. ``In theory, if you can trade a starting everyday player for a pitcher, it's a good deal. ... Valentine says Lawton doesn't care where he hits in the lineup. ``You'll probably see him earlier than later in our lineup,'' Valentine said. Lawton hit second Tuesday and singled in his first at-bat.
HOUSTON: Most trade talk with the Astros involved OF Daryle Ward but when the trade deadline passed, Ward was still with Houston. ``Daryle is one of my favorite players,'' general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. ``In a way, we've done him a disservice by not playing him more. When he gets the opportunity to play every day, he's going to be a top player and a top run producer. I put my arm around him today and told him I wasn't got to keep him hanging. Next year, he'll be playing for us or somewhere.''
Marlins-Brewers
FLORIDA: Florida recalled OF Jeff Abbott from Triple-A Calgary to fill the roster spot opened when OF Ryan Thompson was sent outright to Calgary. Abbott was batting .331 with eight homers in 40 games with Calgary. Thompson, who came up from Calgary on July 3 to replace Preston Wilson, batted .290 in 18 games with Florida. Infielder Nate Rolison moved to Calgary from Double-A Portland on his rehabilitation assignment. Rolison has played 11 games at three minor league levels while recovering from right wrist inflammation that placed him on the 15-day disabled list on April 3. Pitcher Vladimir Nunez will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday at Class A Kane County. Nunez went on the disabled list July 19 with a pulled right quadriceps and is eligible to return Friday.
MILWAUKEE: Milwaukee's top-rated NL bullpen (3.20 ERA) certainly took a hit with the loss of setup man David Weathers, traded Sunday to the Chicago Cubs. Reliever Ray King said he Weathers be missed both on and off the mound. ``Stormy was kind of the ringleader in the bullpen,'' King said. ``He kind of kept everyone laughing and joking. But when he crossed the line, he put up the numbers.'' Pitching coach Bob Apodaca said Mike DeJean and Chad Fox will likely share the job of getting the ball to closer Curtis Leskanic. Bench coach Jerry Royster will fill in for manager Davey Lopes' during Lopes' two-game suspension, earned for threatening to retaliate against Rickey Henderson for his late-inning steal in Sunday's 12-5 San Diego victory. GM Dean Taylor said the Brewers will likely call up hard-throwing pitching prospect Nick Neugebauer on or before Sept. 1, when rosters are expanded to 40 players. Neugebauer was 5-6 with a 3.46 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 106 2-3 innings for Double-A Huntsville before being called up to Triple-A Indianapolis in mid-July.
Braves-Cardinals
ATLANTA: RHP Greg Maddux, who pitches Wednesday, has a 10-game winning streak for the fourth time of his career. He's 18-15 against the Cardinals, but hasn't faced them since 1999. ... OF Brian Jordan could be back in the lineup in a few more days. He rejoined the team in St. Louis on Monday after an examination of his sprained left knee and sprained left ankle revealed no serious damage. ... OF Bernard Gilkey, who was released by the Cardinals at the end of spring training, insists he harbors no ill will toward St. Louis. He also played for the Cardinals from 1990-95. ``It's just the way the game goes,'' Gilkey said. ``I was happy when Atlanta called. I was home and really didn't expect anything to happen.''
ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals were 16-19 without OF J.D. Drew, activated from the disabled list Tuesday after missing 35 games with a broken right hand. He had been among the league leaders in batting average (.330), home runs (21) and RBIs (49) when he got hit by a David Wells pitch on June 17. Drew said he ruled out returning Sunday for the finale of a series at Chicago due to fatigue while going 6-for-11 during a three-game rehab assignment at Class A Peoria. ``My legs were shot and my hands were bleeding,'' Drew said. ``Now I've got my wheels back under me.'' ... LHP Jason Christiansen, traded to the Giants on Thursday, can be a free agent after the season ends. He wouldn't mind returning to the Cardinals. ``They might have traded me away for a rental for a couple months,'' Christiansen said. ``I know St. Louis is going to be at the top of my list.'' ... Mark McGwire's last seven hits have been home runs.
Phillies-Rockies
PHILADELPHIA: INF Marlon Anderson, who strained his left hamstring last Thursday, took ground balls and batting practice before Tuesday's game and was expected to be available as a pinch-hitter Tuesday and Wednesday night. Manager Larry Bowa hoped Anderson would return to the lineup on Thursday. ``He's doing a lot better,'' Bowa said. ``We're lucky it was only for this long. I thought it was season-ending, the way it looked. It looked bad.'' ... Reliever Turk Wendell, acquired from the Mets last Saturday, is battling back spasms. ``It cost us a game,'' Bowa said, referring to Robin Ventura's game-winning, ninth-inning homer off Wendell on Saturday. ``He said he's all right. As of right now, he's available.'' ... OF Pat Burrell has been studying videotape with Bowa and hitting coach Richie Hebner, which uncovered flaws in his batting stance. Burrell is hitting only .203 since the All-Star break. ``It's his second year, and the pitchers have made adjustments,'' Bowa said. ``He hasn't made his adjustments yet. Right now he's struggling to be the power hitter we saw last year.'' ...
COLORADO: Just before the trading deadline ended, the Rockies traded RHP Pedro Astacio and cash to Houston for RHP Scott Elarton and a player to be named. Elarton, 25, is a native of Lamar, Colo. ... OF Larry Walker, nursing a sore left hamstring, did not start for the ninth straight game. Manager Buddy Bell said an MRI on Tuesday ``did not show any major problems. There is some swelling there, but nothing serious. We just have to wait on him. Right now we don't plan on putting him on the DL.'' ... The Rockies recalled C Sal Fasano from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Fasano donned his fifth different uniform of the season, having previously played for Oakland and Kansas and in the PCL with Omaha and Colorado Springs. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Craig Dingman was designated for assignment. ... Colorado plans to bring up RHP John Thomson to take Astacio's spot in the rotation. Elarton is on the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
Expos-Diamondbacks
MONTREAL: OF Brad Wilkerson said it would take a few days before Ugueth Urbina's absence in the Expos' clubhouse would be noticeable. ``Anytime you lose a pitcher like that who's been around for so long, it's going to affect us. Hopefully, it won't affect us too much.'' ... OF Peter Bergeron, who started Tuesday in center field, can stop looking over his shoulder now that OF Milton Bradley is on his way to Cleveland. Bergeron played in 20 games for Montreal before a .121 average resulted in a self-described ``two-month'' vacation in Triple-A Ottawa. Bergeron returned to the Expos on June 23, the day after Bradley was sent down, and has hit .310 with eight doubles and 23 runs scored since. ``It's good to be back,'' Bergeron said. ``My confidence is a lot better now than it was the first time. This is what you play baseball for, to play in the major leagues.'' ... SS Orlando Cabrera has a 30-game errorless streak through Sunday.
ARIZONA: Sanity returned to the Diamondbacks' lineup on Tuesday as 3B Matt Williams returned to the fifth spot in the order and C Damian Miller was back hitting eighth. In Sunday's loss to San Francisco, Williams batted seventh in the order for the first time since he spent four games in that spot for Cleveland in 1997. Before that, Williams hadn't hit seventh since 1989. Until Sunday's appearance batting fifth, Miller had not hit higher than sixth in his major-league career. ... The Diamondbacks are 8-10 since the All-Star Break and have watched their 3 1-2 game lead turn into a 1 1-2 game deficit. ... Arizona is 28-26 at home and has lost four straight home games for the second time this season. ... Mark Grace is 3-for-22 in the first seven games of the Diamondbacks' current 13-game homestand.
Reds-Dodgers
CINCINNATI: Surprisingly, the Reds stood pat as the trade deadline came and went Tuesday. ``You don't make a move just to make a move,'' manager Bob Boone said. ``So many names were thrown around by so many clubs.'' Boone pointed out the Reds recently traded outfielder Michael Tucker and second baseman Todd Walker. ... Ken Griffey Jr. said he was pleased players like Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese, rumored to be on the trading block, weren't dealt. ``That's great, I'm glad we didn't make any deals,'' Griffey said. ``Nobody knew. Now maybe the guys can relax and have some fun. Hopefully, we can keep the nucleus of this team together.'' ... Griffey said the hamstring he injured near the end of spring training still bothers him. ``There are good days and bad days,'' he said. Griffey entered hitting .267 with eight homers and 21 RBIs while playing in just 54 of his team's 104 games. ... Young said he was pleased to still be around, and added: ``There was speculation of everybody going and nobody going. I'm glad nobody went.''
LOS ANGELES: The Dodgers, who entered with 13 wins in 16 games to take a 1 1/2 -game lead in the NL West, worked to shore up their bullpen before the trade deadline by acquiring veterans Mike Tromley and Terry Mulholland. ``We've been saying all along that we were going to try to address the depth of our relief corps, so hopefully, we did that,'' interim GM Dave Wallace said. ... SS Alex Cora entered with a career-high nine-game hitting streak (13-for-32). ... The Dodgers entered having homered in 16 of 17 games, totaling 31 homers in that stretch. They had hit 143 this season, putting them on a pace to hit a total of 219. They set a franchise record with 211 last season. ... Since ace Kevin Brown was injured July 15 at Pittsburgh, Dodgers starters were 10-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 14 games.
Pirates-Giants
PITTSBURGH: New OF Armando Rios wanted to make a clean break from the San Francisco Giants when Pittsburgh acquired him on Monday. That's why he told his wife not to take him to the players' parking lot at Pacific Bell Park when the Pirates opened a three-game series on Tuesday. Trouble is, Rios didn't know of anywhere else to park near the stadium. He and his wife were forced to ask fans for parking advice. ``It was embarrassing,'' Rios said with a grin. ... Jason Kendall reacted angrily to the two-game suspension and fine he received from the commissioner's office for bumping and arguing with an umpire last week. ``I just think it's ridiculous,'' Kendall said. ``They're trying to do too much to change the game now. What I did was absolutely in the wrong, but I thought I would get a fine, not a suspension.'' ... The Pirates altered their rotation with the acquisition of Tony McKnight. Left-hander Joe Beimel's next appearance was moved up from Thursday to Wednesday, and McKnight will start on Thursday.
SAN FRANCISCO: RHP Russ Ortiz's wife gave birth to a daughter named Grace on Monday. ... LHP Chad Zerbe was optioned to Triple-A Fresno after the Giants acquired Jason Christiansen from St. Louis. Zerbe was 3-0 with a 4.21 ERA in 24 appearances, but GM Brian Sabean said Christiansen's experience was more valuable than the rookie's potential. ... The Giants have nine players on their 25-man roster who weren't there on opening day. Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent and Rich Aurilia are the only regular starting position players left from last season's team, which finished with baseball's best record. ... RHP Jason Schmidt will get his first start for the Giants on Wednesday. He will make it against the Pirates, who traded him on Monday. ``I think there's going to be a lot of emotions on both sides,'' Schmidt said. ``The best way (to look at it) is not to think of it as revenge. It's not the Pirates, it's just another opponent.''
Cubs-Padres
CHICAGO: The Cubs optioned reliever Mike Fyhnrie to Triple-A Iowa in order to make room on the roster for reliever David Weathers, who was acquired from Milwaukee on Monday. ... Weathers joined the Cubs on Tuesday in San Diego for the opener of their three-game series against the Padres. ``I was very excited,'' Weathers said of the trade that brought him from a team that's 15 1/2 games out in the NL Central race to first place. ``That's one thing about baseball players and baseball teams. You put on a different uniform and pretty much all the guys are pretty much the same, laid back, and just have one objective, to come out here and win.'' ... Cubs fan and actor Bill Murray was down on the field behind the cage during batting practice, chatting with Sammy Sosa. Murray was wearing a floppy hat and a Hawaiian shirt.
SAN DIEGO: The Padres were unable to trade RHP Woody Williams, who will make $7.25 million next year. But general manager Kevin Towers said there's still a chance the Padres will move Williams. The Padres would have to make a waiver deal to trade Williams, and if another team wanted to put him on their postseason roster, it'd have to be done by Aug. 31. ``I still think there is a deal out there that we're inclined to do,'' Towers said. ``We're not done working just because the deadline has passed.'' Towers said the Padres had an offer to trade Williams for another pitcher, but declined because they want a position player in return. The Padres feel pitching is the organization's strong point, and moving Williams would not only free up salary, but would open the way for a young pitcher. The Padres spoke with Toronto about both a straight-up trade and a three-way deal that also would have involved Cleveland. The Padres also spoke with St. Louis. ... LHP Kevin Walker is scheduled to have ``Tommy John'' ligament transplant surgery on Thursday. Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform the surgery at Anaheim Memorial Hospital.
