BALTIMORE: The four runs allowed by Rodrigo Lopez in the first inning Thursday was more than he gave up in nine of his previous 14 starts. ... 2B Jerry Hairston lost his job as leadoff hitter early in the season, but has reclaimed the spot and impressed manager Mike Hargrove in the process. ``Jerry seems to have adjusted his game. He's given us good, consistent at-bats,'' Hargrove said. ``For the most part, Jerry has been doing a good job.'' ... Orioles rookies lead the majors with 36 wins. Lopez was vying for No. 37 Thursday. ... All 19 games between Toronto and Baltimore are played after the All-Star break. The Orioles were 4-11 against the Blue Jays before Thursday.
MINNESOTA: CF Torii Hunter and third baseman Corey Koskie were back in the starting lineup for Thursday night's game, which was rained out after two innings. Both were injured on Tuesday night. Hunter was hit in the arm by a pitch and Koskie fouled a pitch off of his foot. Neither played on Wednesday night, but manager Ron Gardenhire said they both could have. ... Jacque Jones was also injured in Tuesday night's game, he sprained his ankle sliding into second base. He also didn't play Wednesday and wasn't in the lineup for Thursday's game. ``Still sore, still a couple of days away,'' Gardenhire said. ``Feels a little better today, still got some soreness.''
DETROIT: The Tigers placed a temporary fence in left field for the team's batting practice on Thursday. Since Comerica Park opened in 2000, there has been an ongoing debate about whether the fences are too far away, especially in left field. It's 345 feet down the line, but it angles out quickly. It's 395 to the left-field power alley and 420-feet to straight away center. The fence extended from about eight-feet off the foul line to the flag pole in left center. It is believed that the flag pole is over 430-feet away from home plate. The team has said it is considering moving the left-field fence in. ``I would like to see the fence moved in to at least right there,'' catcher Brandon Inge said. ``Actually, where it needs to be a little more in is in left center, around that flag pole.'' The team is just kicking around the idea. ``I don't know if we're leaning one way or the other at this point,'' GM Dave Dombrowski said. ... Unavailable for Detroit on Thursday were Bobby Higginson (sore muscle in his right side suffered in batting cage), Hiram Bocachica (back spasms) and Shane Halter, who couldn't play in the field because of rotator cuff difficulties.
NEW YORK: Closer Mariano Rivera (right shoulder) threw 12 minutes off a bullpen mound and could be activated from the 15-day DL by Saturday. ``Roger (Clemens) is sort of lobbying for tomorrow (Friday) because it's his game,'' manager Joe Torre said. ``After throwing today, Saturday seems to be an appropriate day.'' ... LHP David Wells (stomach virus) said he felt 100 percent better and is scheduled to pitch Sunday. ... 3B Drew Henson will remain in Florida and work out at the team's minor league complex with former Yankees' great Don Mattingly. He will report to the Arizona Fall League late next week. ... CF Bernie Williams (left knee) missed his second straight game. He could start Friday at Detroit. ... OF Shane Spencer (left hamstring) will likely miss at least 4-to-5 games. ... LHP Randy Keisler (shoulder) is expected to pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico. ... GM Brian Cashman said RHP Adrian ``El Duquecito'' Hernandez will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.
KANSAS CITY: 1B Mike Sweeney, in contention for the AL batting title, was out of the starting lineup with a sore back. ``It's bothered him for the last couple of days and today it was really bad,'' manager Tony Pena said. ``I want to make sure he doesn't go out and hurt it bad.'' Sweeney was on the disabled list for almost a month earlier this season with a strained lower back and hip. He's hitting .342, one point behind Boston's Manny Ramirez. ... With Sweeney out, 1B-DH Raul Ibanez started at first. Ibanez was back in the lineup Wednesday night as DH after missing five games with a sprained left thumb. ``We played catch yesterday,'' Pena said. ``I played catch (with him) because I wanted to make sure about it.'' ... RHP Paul Byrd, who started Thursday night, has been one of the Royals' bright spots this season. He'd won a career-high 16 games and had a 3.23 ERA going into Thursday's start. ``I imagine he surprised a lot of people,'' Pena said. ``He has been great.'' Byrd's contract is up at the end of the season, and Pena doesn't even want to think of the possibility he won't return next year. ``Don't even bring it up,'' he said. ``I hope he's still with us. Right now, our record is no beauty, but there's a real good atmosphere around this ballclub. I know he feels comfortable here.''
CHICAGO: The White Sox have carried 12 pitchers for all but a handful of games this season, something manager Jerry Manuel wants to avoid next year. ``I would hope that coming out of next spring, we'll only need one,'' he said. ``That would mean our starters are performing well and our bullpen is settled.'' ... Rocky Biddle, who started Thursday night's game, could put himself in the mix for a starter's job next season if he continues to pitch well. Manuel was impressed with Biddle's last outing, when he allowed two unearned runs and three hits in five innings against the Yankees. ``If he can back that up with another good outing, he'd have to guy you'd consider,'' Manuel said. ... Rookie OF Joe Borchard, the White Sox's top draft pick in 2000, has shown promise since being called up, hitting safely in five of his seven starts. But he might need a little more work before he's ready to contend for a regular starter's job. ``Winter ball definitely helps a player in development,'' Manuel said. ``If he performs extremely well, he could be a guy that could push some people.''
ANAHEIM: 2B Adam Kennedy returned to the starting lineup after getting most of the game off Wednesday, when he came in to pinch-hit in the eighth and stayed in the game. ... Garret Anderson's second-inning double gave him 85 extra-base hits this year to tie the franchise mark set by Troy Glaus in 2000. It was Anderson's major-league leading 56th double of the year. Darin Erstad also doubled, giving the Angels 321 for the season -- third best in the majors. ... Thirteen of the Angels' final 17 games against the A's this season were decided by one or two runs. ``I knew our teams match up well, and these games could have gone either way,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We've just played them eight games and we played them as evenly as you can play a team. ... Occasionally you're going to hit bumps in the road, but the overall position we're in gives us confidence we're going to rebound.''
OAKLAND: C Ramon Hernandez returned to the lineup after a day off to rest a sore wrist and drove in two runs. ... Manager Art Howe doesn't consider one starter in his remarkable rotation any better than the other. ``We have three or four No. 1s,'' he said. ``We're lucky. Most managers have a pecking order. We don't. I feel they all are equally as good.'' ... Billy Koch made his franchise-record 79th appearance of the season, breaking the mark of Buddy Groom set in 1997. ... The A's did not hit a double for a franchise-record eighth straight game. ... Is Howe going to miss these stressful showdowns with Anaheim? ``Do you miss a toothache?'' he said. ... Tim Hudson (15-9) allowed three runs in 7 1-3 innings to win his eighth straight decision as the A's won for the fifth time in seven games. Hudson's last loss was July 24 at Anaheim.
TEXAS: After being out of the starting lineup because he was too tired Wednesday night, All-Star SS Alex Rodriguez was back Thursday night to run his consecutive games played streak to 378, third longest among active streaks in the majors. Rodriguez came into Wednesday night's game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and flied out with two men on base. He leads the majors with 55 homers and 135 RBIs. ... The Rangers' third straight extra-inning defeat in Seattle on Wednesday night was the 14th time this season that they've lost on the road in the bottom of the ninth inning or later this season. ... Rodriguez (55) and Rafael Palmeiro (41) have combined for 96 homers this season, the most of any pair of teammates in the majors.
MINNESOTA: CF Torii Hunter and third baseman Corey Koskie were back in the starting lineup for Thursday night's game, which was rained out after two innings. Both were injured on Tuesday night. Hunter was hit in the arm by a pitch and Koskie fouled a pitch off of his foot. Neither played on Wednesday night, but manager Ron Gardenhire said they both could have. ... Jacque Jones was also injured in Tuesday night's game, he sprained his ankle sliding into second base. He also didn't play Wednesday and wasn't in the lineup for Thursday's game. ``Still sore, still a couple of days away,'' Gardenhire said. ``Feels a little better today, still got some soreness.''
DETROIT: The Tigers placed a temporary fence in left field for the team's batting practice on Thursday. Since Comerica Park opened in 2000, there has been an ongoing debate about whether the fences are too far away, especially in left field. It's 345 feet down the line, but it angles out quickly. It's 395 to the left-field power alley and 420-feet to straight away center. The fence extended from about eight-feet off the foul line to the flag pole in left center. It is believed that the flag pole is over 430-feet away from home plate. The team has said it is considering moving the left-field fence in. ``I would like to see the fence moved in to at least right there,'' catcher Brandon Inge said. ``Actually, where it needs to be a little more in is in left center, around that flag pole.'' The team is just kicking around the idea. ``I don't know if we're leaning one way or the other at this point,'' GM Dave Dombrowski said. ... Unavailable for Detroit on Thursday were Bobby Higginson (sore muscle in his right side suffered in batting cage), Hiram Bocachica (back spasms) and Shane Halter, who couldn't play in the field because of rotator cuff difficulties.
NEW YORK: Closer Mariano Rivera (right shoulder) threw 12 minutes off a bullpen mound and could be activated from the 15-day DL by Saturday. ``Roger (Clemens) is sort of lobbying for tomorrow (Friday) because it's his game,'' manager Joe Torre said. ``After throwing today, Saturday seems to be an appropriate day.'' ... LHP David Wells (stomach virus) said he felt 100 percent better and is scheduled to pitch Sunday. ... 3B Drew Henson will remain in Florida and work out at the team's minor league complex with former Yankees' great Don Mattingly. He will report to the Arizona Fall League late next week. ... CF Bernie Williams (left knee) missed his second straight game. He could start Friday at Detroit. ... OF Shane Spencer (left hamstring) will likely miss at least 4-to-5 games. ... LHP Randy Keisler (shoulder) is expected to pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico. ... GM Brian Cashman said RHP Adrian ``El Duquecito'' Hernandez will pitch in the Arizona Fall League.
KANSAS CITY: 1B Mike Sweeney, in contention for the AL batting title, was out of the starting lineup with a sore back. ``It's bothered him for the last couple of days and today it was really bad,'' manager Tony Pena said. ``I want to make sure he doesn't go out and hurt it bad.'' Sweeney was on the disabled list for almost a month earlier this season with a strained lower back and hip. He's hitting .342, one point behind Boston's Manny Ramirez. ... With Sweeney out, 1B-DH Raul Ibanez started at first. Ibanez was back in the lineup Wednesday night as DH after missing five games with a sprained left thumb. ``We played catch yesterday,'' Pena said. ``I played catch (with him) because I wanted to make sure about it.'' ... RHP Paul Byrd, who started Thursday night, has been one of the Royals' bright spots this season. He'd won a career-high 16 games and had a 3.23 ERA going into Thursday's start. ``I imagine he surprised a lot of people,'' Pena said. ``He has been great.'' Byrd's contract is up at the end of the season, and Pena doesn't even want to think of the possibility he won't return next year. ``Don't even bring it up,'' he said. ``I hope he's still with us. Right now, our record is no beauty, but there's a real good atmosphere around this ballclub. I know he feels comfortable here.''
CHICAGO: The White Sox have carried 12 pitchers for all but a handful of games this season, something manager Jerry Manuel wants to avoid next year. ``I would hope that coming out of next spring, we'll only need one,'' he said. ``That would mean our starters are performing well and our bullpen is settled.'' ... Rocky Biddle, who started Thursday night's game, could put himself in the mix for a starter's job next season if he continues to pitch well. Manuel was impressed with Biddle's last outing, when he allowed two unearned runs and three hits in five innings against the Yankees. ``If he can back that up with another good outing, he'd have to guy you'd consider,'' Manuel said. ... Rookie OF Joe Borchard, the White Sox's top draft pick in 2000, has shown promise since being called up, hitting safely in five of his seven starts. But he might need a little more work before he's ready to contend for a regular starter's job. ``Winter ball definitely helps a player in development,'' Manuel said. ``If he performs extremely well, he could be a guy that could push some people.''
ANAHEIM: 2B Adam Kennedy returned to the starting lineup after getting most of the game off Wednesday, when he came in to pinch-hit in the eighth and stayed in the game. ... Garret Anderson's second-inning double gave him 85 extra-base hits this year to tie the franchise mark set by Troy Glaus in 2000. It was Anderson's major-league leading 56th double of the year. Darin Erstad also doubled, giving the Angels 321 for the season -- third best in the majors. ... Thirteen of the Angels' final 17 games against the A's this season were decided by one or two runs. ``I knew our teams match up well, and these games could have gone either way,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We've just played them eight games and we played them as evenly as you can play a team. ... Occasionally you're going to hit bumps in the road, but the overall position we're in gives us confidence we're going to rebound.''
OAKLAND: C Ramon Hernandez returned to the lineup after a day off to rest a sore wrist and drove in two runs. ... Manager Art Howe doesn't consider one starter in his remarkable rotation any better than the other. ``We have three or four No. 1s,'' he said. ``We're lucky. Most managers have a pecking order. We don't. I feel they all are equally as good.'' ... Billy Koch made his franchise-record 79th appearance of the season, breaking the mark of Buddy Groom set in 1997. ... The A's did not hit a double for a franchise-record eighth straight game. ... Is Howe going to miss these stressful showdowns with Anaheim? ``Do you miss a toothache?'' he said. ... Tim Hudson (15-9) allowed three runs in 7 1-3 innings to win his eighth straight decision as the A's won for the fifth time in seven games. Hudson's last loss was July 24 at Anaheim.
TEXAS: After being out of the starting lineup because he was too tired Wednesday night, All-Star SS Alex Rodriguez was back Thursday night to run his consecutive games played streak to 378, third longest among active streaks in the majors. Rodriguez came into Wednesday night's game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and flied out with two men on base. He leads the majors with 55 homers and 135 RBIs. ... The Rangers' third straight extra-inning defeat in Seattle on Wednesday night was the 14th time this season that they've lost on the road in the bottom of the ninth inning or later this season. ... Rodriguez (55) and Rafael Palmeiro (41) have combined for 96 homers this season, the most of any pair of teammates in the majors.
