AMERICAN LEAGUE< ^Blue Jays-Red Sox<
TORONTO: Toronto swept a three game series at Fenway Park for the first time since Aug. 14-16, 1989. ... Toronto's four-game win streak matches its longest of the season. ... 3B Tony Batista did not start for the fourth consecutive game. He is 4-for-18 on the road trip. ... INF Cesar Izturis, who made his major league debut on Saturday, started his second straight game for SS Alex Gonzalez, who left Friday's game with a strained left shoulder and is day to day.
BOSTON: OF Everett missed his third straight game with an injured right knee. ... Dante Bichette went 0-for-4, snapping an eight-game hitting streak.
Twins-Tigers
DETROIT: C Brandon Inge will be out 4-to-6 weeks with a dislocated left shoulder after colliding with Twins C Tom Prince. ``We're exploring the minors and what veterans are available,'' Tigers manager Phil Garner said. ``I'd rather have a vet to help with the pitching staff, but we're not going to sign someone just to have experience if they can't play.'' ... Jose Lima, acquired from Houston on Saturday for Dave Mlicki, arrived just before Sunday's game. Lima, who played for the Tigers from 1994-1996, will continue to wear No. 42, which each major league team retired in honor of Jackie Robinson. ``I was already wearing it when they did it, so I'm grandfathered in, and No. 42 was very good to me.''
MINNESOTA: Minnesota's 14 runs on Sunday were their most since they beat Texas 15-7 on Sept. 19. ``I'd really rather see us get a well-pitched game, but I'll take a win any time. We're really hitting the ball well right now,'' Twins manager Tom Kelly said. ... Eric Milton's win was the first by a Twins starter since Milton beat Houston on June 13. In the nine games since, the starters had been 0-6 with a 8.26 ERA.
White Sox-Orioles
CHICAGO: Paul Konerko went 2-for-5 against the Orioles on Sunday and now has reached base safely in all 22 White Sox games in June. ... James Baldwin earned his first win at Camden Yards since Aug. 31, 1998. He's now 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA in his career at the park. ... Royce Clayton went 2-for-4 and finished the four-game series 6-for-15 with three RBI and three runs scored. ... Manager Jerry Manuel on reaching .500 for the first time since April 11: ``We have dug a hole and have responded to reach mediocrity. But we are not mediocre.''
BALTIMORE: The Orioles recalled RHP Jay Spurgeon from Triple-A Rochester while optioning RHP John Parrish back to the Red Wings. Parrish was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in nine relief appearances this season. Spurgeon was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in seven games last year. ... Rookie Josh Towers threw 51 of his 67 pitches for strikes Sunday, but the 10 hits he allowed was a career high. ... Melvin Mora and Delino DeShields hit successive homers in the second inning for the Orioles, the third time this year the team has done it. ... It was the first time in Towers' six starts that he didn't pitch at least seven innings and the first time he gave up more than three earned runs.
Yankees-Devil Rays
NEW YORK: DH David Justice (groin) took batting practice for the first time, but will remain in Florida for the next several days. ``He'll probably hit tomorrow (Monday) and the next day, and then a decision will be made on whether he will rehab or comeback and work the rest of the week at home,'' manager Joe Torre said. Justice could be activated by early next month. ... LHP Andy Pettitte (groin) is scheduled to throw in a simulated game Tuesday at Yankee Stadium and remains on target to rejoin the team around July 1. ... Chuck Knoblauch, who missed Saturday's game with a sore left big toe, was the DH. ... 1B Tino Martinez, who said his ribs were sore after a collision Saturday at first base, went 0-for-2 with a walk and sacrifice fly. ... 3B prospect Drew Henson went 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in his first five games for Triple-A Columbus. ... Torre said OF Paul O'Neill struggles at the plate are more fundamental than anything else. ``Things don't stop like that, you don't fall off the end of the cliff,'' Torre said. ``But, you still need it to convince yourself.''
TAMPA BAY: OF Gerald Williams was released and OF Jose Guillen (left knee sprain) was activated from the 15-day DL. Williams was hitting .207 with four homers and 17 RBIs and had lost the starting center-field job to Jason Tyner. He also was 66 plate appearances away from guaranteeing a $4 million salary for next season. ``I commended him on the way he conducted himself,'' manager Hal McRae said. ``He was a true pro through the whole ordeal. He didn't make it difficult on me or the organization. My hope is he lands with a first-division team. I think he can really help a good ballclub.'' ... Sunday's win snapped an eight-game losing streak, which equaled the longest in the majors this year. The Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Astros and Padres also have had eight-game skids. ... In their last five games, Devil Rays starting pitchers have worked seven innings four times and six innings once.
Rangers-Athletics
TEXAS: 1B Rafael Palmeiro slowed his plummeting batting average with two hits, including a solo homer, Sunday against Oakland. Palmeiro was 3-for-25 in his previous seven games, dropping his average 14 points to .250. He's 32-for-147 in the last six weeks. ``I don't care about that. We don't focus on the negatives,'' Palmeiro said. ... SS Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-13 in Texas' series against Oakland, but the Rangers still won two of three. ``That's the frustrating thing,'' A's manager Art Howe said. ``We were able to get him out, and we still don't win the series. We were able to execute our pitches against him. Hitters go on streaks, too, and maybe we caught him at a good time.'' ... With two homers in two days, OF-DH Ruben Sierra passed Ted Simmons for sixth place on the career homers list for switch-hitters. Sierra has 249 career homers.
OAKLAND: RHP Gil Heredia leads the AL with 20 homers allowed. He gave up two on Sunday -- his sixth straight start in which he allowed a homer. ... The A's outfield shakeup appears to be permanent. Howe said he wants to play Johnny Damon in center, Terrence Long in right and Jeremy Giambi in left. Damon, a natural center fielder, has played left in Oakland because the A's didn't want to move Long from center -- where he has played since arriving in a trade with the Mets -- especially since Damon may leave as a free agent after the season. But with the A's dropping rapidly out of playoff contention, Howe decided to use his best lineup possible. That means moving Long to right, where his strong throwing arm can better utilized, and putting weak-throwing Giambi in left. ``I'm more comfortable in (center),'' Damon said. ``Terrence will make our best right fielder. He has a great arm, and I'm a better center fielder. Art needs the best outfield he has out there right now, and this is it.'' ... LHP Barry Zito will get his next start on Thursday. That's a day earlier than scheduled, but Oakland wants Zito to pitch against the Mariners, who he has beaten twice this season. RHP Cory Lidle will pitch on Friday at Texas.
Indians-Royals
CLEVELAND: The Indians activated OF Dave Roberts from the 60-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo. Roberts had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn labrum in the off-season. ... New Cleveland closer John Rocker, who missed most of Saturday night's 3-2 loss to the Royals, signed autographs for fans before Sunday's game.
KANSAS CITY: C Gregg Zaun reported to Haines City, Fla., on Sunday to begin rehabbing his injured left calf. The team also said OF Mark Quinn would report Monday to triple-A Omaha to begin a 20-day rehab assignment for a strained left hamstring. ... 2B Donnie Sadler, acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on Wednesday, got his first start with the Royals on Sunday.
Angels-Mariners
ANAHEIM: 3B Troy Glaus, hitless in his last 16 at-bats, got his first day off of the season. ``He's been grinding,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Right now is an opportunity for him to catch his breath. Looking at the long haul, looking at the timing of it. We want to let him watch a game and unwind.'' ... The Angels had a season-low two hits in their 2-1 victory over the Mariners and Jamie Moyer Saturday night.
SEATTLE: RF Ichiro Suzuki was given Sunday off by manager Lou Piniella after he went 0-for-5 for the first time this season Saturday. Suzuki played in 72 of Seattle's first 73 games, hitting .352 with a major league-leading 117 hits. Piniella said he wasn't concerned about the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Suzuki wearing down. ``Ichiro is 27 years old,'' Piniella said. ``He's in perfect shape. Can he play 162 games? I think if we needed him, he could.'' ... The Mariners were interested observers to Saturday's trade that strengthened the Yankees' bullpen. The three-time defending World Series champions acquired RHP Jay Witasick from San Diego for minor league prospect D'Angelo Jimenez. ``The Yankees are one of the more aggressive clubs, aren't they?'' Piniella asked. ``Look, anytime you add a pitcher with a 5-and-2 record and a 1.86 ERA for a shortstop who is playing at Triple-A, you're going to improve yourself.''
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers-Cubs
MILWAUKEE: Ben Sheets threw 98 pitches in just 5 1-3 innings. And no one made him work harder than Rondell White, who had a 17-pitch, 10-foul ball at-bat in the second before flying out. ``He'd already seen all my pitches after eight. That's the longest at-bat I've ever seen. He kept fouling and fouling,'' Sheets said. ... Geoff Jenkins, out for three games with a sore hand, returned to the Brewers lineup Sunday and was 1-for-4 with a walk. ... RHP Bill Rigdon, on the DL with a right elbow strain retroactive to June 9, is scheduled to be activated and start Tuesday's game at Pittsburgh. ... In five games at Wrigley Field this season, Milwaukee's bullpen has not allowed a run. In their 12 games overall against the Cubs, Milwaukee relievers are 2-1 with five saves and a 1.34 ERA. ... The Brewers have beaten the Cubs four straight games for the first time. Since meeting in interleague play in 1997, the teams have split 52 games.
CHICAGO: 3B Bill Mueller, on the DL with a fractured knee cap, took some grounders Sunday but is still unable to run as he rehabs his injury. ``Until I can run, I'll concentrate on strengthening my leg and getting the range of motion I need,'' said Mueller, injured in St. Louis on May 13 while chasing a foul ball. Mueller said doctors are pleased with his progress but he has no timetable for a return. He was batting .317 in 36 games before he was hurt. ... Matt Stairs' two-homer game was the seventh of his career. He last hit two in a game on Aug. 13, 1999 against Toronto when he was with Oakland. Stairs has three homers in seven at-bats this season against Ben Sheets. ... Jason Bere has only one win in his last 11 starts. And the Cubs haven't been scoring for him, just 23 runs in his last 10 outings -- 10 in one game. ... 2B Eric Young, a leadoff hitter with an on-base percentage of .319, was given the day off. Miguel Cairo got the start in his place at second.
Expos-Pirates
MONTREAL: By taking two of three from Pittsburgh, the Expos won only their sixth series in the 24 they've played. They are 6-17-1 in series. ... The Expos scored 26 runs in the three games. ... Mike Barrett set a career high by hitting in his 12th consecutive game Sunday. He was 3-for-5 with an RBI. ... The only Expos starter who didn't have a hit was Vladimir Guerrero, who was 0-for-3. Troy Mattes, the rookie starting pitcher, singled in the second inning for his first major league hit. ... Lee Stevens grounded into a double play in the fifth -- the major league leading 76th time the Expos have hit into a double play. .. Jeff Torborg is 9-14 as the Expos manager. Felipe Alou was 21-32 before being let go May 31.
PITTSBURGH: The Pirates have lost four of five since winning a season-high four in a row. They are 22 games under .500 at 25-47, only one behind their season low of 23 under. ... LHP David Williams will make his first major league start Monday, against Milwaukee. Williams was pitching in low Class-A ball at this time a year ago. He replaces RHP Bronson Arroyo, who was demoted after missing a bunt sign and a pitchout sign in a 9-5 loss to the Phillies on Wednesday. ...The Pirates are 5-16 against the NL East. ... Joe Beimel has won only once in his last 11 appearances. ... Jason Kendall is 2-for-16 after an 11-for-27 streak. His average is down to .254 -- 60 points below his career average. ... SS Jack Wilson sat out Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring. ... John Vander Wal, mentioned in trade rumors for more than a week, went 0-for-3 and has one hit in 24 at-bats in nine games. ... Keith Osik popped out with runners on first and second to end the fourth with Pittsburgh down 4-1. He is 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Osik, who has been playing more since Jason Kendall started playing regularly in the outfield, is hitting .184.
Phillies-Marlins
PHILADELPHIA: Because of the suspension of pitcher Robert Person the Phillies will recall RHP Nelson Figueroa to start Tuesday against the Braves. Figueroa has the second-best ERA in the International League at 2.47. ... OF Pat Burrell leads the NL with 12 assists. ... The Phils haven't been in first place this late in the season since 1993. ... Jimmy Rollins, who is tied for the NL lead in stolen bases with Luis Castillo at 24, has not been thrown out in his last 19 attempts, the longest such team streak since Mickey Morandini did it in 1996.
FLORIDA: Cliff Floyd's double in the first inning extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games. ... C Charles Johnson, who missed the last two games with tendinitis in his right biceps, returned to the starting lineup Sunday. ... Manager Tony Perez batted the suddenly hot-hitting Derrek Lee in the No. 2 slot. Its the first time in his five-year career that he has batted above the 4 spot.
Braves-Mets
ATLANTA: Before establishing a career high with four hits Sunday, Rafael Furcal had 13 three-hit games in his 1 1/2 major league seasons. ... Atlanta's previous three-game sweep at Shea Stadium was from Aug. 10-12, 1993. The Braves' previous three-game sweep of the Mets was from Sept. 21-23, 1999, at Turner Field. ... Chipper Jones nearly tripped on second base while rounding the bases on Brian Jordan's tiebreaking home run. ``That would have been one of the more embarrassing moments,'' said Jones, who was trying to get around Mets 2B Desi Relaford.
NEW YORK: CF Jay Payton, on an injury rehabilitation assignment, went 2-for-4 Sunday for Class-A Port St. Lucie and had three putouts and a diving catch. ... By falling to 1-9, Steve Trachsel matched the start of five pitchers last year: David Cone, Kyle Farnsworth, Jason Johnson, Jose Lima and Steve Woodard. ... Rookie CF Alex Escobar had an assist for the third straight game, throwing out Rico Brogna at third base in the seventh inning following Javy Lopez's single.
Reds-Astros
CINCINNATI: Reds starters have not thrown a complete game through 74 games this season. Last year, the Reds got their first complete game in the 90th game. ... The Reds are 1-18 when they score fewer than three runs.
HOUSTON: Dave Mlicki, who was traded from Detroit for Jose Lima Saturday, won't join the Astros until Monday in Arizona. Mlicki, who was 4-8 with a 7.33 ERA with the Tigers, will start Tuesday. Tony McKnight, who was 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA after two starts, was optioned to Triple-A ... P Kent Bottenfield was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Team officials said Bottenfield's strained shoulder was worse than originally thought. The Astros also put OF Orlando Merced on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique muscle and purchased the contract of C Scott Servais from New Orleans.
Giants-Cardinals
SAN FRANCISCO: 1B J.T. Snow was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin. ... OF Eric Davis says he'll definitely retire after this season. He continues to be bothered by a sore left rotator cuff. ``You can take that to the bank,'' Davis said. ``It's etched in stone.'' ... Barry Bonds said Darryl Kile gave him only one good pitch to hit in three at-bats Saturday, the one he belted over the right-field wall for his 39th homer. ``I got lucky,'' Bonds said. ``After that, he made some good pitches on me.''
ST. LOUIS: Slumping OF Ray Lankford, batting .239 with a team-leading 82 strikeouts in 201 at-bats, was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ``We're trying to figure out how to get Ray right,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ``You use your experience and imagination. There are no secrets. He's played a lot and he's worked a lot and he's struggling.'' ... OF Bobby Bonilla fouled a ball off his right knee earlier in the homestand against the Chicago White Sox and has been unable to play. He was scratched from the lineup on Friday and Saturday. ... C Mike Matheny had thrown out 16 of 29 basestealers.
Diamondbacks-Rockies
ARIZONA: Mark Grace was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game with a sore left knee. ``Grace was available, but did not start,'' manager Bob Brenly said. ``He is almost there. We just gave him one more day. He might have started on Saturday if he hadn't had to walk up the dugout steps. I saw him limping up there and wouldn't let him go. Maybe if he had an escalator he could have snuck by me.'' ... 1B Erubiel Durazo left the game in the seventh inning to have X-rays on his jaw after being elbowed by Terry Shumpert in the first inning. ``We don't have any results, but it was a flagrant elbow to the face by Shumpert,'' Brenly said. ``Shumpert wasn't going for his glove, he wasn't going for the ball. He went straight to his head and it seemed to me it was excessive.'' ... Jay Bell's third-inning home run was his 1,900th hit.
COLORADO: Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia threw out the first ball. The game featured five Dominican-born players, SS Neifi Perez, RHP Pedro Astacio and RHP Jose Jimenez of the Rockies and RHP Miguel Batista and OF Danny Bautista of the Diamondbacks. ... The Rockies activated Denny Neagle from the DL prior to his Sunday start and optioned RHP Craig Dingman to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Bell is hoping to get OF Todd Hollandsworth a rehab assignment before or during the All-Star Break. Hollandsworth went on the DL originally on May 19 retroactive to May 12 with a right shin contusion and placed on the 60-day DL on June 13 retroactive to May 12. ... Walker's pinch-hit single off Randy Johnson was his first since Sept. 4, 1999 against the Mets. ... Colorado has not been swept in a four-game series at Coors Field.
Padres-Dodgers
SAN DIEGO: RHP Adam Eaton's complete-game victory was his first in 37 career starts, and only the second this season by the Padres' staff. The other was an 11-0 victory by Kevin Jarvis on April 26 against Philadelphia. Eaton is 6-0 in seven road starts, with a 4.34 ERA. ... Ryan Klesko, who set a club record with 40 RBIs in May, is on pace to reach triple digits in RBIs, walks and runs scored for the first time in his career. He entered this season with career highs of 93 RBIs, 90 runs and 91 walks. ``I've said this guy is going to put together a big year before it's all said and done,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ``I've been playing him just about every day against lefties, and he can flat-out hit. We think a lot of him.'' ... The Padres' offense has stranded 575 baserunners. Oddly enough, the only team that has left more men on base is Seattle, which has stranded 576 despite its major league-leading 55-19 record. ... San Diego has drawn a major league-high 327 walks, but an NL-low 11 intentional passes.
LOS ANGELES: Reliever Mike Fetters was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 20, because of a cervical spasm in his neck. The injury was a result of a change in his mechanics. ``It was helping because I was pulling through a lot better and throwing a lot more strikes,'' he said. ``But I guess the muscles in my neck weren't ready to handle that kind of stress, so it took its toll and it spasmed up.'' ... Because of Fetters' injury, ace Kevin Brown was activated from the DL two days earlier than planned. He made only his third relief appearance in 393 major league games, pitching 1 1-3 innings of one-hit relief. It was Brown's first relief appearance since July 4, 1998, when he worked an inning for the Padres against Colorado. His other was May 10, 1994, with Texas. ``It was definitely different. But when you get out on the mound, it's still the same thing. You've still got to throw strikes and get guys out,'' said Brown, who is still scheduled to start Tuesday at San Francisco after his 26-pitch tuneup. ... Darren Dreifort dropped to 0-7 against the Padres. They are the only NL team he has not defeated.
TORONTO: Toronto swept a three game series at Fenway Park for the first time since Aug. 14-16, 1989. ... Toronto's four-game win streak matches its longest of the season. ... 3B Tony Batista did not start for the fourth consecutive game. He is 4-for-18 on the road trip. ... INF Cesar Izturis, who made his major league debut on Saturday, started his second straight game for SS Alex Gonzalez, who left Friday's game with a strained left shoulder and is day to day.
BOSTON: OF Everett missed his third straight game with an injured right knee. ... Dante Bichette went 0-for-4, snapping an eight-game hitting streak.
Twins-Tigers
DETROIT: C Brandon Inge will be out 4-to-6 weeks with a dislocated left shoulder after colliding with Twins C Tom Prince. ``We're exploring the minors and what veterans are available,'' Tigers manager Phil Garner said. ``I'd rather have a vet to help with the pitching staff, but we're not going to sign someone just to have experience if they can't play.'' ... Jose Lima, acquired from Houston on Saturday for Dave Mlicki, arrived just before Sunday's game. Lima, who played for the Tigers from 1994-1996, will continue to wear No. 42, which each major league team retired in honor of Jackie Robinson. ``I was already wearing it when they did it, so I'm grandfathered in, and No. 42 was very good to me.''
MINNESOTA: Minnesota's 14 runs on Sunday were their most since they beat Texas 15-7 on Sept. 19. ``I'd really rather see us get a well-pitched game, but I'll take a win any time. We're really hitting the ball well right now,'' Twins manager Tom Kelly said. ... Eric Milton's win was the first by a Twins starter since Milton beat Houston on June 13. In the nine games since, the starters had been 0-6 with a 8.26 ERA.
White Sox-Orioles
CHICAGO: Paul Konerko went 2-for-5 against the Orioles on Sunday and now has reached base safely in all 22 White Sox games in June. ... James Baldwin earned his first win at Camden Yards since Aug. 31, 1998. He's now 5-2 with a 2.93 ERA in his career at the park. ... Royce Clayton went 2-for-4 and finished the four-game series 6-for-15 with three RBI and three runs scored. ... Manager Jerry Manuel on reaching .500 for the first time since April 11: ``We have dug a hole and have responded to reach mediocrity. But we are not mediocre.''
BALTIMORE: The Orioles recalled RHP Jay Spurgeon from Triple-A Rochester while optioning RHP John Parrish back to the Red Wings. Parrish was 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in nine relief appearances this season. Spurgeon was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in seven games last year. ... Rookie Josh Towers threw 51 of his 67 pitches for strikes Sunday, but the 10 hits he allowed was a career high. ... Melvin Mora and Delino DeShields hit successive homers in the second inning for the Orioles, the third time this year the team has done it. ... It was the first time in Towers' six starts that he didn't pitch at least seven innings and the first time he gave up more than three earned runs.
Yankees-Devil Rays
NEW YORK: DH David Justice (groin) took batting practice for the first time, but will remain in Florida for the next several days. ``He'll probably hit tomorrow (Monday) and the next day, and then a decision will be made on whether he will rehab or comeback and work the rest of the week at home,'' manager Joe Torre said. Justice could be activated by early next month. ... LHP Andy Pettitte (groin) is scheduled to throw in a simulated game Tuesday at Yankee Stadium and remains on target to rejoin the team around July 1. ... Chuck Knoblauch, who missed Saturday's game with a sore left big toe, was the DH. ... 1B Tino Martinez, who said his ribs were sore after a collision Saturday at first base, went 0-for-2 with a walk and sacrifice fly. ... 3B prospect Drew Henson went 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in his first five games for Triple-A Columbus. ... Torre said OF Paul O'Neill struggles at the plate are more fundamental than anything else. ``Things don't stop like that, you don't fall off the end of the cliff,'' Torre said. ``But, you still need it to convince yourself.''
TAMPA BAY: OF Gerald Williams was released and OF Jose Guillen (left knee sprain) was activated from the 15-day DL. Williams was hitting .207 with four homers and 17 RBIs and had lost the starting center-field job to Jason Tyner. He also was 66 plate appearances away from guaranteeing a $4 million salary for next season. ``I commended him on the way he conducted himself,'' manager Hal McRae said. ``He was a true pro through the whole ordeal. He didn't make it difficult on me or the organization. My hope is he lands with a first-division team. I think he can really help a good ballclub.'' ... Sunday's win snapped an eight-game losing streak, which equaled the longest in the majors this year. The Cubs, White Sox, Reds, Astros and Padres also have had eight-game skids. ... In their last five games, Devil Rays starting pitchers have worked seven innings four times and six innings once.
Rangers-Athletics
TEXAS: 1B Rafael Palmeiro slowed his plummeting batting average with two hits, including a solo homer, Sunday against Oakland. Palmeiro was 3-for-25 in his previous seven games, dropping his average 14 points to .250. He's 32-for-147 in the last six weeks. ``I don't care about that. We don't focus on the negatives,'' Palmeiro said. ... SS Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-13 in Texas' series against Oakland, but the Rangers still won two of three. ``That's the frustrating thing,'' A's manager Art Howe said. ``We were able to get him out, and we still don't win the series. We were able to execute our pitches against him. Hitters go on streaks, too, and maybe we caught him at a good time.'' ... With two homers in two days, OF-DH Ruben Sierra passed Ted Simmons for sixth place on the career homers list for switch-hitters. Sierra has 249 career homers.
OAKLAND: RHP Gil Heredia leads the AL with 20 homers allowed. He gave up two on Sunday -- his sixth straight start in which he allowed a homer. ... The A's outfield shakeup appears to be permanent. Howe said he wants to play Johnny Damon in center, Terrence Long in right and Jeremy Giambi in left. Damon, a natural center fielder, has played left in Oakland because the A's didn't want to move Long from center -- where he has played since arriving in a trade with the Mets -- especially since Damon may leave as a free agent after the season. But with the A's dropping rapidly out of playoff contention, Howe decided to use his best lineup possible. That means moving Long to right, where his strong throwing arm can better utilized, and putting weak-throwing Giambi in left. ``I'm more comfortable in (center),'' Damon said. ``Terrence will make our best right fielder. He has a great arm, and I'm a better center fielder. Art needs the best outfield he has out there right now, and this is it.'' ... LHP Barry Zito will get his next start on Thursday. That's a day earlier than scheduled, but Oakland wants Zito to pitch against the Mariners, who he has beaten twice this season. RHP Cory Lidle will pitch on Friday at Texas.
Indians-Royals
CLEVELAND: The Indians activated OF Dave Roberts from the 60-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Buffalo. Roberts had surgery on his right shoulder to repair a torn labrum in the off-season. ... New Cleveland closer John Rocker, who missed most of Saturday night's 3-2 loss to the Royals, signed autographs for fans before Sunday's game.
KANSAS CITY: C Gregg Zaun reported to Haines City, Fla., on Sunday to begin rehabbing his injured left calf. The team also said OF Mark Quinn would report Monday to triple-A Omaha to begin a 20-day rehab assignment for a strained left hamstring. ... 2B Donnie Sadler, acquired in a trade with Cincinnati on Wednesday, got his first start with the Royals on Sunday.
Angels-Mariners
ANAHEIM: 3B Troy Glaus, hitless in his last 16 at-bats, got his first day off of the season. ``He's been grinding,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``Right now is an opportunity for him to catch his breath. Looking at the long haul, looking at the timing of it. We want to let him watch a game and unwind.'' ... The Angels had a season-low two hits in their 2-1 victory over the Mariners and Jamie Moyer Saturday night.
SEATTLE: RF Ichiro Suzuki was given Sunday off by manager Lou Piniella after he went 0-for-5 for the first time this season Saturday. Suzuki played in 72 of Seattle's first 73 games, hitting .352 with a major league-leading 117 hits. Piniella said he wasn't concerned about the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Suzuki wearing down. ``Ichiro is 27 years old,'' Piniella said. ``He's in perfect shape. Can he play 162 games? I think if we needed him, he could.'' ... The Mariners were interested observers to Saturday's trade that strengthened the Yankees' bullpen. The three-time defending World Series champions acquired RHP Jay Witasick from San Diego for minor league prospect D'Angelo Jimenez. ``The Yankees are one of the more aggressive clubs, aren't they?'' Piniella asked. ``Look, anytime you add a pitcher with a 5-and-2 record and a 1.86 ERA for a shortstop who is playing at Triple-A, you're going to improve yourself.''
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers-Cubs
MILWAUKEE: Ben Sheets threw 98 pitches in just 5 1-3 innings. And no one made him work harder than Rondell White, who had a 17-pitch, 10-foul ball at-bat in the second before flying out. ``He'd already seen all my pitches after eight. That's the longest at-bat I've ever seen. He kept fouling and fouling,'' Sheets said. ... Geoff Jenkins, out for three games with a sore hand, returned to the Brewers lineup Sunday and was 1-for-4 with a walk. ... RHP Bill Rigdon, on the DL with a right elbow strain retroactive to June 9, is scheduled to be activated and start Tuesday's game at Pittsburgh. ... In five games at Wrigley Field this season, Milwaukee's bullpen has not allowed a run. In their 12 games overall against the Cubs, Milwaukee relievers are 2-1 with five saves and a 1.34 ERA. ... The Brewers have beaten the Cubs four straight games for the first time. Since meeting in interleague play in 1997, the teams have split 52 games.
CHICAGO: 3B Bill Mueller, on the DL with a fractured knee cap, took some grounders Sunday but is still unable to run as he rehabs his injury. ``Until I can run, I'll concentrate on strengthening my leg and getting the range of motion I need,'' said Mueller, injured in St. Louis on May 13 while chasing a foul ball. Mueller said doctors are pleased with his progress but he has no timetable for a return. He was batting .317 in 36 games before he was hurt. ... Matt Stairs' two-homer game was the seventh of his career. He last hit two in a game on Aug. 13, 1999 against Toronto when he was with Oakland. Stairs has three homers in seven at-bats this season against Ben Sheets. ... Jason Bere has only one win in his last 11 starts. And the Cubs haven't been scoring for him, just 23 runs in his last 10 outings -- 10 in one game. ... 2B Eric Young, a leadoff hitter with an on-base percentage of .319, was given the day off. Miguel Cairo got the start in his place at second.
Expos-Pirates
MONTREAL: By taking two of three from Pittsburgh, the Expos won only their sixth series in the 24 they've played. They are 6-17-1 in series. ... The Expos scored 26 runs in the three games. ... Mike Barrett set a career high by hitting in his 12th consecutive game Sunday. He was 3-for-5 with an RBI. ... The only Expos starter who didn't have a hit was Vladimir Guerrero, who was 0-for-3. Troy Mattes, the rookie starting pitcher, singled in the second inning for his first major league hit. ... Lee Stevens grounded into a double play in the fifth -- the major league leading 76th time the Expos have hit into a double play. .. Jeff Torborg is 9-14 as the Expos manager. Felipe Alou was 21-32 before being let go May 31.
PITTSBURGH: The Pirates have lost four of five since winning a season-high four in a row. They are 22 games under .500 at 25-47, only one behind their season low of 23 under. ... LHP David Williams will make his first major league start Monday, against Milwaukee. Williams was pitching in low Class-A ball at this time a year ago. He replaces RHP Bronson Arroyo, who was demoted after missing a bunt sign and a pitchout sign in a 9-5 loss to the Phillies on Wednesday. ...The Pirates are 5-16 against the NL East. ... Joe Beimel has won only once in his last 11 appearances. ... Jason Kendall is 2-for-16 after an 11-for-27 streak. His average is down to .254 -- 60 points below his career average. ... SS Jack Wilson sat out Sunday's game with a strained right hamstring. ... John Vander Wal, mentioned in trade rumors for more than a week, went 0-for-3 and has one hit in 24 at-bats in nine games. ... Keith Osik popped out with runners on first and second to end the fourth with Pittsburgh down 4-1. He is 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Osik, who has been playing more since Jason Kendall started playing regularly in the outfield, is hitting .184.
Phillies-Marlins
PHILADELPHIA: Because of the suspension of pitcher Robert Person the Phillies will recall RHP Nelson Figueroa to start Tuesday against the Braves. Figueroa has the second-best ERA in the International League at 2.47. ... OF Pat Burrell leads the NL with 12 assists. ... The Phils haven't been in first place this late in the season since 1993. ... Jimmy Rollins, who is tied for the NL lead in stolen bases with Luis Castillo at 24, has not been thrown out in his last 19 attempts, the longest such team streak since Mickey Morandini did it in 1996.
FLORIDA: Cliff Floyd's double in the first inning extended his career-best hitting streak to 18 games. ... C Charles Johnson, who missed the last two games with tendinitis in his right biceps, returned to the starting lineup Sunday. ... Manager Tony Perez batted the suddenly hot-hitting Derrek Lee in the No. 2 slot. Its the first time in his five-year career that he has batted above the 4 spot.
Braves-Mets
ATLANTA: Before establishing a career high with four hits Sunday, Rafael Furcal had 13 three-hit games in his 1 1/2 major league seasons. ... Atlanta's previous three-game sweep at Shea Stadium was from Aug. 10-12, 1993. The Braves' previous three-game sweep of the Mets was from Sept. 21-23, 1999, at Turner Field. ... Chipper Jones nearly tripped on second base while rounding the bases on Brian Jordan's tiebreaking home run. ``That would have been one of the more embarrassing moments,'' said Jones, who was trying to get around Mets 2B Desi Relaford.
NEW YORK: CF Jay Payton, on an injury rehabilitation assignment, went 2-for-4 Sunday for Class-A Port St. Lucie and had three putouts and a diving catch. ... By falling to 1-9, Steve Trachsel matched the start of five pitchers last year: David Cone, Kyle Farnsworth, Jason Johnson, Jose Lima and Steve Woodard. ... Rookie CF Alex Escobar had an assist for the third straight game, throwing out Rico Brogna at third base in the seventh inning following Javy Lopez's single.
Reds-Astros
CINCINNATI: Reds starters have not thrown a complete game through 74 games this season. Last year, the Reds got their first complete game in the 90th game. ... The Reds are 1-18 when they score fewer than three runs.
HOUSTON: Dave Mlicki, who was traded from Detroit for Jose Lima Saturday, won't join the Astros until Monday in Arizona. Mlicki, who was 4-8 with a 7.33 ERA with the Tigers, will start Tuesday. Tony McKnight, who was 0-0 with a 4.91 ERA after two starts, was optioned to Triple-A ... P Kent Bottenfield was moved from the 15-day to the 60-day DL. Team officials said Bottenfield's strained shoulder was worse than originally thought. The Astros also put OF Orlando Merced on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique muscle and purchased the contract of C Scott Servais from New Orleans.
Giants-Cardinals
SAN FRANCISCO: 1B J.T. Snow was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained groin. ... OF Eric Davis says he'll definitely retire after this season. He continues to be bothered by a sore left rotator cuff. ``You can take that to the bank,'' Davis said. ``It's etched in stone.'' ... Barry Bonds said Darryl Kile gave him only one good pitch to hit in three at-bats Saturday, the one he belted over the right-field wall for his 39th homer. ``I got lucky,'' Bonds said. ``After that, he made some good pitches on me.''
ST. LOUIS: Slumping OF Ray Lankford, batting .239 with a team-leading 82 strikeouts in 201 at-bats, was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ``We're trying to figure out how to get Ray right,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ``You use your experience and imagination. There are no secrets. He's played a lot and he's worked a lot and he's struggling.'' ... OF Bobby Bonilla fouled a ball off his right knee earlier in the homestand against the Chicago White Sox and has been unable to play. He was scratched from the lineup on Friday and Saturday. ... C Mike Matheny had thrown out 16 of 29 basestealers.
Diamondbacks-Rockies
ARIZONA: Mark Grace was out of the starting lineup for a third straight game with a sore left knee. ``Grace was available, but did not start,'' manager Bob Brenly said. ``He is almost there. We just gave him one more day. He might have started on Saturday if he hadn't had to walk up the dugout steps. I saw him limping up there and wouldn't let him go. Maybe if he had an escalator he could have snuck by me.'' ... 1B Erubiel Durazo left the game in the seventh inning to have X-rays on his jaw after being elbowed by Terry Shumpert in the first inning. ``We don't have any results, but it was a flagrant elbow to the face by Shumpert,'' Brenly said. ``Shumpert wasn't going for his glove, he wasn't going for the ball. He went straight to his head and it seemed to me it was excessive.'' ... Jay Bell's third-inning home run was his 1,900th hit.
COLORADO: Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia threw out the first ball. The game featured five Dominican-born players, SS Neifi Perez, RHP Pedro Astacio and RHP Jose Jimenez of the Rockies and RHP Miguel Batista and OF Danny Bautista of the Diamondbacks. ... The Rockies activated Denny Neagle from the DL prior to his Sunday start and optioned RHP Craig Dingman to Triple-A Colorado Springs. ... Bell is hoping to get OF Todd Hollandsworth a rehab assignment before or during the All-Star Break. Hollandsworth went on the DL originally on May 19 retroactive to May 12 with a right shin contusion and placed on the 60-day DL on June 13 retroactive to May 12. ... Walker's pinch-hit single off Randy Johnson was his first since Sept. 4, 1999 against the Mets. ... Colorado has not been swept in a four-game series at Coors Field.
Padres-Dodgers
SAN DIEGO: RHP Adam Eaton's complete-game victory was his first in 37 career starts, and only the second this season by the Padres' staff. The other was an 11-0 victory by Kevin Jarvis on April 26 against Philadelphia. Eaton is 6-0 in seven road starts, with a 4.34 ERA. ... Ryan Klesko, who set a club record with 40 RBIs in May, is on pace to reach triple digits in RBIs, walks and runs scored for the first time in his career. He entered this season with career highs of 93 RBIs, 90 runs and 91 walks. ``I've said this guy is going to put together a big year before it's all said and done,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ``I've been playing him just about every day against lefties, and he can flat-out hit. We think a lot of him.'' ... The Padres' offense has stranded 575 baserunners. Oddly enough, the only team that has left more men on base is Seattle, which has stranded 576 despite its major league-leading 55-19 record. ... San Diego has drawn a major league-high 327 walks, but an NL-low 11 intentional passes.
LOS ANGELES: Reliever Mike Fetters was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 20, because of a cervical spasm in his neck. The injury was a result of a change in his mechanics. ``It was helping because I was pulling through a lot better and throwing a lot more strikes,'' he said. ``But I guess the muscles in my neck weren't ready to handle that kind of stress, so it took its toll and it spasmed up.'' ... Because of Fetters' injury, ace Kevin Brown was activated from the DL two days earlier than planned. He made only his third relief appearance in 393 major league games, pitching 1 1-3 innings of one-hit relief. It was Brown's first relief appearance since July 4, 1998, when he worked an inning for the Padres against Colorado. His other was May 10, 1994, with Texas. ``It was definitely different. But when you get out on the mound, it's still the same thing. You've still got to throw strikes and get guys out,'' said Brown, who is still scheduled to start Tuesday at San Francisco after his 26-pitch tuneup. ... Darren Dreifort dropped to 0-7 against the Padres. They are the only NL team he has not defeated.
