The MONTREAL EXPOS sent GREG MADDUX to his first Opening Day loss, after he had compiled a 6-0 mark with a 1.66 ERA in seven previous first games to start a season, defeating his ATLANTA BRAVES, 10-2, behind four runs batted in by new 1B JEFF LIEFER and a two-run double off the bat of ORLANDO CABRERA. Starting pitcher TONY ARMAS JR, in his first Opening Day start, allowed one run and five hits while striking out two over six innings, to pick up his first win in 2003, before a TURNER FIELD crowd of 40248, about 10000 short of capacity, on a sunny but chilly afternoon. (3-31)

OF SHAWN GREEN went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, 1B FRED McGRIFF was 0-for-4 with one run batted in and 2B JOLBERT CABRERA was 2-for-3 with a run scored, as their LOS ANGELES DODGERS shutout the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, 8-0, at BANK ONE BALLPARK. (3-31)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS principal owner JERRY COLANGELO presented his star pitcher, RANDY JOHNSON, with his fourth consecutive CY YOUNG AWARD before Tuesday's contest. (4-01)

Three-time CY YOUNG AWARD winner PEDRO MARTINEZ extended the Opening Day deadline he had given his BOSTON RED SOX to sign him to a contract extension. After Monday's opener against the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS he advised that talks were continuing, but would not discuss any further details. "The reason I'm not talking about the contract is because it's time to play baseball, concentrate on the things I'm doing. Both parties, I guess, are open, still talking, because I haven't had a report. There's nothing I can tell you right now," he stated. In February he had said unless the RED SOX exercised his $17.5 million option for 2004 or signed him to an extension by the end of Spring Training, he would probably finish his career elsewhere. "I'm pretty sure they're going to give you an answer pretty soon, whether we did it or whether we don't," he advised. "I'm just going to wait and see what happens." He finished up by stating that he was going to "continue to play baseball, because that's all I want, and I want to focus." (4-01)

Only two players on the 25-man roster of the MONTREAL EXPOS are older than 30. LHP JOEY EISCHEN is the senior of the two at 32, while 1B-OF WILFREDO CORDERO is currently 31. Also, the EXPOS have more foreign players, 14, on their 25-man roster to begin this 2003 campaign than any other MLB team, with the ORIOLES next with 12, followed by LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO and TEXAS with 11. (4-01)

New MONTREAL EXPOS pitcher LIVAN HERNANDEZ settled charges in Miami that he had swung golf clubs at a 65-year-old man. Prosecutors will drop charges of felony aggravated assault and battery on the elderly if the defendant attends anger management classes, performs 50 hours of community service and donates $ 500 to charity. Traded to the EXPOS from the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS on 24 March, he can now wait until the offseason to meet these terms and may travel with the team. "We are not admitting anything," his lawyer said. "We probably would have won the case, but we didn't want to take the risk of going before a jury." Hernandez was in Atlanta with the EXPOS so did not attend the hearing. The complainant, a warehouse owner, has brought suit against Hernandez, but no trial date has been set. Hernandez faced up to five years in prison on each charge but he had contended that the complainant had originally punched him. He also claimed that he never struck back or tried to hit the complainant with the golf clubs. (4-01)

Canadian-born OF/IF MATT STAIRS never got off the bench on Opening Day after going to Spring Training with the assumption that he would be the right fielder, but was relegated to bench duty after his PITTSBURGH PIRATES signed OFs KENNY LOFTON and REGGIE SANDERS during training camp. "They went out and got two very good outfielders. I can accept coming off the bench in this situation. It would be different if they signed a couple of stiffs !!!," he said. (4-02)

His first hit as a member of the NEW YORK METS was a first-inning two-run home run for OF CLIFF FLOYD against the CHICAGO CUBS. He had gone 0-for-4 in the season opener. (4-02)

2B JEFF KENT hit a home run in his first at-bat for his new team, the HOUSTON ASTROS, as they won their season opener, 10-4, over the COLORADO ROCKIES. The 2000 NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP helped lead his SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS to he WORLD SERIES last year before signing a new two-year, $18.2 million contract in the off-season. (4-02)

SAN DIEGO PADRES General Manager KEVIN TOWERS hinted that RHP MATT HERGES, a reliever who signed a minor league contract last Sunday, could be with the big club within two weeks. "We didn't sign him to pitch in the minors," Towers stated. (4-02)

CF MARQUIS GRISSOM had a three-run double, highlighting a five-run third inning, as his visiting SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS downed the SAN DIEGO PADRES, 5-3, for the three-game sweep. (4-02)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES OF MARTY CORDOVA was scratched from action on Wednesday because of continuing lower back pain, the same ongoing problem that he had at the end of Spring Training. (4-02)

Of the 827 major league players on Opening Day rosters and disabled lists, 230 were born amongst 16 foreign countries and Puerto Rico. This percentage has climbed from 19% in 1997, to 27.8% to begin this 2003 season. 46% of the 6196 minor league baseball players currently signed to professional contracts were born outside the United States and these 2851 players represent 32 countries, including the Dominican Republic (1437), Venezuela (793), Puerto Rico (113), Canada and Mexico (95 each) (4-02)

C KEN HUCKABY defended himself against charges that his collision at third base with DEREK JETER of the NEW YORK YANKEES was a dirty play. Both NEW YORK YANKEES IF ENRIQUE WILSON and 3B Coach WILLIE RANDOLPH had criticized him. "That's their opinion. I know myself, and I know I try to play the game the right way," he told reporters. "Right when he hit second I took off. I was running. If Carlos hadn't thrown the ball, I would have stopped. I wasn't trying to block the base. I was trying to stop the ball from going into left field. It wasn't like I took two steps and went into him. I caught the ball, landed on him in one motion. I spent 12 years in the minors. I have to do the little things to maintain my position up here. I have to cover. That's just the way it is." Previous to last season he already had flings with five organizations, including the YANKEES, so when the BLUE JAYS returned him to their Class-AAA team, the SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS, in March of 2002, he wanted to quit, return home to Philadelphia, and begin a coaching career. However, BLUE JAYS GM J.P. RICCIARDI talked him out of it. By May, he was in Toronto, a dream finally realized, hitting .245 in 88 games through the remainder of the 2002 campaign (4-02)

Canadian-born 3B COREY KOSKIE was back in the MINNESOTA TWINS lineup on Wednesday after missing the Monday opener in order to give his stiff back an extra two days of rest. He faced major league pitching for the first time since leaving a 22 March exhibition game after the second inning. (4-02)

With SAMMY SOSA chasing his 500th home run, it is notable that his very first came off ROGER CLEMENS, on 21 June 1989, when he was playing with the TEXAS RANGERS, batting leadoff, in a game against the BOSTON RED SOX at FENWAY PARK, which became his only homer while with that team. "I didn't know that until somebody told me a couple of years ago," Clemens said. "I guess I got him started." (4-02)

Hall of Fame 3B MIKE SCHMIDT, a PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES Spring Training instructor, said he is confident that his former teammate PETE ROSE will be reinstated in baseball, possibly this year. "It will happen when it happens," he said. He had attended a meeting between Rose and Commissioner of MLB BUD SELIG in the off-season. (4-02)

Starting pitcher ZACH DAY, followed by three relievers, JOEY EISCHEN, LUIS AYALA, and ROCKY BIDDLE, all combined on a three-hitter with JOSE VIDRO hitting a two-run home run in leading their MONTREAL EXPOS past the ATLANTA BRAVES in a 3-0 shutout, outscoring the hometown team 13-2 in their first two contests of the young season. Day, making only his third big league start, dominated the BRAVES squad, which looked poor offensively, getting just one runner past second base. (4-02)

ERICK ALMONTE, recalled from Class-AAA COLUMBUS CLIPPERS after DEREK JETER dislocated his left shoulder in collision with C KEN HUCKABY in the Monday night opener, was 2-for-5 in his first major league start, homering and totalling 3 runs batted in as the replacement for the top NEW YORK YANKEES star and field captain, as the hometown TORONTO BLUE JAYS went down in defeat, 9-7, completing the three-game sweep by the Bronx Bombers at SKYDOME. (4-02)

" It was just a horrific game for us. That's one of the worst games I've ever seen us play in a long time," said CHICAGO WHITE SOX Manager JERRY MANUEL, after their 12-6 loss to the KANSAS CITY ROYALS. (4-03)

The LOS ANGELES DODGERS activated RHP GUILLERMO MOTA after he served his four game suspension for hitting C MIKE PIAZZA of the NEW YORK METS with a pitch on 12 March. (4-03)

3B CHRIS STYNES went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in a 10-5 victory for his new team, the COLORADO ROCKIES, over the HOUSTON ASTROS at MINUTE MAID PARK in Houston. ASTROS 3B GEOFF BLUM was 2-for-4 with one RBI, ORLANDO MERCED was 1-for-1 pinch-hitting and 2B JEFF KENT was 1-for-4 with a run scored, in the losing cause. (4-03)

OF RONDELL WHITE, acquired in a Spring Training trade with the NEW YORK YANKEES, had an RBI single in the sixth for his first hit with his new team, the SAN DIEGO PADRES, in their 6-1 win over the visiting LOS ANGELES DODGERS. (4-03)

RHP DAVID CONE will start for his NEW YORK METS against the visiting MONTREAL EXPOS tonight, 16 years after his first appearance at SHEA STADIUM, and 19 months since his last appearance in major league action. "This is a tremendous gift. Not every athlete gets to end it on his own terms," he said. "I don't know how it's actually going to end, but it's got a better chance of being what I wanted than what I had ... I just kind of faded away. It didn't feel right. I wasn't bitter or resentful. I was regretful." As a member of the NEW YORK YANKEES, he pitched his perfect game against the Expos on 18 June 1999, and three members of that squad - ORLANDO CABRERA, VLADIMIR GUERRERO, and JOSE VIDRO will be in the lineup for this contest. (4-03)

After being slaughtered by the NEW YORK YANKEES at SKYDOME, the TORONTO BLUE JAYS are 0-3 for the first time since being swept by the KANSAS CITY ROYALS at the start of the 1979 campaign. (4-03)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ pitched 5.2 innings for the shutout victory, 4-0, as his MONTREAL EXPOS downed the ATLANTA BRAVES, followed up by SCOTT STEWART, T.J. TUCKER and JOEY EISCHEN, completing the three-game sweep, and with the three wins to start this 2003 campaign, matching their 2002 total victories, 3-7, in Atlanta in 2002. OF BRAD WILKERSON hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, and OF VLADIMIR GUERRERO was 2-for-3 with an RBI. (4-03)

Talking about how well his MONTREAL EXPOS teammates have played so far in the early going, SS ORLANDO CABRERA said, "We're always in the games. We have good pitching, good offense, good defense. The only thing we don't have is a big payroll. I don't think anybody feels sorry for us. If they do, that's good for us and bad for them. But I know this … We don't feel sorry for anybody else when we play."(4-04

RHP DAVID CONE pitched five impressive innings in his first game in MLB since 2001, leading his NEW YORK METS past the MONTREAL EXPOS, 4-0. Throwing every sort of breaking ball, from all different angles, he held the visitors to two singles, both by starting pitcher TOMO OHKA, while striking out five and walking only three. He was followed by RHP DAVID WEATHERS, who pitched two innings, giving up one hit while setting down four through strikeouts. (4-04)

COLORADO ROCKIES 3B CHRIS STYNES hit his first home run for his new team in their 2-1 victory over the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS. (4-04)

TORONTO BLUE JAYS Manager CARLOS TOSCA put SS MIKE BORDICK in at second base, giving ORLANDO HUDSON a rest, with his last start at second being on 4 August 1994 while he was with the OAKLAND ATHLETICS. OF VERNON WELLS homered twice, driving in four runs, while TANYON STURTZE was strong in his first start against the MINNESOTA TWINS, going 6.2 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 runs, an earned run, 2 walks and a strikeout. OF FRANK CATALANATTO and DH JOSH PHELPS both homered in the 7-2 win. (4-04)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS Manager JIM TRACY is keeping a new statistic this season that he is calling "lost runs," which will be when his squad does not score despite having a runner on second base with none out or a runner on third base with less than two outs. (4-04)

ESTEBAN LOAIZA pitched 6.2 strong innings as his new team, the CHICAGO WHITE SOX, won its home opener, 5-2, over the DETROIT TIGERS, in its newly named ballpark, U.S. CELLULAR FIELD, formerly COMISKEY PARK. A non-roster invitee to Spring Training who earned a spot in the rotation, he gave up only three hits, two runs, two earned runs while walking two and striking out five, in notching his first victory of this 2003 season. Game time temperature was 37 degrees, tying a record previously set in 1974 for the coldest Opening Day in WHITE SOX recorded history. (4-04)

LHP DAVID WELLS tossed eight impressive innings, allowing seven hits, all but one of them in the first four innings, while striking out three without giving up a walk, and his NEW YORK YANKEES teammates hit five home runs in defeating the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS, 12-2, for their fourth straight victory since Opening Day. (4-04)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES OF MARTY CORDOVA missed his third straight game due to lower back pain, the result of a herniated disk, but hoped to return to the starting lineup before the new week. (4-04)

HIDEKI IRABU won his second straight game in his return to Japanese baseball, leading his HANSHIN TIGERS to a 3-2 victory over the YAKULT SWALLOWS, scattering six hits over eight innings. In 2002 he had 16 saves pitching for the TEXAS RANGERS, and after compiling a 34-35 record and a 5.15 earned run average over six seasons in MLB, he signed a $2 million, one year contract in December with the TIGERS, hoping to revive the struggling JAPAN CENTRAL LEAGUE team. (4-04)

"I think this is a talented team with talented players," said MONTREAL EXPOS Manager FRANK ROBINSON. "Other teams have to take us seriously, and they do, I think. We're like a lot of teams, better in some spots than in other spots. But, over all, it's a good group."

The KANSAS CITY ROYALS claimed 2B BRENT ABERNATHY off waivers from the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS, then optioned him to their Class-AAA team in Omaha. (4-04)

DH JOSH PHELPS homered off All-Star closer EDDIE GUARDADO with one out in the top of the 11th inning to give his TORONTO BLUE JAYS the victory against the MINNESOTA TWINS. KELVIM ESCOBAR pitched the bottom of the 11th for his first save of this 2003 campaign, and PETE WALKER (1-0) picked up the victory, as both teams combined to leave 26 runners on the bases. C KEN HUCKABY started the game, his first appearance since the collision with DEREK JETER on Opening Night in Toronto. (4-05)

Despite taking the loss in the 3-1 win by the NEW YORK METS over the MONTREAL EXPOS, TONY ARMAS JR is 5-3 in his career against them, the most wins against any team in his young career to this point. Former MONTREAL EXPOS OF CLIFF FLOYD, another of the NEW YORK METS big off-season acquisitions, had three hits and an RBI to break out of a 1-for-15 slump since Opening Day. (4-05)

The 10 strikeouts by RANDY JOHNSON, against the COLORADO ROCKIES, in their 4-3 ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS loss, marked his 187th career double-digit strikeout game, second only to NOLAN RYAN, who compiled a final total of 215. (4-05)

"It was two guys playing hard, trying to create something ... If it was KEN HUCKABY that was hurt, no one would be asking questions, but it's DEREK JETER and he's such a great player." - TORONTO BLUE JAYS GM J.P. RICCIARDI speaking about the collision on Opening Night at SKYDOME. (4-05)

"I've had a couple of plays like that. You're running the other way looking back for the ball and as you catch the ball you're not even sure where the runner is. You're just trying to get the tag down ... He's not used to making tags at third base. That's an instinctive play." FLORIDA MARLINS Manager JEFF TORBORG speaking about the collision on Opening Night at SKYDOME. (4-05)

HOUSTON ASTROS 2B JEFF KENT didn't mince words on wearing a new uniform: "It felt weird to be in pinstripes, especially after all those years wearing the French Vanilla thing with the Giants." (4-05)

DH DAVID SEGUI, activated from the disabled list on Friday, went 1-for-3 in his season debut for his BALTIMORE ORIOLES. (4-05)

By adding 40-year-old DAVID CONE to their roster, the NEW YORK METS became the oldest team in MLB, with an average age of 31.72 years. The NEW YORK YANKEES, their Gotham counterparts, are second at 31.66 years. (4-05)

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have lost the services of their three team doctors who were forced to step down due to not being able to obtain malpractice insurance while working for the baseball club. The team physician, RON TAYLOR, the former major league pitcher, and orthopedic surgeons ALLEN GROSS and ERIC BOYNTON all left their positions with the BLUE JAYS when the CANADIAN MEDICAL PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION, the agency which insures all doctors in Canada, withdrew protection from all doctors working for major Canadian sports teams. The reasoning for the move was due to a successful malpractice suit brought by a former NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE player. "We're exploring a number of possibilities," said PAUL GODFREY, the President / CEO of the BLUE JAYS. "We want to make sure we sort of bridge the gap we have now." However, he did not wish to elaborate on alternatives until he has been apprised of their legal options, but believed they would have some answers soon. (4-06)

1B JEFF LIEFER, 3-for-5 with 3 runs batted in, hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning, his first in the NATIONAL LEAGUE, giving his MONTREAL EXPOS an 8-5 victory over the NEW YORK METS, after CF ENDY CHAVEZ, 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored, dropped a leadoff single into left field leading off the ninth, advancing to second on a one-out wild pitch. Then, after RF VLADIMIR GUERRERO walked, the first sacker hit the home run which put his side ahead 7-5. The EXPOS added another run when LF BRAD WILKERSON, 3-for-5, rapped out his second double of the contest, coming around on an infield single off the bat of 3B FERNANDO TATIS. In the eighth, SCOTT STEWART (1-0) pitched one hitless inning for the win, followed by ROCKY BIDDLE, who got three outs for his second save avoiding a three-game sweep. Trying to steal earlier in the game, in the second inning, Liefer was called out by the second base umpire, even though the ball clearly bounced away from 2B ROBERTO ALOMAR. Then, in the fourth inning, the third base umpire was hit in fair territory by a bouncer off the bat of SS ORLANDO CABRERA, who went 3-for-5, turning what appeared to be a sure double into a single. (4-06)

ROGER CLEMENS won his 295th game as his NEW YORK YANKEES team downed the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS, 10-5, allowing four runs and six hits over seven innings, limiting the opposition to a run and three hits through six, then the six-time CY YOUNG AWARD winner gave up a three-run homer in the seventh. "Longevity is paying off. It's something I've worked really hard throughout my career to do and I just keep getting paid back for it in different good ways," he said. (4-06)

1B CARLOS DELGADO homered, his second of the early season, and drove in four runs in support of starting pitcher COREY LIDLE, (1-1), who pitched seven strong innings, giving up six hits, one run, one earned run, and a walk while striking out 7, in the 8-1 victory for their TORONTO BLUE JAYS over the MINNESOTA TWINS in the HUBERT H. HUMPHREY METRODOME, sweeping all three weekend games in Minneapolis for the first time since 1993. OF FRANK CATALANOTTO went 3-for-5 with 2 runs batted in, OF SHANNON STEWART was 2-for-5, SS CHRIS WOODWARD had a 2-for-4 day and OF VERNON WELLS upped his team leading RBI total to 10. (4-06)

The MONTREAL EXPOS Class-A team in the FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE, the BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES, off to a 3-1 start, downed the ST.LUCIE METS, 4-1, scoring three runs in the first inning, then held on for the win. (4-06)

OF JOSE CRUZ JR couldn't escape the motto of C BENITO SANTIAGO. All spring he heard it from the catcher. "Once the lights come on, Benito has been telling me all the time, that's when it counts," said the outfielder. That was the case for the newest outfielder for the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS, who homered twice, had three hits in four at-bats, driving in three runs, leading his unbeaten crew past the visiting SAN DIEGO PADRES, 7-4, in their home opener at PACIFIC BELL FIELD. After a sub-par Spring Training, he has now hit safely in all seven games. (4-07)

At 7-0, the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS are off to their best start since moving west, topping the 6-0 mark that began their pennant-winning 2002 season. While the franchise was in New York, they started out 9-0 in 1918 and 7-0 in 1930. "These guys are serious about this season," said Manager FELIPE ALOU, who won his debut at PACIFIC BELL PARK. "The feeling is that we know we have a shot. What attracted me to his job besides the offer – the offer brought me here – was this franchise." He was joined by younger brothers JESUS ALOU and MATTY ALOU to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The three brothers made up an all-Alou outfield for several games 40 years ago, and a picture of the three in uniform with their hands together was shown on the centerfield video board as their tosses were thrown from the mound area. (4-07)

In a losing cause, 6-4, to the ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, in 12 innings before a sellout crowd of 53819, the largest Opening Day attendance in DODGER STADIUM history, LOS ANGELES DODGERS new 1B FRED McGRIFF hit his second home run on the season, leaving him just 20 away from amassing 500 for his long career. RHP SCOTT SERVICE earned his first save, and the 16th of his career, in the 12th inning for his D'BACKS. (4-07)

CHICAGO CUBS SS ALEX GONZALEZ has hit safely in each of their first six games, going 12-for-26. (4-07)

The PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE Centennial Committee selected 14 former greats to represent the league's first 54 years, the 1903-1957 All Centennial Team, as part of their ongoing centennial celebration throughout this 2003 campaign. Second Base is manned by GENE MAUCH, a .310 hitter throughout his three seasons with the LOS ANGELES ANGELS before he moved on to MLB fame as a longtime manager. (4-07)

PEDRO MARTINEZ saw his $17.5 million option for 2004 exercised by the BOSTON RED SOX, seven months before his team needed to make any decision. Martinez, who has two no-decisions despite an 0.60 ERA, said, "I am thankful and glad that they picked up the option. I'm also thankful that we both left the door open for negotiations in November after the season. I am glad that it's over. Now I want to focus on baseball." (4-07)

MINNESOTA TWINS Manager RON GARDENHIRE on his thoughts about traveling to Toronto next weekend amid an outbreak of S.A.R.S. that has caused at least seven deaths in the city, said: "We're concerned about anything that affects our baseball team. We'll leave it up to smarter people than us if we should be playing baseball there." (4-07)

OF VERNON WELLS has at least one RBI in each of his first six games, with former TORONTO BLUE JAYS star 1B WILLIE UPSHAW and current legend 1B CARLOS DELGADO holding the club record with at least one RBI in eight consecutive contests. (4-07)

MONTREAL EXPOS players taking part in the 22 games to be played in Puerto Rico are likely to pay a 20 percent tax on their earnings during their time on the island as their legislature approved the law last week and the bill is awaiting the signature of the governor, with the money players paying to Puerto Rico being used as credits against normal United States federal income taxes. (4-08)

Former FLORIDA MARLINS ace, and Canadian-born RHP RYAN DEMPSTER (1-0) allowed seven hits, one run, one earned run, with two walks and three strikeouts over nine innings, as his visiting CINCINNATI REDS downed the HOUSTON ASTROS, 2-1 in 10 innings. (4-08)

In EASTERN LEAGUE action, three pitchers on the AKRON AEROS tossed the first no-hitter in franchise history as FERNANDO CABRERA, AARON MYETTE and JOSE VARGAS combined to down the HARRISBURG SENATORS, 15-0, with these three hurlers allowing seven walks while striking out 13. Offensively, they were led by LF GRADY SIZEMORE, who went 5-for-6, with two doubles, scoring four runs. (4-08)

A two-out RBI single by 3B THOMAS PEREZ (.375) in the 10th inning gave his PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES a 4-3 victory over their visiting opponents, the ATLANTA BRAVES. Reliever JOSE MESA (1-0, 0.00) was the eventual winner, throwing the final 1.1 innings, giving up one walk, while striking out one. Both teams each stranded 12 runners in the contest. (4-08)

1B CARLOS DELGADO (.370) hit a two-run single in the third inning, then his third home run, a two-run shot in the seventh, and had four runs batted in as his TORONTO BLUE JAYS downed the visiting BOSTON RED SOX for its fourth straight victory, 8-4. Also, SS CHRIS WOODWARD (.280) went 3-for-4 with 2 runs batted in, 2B ORLANDO HUDSON (.227) was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and C GREG MYERS (.333) hit his first home run for his new team. (4-08)

CHICAGO CUBS SS ALEX GONZALEZ (.469) struck out four times, snapping his seven-game hitting streak in their 3-0 shutout victory over the visiting MONTREAL EXPOS, a game which featured 27 strikeouts and no walks. A home run by C DAMIAN MILLER was the first allowed by an EXPOS starter so far this season. (4-09)

NEW YORK YANKEES relieved STEVE KARSAY, sidelined by right shoulder bursitis, reported no problems after making 40 throws off flat ground and expects to return sometime in early to mid-May. (4-09)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Manager FELIPE ALOU will go for his 700th MLB victory as his team opens a three-game series at home against the LOS ANGELES DODGERS. (4-09)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS reliever GUILLERMO MOTA (1.69) hit a two-out, run-scoring single for the fourth RBI of his career and first since 9 June 1999 in a game in which OF SHAWN GREEN (.300) went 2-for-4 with his second home run, driving in three runs, leading his team to a 5-2 win over the visiting ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS. (4-09)

OF VERNON WELLS (.294) hit a grand slam, the first for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS since 5 October 2001, his third home run of this young season, which helped defeat the visiting BOSTON RED SOX, 10-5, for their fifth consecutive victory, and 3B MIKE BORDICK (..375) doubled twice and drove in three runs. In earning his second victory, starting pitcher TANYON STURTZE (2-0, 1.98) worked seven innings, giving up just six hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs with a walk and five strikeouts. (4-09)

So much for all those worried about LHP DAVID WELLS (2-0, 0.53) being distracted. Pitching for the first time at YANKEE STADIUM this season, looking as sharp as ever, he pitched a three-hitter, in a 2-0 shutout of the MINNESOTA TWINS, in the fourth straight victory for his NEW YORK YANKEES. "I'm not really thinking too much out there right now. I'm just throwing the ball," he stated. He was recently fined $100,000 by the BRONX BOMBERS for writing his autobiography, PERFECT I'M NOT! BOOMER ON BEER, BRAWLS, BACKACHES & BASEBALL. "There were so many things swirling around him this spring," said Manager JOE TORRE. "When he gets challenged, he's pretty darn good." (4-10)

SS ALEX GONZALEZ (.429) with the CHICAGO CUBS, struck out in six consecutive at-bats between Wednesday and Thursday, after going into the game on Wednesday hitting at a .500 pace. (4-10)

Forty-four games. That's how long the BALTIMORE ORIOLES had gone without a save until JORGE JULIO (5.40) finally recorded one yesterday, with the streak dating to 23 August 2002, lasting through their horrendous 4-32 stretch to close last season and through the first eight games this year. Last season he had converted 25 of 31 save opportunities, then did not have a save chance after 15 August, followed by blowing his first two opportunities in 2003. No team had gone 44 games without a save since the BOSTON RED SOX did it between 1 July and 19 August 1987, and previously, in 1975 the O's went 57 games without a save. (4-10)

Atlanta businessman CHARLES VAUGHN said he has a plan and investors to buy a MLB franchise, possibly the MONTREAL EXPOS, then move them to Puerto Rico, after explaining that he has Puerto Rican and U.S. investors ready to make an offer to the commissioner's office to buy a team. (4-10)

The visiting BOSTON RED SOX held off the BLUE JAYS, in an 8-7 win, snapping their five-game winning streak. 1B CARLOS DELGADO (.361) went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two runs batted in, while SS CHRIS WOODWARD (.323) was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in for Toronto. (4-10)

AMERICAN LEAGUE 2002 Rookie of the Year 3B ERIC HINSKE is hitting at a .138 pace, with no home runs and just three RBI. "I'm not the least bit concerned," said BLUE JAYS Manager CARLOS TOSCA. (4-10)

In seven scoreless innings TONY ARMAS JR (2-1, 2.00) struck out a career-high 11 in the 7-1 victory for his MONTREAL EXPOS over the hosting CHICAGO CUBS. Now 2-1, he gave up a leadoff single to 2B MARK GRUDZIELANEK (.429) walked OF SAMMY SOSA two batters later, then retired the next 11 in a row, giving up only two more hits and didn't allow another runner past first base. He followed up the 14-strikeout performance of JAVIER VAZQUEZ in their 3-0 loss on Wednesday. Over the past two games, the EXPOS had 29 strikeouts, a franchise record. (4-10)

The MONTREAL EXPOS warmed to Puerto Rico rather quickly. OF BRAD WILKERSON (.303) and C BRIAN SCHNEIDER (.200) both homered off NEW YORK METS starter DAVID CONE (1-1, 7.00), while TOMO OHKA (1-1, 2.13) allowed only one hit over eight innings as 'LOS EXPOS' rolled past their first opponents 10-0 at the start of this 22 home game series on the island. BEISBOL, island-style, began with an announced crowd of 17,906 in HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM, which has been specially expanded to hold over 20,000 seats. This was a larger attendance for all but eight games in 2002 at OLYMPIC STADIUM in Montreal, which has a current capacity of 46,000. Schneider put his side ahead with a two-run home run in the third inning, then Wilkerson capped the seven-run inning with his first career grand slam. 2B JOSE VIDRO (.364) later added a two-run homer off former EXPOS reliever GRAEME LLOYD (6.00) in the eighth. "It was perfect," said Vidro, who fought back tears as he rounded the bases. "If it's going to be like that for the 22 games that we're going to be here, it's welcome." NEW YORK METS OF, and former EXPOS player, CLIFF FLOYD (.200) had a broken-bat single in the fourth inning and OF ROGER CEDENO an infield single in the ninth for their only hits. (4-11)

RHP JOEY HAMILTON agreed to a minor league contract with the CINCINNATI REDS. In 2002 he went 4-10 with a 5.27 ERA in 39 games over 124.2 innings pitched. (4-11)

MINNESOTA TWINS1B Coach JERRY WHITE, in early batting practice, while working in the outfield, was injured when a ball came out of the batting cage, hit above the outfield fence, high up and off the concrete facing, then, on coming down and back onto the playing surface, struck him just below the right eye. He was removed on a stretcher from the field at SKYDOME. He did not coach for the entire three-game series against the TORONTO BLUE JAYS and was replaced by Bench Coach STEVE LIDDLE, taking over at first base for the weekend series. On Sunday the affected area was still swollen with a dark-reddish coloration around the bandage below the eye and after leaving Toronto he was expecting to have some X-rays taken. (4-11)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS Manager JIM TRACY bristled at some suggestions that he was overworking Canadian-born closer ERIC GAGNE (0.00) who pitched four days straight. "We've got a lot of very intelligent people who understand what's going on here," he responded. (4-11)

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS LHP STEVE KLINE (1.50) has enjoyed closing in place of their injured regular JASON ISRINGHAUSEN. "I'd love to do it, but I know that Izzy's our guy," he stated. (4-11)

The visiting MINNESOTA TWINS downed their hosts, the TORONTO BLUE JAYS, 6-4, with 3B COREY KOSKIE (.276) going 1-for-5, on a double, producing three runs batted in and scored a run, ending a six-game losing streak with the win. For the BLUE JAYS, in this losing cause, who had started this recent TWINS losing streak, with their three-game sweep the previous weekend, OF SHANNON STEWART (.326) was 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored, while OF FRANK CATALANATO (.333) went 1-for-3 with 2 runs batted in, accounting for their scoring. (4-11)

"I don't turn water into wine. I've had some bad starts, but how do you prepare yourself for giving up 10 runs ?" said LHP RANDY JOHNSON (0-2) after having allowed 10 runs, 10 earned runs, on 10 hits in just 4.2 innings, one of the worst starts of his long career, versus the MILWAUKEE BREWERS in their 11-7 loss. Currently baseball's top left-hander, who has won 45 games over the last two seasons, has an incredibly high 8.31 ERA through three starts, and startlingly has given up more hits (21) than strikeouts (19). (4-11)

ESTEBAN LOAIZA (2-0, 1.23) pitched eight scoreless innings, giving up only two hits and striking out two, as his CHICAGO WHITE SOX won for the sixth time in seven games, shutting out the hapless DETROIT TIGERS, 5-0, dropping them to 0-9, to become the first team ever to lose its first nine games in consecutive seasons. Closer BILLY KOCH (3.00) came on to pitch the 9th inning, striking out 2 batters. (4-11)

The KANSAS CITY ROYALS became the first team in 13 years to start the season with eight straight wins, beating the CLEVELAND INDIANS, 1-0, scratching out the win from their starter, JAKE WESTBROOK (0-2, 1.35) after drawing a leadoff walk, whereupon the base runner advanced on a groundout. After another groundout the following batter singled to center and then the ROYALS runner just beat the throw from OF MILTON BRADLEY (.306) coming home, which got past C TIM LAKER (.750. (4-11)

OF LARRY WALKER (.256) played in his 1000th game in the uniform of the COLORADO ROCKIES. Only OF DANTE BICHETTE, who appeared in 1018 games with the team from 1993-1999, had played more. (4-12)

CLEVELAND INDIANS OF MILTON BRADLEY has hit safely in all 10 games of the young season. (4-12)

NEW YORK YANKEES starting pitcher DAVID WELLS told ESPN Radio that he had offered to retire, on 28 February, before a Spring Training following the release of a number of most controversial excerpts from his autobiography, making the offer during his first meeting with GM BRIAN CASHMAN after the initial reaction to his book, PERFECT I'M NOT! BOOMER ON BEER, BRAWLS, BACKACHES and BASEBALL. "Maybe I should just walk away and see you later and go out on a sour note," he recounted telling Manager JOE TORRE and the Yankees GM. "After I went home and sat on it, I didn't think that was what I should do." He later was fined $100,000 for his revelations of drinking, drug usage and disparaging talk which the New York organization felt tarnished their image. (4-12)

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS designated C KEN HUCKABY for assignment to their Class-AAA team, the SYRACUSE SKYCHIEFS. The team then purchased the contract of OF REED JOHNSON off the roster of the Triple-A club. (4-12)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS 1B FRED McGRIFF wasn't thrilled about getting bounced from the lineup due o his current .146 batting average, lowest among the starters. "I think as a team we're not swinging the bat well," he said. "You want to give the whole team some time to think about it ?" As a whole, his DODGERS are batting only .223. (4-12)

Should the MONTREAL EXPOS make the playoffs, they would still remain LES EXPOS, and not LOS EXPOS. The NATIONAL LEAGUE East leading team, is now on a 10-game "homestand" in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first of its planned 22-game schedule on the island. The team, still playing away from Montreal, having not appeared there yet, will finally arrive in Canada on 22 April. Since joining the NL for the 1969 season, the club has made the playoffs only once, losing to the LOS ANGELES DODGERS, 3 games to 2, in the 1981 NL Championship Series. "If you tell the players they'll be playing in the playoffs, they'd be open to playing anywhere," said EXPOS General Manager OMAR MINAYA. (4-12)

"The baseball gods are (peeved) at us or something," said ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Manager BOB BRENLY on his team's (2-7) slow start. (4-12)

PEDRO MARTINEZ (0-1, 5.12) had the worst outing of his career, giving up 9 hits, 10 runs, 10 earned runs, 4 walks, striking out 5 over only 4.1 innings, with the visiting BALTIMORE ORIOLES routing his BOSTON RED SOX, 13-6, and was charged with seven runs in the fifth, the most runs the three-time CY YOUNG AWARD winner has ever allowed in one inning of his most distinguished career. (4-12)

Reliever ANTONIO ALFONSECA will throw off a mound this week in Mesa, Arizona, but his CHICAGO CUBS will not rush their closer's return, which is now scheduled for early May. "The way he was maligned around here last year, if you bring him back too soon and he blows a couple of saves, he's right back to (being maligned) again," said Manager DUSTY BAKER. (4-12)

WOODY WILLIAMS (2-0, 0.00) pitched six sharp innings to improve to 5-1 lifetime at hitter-friendly MINUTE MAID PARK as his ST.LOUIS CARDINALS snapped their three-game losing streak in a 3-0 shutout over the HOUSTON ASTROS, in which he tossed six innings, giving up six hits, while walking 2 and striking out 2. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate and is batting .400 on the season. (4-12)

Starter LIVAN HERNANDEZ (1-0, 3.27) dominated early, giving up only two runs on eight hits over six innings, with a walk and 6 strikeouts, and C MICHAEL BARRETT (.148) homered for the first time this season, as their MONTREAL EXPOS remained unbeaten in their new part-time ballpark, defeating the NEW YORK METS, 5-4, on a wet and sloppy Saturday evening. Despite two errors on the springy artificial surface of HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM, they stretched their winning streak to three, including the first two of their planned 22 games in San Juan. After drawing 17906 for their 10-0 win in Friday's opener, they saw a sellout crowd of 18264 pass through the turnstiles on Saturday night, against bigger than all but eight crowds last season at OLYMPIC STADIUM in Montreal. In addition, NEW YORK METS 2B ROBERTO ALOMAR (.244) had two hits and scored his 1417th run, passing ROBERTO CLEMENTE for the most runs among all players born in Puerto Rico. (4-12)

Canadian-born OF/IF MATT STAIRS (.176) did not start for his PITTSBURGH PIRATES because of a sore hamstring and is day-to-day. (4-13)

The surprising MONTREAL EXPOS (8-4) won a hot one last night, downing the NEW YORK METS (4-8), who have lost five straight, by a 2-1 margin when SS ORLANDO CABRERA (.250) homered in the ninth inning and 2B JOSE VIDRO (.341) hit another homer on the first pitch of the tenth. "This kind of ballgame can put you on a roll," stated Manager FRANK ROBINSON. It was 136 degrees on the field as the game got underway, and the EXPOS walked off with a fiery win, mobbing their second baseman at home plate as the crowd loudly chanted "VI-DRO! VI-DRO!" in his honor for their Puerto Rican star. "If this goes longer, then we're going to go nowhere," METS 2B ROBERTO ALOMAR said. "We all now what we need to do. We all know what we're doing wrong. We must hit with runners in scoring position. We must save the games we need to save." (4-13)

RYAN DEMPSTER (1-1, 6.05 ERA) had a rough outing, going only 3.2 innings, giving up 5 hits, 9 runs, 9 earned runs, walking five while striking out just three, in the 13-1 loss by his CINCINNATI REDS to the PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES. (4-13)

MILTON BRADLEY stopped and admired a would-be triple to tick off the KANSAS CITY ROYALS. It cost him the first cycle by a member of the CLEVELAND INDIANS since ANDRE THORNTON in 1978. He went 4-for 5 with two doubles, a homer and single, and was angry that the ROYALS starter, responding to an INDIANS pitcher hitting one of their players, threw behind rookie 2B BRANDON PHILLIPS in the bottom of the second inning. Bradley, out in the on deck circle, pointed his bat at the ROYALS pitcher. "It was gutless to throw at a rookie. I was telling him to throw at me. I'll take the scars for this team," he said. "I've got a lot of years to get the cycle." (4-13)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES DH DAVID SEGUI (.375) had his second multi-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4, hitting at a .375 clip, in a 2-0 loss to the BOSTON RED SOX at FENWAY PARK, who wore solid red uniform tops for the first time in their franchise history (4-13)

Their visit to the favourite island of the MONTREAL EXPOS caused a true shipwreck for the visiting NEW YORK METS, as they were swept away through all four games, being outscored 22-8, and had not been swept by the EXPOS in a four-game series since September 1972. "This was pretty sweet," said EXPOS Manager FRANK ROBINSON after their fourth and final win, 5-3. "I am very proud of this team." With the METS losing its sixth straight game, and dropping five games back into last place (4-9), its season veered well off course after just two weeks. "We'll battle through it. We'll be better," stated reliever DAVID WEATHERS, who had given up an eighth inning two run single off the bat of 3B FERNANDO TATIS. "Last year we started 18-11, everybody thought we were going to take off, then we went in the tank." The now NATIONAL LEAGUE leading EXPOS (9-4), who will be playing a total of 22 of their 'home' games in San Juan, extended their winning streak to five. "Maybe it's just Puerto Rico. Maybe we have to get out of Puerto Rico," said METS Manager ART HOWE, after his team's latest loss which completed this four-game sweep. Currently, the EXPOS hold the second-best record in the NL and these games have drawn far more than they would have if played in Montreal, with attendance being 13155 for this Monday contest, and 17906, 18624 (a sellout) and 16332 over the first three games. (4-14)

First-year CLEVELAND INDIANS Manager ERIC WEDGE, got his first MLB ejection in the top of the eighth inning when LHP CARL SADLER (0.00) was tossed for hitting OF MICHAEL TUCKER on the right arm with a pitch, being the third batter and second KANSAS CITY ROYALS player hit in the game, who were eventual winners 12-4 in this contest, one day after the teams had words and were warned for throwing close to hitters. Home plate umpire JERRY CRAWFORD immediately ejected Sadler, at which Wedge came out to argue and was then tossed in short order. (4-14)

Canadian-born RHP AARON MYETTE, on the DL since early in April, has now been moved up to the Triple-A BUFFALO BISONS of the INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE, from the CLEVELAND INDIANS Double-A team, the AKRON AEROS of the EASTERN LEAGUE on his rehabilitation. (4-14)

In an extremely sloppy game, that lasted 4 hours, 8 minutes, which saw 12 different pitchers, 9 of whom walked a total of 20 hitters, with three hit batters, the NEW YORK YANKEES downed the visiting TORONTO BLUE JAYS, 10-9, as OF HIDEKI MATSUI broke a tie with a three-run home run in the sixth inning, his second, in a game in which OF RAUL MONDESI (.289)also homered, his second, totaling two runs batted in. In the losing cause, OF SHANNON STEWART (.321) went 3-for-5 with 2 RBI (7), OF VERNON WELLS (.291) was 2-for-5, with 2 RBI (18), 1B CARLOS DELGADO (.383) went 3-for-3, with 1 RBI (14) and two walks, and 3B ERIC HINSKE (.190) was 2-for-5, with 2 runs batted in. (4-14)

Several MONTREAL EXPOS players and coaches will be visiting FORT BUCHANAN, a famous, old United States military base in the suburbs of San Juan, Puerto Rico on Wednesday. (4-14)

The LOS ANGELES DODGERS have settled a lawsuit filed by a flight attendant who claimed former pitcher CARLOS PEREZ and retired SS KEVIN ELSTER were responsible for spinal cord and neck injuries, claiming she was injured during a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles on 2 July 2000. She had been seeking $3 million, claiming in her suit that Perez grabbed her hair before takeoff and "shook her head violently side to side," then shook her again during landing after she asked him to turn off his cellular telephone. She also said she was badly injured and required spinal surgery after Elster ignored instructions to wear his seat belt before landing and smacked into her as the aircraft touched down. (4-15)

Two fans who ran onto the playing field, then held up an antiwar banner at a game between the visiting METS and the EXPOS will be banned from games in Puerto Rico this month, police said in an official release, stating that the men will not be allowed into HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM for the remaining games played at the facility. (4-15)

SAN DIEGO PADRES OF RONDELL WHITE (.288) hit his 4th home run to help lead his squad to a 3-2 victory over the LOS ANGELES DODGERS. (4-15)

An RBI double off the bat of 1B JOHN OLERUD (.271) in the eighth inning, who went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored, leading his SEATTLE MARINERS to a 5-3 victory against the visiting OAKLAND ATHLETICS. (4-15)

CHICAGO CUBS RHP DAVE VERES has tendonitis in his throwing shoulder so the reliever was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Tuesday. (4-16)

OF CRAIG BIGGIO, of the HOUSTON ASTROS, now requires just two home runs and 18 steals to join ROBERTO ALOMAR, BARRY BONDS, BOBBY BONDS, RICKEY HENDERSON, JOE MORGAN, and PAUL MOLITOR as the only players to hit over 200 home runs and steal more than 400 bases. (4-16)

Still in Puerto Rico, a rookie pitcher shutout the MONTREAL EXPOS until the eighth inning and then his ATLANTA BRAVES hung on for a 3-2 decision, even as OF RON CALLOWAY (.313) hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning. HORACIO RAMIREZ pitched seven innings, giving up six hits, two runs, two earned runs, while striking out five without walking any batters. EXPOS starter and loser TOMO OHKA (1-2, 2.41) lasted six innings, relinquishing seven hits, two runs, two earned runs, with a walk and a strikeout. (4-16)

2B MARK GRUDZIELANEK (.333) was 2-for-5, with a run batted in and two runs scored, and OF MOISES ALOU (.346) went 1-for-3, with three runs batted in and a run scored, in a 10-4 win for their CHICAGO CUBS over the visiting CINCINNATI REDS. (4-16)

C MIKE MATHENY (.393) was 2-for-5 with three runs batted in as his ST. LOUIS CARDINALS slugged their way over the MILWAUKEE BREWERS, 15-2. (4-16)

1B CARLOS DELGADO (.370) 2-for-4, hit a three-run home run and an RBI double by OF DAVE BERG (.333), 3-for-5, broke a sixth-inning tie as their TORONTO BLUE JAYS snapped a six-game losing streak in a 7-6 victory over the NEW YORK YANKEES. Starter CORY LIDLE (2-2, 5.92) blew a 5-0 lead in the fifth, giving up 7 hits, 5 runs and 5 earned runs, with two walks and two strikeouts over five innings, then the BLUE JAYS bounced back to down the BRONX BOMBERS for the first time in six meetings in this early season. DAVID WELLS, who pitched a three-hit shutout against the MINNESOTA TWINS in his last start, entered with a 5.03 ERA, gave up 11 hits, 5 runs and 5 earned runs with seven strikeouts over five innings. The BLUE JAYS took a 6-5 lead in the sixth and C TOM WILSON (.333), 3-for-5, added a solo home run in the ninth. OF VERNON WELLS (.297) was 3-for-5 with a run scored. (4-16)

1B BRAD FULLMER (.368) was 3-for-3 with one run batted in and a run scored as his ANAHEIM ANGELS outlasted the TEXAS RANGERS, 9-8. (4-16)

Canadian-born 3B COREY KOSKIE (.311) went 3-for-4, including his fifth double, with two runs batted in, as his MINNESOTA TWINS beat the visiting DETROIT TIGERS for the 14th consecutive time. The BENGALS had not lost that many consecutive games to one opponent in their 103-year history, having lost 13 straight to the CLEVELAND INDIANS during the 1996-1997 seasons. (4-16)

Even in freezing temperatures, RHP PEDRO MARTINEZ (1-1, 3.76) bounced back from the worst outing of his stellar career, allowing only two hits through seven innings as his BOSTON RED SOX downed the visiting TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS, 6-0. He allowed just one runner to reach second base, striking out three and walking three five days after he was badly roughed up in their home opener, in which he allowed 10 runs, all earned, on nine hits over 4.1 innings of a 13-6 loss to the BALTIMORE ORIOLES last Saturday. (4-17)

With the MONTREAL EXPOS staying at a beach-front casino-hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a note was posted within their clubhouse at HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM. "CASINO CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT UNTIL SATURDAY AFTERNOON." (4-17)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES Manager MIKE HARGROVE hinted that LHP OMAR DAAL (0-2, 8.04 ERA) might be shifted to their bullpen crew if he continues to be ineffective. "Right now, we're committed to him as a starter and he'll continue to get starts." He said. "How many ? That's to be decided." (4-17)

OF RAUL MONDESI (.308) opened up the fifth inning with his third home run of the early season, in the five-hit, 4-0 shutout victory for his NEW YORK YANKEES over the visiting TORONTO BLUE JAYS, who have now lost 7-of-8 and are 1-6 against the BRONX BOMBERS so far in this 2003 campaign. (4-17)

Island favorite, C JAVIER LOPEZ hit two home runs in an extra innings game, totaling a career-high 6 runs batted in, which saw his ATLANTA BRAVES go on to win in 10 innings in sweeping the host MONTREAL EXPOS, 14-8, in their three-game series in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In the losing cause, OF ENDY CHAVEZ (.254) went 2-for-5 with two runs batted in, 2B JOSE VIDRO (.345) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and 3 runs batted in, now totaling 10 on the season, and up-and-coming Rookie-OF RON CALLOWAY (.333) went 2-for-5. (4-17)

After their 9-7 loss to the TEXAS RANGERS last evening, CALIFORNIA ANGELS 1B BRAD FULLMER was hitting .415 and had gone 6-for-6 over their last two games on the road. In going 3-for-3 in this loss, he scored two runs, had a run batted in, bringing his season total to 14, while walking twice. (4-17)

The ARIZONA DIAMONBACKS will not know whether LHP RANDY JOHNSON will be able to make his next scheduled start until at least Saturday. Supposed to pitch on Wednesday night he has been sidelined due to swelling under his right kneecap, an ongoing problem which first bothered the hurler after his start last Friday night, then flared up again after his regular bullpen session on Monday, and is only the second time in three seasons that he has missed a start. He may be in a position to return in time to start against the MONTREAL EXPOS on Tuesday in Montreal. (4-17)

"They should give it to him right now. I am serious. It's not even a contest!" said LARRY WALKER, who expects fellow countryman and new 2003 Masters golf champion MIKE WEIR to win Canada's Athlete of the Year Award. (4-17)

JOSE CANSECO plans to profit from his experience while under house address for his role in a 2001 nightclub confrontation in Miami. His website – www.josecanseco.com - is accepting bids for a fan and friend to spend an afternoon with the 1988 AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP, with an opening start to the bidding of $ 2500. and to this point has received over 300+ bids, although it was difficult to ascertain how many of these bids might actually be legitimate. (4-17)

The PHILLIE PHANATIC might be the happiest to see utilityman MIKE MORDECAI and his FLORIDA MARLINS leave VETERANS STADIUM, after the infielder leaped to his feet and knocked the team mascot from his three-wheeled motorcycle while the team was stretching in the outfield. "Textbook tackle," said 3B MIKE LOWELL of the hit." Shoulder into the gut." Mordecai, who played his first game in the majors in 1994, is closing in on his 300th hit, after doubling for his 298th career hit in the fourth inning, in a 7-3 victory over the PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES. (4-17)

ESTEBAN LOAIZA (3-0, 1.31), a non-roster invitee to 2003 Spring Training, matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in the 8-2 win for his CHICAGO WHITE SOX over the visiting KANSAS CITY ROYALS. He did not give up a hit until the leadoff batter in the fifth inning rapped out a single, allowing just one run on a total of four hits and two walks over six innings of work. (4-17)

The MONTREAL EXPOS and CINCINNATI REDS game was postponed due to rain in San Juan, so the two teams will now play a day / night doubleheader on Saturday at 1:05 pm and 7:05 pm. Organizers of the EXPOS games in Puerto Rico may have caught a break, from an attendance standpoint in this rainout, with Good Friday being a major religious holiday on the island a smaller crowd than normal was expected. This is the first EXPOS" home " postponement due to inclement weather since 13 July 1991 against the LOS ANGELES DODGERS, when heavy rain and flooding, near the area of the ballpark, forced a doubleheader to be played at OLYMPIC STADIUM in Montreal the following day. The REDS are not scheduled to play in Montreal this season, with this three-game series at HIRAM BITHORN STADIUM serving as their only visit against the EXPOS in this 2003 campaign. (4-18)

DH BRAD FULLMER entered Friday hitting .415 through 13 games, with three home runs, 14 runs batted in and a streak of 10 consecutive times reaching base safely, with the ANAHEIM ANGELS franchise mark being 12, set in 1984 by OF BOBBY GRICH. Then in their 7-2 loss to the visiting SEATTLE MARINERS, he upped his average to .422 in going 2-for-4 with a run batted in, his 15th. For the winners, 1B JOHN OLERUD (.283) went 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored (4-18)

CLEVELAND INDIANS OF MILTON BRADLEY sat out with a sore right hamstring. (4-18)

The host BOSTON RED SOX took advantage of a homer and four walks from loser JEFF TAM (0-1, 6.48) to score three runs in the seventh inning against the visiting TORONTO BLUE JAYS, winning their fifth straight game. In the losing cause, OF FRANK CATALANOTTO (.305) went 3-for-4, 1B CARLOS DELGADO (.390) was 2-for3 with 2 runs batted in, and OF SHANNON STEWART (.296), who was 1-for-3 with a run scored, has now scored 13 time in the 17 games the BLUE JAYS have played in this young season. (4-18)

Canadian-born RHP ERIC CHARRON, a former MONTREAL EXPOS farmhand, signed with the independent QUEBEC LES CAPITALES. (4-18)

WOODY WILLIAMS (3-0, 0.00) pitched seven shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak to 19.2 innings as his ST. LOUIS CARDINALS defeated the visiting ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, 6-3, for its fifth victory in their last six games. He didn't allow a base runner until he hit a batter to start the fifth and didn't allow a hit until a single to the opposite field with one out later in that same inning. Overall, he pitched seven innings, giving up three hits, while striking out 6. C MIKE MATHENY (.390) continued his hot hitting, going 1-for-3 with a run batted in on a double, and a run scored. (4-18)

On a 42-degree night, BARTOLO COLON (2-0, 3.21), who spent 5.5 seasons with the CLEVELAND INDIANS before being dealt to the MONTREAL EXPOS in mid-2002, pitched a nine-hitter, giving up three runs, three earned runs, issuing three walks, while striking out only 3, to beat his old team in his first home start at U.S. CELLULAR FIELD ( formerly COMISKEY PARK ) for his new team, the CHICAGO WHITE SOX, as his group won for the 10th time over their last 13 games, downing the TRIBE, 5-3. Ten days ago he got a no-decision against the INDIANS at JACOBS FIELD. (4-18)

In a 7-2 CHICAGO CUBS decision at WRIGLEY FIELD over the faltering PITTSBURGH PIRATES 2B MARK GRUDZIELANEK (.364) was 3-for-5 with a run batted in and two runs scored, SS ALEX GONZALEZ (.353) went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and a run scored, while OF MOISES ALOU (.328) was 0-for-3 but had two walks, scoring one run. For the losers, Canadian born OF/IF MATT STAIRS (.214) drew a walk, going 0-for-3 in the contest. (4-18)

In defeating them over 10 straight times, ROGER CLEMENS (3-0, 2.08) won his 296th career game and his visiting NEW YORK YANKEES banged out four home runs, two of them upper deck shots off the bat of ROBIN VENTURA, ending the six-game winning streak of the MINNESOTA TWINS by an 11-4 result. Through six innings, ROCKET ROGER struck out 8, allowing only one run, one earned run, on five hits, issuing three walks. This win stretched the record of all of the BRONX BOMBERS starting pitchers to a franchise best 11-0. (4-18)

A two-run single by 3B TONY BATISTA (.339) capped an eight-run second inning which carried his BALTIMORE ORIOLES over the TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS, 9-7. He later hit a solo homer, his fourth of the early season, finishing with three runs batted in for his squad who won their third straight contest. OF JAY GIBBONS (.250) was 2-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored and DH MARTY CORDOVA (.263) was 0-for-3 but drew a walk, had an RBI and scored a run. (4-18)

The hitting streak of DH BRAD FULLMER (.422) ended after he had reached base 10 consecutive times, with the ANAHEIM ANGELS club record being 12, set by BOBBY GRICH in 1984. (4-19)

At FENWAY PARK, the BOSTON RED SOX downed the TORONTO BLUE JAYS, 7-2, in a game in which their visitors entered as the worst fielding team in the AMERICAN LEAGUE, committing three errors, which led to three unearned runs in this contest. TANYON STURTZE (2-1, 5.09) took the loss after pitching 4.2 innings in which he gave up six hits, seven runs, four earned runs, five walks but struck out only two. OF FRANK CATALANOTTO (.313) went 2-for-5 with a double, as did DH JOSH PHELPS (.234) who was 2-for-5 with a run scored. (4-19)

The CINCINNATI REDS called up utility infielder RYAN FREEL and Canadian-born RHP CHRIS REITSMA from their Triple-AAA club, the LOUISVILLE BATS. (4-19)

VLADIMIR GUERRERO (.276), homered and drove in five runs, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, as his MONTREAL EXPOS extended the losing streak of the CINCINNATI REDS to five games by completing a sweep of a day-night doubleheader in San Juan, Puerto Rico. JAVIER VAZQUEZ (2-1, 3.16), who pitched seven innings, giving up five hits, four runs, four earned runs, and a walk, while striking out eleven in the second game saw his group take a 9-0 lead. C BRIAN SCHNEIDER (.240) homered twice in the opener, including a walk-off leadoff shot in the bottom of the 10th inning, with the hosts winning these two games 8-7 and 9-5. LUIS AYALA (1-0, 3.72), who pitched the bottom of the 10th, was the winner in his first major league decision in the opener, in which OF ENDY CHAVEZ (.286) went 3-for-4 with a run scored and SS ORLANDO CABRERA (.262) was 2-for-4 with two runs batted in. RHP RYAN DEMPSTER was the starter for his REDS, pitching 6 innings, giving up eight hits, six runs, five earned runs, five walks and a strikeout in a no-decision. (4-19)

RHP ORLANDO HERNANDEZ threw live batting practice for the first time since being sidelined with tendinitis in his shoulder and the MONTREAL EXPOS are now hoping that he may be able to return by mid-May. (4-19)

EDMONTON TRAPPERS OF PETER BERGERON went 6-for-6, with five singles and a home run, stole two bases, scored three runs and drove in three more in leading his group to a 14-8 defeat of the SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS in PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE action. (4-20)

NOMAR GARCIAPARRA hit a tying double in the seventh off ROY HALLADAY (4.96) and a winning homer in the ninth inning off CLIFF POLITTE (0-2, 5.87), the eventual loser, as his BOSTON RED SOX (13-5) rallied from a 5-0 deficit for their seventh straight victory, while the TORONTO BLUE JAYS (6-13) have now lost 10 of their last 11 contests. OF SHANNON STEWART was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and SS MIKE BORDICK (.241) was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. (4-20)

"I don't play this new style of baseball. I still believe in the old ways, settling scores for teams and stuff like that I think that's how baseball should be played." – LHP JEFF FASSERO, speaking about the fight which was precipitated in the fifth inning today, then got out of hand again in the ninth when he hit LUIS GONZALEZ on purpose after TINO MARTINEZ had been hit in the fifth, in which a number of players, including himself, and ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Manager TONY LaRUSSA all were ejected and fined. (4-20)

Two CINCINNATI REDS hitters stroked consecutive home runs in the 9th inning as their squad connected six times in all to beat the MONTREAL EXPOS, 7-5, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which stopped their five-game losing streak. Starter TONY ARMAS JR (2.61) threw six innings, giving up eight hits, five runs, five earned runs, a walk, striking out 6, while the eventual loser, LUIS AYALA (1-1, 4.63) tossed two innings, giving up three hits, two runs, two earned runs, while striking out two in the losing cause. OF ENDY CHAVEZ (.290) was 2-for-5 with a run scored and two runs batted in, SS ORLANDO CABRERA (.261) went 2-for-four with a run scored, and OF BRAD WILKERSON (.281) was 1-for-4 with a run scored and a run bated in. (4-20)

1B FRED McGRIFF (.224) was 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and four runs batted in, OF SHAWN GREEN (.325) went 4-for-5 with a double, scoring three times and driving in two runs, and OF JOLBERT CABRERA (.269) was 2-for-5, hitting his second home run of the early season, with two runs scored and three runs batted in, as HIDEO NOMO earned his 100th career victory and the visiting SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS lost for only the first time in nine road games, 16-4, to the LOS ANGELES DODGERS at DODGER STADIUM who scored eight runs in the seventh inning. (4-20)

DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS RHP DAVID BUSH, a 2002 second-round draft selection, struck out seven straight batters as his squad defeated the LAKELAND TIGERS in FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE play, 11-5. After inducing the first batter to pop out, the 23-year-old then hurled back-to-back strikeouts to end the first inning, fanned the side in the second, then struck out the first two batters in the third inning. The last FSL pitcher to duplicate this accomplishment was CLIFF LEE, then with the JUPITER HAMMERHEADS, in 2001. (4-20)

Hoping to play again in the majors, but still searching for a spot, RICKEY HENDERSON announced that he will soon sign with a team in the independent ATLANTIC LEAGUE which begins regular season play on 1 May. At the age of 44, he has narrowed his choices to three clubs which are all based in New Jersey … the NEWARK BEARS, CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS and the SOMERSET PATRIOTS. He spent the 2002 season with the BOSTON RED SOX, hitting just .223 with five home runs and 16 runs batted in through 72 games. In his MLB career he has amassed 3040 hits, 2288 runs and 1403 stolen bases, also holding records for walks, with 2179, and leadoff home runs, with 80. (4-21)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES DH DAVID SEGUI tested his strained right hamstring before their game on Sunday but is still is day-to-day. (4-21)

The ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS placed LHP RANDY JOHNSON on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with a sprained right knee, with his team hoping that he will return to the rotation next Sunday. He has been experiencing inflammation and swelling in his right knee since his last start on 11 April. "I felt it was in ours and Randy's best interest to give the knee a few more days of rest," said Manager BOB BRENLY. "We're going to err on the side of caution, because we want Randy there for the long haul." (4-21)

LOS ANGELES DODGERS star reliever GUILLERMO MOTA (1-0, 0.84) was arrested overnight on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Both he and his Manager, JIM TRACY, declined to comment. (4-21)

The General Manager of the PITTSBURGH PIRATES, DAVE LITTLEFIELD, stated that he was not happy with their sloppy defensive play, with 22 errors in just 17 games. (4-21)

Five of the first seven batters for the TORONTO BLUE JAYS all got hits off starter JOHN BURKETT of the BOSTON RED SOX, with every starter getting at least one hit, except 1B CARLOS DELGADO (.333) who went 0-for-4, but did score a run after receiving a walk, in their 11-6 win at FENWAY PARK, snapping the seven-game winning streak of their hosts, on PATRIOT'S DAY. The RED SOX have played at home on this day every year since 1960 (except for off-days in 1965 and 1967 and when the players strike was ongoing in 1995). Starter COREY LIDLE (3-2, 6.23) pitched six innings, giving up eight hits, six runs, five earned runs, allowing only a walk and striking out 4. OF SHANNON STEWART (.310) went 3-for-6 with a run batted in, OF FRANK CATALANOTTO (.314) was 2-for-5, 3B ERIC HINSKE (.243) went 4-for-5 with three doubles, three runs scored and two runs batted in, C GREG MYERS (.286) was 3-for-5, with a home run, two runs scored and four runs batted in, and SS CHRIS WOODWARD hit a two run homer. (4-21)

NEW YORK YANKEES reliever STEVE KARSAY will have his injured right shoulder examined by Dr. JAMES ANDREWS today, after cutting short a bullpen session after just 11 pitches in Tampa. (4-21)

Back home in Canada, the MONREAL EXPOS showed off heir first-place team to their largest home opener crowd in the last two seasons. 1B WILFREDO CORDERO (.200) and 2B JOSE VIDRO (.352) who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, both hit home runs to back starter TOMO OHKA (2-2, 1.78) as he proceeded to shutout the visiting ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, 4-0, before a crowd of 36879, the largest OLYMPIC STADIUM attendance since 45183 came out for the 2001opener. (4-22)

NEW YORK METS OF CLIFF FLOYD (.246) has been playing with a sore Achilles' tendon, which he does not expect to heal all through this season. "I'm not giving myself every opportunity to help my team win," said the outfielder, who had first injured the tendon four years ago while playing with the FLORIDA MARLINS. Should the problem continue and not improve, he told THE NEW YORK TIMES that he will have off-season surgery. The problem affects him both while at bat and in the field. When hitting, he turns off his right foot, so this Achilles' injury is affecting his balance at the plate. Since he left the game in severe pain against the MONTREAL EXPOS in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on 12 April, he has had only one extra-base hit in 23 at-bats. While in left field, he is forced to play deeper to prevent balls from going over his head, so as a result, more balls are falling in front of him for singles. (4-22)

DAVID SEGUI (.441 in 44 at-bats) is the active leader in the majors in regular-season games played without ever appearing in the post-season (1382 over 13+ seasons). (4-22)

Since joining the ST. LOUIS CARDINALS in August 2001, WOODY WILLIAMS (3-0, 0.00) stands at 19-5, and hasn't allowed a run over three starts covering 19.2 innings to this point in the 2003 season. (4-22)

PEDRO MARTINEZ (2-1, 2.97) allowed an unearned run and three hits in seven innings in leading his BOSTON RED SOX past the host TEXAS RANGERS, 5-4, allowing six walks which was just one short of his all-time career high, to go with a season-high eight Ks. MIKE TIMLIN (4.50) then came on and suffered a disastrous third of an inning starting the eighth, giving up three hits, three runs and three earned runs. (4.22)

ESTEBAN LOAIZA (4-0, 1.24) took a three-hit shutout into the ninth inning in winning his fourth straight start, leading his CHICAGO WHITE SOX over the hosting BALTIMORE ORIOLES, 3-1. In going 8.1 innings, he yielded just four hits, one run, one earned run while striking out eight, then reliever BILLY KOCH (8.10) came on to record his third save (4-22)

At PACIFIC BELL PARK, in a 5-2 win for his PITTSBURGH PIRATES MATT STAIRS (.242) went 2-for-2 with a run scored and a run batted in while playing in right field for the first time in a few days, as his BUCS downed their host, the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. (4-22)

CHARLESTON WEST VIRGINIA ALLEYCATS RHP VINCE PERKINS extended his scoreless innings streak to 23.1 innings, when he fanned nine during six frames of three-hit ball in a no-decision against the HICKORY CRAWDADS, and pitched six scoreless innings with seven Ks in another no-decision against the HAGERSTOWN on 18 April. He was later honored as the SOUTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE Pitcher of the Week for the period of April 18-24. Despite the streak, he has been able to win just once in 2003. He led the NEW YORK-PENN LEAGUE in 2002 with a 10.53 SO / 9 innings pitched ratio, hurling five scoreless innings in his last start of that season for the AUBURN DOUBLEDAYS. (4-23)

The NEW YORK METS DAVID CONE (1-3, 6.75) was placed on the 15-day disabled list after coming out of a loss to the HOUSTON ASTROS on Tuesday, after throwing only two innings because of a sore left hip. "I'm a little down and a little sore. I'm not quitting yet. I've worked too hard to get this far after a year off," he stated. (4-23)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES OF MARTY CORDOVA will have surgery to have bone chips removed from his right elbow and is then expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. He was hitting .233 with a home run and four runs batted over nine games and was placed on the 15-day disabled list today. He had felt discomfort in the area of the elbow on Tuesday night, then an M.R.I. yesterday revealed the floating bone chips. (4-23)

CHICAGO CUBS closer ANTONIO ALFONSECA will go to the Class-AAA IOWA CUBS now to begin a rehabilitation stint for his strained right hamstring problem, and might be activated by the middle of next week. (4-23)

ROGER CLEMENS (4-0, 1.59) held the host ANAHEIM ANGELS to five hits in earning his 297th career win, striking out six without walking any batters over eight innings, allowing just a pair of unearned runs and in so doing lowered his ERA, in the 9-2 victory. His fine performance gave the NEW YORK YANKEES rotation a 16-0 start to the 2003 season, the longest winning streak by a staff to start a season in MLB history. Afterwards he was being very careful not to jinx himself by taking for granted that he will reach his 300th triumph soon. "I don't want to look that far ahead, because I know it's not as easy as it looks," he stated. "As soon as you think about it, you think about the guys that came so close and never got there." OF RAUL MONDESI (.350) continued his hot hitting going 2-for-4 with his 6th home run and a walk, a run scored and two runs batted in. In their losing cause DH BRAD FULLMER (.417) was 1-for-3. (4-23)

Major League Baseball warned teams to take precautions when playing the TORONTO BLUE JAYS in Toronto, after health officials posted advisories about the dangers of SARS in that area. The 10 teams visiting Toronto throughout mid-July also will be advised against visiting hospitals and using public transportation. Also, players were told to avoid crowds and contact with fans as the city deals with over 140 cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and 16 deaths that have resulted. (4-23)

AL LEITER (3-0, 2.35) defeated the HOUSTO ASTROS for the first time in nearly five campaigns in a 4-2 win for his NEW YORK METS, allowing just two runs on seven hits over six innings for the first time since 15 September 1998. He was followed by DAVID WEATHERS (2.35) who worked the eighth. OF CLIFFFLOYD (.262) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. (4-23)

JAVIER VAZQUEZ (3-1, 2.48), JOEY EISCHEN (0.96), and ROCKY BIDDLE (5.40), who recorded his fifth save, all combined in the MONTREAL EXPOS league-leading fifth shutout and OF VLADIMIR GUERRERO homered as their side downed the visiting ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS before a very small gathering of only 5974, the lowest crowd at OLYMPIC STADIUM for their first three games this season, after averaging more than 14000 during their 10 games played to start the year in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Vazquez also went 1-for-2 to raise his batting average to a respectable .273 on the season. (4-24)

In a 3-1 win for the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS over the host PITTSBURGH PIRATES OF JOSE CRUZ JR (.309) went 2-for-4 and 1B ANDRES GALARRAGA (.391) was 2-for-4 with a run batted in, while for the losing BUCS MATT STAIRS, in a pinch-hitting role, was 1-for-1 on a double which drove in their lone run, his first RBI of the 2003 season. (4-24)

The MONTREAL EXPOS placed TONY ARMAS JR on the 15-day disabled list because of a shoulder injury. He said that he had felt pain in his right shoulder when he woke up on Monday, one day after allowing four homers in a 7-5 loss to the CINCINNATI REDS. He had not allowed a home run through his first four outings before his last start and stands at 2-1 with a 2.61 earned run average over five starts in the early season. "We want him to come back healthy and strong and ready to go for the rest of the season," said Manager FRANK ROBINSON. (4-24)

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS starter WOODY WILLIAMS (0.69) saw his 25 scoreless innings streak snapped in a 4-3 loss to the ATLANTA BRAVES, as he threw 6.1 innings, giving up 11 hits, two runs, two earned runs, and a walk, while striking out four in a no decision, as STEVE KLINE (0-2, 3.24) took the loss after going only a third of an inning, giving up one hit and two walks, which resulted in two runs and two earned runs. (4-24)

TANYON STURTZE (3-1, 4.34) allowed two runs, one earned run and a walk with three strikeouts in a 5-3 win for his TORONTO BLUE JAYS over the host TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS. 2B ORLANDO HUDSON (.209) in going 1-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in, had a two run single during the three-run fifth inning. OF SHANNON STEWART continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-5 performance with a run bated in and SS CHRIS WOODWARD went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. KELVIM ESCOBAR (12.27) pitched the ninth inning to record his third save on the season. (4-24)

Fans turned out despite the SARS outbreak and the TORONTO BLUE JAYS treated them to a big victory, 6-5, over the KANSAS CITY ROYALS at SKYDOME. OF VERNON WELLS (.262), who went 3-for-5, homered for the 5th time this year in the 9th inning before an announced crowd of 16417, the largest turnout since Opening Day, two days after the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION announced a warning against travel to Toronto due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome cases. "It's good to see the fans come out," said Wells. "They came out to Maple Leafs, and they weren't worried about SARS. I looked around and there were a few more people in the stands than before." BLUE JAYS SS MIKE BORDICK (.242) drove in two runs, for his team, which returned home following a poor 3-8 road trip (4-25).

CLEVELAND INDIANS OF MILTON BRADLEY was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring which has been bothering him for over a week. (4-25)

ZACH DAY (2-1, 2.48) came within two outs of his first career shutout and 1B WILFREDO CORDERO (.204) hit his second homer, a two-run shot, to lead his MONTREAL EXPOS in a 10-2 win against the visiting HOUSTON ASTROS before an announced crowd of 6863 at OLYMPIC STADIUM. Day allowed only four hits before getting into some trouble in the 9th inning. After the first out, he loaded the bases on two walks and a single before losing his bid for Montreal's second straight shutout, their third in four games, on a run-scoring infield single. Five hitters for the EXPOS had two hits apiece and at least one or two runs batted in each, as well. (4-25)

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS pitcher MIGUEL BATISTA was suspended for 10 games and ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 1B TINO MARTINEZ for four games as a result of their fight last weekend. As well, JEFF FASSERO received a three game suspension. C MIKE MATHENY and the other three were fined as well. " I don't understand how Miguel could get 10 games and Tino get only four," said Arizona Manager BOB BRENLY. All of the players appealed their suspensions and fines. "I don't play this new style of baseball," Fassero said after the game. "I still believe in the old ways, settling scores for teams and stuff like that. I think that's how baseball should be played." (4-25)

CHICAGO CUBS closer ANTONIO ALFONSECA, on the DL since 21 March because of a strained right hamstring, threw off the mound Thursday at WRIGLEY FIELD, and soon will be sent to their Triple-A team, the IOWA CUBS, on a rehabilitation assignment. (4-25)

RANDY JOHNSON will throw a bullpen session today at SHEA STADIUM to determine whether his sore right knee is healthy enough for him to make his next scheduled start on Sunday. (4-25)

In hitting his first home run of this young season, OF JOSE MACIAS (.286) met a 98-mph fastball from relief specialist extraordinaire BILLY WAGNER (1-1, 1.80) just right, to give his MONTREAL EXPOS (15-9) their latest game-winning home run in their 3-2 victory over the visiting HOUSTON ASTROS (10-13) with one out in the 10th inning, extending their winning streak to three. "I know he throws a pretty good fastball and I was looking for it the whole time. I knew if I got it in a good spot I could hit it hard. As soon as you hit a 98-mile-per-hour fastball, when you hit it in a good spot, the ball is jumping," stated Macias in the locker room. The homer was the fourth for the EXPOS to win a game, and the third to end one, with the other three coming off the bats of 2B JOSE VIDRO, C BRIAN SCHNEIDER , and 1B JEFF LEIFER. (4-26)

JACKIE ROBINSON will be honored with a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award given to any individual by the Congress of the United States. His daughter, Sharon, will officially accept the award on Wednesday 30 April in Washington. The honor is being awarded in recognition of her father's contributions to the cause of equality and civil rights in the United States. He broke baseball's color barrier in early April of 1947 after making the BROOKLYN DODGERS, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and died ten years later in 1972. (4-26)

RHP CHRIS CARPENTER threw approximately 30 pitches to some ST. LOUIS CARDINALS hitters in the batting cage on Saturday afternoon, which greatly pleased their coaching staff. "He had a good workout," said Manager TONY LaRUSSA, declining to speculate as to when he might start a rehabilitation assignment. "Very impressive. We'll see how he comes out of this one, then you have an idea. You change your idea if you need to be flexible." (4-26)

The prototypical scrappy utilityman, CINCINNATI REDS 2B RYAN FREEL started against the SAN DIEGO PADRES, in their 7-6 victory in 10 innings. Asked if he slept Friday night after being told by Manager BOB BOONE, he said he didn't necessarily go to sleep. "A couple of hours. I had a little insomnia going on there. But I am glad (Boone) told me, to get my mind prepared and focused." In playing him, Boone not only wanted to rest IF FELIPE LOPEZ, but also was motivated by the need to make a decision. "I want to see what Ryan Freel is. I don't know about Ryan. I know he was playing pretty good (with the LOUISVILLE BATS) and helping them win," he stated. Freel approached Saturday as he would any other day. He also knew it was special. "Of course, I'm very excited," he said before the game. "I don't have much time in the big leagues, so it's kind of new to me." This was a novelty for him, in his ninth professional season, yet had appeared in only nine MLB games while with the TORONTO BLUE JAYS in 2001. In this game he was 1-for-4, with 2 runs scored and two walks. In the 3rd, he walked, went to third on a single off the wall in right field, then scored on a comebacker to the mound, with the pitcher starting to throw to second, then seeing Freel had broken for home, throwing to the plate and appeared to beat the runner, but the umpire made the "safe" call. (4-26)

Canadian-born CINCINNATI REDS RHP RYAN DEMPSTER appeared as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning but did not tally. (4-26)

OF RONDELL WHITE (.250) went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in for his SAN DIEGO PADRES, hitting his second double and 6th home run in the 4th inning with none on. (4-26)

The FLORIDA MARLINS Strength and Conditioning Coach DALE TORBORG met actors MATT DAMON and GREG KINNEAR on the set of their upcoming film, STUCK ON YOU, in which the actors play conjoined twins who are attached at the waist, which was where they were when Torborg chatted with them. "I hope you guys like each other," he said to the two actors. (4-26)

Word came out that the TORONTO BLUE JAYS planned to formally change their corporate name to just JAYS with a total redesign of their player uniforms, possibly introducing the colour black, for 2004. The President and CEO of the team, PAUL GODFREY, refused to elaborate at this time on this proposed name change. In 2003 the BLUE JAYS changed their primary logo and uniform for this season, adopting the T-Bird logo, which had previously been utilized as their alternate uniform during the 2002 campaign. MLB requires advance notice of at least one full year before teams may make any logo, uniform or name change. (4-26)

LHP RANDY JOHNSON struck out 12 NEW YORK METS, his 188th double-digit strikeout game, in the 7-3 victory for his ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS. However, he acknowledged afterward that he was not back to normal after winning his first game in three decisions after spending the last two weeks on the disabled list. (4-27)

Former TORONTO BLUE JAYS OF CHRIS LATHAM has signed with the YOMIURI GIANTS of the CENTRAL LEAGUE in Japan, a one-year deal, reportedly worth more than US $ 1 million. He was first brought up to the majors with the MINNESOTA TWINS in 1997, then later played in 43 games with the TORONTO BLUE JAYS in 2001 and appeared in 4 games with the NEW YORK YANKEES earlier in this 2003 season, compiling a lifetime .202 batting average with 3 home runs and 19 runs batted in over 110 MLB games. (4-28)

RHP SEUNG SONG tossed a no-hitter over the ERIE SEA WOLVES this evening at RIVERSIDE STADIUM in Harrisburg. It was the first-ever " no-no " for the HARRISBURG SENATORS, though they have been on the losing end of six no-hitters over their 17-year history, most recently on 9 April against the AKRON AEROS, 15-0, at Akron. Song went the distance throwing 119 pitches in his masterpiece, striking out 4 and walking only two, allowing an unearned run in the 9th inning on a sacrifice fly, and committed the only error himself, throwing wide of first base on a bunt in the 9th inning. The Senators scored their two runs on only six hits, and a home run by Canadian-born OF JEREMY WARE,in the first inning, his third of this early season, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of OF NOAH " BAM BAM " HALL in the 3rd inning, gave them the 2-1 victory. Afterwards, Song was carried off on the shoulders of a few of his teammates as the remaining crowd of a total attendance of just 1375 cheered and yelled out his name. Song had started off this game retiring the first 10 batters he faced, then after a one-out walk in the 4th inning, he proceeded to retire the next 15 hitters, with seven perfect innings during the contest, having allowed just three baserunners. (4-28)

JIM AXELROD reported live from SKYDOME for the CBS EVENING NEWS on the SARS epidemic which had been making headlines around the world as the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION had put out a health advisory not to travel to Toronto until further notice. (4-29)

In this early 2003 campaign, 31-year-old ESTABAN LOAIZA is doing well, going 5-0 with a very low 1.25 ERA over five starts, with impeccable control, striking out 35 while walking only 5. Fans of the PITTSBURGH PIRATES, TEXAS RANGERS, and the TORONTO BLUE JAYS must be at a loss as to why he pitched so differently while with these teams, most mediocre over the last eight seasons. (4-30)

The TORONTO BLUE JAYS claimed LHP DOUG DAVIS off waivers from the TEXAS RANGERS. In his only start this season he gave up four runs and four hits, and the 27-year-old has a career record of 21-21 with a 5.09 earned run average over 73 games, including 54 starts. Entering their game last evening the BLUE JAYS had the worst overall ERA in the AMERICAN LEAGUE, 5.89. (4-30)

Through 30 April, MONTREAL EXPOS pitchers led the NATIONAL LEAGUE in ERA, at 2.95, with their starters registering a 2.91 ERA, which was second in the NL to the PITTSBURGH PIRATES, at 2.89, while the Montreal bullpen finished the month with a 3.03 ERA, third in the NL. Starters also lead the NL in fewest walks, averaging 2.6 per 9 innings. (4-30)

LHP MATT BLANK was sent to the SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS to complete the 24 March trade which brought RHP LIVAN HERNANDEZ and C/1B EDWARDS GUZMAN over to the MONTREAL EXPOS. Through five starts, he had a 1-1 record with a 4.26 ERA while playing with their Triple-A affiliate, the EDMONTON TRAPPERS of the PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE and was assigned to the FRESNO GRIZZLIES by the GIANTS. Earlier on, RHP JIM BROWER had been sent by the EXPOS to the GIANTS in this transaction. (4-30)