By The Associated Press

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs-Expos

MONTREAL: OF Jose Macias finished his two-game suspension stemming from his role in an exhibition game fight. ... Jeff Liefer, who played in Chicago year with the White Sox, said Tuesday's game "may have been the coldest game that I have ever been a part of. But you can't make excuse." Liefer went 0-for-2 but still hitting .412 in the first week of the season. ... The Expos face the Cubs once more after the current three-game series ends, but not until September when they meet in Puerto Rico. ... Montreal starter Zach Day had problems with all of his pitches, except his fastball Tuesday and ended up walking four in 4 1-3 innings.

CHICAGO: The top of Chicago's lineup is hot despite the cold weather. Leadoff hitter Mark Grudzielanek has hit in six straight games and is 12-for-27 (.444) this season, while No. 2 hitter Alex Gonzalez has hit in seven straight and is 15-for-28 (.536). "It's probably the hottest start I've had," said Gonzalez, who celebrated his 30th birthday Tuesday with a 3-for-3 game that included a walk. "I don't remember stringing so many doubles and hits in a row like I have this past week." The duo also had a hand in three double plays. ... Joe Borowski struck out Vladimir Guerrero with the bases loaded in the eighth inning and he was wearing short sleeves in the windy 32-degree weather. "The only thing was my feet were freezing because the ground was so wet," Borowski said. ... The Cubs opened their 88th season at Wrigley Field and are 49-38-1 at Wrigley in home openers.

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Brewers-Pirates

MILWAUKEE: Brewers announcer Bob Uecker, who will be honored at the Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, met briefly with Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner at the Brewers-Pirates game. A bronze sculpture of Kiner was unveiled at Pirates' home opener. Uecker will be inducted into the broadcasters wing of the Hall of Fame on July 27. ... Brewers president Ulice Payne returned to his native western Pennsylvania for the Pirates' series. He grew up near Pittsburgh and was a Ringgold High School teammate of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana. ... The Brewers were 4-15 against the Pirates last season and went into the three-game series 4-15 in PNC Park.

PITTSBURGH: Former pitcher Nellie Briles was honored with the Pride of the Pirates award at their homer opener Tuesday night. Created in 1990 to recognize lifetime service to the club, it is the only award presented by the team. Briles has been a Pirates executive since 1986. ... A moment of silence was held for Eugene Litman, a former part-owner of the Pirates who died on Jan. 6. He was one of a group of corporate leaders who bought the team in 1985, preventing the Pirates from moving elsewhere. ... Pirates farmhand John Wasdin threw a perfect game for Triple-A Nashville on Monday night, striking out 15 in a 4-0 victory over Albuquerque. Wasdin was with the Pirates as a non-roster pitcher this spring, but was an early cut. Manager Lloyd McClendon said, "We didn't get a chance to see him a lot. He was elevating the ball a little bit early in the spring, but he got better." ... Former Pirates pitcher Todd Ritchie starts Wednesday for Milwaukee. Ritchie was the Pirates' starter in the first game at PNC Park in 2001. ... Utilityman Craig Wilson didn't start Tuesday despite being 11-of-16 against Brewers left-hander Glendon Rusch.

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Mets-Marlins

NEW YORK: LHP John Franco, trying to come back from elbow ligament replacement surgery last May 15, threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday. ... CF Tsuyoshi Shinjo made his first start of the season Tuesday. ... The Mets began their trip last in the NL in total bases.

FLORIDA: RHP A.J. Burnett, whose opening-day start was scratched because of elbow inflammation, will be activated and start Wednesday against the Mets. "This is my opening day," he said. ... C Mike Redmond wasn't in the lineup Tuesday, even though he's 11-for-21 (.524) against Mets starter Al Leiter.

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Braves-Phillies

ATLANTA: RHP Greg Maddux will start on Wednesday on three days' rest. On Saturday in Florida, Maddux gave up nine runs -seven earned - in just two innings and allowed three homers in an inning for the first time in his career. "I'm not surprised that he's coming back a day early," Phillies pitcher Kevin Millwood, who was a teammate of Maddux while playing for Atlanta for six seasons. "He wants to win as bad as anybody else." ... Maddux is 27-14 against the Phillies with a 3.03 ERA. ... RHP Paul Byrd will not come off the disabled list and make his scheduled start on Thursday due to continued soreness in his elbow. A decision has yet to be made but RHP Trey Hodges or RHP Joey Dawley are likely to get the turn in his place, depending on the team's bullpen use on Tuesday and Wednesday. If Hodges or Dawley are needed, Atlanta will need to call someone up from the minors.

PHILADELPHIA: RHP Kevin Millwood threw for five minutes off the mound on Tuesday and was pleased with his performance, though there was no official word on his scheduled start on Thursday against his former team. Millwood left the game on Saturday against the Pirates with a sore groin. ... If Millwood can't go on Thursday, LHP Hector Mercado will take his spot. ... Wednesday's starter, Vicente Padilla, was 2-2 with a 2.13 ERA in six starts against the Braves last season. ... Bench coach Gary Varsho took over for manager Larry Bowa on Tuesday after Bowa's one-game suspension was upheld by Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. Bowa was suspended for his behavior and ejection from a spring training game. He was also ejected from Sunday's game after arguing an out call at first base.

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Reds-Astros

CINCINNATI: Reds pitchers have a 6.33 ERA after Cincinnati's first six games. ... After six games, the Reds are the only team in the major leagues not to attempt a stole base.

HOUSTON: Billy Wagner has 182 career saves and needs 11 to pass Mitch Williams for fifth place among LHP. ... Houston's game with St. Louis that was postponed because of rain Sunday has been rescheduled for May 29 at Busch Stadium. ... Houston's bullpen has recorded three victories in the Astros' first five games.

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Cardinals-Rockies

ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals began a three-game series in Colorado after two straight days off. They were rained out on Sunday and had an open date Monday. ... The Cardinals, who opened the season with six players on the disabled list, have four other players nursing injuries. CF Jim Edmonds is slowed by a strained left calf, LF Albert Pujols has tightness in his left hamstring, C Eli Marrero has a deep right thigh bruise and INF Eduardo Perez has a bruised hip. Edmonds and Pujols were in the starting lineup Tuesday night. ... Manager Tony La Russa said Edmonds will play in two of the three games in the series. Referring to Pujols, La Russa said, "When is the right time to play him? I don't know. Look at Barry Bonds last year when he had a sore hamstring most of the year. At some point, Albert will want to go out there and as long as he's not crazy and can restrain himself, it is OK to play him." ... RHP Mike Crudale, pitching for the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate in Memphis, broke the little toe on his left foot Monday at his home in Memphis. "He broke it slipping on the carpet," La Russa said. Crudale was 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA last year with St. Louis.

COLORADO: 2B Ronnie Belliard was expected to miss his second straight game because of a twisted right knee. Brent Butler started in his place Tuesday night. Belliard was injured in a collision at second base as he was turning a double play on Saturday. Belliard took batting practice before Tuesday night's game. "We're going to take it slow," manager Clint Hurdle said. ... In three wins over Arizona, Rockies pitchers compiled a 1.93 ERA. Colorado's last four starters have gone 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA, and the club's relievers shut out the Diamondbacks in all 11 innings of that series. ... OF Larry Walker, a three-time NL batting champion, entered Tuesday's game hitting .125. "He's not swinging the bat very well right now," Hurdle said. "He's working on making some adjustments, and he has watched a ton of video. But if history repeats itself like it usually does, there's a whole bunch of hits coming. You don't push the panic button when Larry Walker struggles at the beginning of the season. We've played six games, and I don't have a lot of worries or concerns about him." ... Former major league pitcher Eric Hillman threw a portion of batting practice for the Rockies before Tuesday's game. Hillman is a 6-foot-10 left-hander, and the Rockies are hoping that by seeing him pitch they can get adjusted to the arm angle and release point of another 6-10 lefty, Arizona's Randy Johnson. "It's as close as we can come to recreating that drastic of an arm angle," Hurdle said. "Time will tell. We'll see what our players think over time."

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Padres-Giants

SAN DIEGO: 3B Sean Burroughs is expected to miss the remaining two games of the series against the Giants to rest his sore right shoulder. He should be available when the Padres return to San Diego to open a three-game series with the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. INF Lou Merloni replaced Burroughs in the lineup. The soreness began in spring training and is unrelated to the shoulder surgery Burroughs underwent last Oct. 2 to repair fraying in the labrum and a five percent tear in the rotator cuff. Burroughs was on the 15-day DL last year with a sprained right shoulder. ... The Padres have yet to decide on a starting pitcher for Wednesday. The choice will likely be between LHP Michael Bynum and RHP Clay Condrey, who has originally scratched because a groin injury. Bynum lost Monday's game to the Giants after allowing three runs in the eighth inning. "I have to put that behind me," said Bynum. "I have to make the adjustments next time." Padres manager Bruce Bochy said the decision will likely "come down to the wire." ... OF Xavier Nady, who grew up in Salinas and attended Cal, left 30 tickets for family and friends on Tuesday. "He's a key guy," said Bochy. "He's more than held his own."

SAN FRANCISCO: 1B J.T. Snow was back in the lineup despite suffering a cramp in his right calf. He was originally scheduled to get Tuesday night off. ... Giants manager Felipe Alou said his team doesn't feel any added pressure just because of the seven-game winning streak, the franchise's best start since the 1930 team also started 7-0. "I go back to Detroit last year when we lost 11 straight and everybody was feeling guilty," said Alou. "Here everybody feels good about themselves." ... With the Los Angeles Dodgers coming to Pac Bell Park on Thursday, Alou recalled his days as a Giants player and the rivalry that existed between the two California teams. "When I was a player it was more satisfying to beat the Dodgers than any other team," he said. "We always anticipated a fight. The nature of the rivalry isn't any different but as a manager I just see another good ballclub. Finding a way to win is more important than any rivalry." ... The Giants are looking into the possibility of obtaining another relief pitcher, but Alou said it's been tough. "Everywhere we look we're in a box," he said. "We don't want to lose guys who have options and we don't want to weaken ourselves at other positions."

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Diamondbacks-Dodgers

ARIZONA: After four relief appearances, including two against the Dodgers, rookie LHP Oscar Villarreal made his first big league start. "He's a sinkerball pitcher, he's got a great fastball that really moves," C Chad Moeller said. "The best thing about him is his heart, there's no fear in him, no intimidation." The 21-year-old Villarreal allowed two hits and no runs in those four relief outings, walking two and striking out four. ... Rookie Lyle Overbay, whose first big league homer in the 12th inning gave the Diamondbacks a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Monday, played first base. He was 2-for-15 before hitting the homer off Andy Ashby. "Everybody goes through slumps, it happens to the best of them," Overbay said. "It's just a matter of getting out of it." Overbay said he realized the homer was only one at-bat, but added: "It definitely helps the confidence level." ... Moeller also hit his first homer of the season Monday, in the seventh inning off Kevin Brown. It was the fifth homer of Moeller's big league career. "I can claim that for a while, Kevin Brown is a tremendous pitcher," he said.

LOS ANGELES: The Dodgers purchased the contract of 30-year-old LHP Troy Brohawn from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned INF-OF Jason Romano to Las Vegas. They also moved LHP Derek Thompson from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. "They called me in and explained it to me," Romano said. "They need a 12th pitcher with all the stress on the bullpen." Dodgers GM Dan Evans said the move was made because the team played a 13-inning game Sunday and a 12-inning game Monday. "We needed a pitcher, a position player had to go, and he was the logical candidate," Evans said. ... LF Brian Jordan didn't start, but said his left hand felt fine. He was hit by a pitch Sunday in San Diego. "It's a night off because it's eight days in a row," Jordan said. "I'm all right. I'll be in there later today or tomorrow." Daryle Ward made his first start of the season in Jordan's place and batted sixth. C Paul Lo Duca was dropped from second to fifth in the lineup. ... RHP Darren Dreifort (0-1) is scheduled to start Wednesday night against Arizona's Byung-Hyun Kim (0-1). It will be Dreifort's second start since June 29, 2001, when he tore a ligament and a tendon in his pitching elbow. His first was last Friday in San Diego, when he allowed three runs in six innings. "I'm excited to be pitching again, period," Dreifort said. "To be doing it at Dodger Stadium is definitely special."

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox-Indians

CHICAGO: Manager Jerry Manuel said playing Cleveland is always special no matter how the rosters might change. "It's always a rivalry and both teams always play it that way," Manuel said. "They no longer have (Jim) Thome, (Manny) Ramirez, (Travis) Fryman, (Juan) Gonzalez and so many others," he said. "But they have a lot of good, young kids who want to play like those guys did." ... C Sandy Alomar, in his third year in Chicago after 11 with the Indians, said he expected to get booed. He got a warm ovation from fans who braved a 23-degree wind chill. "I'm used to the cold," said Alomar, who got remarried and moved to Chicago last winter from a Cleveland suburb. "Our opener, it was so cold if you touched your nose you couldn't feel it."

CLEVELAND: Because of the chilly weather, and the opener being postponed one day, the Indians offered all 42,301 fans a ticket to any game in April and May as a thank you. ... OF Karim Garcia said a cyst on his left wrist did not jeopardize his chance to start the home opener. "I have some pain, but only on certain movements," he said. "A certain way I swing the bat, but not all the time." ... The Indians' Double-A affiliate in Akron recorded the first no-hitter in the history of the franchise, which began play in 1989. Fernando Cabrera pitched five innings, Aaron Myette, on an injury rehab assignment from the Indians, pitched two and Jose Vargas finished the 15-0 win over Harrisburg. OF Grady Sizemore, acquired from Montreal as part of the trade for Bartolo Colon, went 5-for-6 with four runs.

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Twins-Yankees

MINNESOTA: The Twins dropped their fourth straight game after a 3-0 start and fell below .500 for the first time since the end of the 2000 season. They had the longest streak in baseball at being .500 or above. ... With a gametime temperature of 35 degrees, manager Ron Gardenhire wished he was back in Minnesota. "I told you, domes are not that bad," he said. ... RHP Joe Mays allowed seven runs in five innings to drop to 1-5 in his career against the Yankees. The big blow was a grand slam by Hideki Matsui. "It was a mistake and he hit it," Mays said. "I got into a situation where I had to make a pitch."

NEW YORK: RHP Jason Anderson pitched a perfect ninth inning in his Yankee Stadium debut. Anderson allowed two hits to the only two batters he faced in his major league debut last week. "I was just glad to go out and get the first out out of the way and then I relaxed," he said. "I never expected to get into this game at all." ... SS Derek Jeter went through range of motion exercises and underwent treatment at the Yankees' minor league complex, one day after Dr. James Andrews concurred that surgery on his dislocated left shoulder is not needed. Jeter, who will be out at least six weeks, watched an inning of an extended spring training game between the Yankees and Phillies while icing his shoulder. ... Closer Mariano Rivera (groin) threw for eight minutes from 120 feet and will have a bullpen session Wednesday. RHP Steve Karsay (shoulder) will start his throwing program Wednesday.

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Angels-Mariners

ANAHEIM: RHP Aaron Sele, who had offseason shoulder surgery, threw a bullpen session with no problems. He threw two innings at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga last week. ... 3B Troy Glaus left in the second inning with a tight left hamstring. He was expected to receive treatment, and manager Mike Scioscia said he could play Wednesday. ... The Angels fell to 0-4 on their first road trip of the season. They went 0-3 in Oakland to start the trip. Including spring training games, Anaheim has won only once on the road this year.

SEATTLE: 1B John Olerud, 2B Bret Boone and RF Ichiro Suzuki were given their Gold Gloves from last season during pregame ceremonies. ... 3B Jeff Cirillo went 0-for-4, extending his hitless streak to 10 at-bats. A career .304 hitter, he slumped to .249 last season in his first year with Seattle. ... The Mariners posted their first home-opening shutout since beating Detroit 3-0 on April 27, 1995. They also beat Oakland 5-0 to open the home schedule on April 16, 1982.

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Red Sox-Blue Jays

BOSTON: The Red Sox end their 10-game road trip with three in Toronto before Friday's home opener in Boston. ... If the Red Sox win the series in Toronto, they'll open with three consecutive road series wins for the first time in their history. ... The Red Sox signed catcher Bill Haselman to a minor league deal. He will report to Triple-A Pawtucket.

TORONTO: 3B Eric Hinske ended an 0-for-17 slump with a double in the second inning. ... RHP Justin Miller will make his first start for the Blue Jays on Saturday. Miller, Toronto's fifth starter, allowed three runs on three hits in six innings for Class-A Dunedin on Monday. ... The Blue Jays lost 13 games to Boston last year, their most ever in one season against any opponent.

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Orioles-Devil Rays

BALTIMORE: LF Marty Cordova returned after missing the past five games with a lower back strain. ... Against left-hander Jim Parque, DH David Segui moved up from seventh to third in the lineup. ... Manager Mike Hargrove said RHP Willis Roberts (sore shoulder) threw in the bullpen and felt better.

TAMPA BAY: Rookie Rocco Baldelli's four strikeouts against Roger Clemens on Sunday had manager Lou Piniella talking about Nolan Ryan, the toughest pitcher for him during his career. "When I came to the ballpark, I hoped the manager forgot my name that day," Piniella said. ... Damion Easley started at third base for the first time since 1996. ... 3B Aubrey Huff will start in right field Wednesday. ... Piniella expects C Toby Hall to start around 120 games this season.

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Athletics-Rangers

OAKLAND: New manager Ken Macha likes playing all the AL West teams at the beginning, in the middle and again at the end of the season. "You get two series against each at the beginning, find each other in the middle and then in September, it's 'Let's get it on,"' said Macha, Oakland's bench coach the past four years. He's not sure the schedule has created rivalries, but said it does add to the games. "It's not so much a rivalry, but the importance and intensity of the games." The A's start the season with 19 games against AL West teams and end it with 19 straight against division foes. ... Macha wouldn't say if he was settling on a lineup or still feeling things out. "It's the seventh game and I've used this lineup three times," he said.

TEXAS: Rafael Palmeiro batted sixth, his lowest spot in a lineup since Sept. 5, 1997, for Baltimore against the Yankees. Palmeiro hit fourth or fifth in the first six games. The left-handed Palmeiro, who served as the DH, batted behind Ruben Sierra, the second switch-hitter in the top half of the order against Cy Young winner Barry Zito, a left-hander. Manager Buck Showalter said he talked with Palmeiro about such a move even before the season began. ... RHP Ryan Drese, the scheduled starter Saturday at Seattle, threw six innings for Double-A Frisco on Monday night. He allowed a run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Drese made two starts in the minors because the Rangers don't need a No. 5 starter until this weekend.