TORONTO: In the bottom of the first, second baseman Aaron Hill got hit in the chin by a bad-hop grounder. He went to the dugout to tend to his bleeding chin, but returned a few minutes later. He had a two-run double in the second inning. ... With his first-inning single, Wells has hit in 24 of the Blue Jays' 26 games.
BOSTON: LHP David Wells (right knee sprain) and RHP David Riske (lower back strain) are close to being able to pitch again, manager Terry Francona said. ... RHP Jonathan Papelbon was named AL rookie of the month for April, when he had 10 saves in 10 tries and a 0.00 ERA. ... The start of the game was delayed 10 minutes by rain.
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LOS ANGELES: Wednesday's game was the 1,000th for manager Mike Scioscia, who went into the contest with a 532-467 career record. ... Scioscia said slumping Casey Kotchman hitting .125 in his last 16 games, is still feeling the effects of an offseason case of mononucleosis, but ruled out a trip to the disabled list. Rookie Howie Kendrick started at first base in Kotchman's place.
DETROIT: DH Dmitri Young began a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Erie on Wednesday. He has been on the disabled list with a right quadriceps strain since April 15. ... Wednesday's game marked the third time the Tigers have faced Jeff Weaver since he was traded from the team in 2002. The Tigers were 1-1 in the previous two starts, with Weaver winning the last meeting while with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 8, 2005. ... OF Curtis Granderson has yet to make an error in his short major-league career, which covers 80 games.
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NEW YORK: RF Gary Sheffield (left wrist) missed his third straight game, but didn't rule out returning in the next couple days after undergoing treatment. ``I'm encouraged big time from yesterday,'' said Sheffield, who hit off a tee. ... RHP Carl Pavano (bruised left buttocks-back) reported no problems one day after throwing five innings in an extended spring training game. He will pitch for Class A Tampa Sunday and could rejoin the rotation within the next month. ``I definitely feel better because I feel like nothing physically is holding me back,'' Pavano said. ... RHP Jesus Colome (right shoulder) threw on flat ground.
TAMPA BAY: SS Julio Lugo, on the 15-day disabled list since April 6 with an abdominal strain, felt fine after playing in an extended spring training game. If he gets through another without problem Thursday, he's expected to be activated Friday for the start of a weekend series at Oakland. ... 3B Aubrey Huff (left knee sprain) joined Class A Visalia for a rehabilitation assignment. ... The Devil Rays face Yankees LHP Randy Johnson on Thursday night. They've beaten him three straight times over six starts, the Big Unit's longest current losing streak against an opponent.
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BALTIMORE: OF Luis Matos, on the disabled list since April 17 (right shoulder inflammation), began a rehab assignment at Class A Frederick. He had been working out at extended spring training in Sarasota, Fla. ... Going into Wednesday night's game, the Orioles were 22 of 23 in stolen bases, the .957 percentage the best in the major leagues. They had only 83 stolen bases last season.
TEXAS: Six-time Gold Glove catcher Jim Sundberg was back in the Rangers bullpen Wednesday night. Sundberg was filling in as bullpen coach while Dom Chiti was away to attend the college graduation of one of his daughters. Sundberg works in the Rangers front office. He caught a record 1,512 games for Texas from 1974-83, and 1988-89. Chiti is expected to rejoin the team Thursday. ... RHP Antonio Alfonseca was doing fine Wednesday, a day after leaving a game with a left ankle injury. Manager Buck Showalter said Alfonseca would be available to pitch again Thursday.
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SEATTLE: OF Jeremy Reed, traded from the White Sox organization to the Mariners in the Freddy Garcia deal nearly two years ago, was out of the lineup and in an 0-for-21 slump. ``There are a couple of things he's doing wrong mechanically at the plate they're going to try and correct,'' manager Mike Hargrove said. Hargrove has no timetable for Reed's return, saying it's a bit of a conundrum when a player is slumping: Do you need two hits to get your confidence back or do you need the confidence to get the two hits. ... Ichiro Suzuki had his first triple of the year Tuesday night. He was second in the AL last season with 12.
CHICAGO: RF Jermaine Dye was out of the lineup as he deals with a strained left calf that forced him out in the third inning Tuesday in Cleveland. He missed two other games earlier with the injury. Manager Ozzie Guillen said the White Sox ``don't want any heroes,'' this early in the season and he won't play Dye again until he's convinced the World Series MVP is healthy. ``He has to be a real good percentage better,'' Guillen said. Ross Gload, who had six at-bats and had appeared in just seven games, mostly as a pinch-hitter, got the rare start in right field. ... Rookie CF Brian Anderson was also out of the lineup. He's just 1-for-22 in his last seven games and his average has dropped to .141. Rob Mackowiak got the call in center field. ... RHP Jose Contreras, who was 4-0 with a 1.45 ERA in five April starts, was named the AL Pitcher of the Month. He will start Thursday's game against the Mariners. ... At 18-8, the Sox were just one game off their pace of last season when they won 19 of their first 26 games. The best start through that many games was 21-5 in 1912.
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KANSAS CITY: Former Twins and current Royals first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz spent much of his time between pre-game batting practice and fielding drills mingling with old teammates and signing autographs. Mientkiewicz called over current Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, who replaced him midway through 2004, and gave him the universal sign for ``I'm watching you.'' Morneau laughed and walked away while Mientkiewicz smirked. ... The Royals have scored just four runs in their last five road games. ``There's no other way to put it. We're just struggling right now,'' manager Buddy Bell said.
MINNESOTA: The Twins used Torii Hunter in the cleanup spot for the third straight game. The struggling center-fielder is hitting .194 with five homers entering Wednesday's game. ``Where else are we going to go?'' manager Ron Gardenhire said. ``We've got a lot of athleticism throughout the lineup. Let's let (Hunter) swing and see what happens.'' ... Gardenhire was optimistic that Carlos Silva would have a strong outing tomorrow. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 10.31 ERA. ``He's pumped up and ready to throw the ball again. You've got to throw good (in the bullpen), and then throw good (on the field). I'm confident he'll do that tomorrow.'' ... The Twins faced Joe Mays for the first time since letting him leave as a free agent after last season.
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ATLANTA: The Braves signed RHP Tyler Yates to a minor league contract. He is to report to extended spring training for a week, then join Triple-A Richmond. Yates last pitched in the majors with the Mets in 2004. ... John Thomson (0-1, 1.32 ERA) makes his fifth start Thursday since rejoining the rotation after Horacio Ramirez went on the disabled list. Thomson is 7-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 14 career starts against the Phillies. ... John Smoltz made his 400th career start on Wednesday night. ...
PHILADELPHIA: Mild-mannered manager Charlie Manuel said he doesn't expect more tirades like the one Monday night in Florida, when he blasted his players during the fourth inning. The Phillies rallied from a 5-1 deficit against Dontrelle Willis to beat the Marlins 7-5. ``I don't like to get on the players during the game. Everybody has days where they go off,'' he said. ``I have no intention of showing my team up. I feel the best way is to handle it behind closed doors.''... Cory Lidle (2-3, 4.40) makes his sixth start Thursday. He's pitched at least six innings in four of those outings.
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FLORIDA: The Marlins claimed OF Joe Borchard off waivers from Seattle Mariners and designated OF Matt Cepicky for assignment. Borchard, a former first-round draft pick, appeared in six of the Mariners' first 19 games, with two starts in center field. He went 2-for-9 at the plate and was designated for assignment April 23. Cepicky hit .111 (2-for-18) with Florida after being brought up from Triple-A Albuquerque on April 17. ... Reserve SS Alfredo Amezaga made his second appearance as the leadoff hitter on Wednesday night; rookie Hanley Ramirez was given his first day off. Amezaga, who was making his fifth start of the season, was 2-for-4 in his other leadoff appearance on April 30. Ramirez went 0-for-14 in the Marlins' previous four games.
WASHINGTON: Entering Wednesday's game, the Nationals had played the fewest home games in the majors, eight. The Nationals started 1-7 at home, and no Washington starting pitcher had won at home since Sept. 5 of last season, when Livan Hernandez beat the Marlins 5-2. In 23 home games since then, Nationals starting pitchers were 0-16 with a 5.82 ERA. ... OF Jose Guillen entered in a 2-for-27 slump that lowered his average 71 points in eight days to .220. He grounded out in his first at-bat, making him hitless in his last 13, before he delivered an RBI single in the third. ... RHP John Patterson (15-day DL, right forearm strain) pitched three innings in an intrasquad game at extended spring training, allowing four hits with no runs, no walks and four strikeouts. He threw 45 pitches and is slated to make a rehab start Monday for Single-A Potomac. ... In that intrasquad game, SS Cristian Guzman (right shoulder) went 1-for-2, with a single and a strikeout against Patterson, and is to travel to Washington to be evaluated Thursday.
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PITTSBURGH: Manager Jim Tracy praised rookie C Ronny Paulino and credited him for much of the team's solid pitching lately. Tracy sounded as though he plans to stick with Paulino behind the plate even though Ryan Doumit is back from a hamstring injury. ``Right now, what's going on with our pitching staff and the job that Ronny Paulino is doing, you'd be foolish to look the other way and pretend that it's not happening. It is happening,'' Tracy said. The Pirates entered with a 2.64 ERA in Paulino's 10 starts behind the plate. ``Since he came up here,'' Tracy said, ``what I've seen is obviously a guy that has a real feel for catching. It's rare, because there's definitely a learning curve.'' Tracy thinks Paulino is advanced for his age (25) thanks to playing year-round in the Dominican Republic and catching some outstanding pitchers there during winter ball. ... 3B Joe Randa (bone bruise on right foot) probably won't play for a couple of days, Tracy said. New No. 3 batter Freddy Sanchez started at 3B again and homered off Pedro Martinez in the first inning. ... Jose Hernandez started at 1B in place of regular starter Craig Wilson. Tracy said he did some ``homework'' that gave him a sense it was a good night to play Hernandez.
NEW YORK: RF Xavier Nady and C Paul Lo Duca were rested by manager Willie Randolph. Endy Chavez started in right and Ramon Castro was behind the plate. Randolph said he likes the way Chavez is swinging the bat and he liked the matchup against Pirates RHP Ian Snell. Chavez doubled and singled his first two times up. ... Randolph also said he might give 1B Carlos Delgado a night off Thursday against LHP Paul Maholm. Julio Franco would start at first, the manager said. ... Randolph doesn't like his hitters watching video of their at-bats during the game. He said he doesn't allow it unless hitting coach Rick Down wants a player to take a look at something specific. ``It takes away from your total focus. Defense, helping your teammates,'' Randolph said. ``It just clouds the mind. I just don't think it's good during the game. It doesn't really help that much anyway.'' ... The Mets haven't decided if RHP John Maine will start again Sunday. He made his New York debut Tuesday night and lost to Washington. ``He pitched well enough to get another start, but we'll wait and see,'' Randolph said. ... Delgado hit a two-out RBI double in the first for his 1,600th career hit.
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ST. LOUIS: Third baseman Scott Rolen was again out of the lineup with a viral infection that has sidelined him for a week. But he flew to Houston to join the team Wednesday morning and was in uniform. ``We'll work him out today,'' said St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa. ``He may be out there tomorrow.'' ... Despite the Astros' role as one of St. Louis' biggest rivals over the last 10 seasons, La Russa said both teams have great respect for each other. ``It's a great competition,'' La Russa said. ``Both teams have been very successful. I don't think any of us have a problem when the other one wins tipping a cap to the winner.''
HOUSTON: The Houston Astros plan to meet this week with Roger Clemens to discuss a contract. May 1 was the first day the Astros were eligible to re-sign him and the New York Yankees, Boston and Texas are also interested. He also may retire. Astros manager Phil Garner said his team is the ``best possible candidate for him.'' His reasoning? ``We're the best ballclub,'' Garner said smiling. ``Obviously we'd love to have him back. He has a can-do attitude and a gritty spirit. He's a winner, bottom-line.'' ... Though Houston lefty Andy Pettitte, who is set to start Tuesday, is 1-4 this season, Garner said he's been pleased with his performance. ``I'm glad we have him,'' Garner said. ``I wish we already had him signed for the next few years.''
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SAN FRANCISCO: Giants manager Felipe Alou moved SS Omar Vizquel back into the second spot after batting leadoff in four of the last six previous games. ``He's a No. 2 guy,'' Alou said. ``He prefers to bat second. He's been doing that for years.'' ... RF Moises Alou is back in the lineup. He missed the previous two games after he hurt his left hip on a ninth-inning double play Sunday against Arizona.
MILWAUKEE: Brewer manager Ned Yost said that it wouldn't be right to pitch around LF Barry Bonds. ``I just feel that the game should be played a certain way,'' Yost said before the game. ``He's not the only person in the league that we pitch that way. It seems like every time we walk a guy like him or Albert Pujols, they come around and score anyway. It's your best going against their best.'' ...The Brewers placed RHP Tomo Ohka (2-1) on the 15-day DL with a disabled list with a partial undersurface tear of the right rotator cuff and capsular injury. The move was retroactive to May 2. He has a 3.18 ERA in six starts. RHP Ben Hendrickson, who was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on April 27, is a candidate to start Saturday's game at Los Angeles.
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CINCINNATI: OF Ken Griffey Jr. (right knee) did not accompany the team to Colorado. ``He's close,'' manager Jerry Narron said of Griffey, who was eligible to come off the DL on April 28. ... RHP Paul Wilson will make his next rehab start Sunday in Charlotte for the team's Triple-A affiliate in Louisville. ``He threw well in his first start,'' Narron said of his Tuesday start. ``His velocity wasn't what everybody would have liked, but it will come.'' ... Narron said he would prefer to avoid using RHP Todd Coffey in the two games in Denver. ``He threw 30 pitches and two innings on Tuesday,'' Narron said. ``He wants to throw every day, but I'd rather wait to use him this weekend in Arizona.
COLORADO: 1B Todd Helton and manager Clint Hurdle spoke Wednesday about Helton's return Friday from a brief rehab assignment at Triple A Colorado Springs. ``There is no need for him to play another rehab game,'' Hurdle said. ``He will work out with the team Thursday and be back in our lineup on Friday.'' ... SS Clint Barmes was in Indiana attending the funeral of a cousin.
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CHICAGO: Right-hander Kerry Wood, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, is scheduled to start for Single-A Peoria on Sunday. ... Bob Brenly, who managed the Diamondbacks to the 2001 World Series title, returned to Phoenix as a member of the Cubs' broadcast team. Brenly's bench coach was Bob Melvin, now the Diamondbacks' manager.
ARIZONA: Left-handed reliever Terry Mulholland, on the disabled list since April 12 with right elbow inflammation, pitched off the mound Tuesday and will accompany the team on next week's road trip to Pittsburgh and St. Louis, manager Bob Melvin said. ... The Diamondbacks went 9-6 in a 15-game stretch against NL West rivals that ended with a two-game sweep of Los Angeles Tuesday night. ... Right-hander Juan Cruz will face his former team, the Chicago Cubs, on Thursday night. Cruz has a 2.25 earned-run average in four innings against the Cubs. ... Reliever Casey Daigle was recalled from Triple-A Tucson on Tuesday, but he is prepared to return when his wife, former US Olympic softball star Jennie Finch, gives birth to their first child. Daigle and Finch make their permanent home in Tucson.
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