By The Associated Press

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Reds-Expos

CINCINNATI: The day-night doubleheader marked the Reds' first regular-season games below the continental U.S. border in franchise history. In the 1950s, Cincinnati had its Triple-A team based in Cuba - the Havana Sugar Kings. ... Ryan Dempster's control troubles continued in the opener. He walked five in six innings, and has now issued 16 walks in only 25 1-3 innings. In 2001, he led the NL with 112 walks in 211 1-3 innings for Florida. ... Austin Kearns broke a career-worst 0-for-16 slump when he homered in the opener.

MONTREAL: C Brian Schneider was out of the lineup for the night portion of the doubleheader after hitting two home runs in the opener, including a game-winning shot in the 10th inning. Michael Barrett started the second game in an 0-for-10 slump. ... Star RF Vladimir Guerrero is having a tough time in this Caribbean visit. He began the night in an 0-for-14 rut, and was just 4-for-27 in the Expos' first eight games in Puerto Rico. ... RHP Orlando Hernandez pitched live batting practice for the first time since being sidelined in mid-March because of tendinitis in his shoulder. El Duque threw 35 pitches. The Expos hope he'll be able to return by mid-May.

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Cubs-Pirates

CHICAGO: Manager Dusty Baker, with some prodding, said his first Cubs team reminds him of his first Giants team - the 1993 Giants who went 103-59 but didn't make the playoffs. Both teams had plenty of hitters who could hit for average and power. But there's one difference; the '93 Giants were better defensively, with four Gold Glove fielders. ... After Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, the Cubs play 22 of their next 31 games at Wrigley Field. They are 7-3 at home. ... RHP Matt Clement still has strong ties to Pittsburgh. He grew up in nearby Butler, Pa., where he was a high school baseball and basketball star. After striking out 10 in the Cubs' 7-2 win Friday over the Pirates, he wore "Oakland Zoo" T-shirt in the clubhouse. The shirts were handed out last winter to the vocal group of students who sit courtside at Pitt basketball games.

PITTSBURGH: OF Brian Giles (sprained knee ligament) still doesn't know when he'll return to the lineup; the Pirates won't adjust the two-to-four week timetable for his return until he is examined next weekend. ... OF Reggie Sanders, who has played for the last two NL champions, called Friday night's players-only postgame meeting. The players met after consecutive 7-2 losses to the Mets on Thursday and the Cubs on Friday. ... 2B Pokey Reese was out of the starting lineup Saturday after four strikeouts in as many at-bats Friday dropped his average to .220. Also sitting down was SS Jack Wilson, whose average has hovered in the mid .100s most of the season. ... 1B Randall Simon was back in the lineup after sitting out Friday night with a sore neck.

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Marlins-Mets

NEW YORK: After the Marlins stole six bases against the Mets Friday night, including four in a three-run fourth inning, New York C Mike Piazza is working on his mechanics with bullpen C Nelson Silverio is offering help. Silverio, a catcher in the San Diego and Oakland organizations from 1985 to 1993, said it was a matter of footwork. "He's going to be OK. It's never too late to learn," Silverio said. "He's a real learning type of guy." ... Piazza threw Luis Castillo out at second base in the first inning Saturday. ... RHP Pedro Astacio, on the disabled list since March 21 with right shoulder tendinitis, struck out five and allowed one run in 5 2-3 innings Friday for Class A St. Lucie and will rejoin the Mets in New York this weekend. Mets GM Steve Phillips said the RHP will throw in the bullpen Sunday, and the team will decide how to proceed from there. "Each time out he's gotten better," Phillips said, adding Astacio could join the starting rotation as early as Wednesday. ... When Astacio comes off the DL, Phillips said the Mets will probably not keep 12 pitchers, meaning they will option one to the minors, but said he'd leave that up to the coaching staff. ... Phillips said RHP Grant Roberts is close to starting a rehabilitation assignment, and already is facing hitters in extended spring training. ... OF Timo Perez has a bruised left hand and is day to day.

FLORIDA: Manager Jeff Torborg gave C Ivan Rodriguez Friday off and plans to give his star catcher a day off as often as he needs one. "Our staff will beat a catcher up, with a lot of low stuff, and some stuff in the dirt," Torborg said. ... Florida RHP Tim Spooneybarger was a little wild before the Marlins win Saturday, bouncing several warmup pitches to Rodriguez. "We thought, "Oh, wow, call the bullpen," Torborg joked. "I was trying to get everyone riled up." ... The Marlins had their streak of 19 consecutive stolen bases stopped when Luis Castillo was thrown out by Piazza in the first inning Saturday. ... Saturday's come-from-behind victory marked the third time this season the Marlins have beaten the Mets in their last at-bat.

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Phillies-Braves

PHILADELPHIA: 2B Placido Polanco hopes to take batting practice Sunday. He has missed four straight games since being hit on his right ring finger with a pitch from Florida's Josh Beckett. If all goes well, Polanco could be back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Colorado. ... With Polanco out, Tomas Perez started at second base for the third time in four games. ... David Bell was back at third base for Saturday night's game. The previous night, he made his first start of the season at second base. Tyler Houston took Bell's usual position and made a key error in the sixth inning, sparking a four-run inning that gave the Braves a 5-4 victory.

ATLANTA: LF Chipper Jones isn't feeling so good. His back is sore, the result of diving for a line drive Friday night. He also fouled a ball off his shin, leaving an egg-sized knot. Jones already was dealing with a groin strain and an ailing left thumb, but he has no plans to come out of the lineup. "Can't do it," Jones said. "I can't sit there and listen to Leo (Mazzone, the pitching coach) and Bobby (Cox, the manager) the whole game." ... 1B Robert Fick took swings in the batting cage for the second straight day, but his ailing right shoulder kept him out of the lineup for sixth game in a row. "I still can't throw," he said. "It really doesn't hurt to hit." For the first time, Fick raised the possibility of going on the disabled list while his shoulder heals. "We're playing short," he said. "You've got to respect the team. Bottom line, we can't play short." The Braves are carrying 12 pitchers, which leaves only 13 position players. With Fick unavailable, Cox has only four players coming off the bench.

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Astros-Brewers

HOUSTON: Lance Berkman missed his third straight start with a sprained ligament in his left elbow and is day-to-day.

MILWAUKEE: Jayson Durocher, 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA in 39 games with the Brewers last year, has been rehabbing following offseason elbow surgery. He played catch on flat ground Saturday for the first time and he plans on throwing Sunday off flat ground, the first time he has thrown on back-to-back days. He is to throw in the bullpen Tuesday and Thursday in Florida, then in Atlanta and Milwaukee, followed by a batting practice session and a minor league rehabilitation assignment. "It feels outstanding," Durocher said before Saturday's game. ... Sunday's starter Ben Sheets, has won four straight decisions against Houston dating to June 29, 2001.

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Diamondbacks-Cardinals

ARIZONA: Closer Matt Mantei wanted the game ball from his first save since April 18, 2001, but LF Luis Gonzalez threw it into the stands to a fan. "The only thing I'm mad about is it's my first save back after arm surgery and Gonzo threw the ball in the stands," Mantei said jokingly. "Gonzo's got to live with that." Gonzalez told Mantei he was sorry. "I told Matty I didn't ask for my first home run after I had surgery, but that didn't soften the blow up any," Gonzalez said. "He took it well." ... Danny Bautista, who hasn't played in either of the first two games of the three-game series, is a career .382 batter (21-for-55) against the Cardinals. ... David Dellucci, who has 24 career homers in five seasons, batted cleanup for the third straight game on Saturday. ... Craig Counsell had a nine-game hitting streak (13-for-39) before going 0-for-4 with a walk on Saturday.

ST. LOUIS: RHP Jason Simontacchi doesn't appear worried about his 11.25 ERA after three starts. He allowed four runs in five innings in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday. "One more game, and I should be ready to go," Simontacchi said. "Beforehand I was worried about my location, location, location, and now I've got my mechanics down." ... Albert Pujols, who might be restricted to pinch hitting duties the next three weeks due to a sprained right elbow, took a called third strike as a pinch hitter in the ninth. He walked in the eighth on Friday. ... Eli Marrero, who was 11-for-15 to start last season, is 5-for-34 (.147) this year. ... Edgar Renteria has 11 multihit games in the first 16 games of the season and is batting .357. ... The Cardinals have struck out 79 times, the fewest in the NL.

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Padres-Rockies

SAN DIEGO: C Michael Rivera got his first start of the year. "I guess it is because of my experience catching in cold weather," said Rivera, an offseason acquisition from Detroit. "I caught three or four games with the Tigers when it snowed." ... Manager Bruce Bochy said LHP Oliver Perez took a step backward Friday when he allowed eight earned runs and 11 hits in 4 2-3 innings. "He didn't get any farther than his previous start, four-plus innings," Bochy said. "It is pretty simple, his command was off. If your command is off in this ballpark, you will pay for it." ... The back-to-back home runs by Mark Kotsay and Ryan Klesko was the first for the Padres this year. Klesko had his 20th career multihomer game with the last two coming at Coors Field.

COLORADO: With Larry Walker and Preston Wilson getting much of the attention, the forgotten man in the Rockies outfield appears to be Jay Payton. "That might be the case around town, but I assure you that Payton hasn't gotten lost in our shuffle," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's been solid in left field and already has home runs against Curt Schilling, Randy Johnson and Oliver Perez." ... Hurdle continued to be miffed by the booing he received Friday when he came out to visit RHP Aaron Cook in the ninth inning and Colorado holding a 12-0 lead. "I only come out when I have something to do," Hurdle said. "I went out looking for answers and when I saw the look in his eyes that said he was ready to go I knew I had to leave him in." ... The Rockies were held homerless for the first time in 16 games - two short of the franchise record. ... When the Rockies bullpen failed to hold the lead they denied Nelson Cruz from joining Roger Bailey and Brian Bohanon from being the third pitcher in Rockies history to win his first four starts.

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Giants-Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO: RF Jose Cruz Jr. celebrated his 29th birthday Saturday. ... The Giants are 7-0 on the road. The last time they won eight straight road games was last Aug. 18-31. ... They haven't lost a regular-season series since losing two of three to Montreal last Aug. 23-25. ... San Francisco will conclude the three-game series Sunday by starting RHP Kurt Ainsworth (3-0). He shares the NL lead for victories and beat the Dodgers 2-1 on April 10.

LOS ANGELES: LHP Odalis Perez, who has a sprained right ankle that caused him to miss one start, may throw a bullpen session Sunday. He already canceled two bullpen sessions because of swelling and discomfort in the ankle, which he injured running the bases April 11 in San Francisco. Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Perez also may throw a bullpen session Tuesday, but the earliest he could pitch would be next Saturday. ... Tracy said there is nothing wrong with the elbow or back of RHP Kevin Brown, who gave up eight hits and five runs in Friday's 5-1 loss to the Giants. "When you see a start like that, the first question you ask is there something physically wrong, and the answer is definitively no," Tracy said, adding Brown has been weakened by an upper respiratory virus.

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AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers-Royals

DETROIT: Dean Palmer, who started 11 of the first 14 games at designated hitter and one at third base, was held out of the lineup Saturday. Palmer is hitting just .103 with four hits, all singles, and has struck out 11 times in his past 23 at-bats. Dmitri Young, who had not started the previous two games because of a tender right groin, replaced Palmer as the DH. ... The Tigers are hitting .172 with only 31 runs in 16 games. ...Trammell twice visited with plate umpire Mark Wegner on Friday when his hitters were not allowed to call a time out when Kansas City pitchers were holding the ball with runners on base. Baseball is trying to speed up games. "I don't think that's the intent of the rule," Trammell said. "You can't give the pitcher that advantage. He holds the ball and you can't step out, that's not right. You've got to use common sense."

KANSAS CITY: SS Angel Berroa had three hits to extend his hitting streak to six games, tying his longest streak in the majors. It was his third career three-hit game, all against the Tigers. ... Raul Ibanez had his eighth multihit game. ...The Kansas City bullpen has thrown 14 consecutive scoreless innings. ...The Royals are 8-0 when scoring five or more runs. ...Michael Tucker, who doubled and singled, has a seven-game hitting streak. ...The Royals' six hits in the third inning was a season high. ...The Royals are 7-0 at Kauffman Stadium, the only undefeated team at home in the majors.

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Devil Rays-Orioles

TAMPA BAY: OF Ben Grieve, who has an infection at the base of his left thumb, was hospitalized Friday night and held for observation at Baltimore's Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. A team spokesman said Grieve was doing well Saturday, was receiving intravenous antibiotics and is expected to be released Sunday. ... 1B-OF Aubrey Huff has a 10-game hitting streak and is hitting .367 (18-for-49) over his last 13 games. ... Tampa Bay had a season-high three home runs Saturday. ... OF George Lombard was promoted from Triple-A Durham and started Saturday in right field, homering in his first at-bat. He joins Gerald Williams (2000), Esteban Yan (2000) and Terry Shumpert (2003) as players homering in their first Tampa Bay at-bat. Lombard replaces 1B Travis Lee on the roster. Lee was put on the 15-day DL with a strained right oblique muscle... RHP Delvin James was designated for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Lombard.

BALTIMORE: Closer Jorge Julio was available Saturday despite getting saves in the team's previous three games. Julio, who led rookies with 25 saves last year, did not have a save opportunity after Aug. 15 last season. Julio, who has four saves this year, has enjoyed the increased workload. "When you go two or three days in a row, you feel more comfortable," Julio said. ... DH David Segui's strained right hamstring improved slightly, but he wasn't well enough to play and could be out another couple of days. "His leg feels better today than he thought it would, but I don't think he's ready to get back," manager Mike Hargrove said. ... RHP Rick Bauer retired the first 14 hitters he faced this year, but has allowed runs in each of his last four relief outings.

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Yankees-Twins

NEW YORK: RHP Jose Contreras was sent to Triple-A Columbus and replaced by LHP Randy Choate. Contreras, who signed a $32 million, four-year contract this winter after a stellar career in Cuba, was 1-0 with a 10.80 ERA in five appearances for the Yankees. "I had a feeling it was coming," Contreras said through his interpreter. "Of course I'd like to be here with this team, but unfortunately I don't have the opportunity right now to pitch consistently." ... 3B Robin Ventura hit two homers in a game for the 21st time in his career Friday. Manager Joe Torre would like to get Ventura a couple days off a week to keep the veteran fresh. "Whatever he wants to do," Ventura said. "Other guys have got to get to play, too." ... 1B Jason Giambi entered Saturday in a 5-for-31 slump. "He's a little anxious because it's not an injury that happened or he's out of shape," Torre said. Giambi took some extra work in the batting cage before Saturday's game. ... Minor league LHP Brandon Claussen, who underwent elbow ligament transplant surgery last June, allowed two runs and four hits over 5 2-3 innings Saturday in his first rehab start for Class-A Tampa against Sarasota. He struck out seven, walked one and retired 12 straight batters at one point.

MINNESOTA: RHPs Tony Fiore and Juan Rincon both had disappointing outings on Friday night - each allowed three hits and two earned runs, Fiore in 1 2-3 innings and Rincon in 2 1-3. One of them will be sent to Triple-A Rochester when Mike Fetters is activated from the DL Sunday. Until Friday, Rincon had thrown 6 2-3 scoreless innings since being called up to replace Fetters when the veteran went on the disabled list April 5 with a hamstring strain. Fiore, a reclamation project picked up by the Twins from Tampa Bay last year who went 10-3 with a 3.16 ERA, has struggled in 2003. Fiore, whose specialty is a palm ball, has a 7.88 ERA this year in eight innings. ... The ending of the Minnesota Wild's Game 5 against the Colorado Avalanche was shown on the scoreboard before the game. Fans cheered the Wild's 3-2 win. ... More hockey: The two-time defending national champion University of Minnesota team was honored before the game. Nick Anthony used his stick to "shoot" the ceremonial first pitch to Twins manager Ron Gardenhire.

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Blue Jays-Red Sox

TORONTO: Toronto entered the day with an AL-leading 17 errors and added to that total with three Saturday, leading to three unearned runs. C Greg Myers threw a ball into center while attempting to get Bill Mueller trying to steal. That allowed Trot Nixon score Boston's fifth run in the third. Shannon Stewart dropped a fly ball in the fourth and Carlos Delgado misplayed a grounder into a three-base error in the fifth. Two runs scored on the play. ... Tanyon Sturtze hit Manny Ramirez on the left elbow in the fourth inning. Ramirez pointed at Sturtze on his way to first, leading to both benches to empty. "He just started yelling at me," said Sturtze, who said he wasn't trying to hit Ramirez.

BOSTON: The Red Sox went homerless Saturday, ending a string of 10 straight games with a homer. It was their longest stretch since Sept. 18-28, 2001. ... Nomar Garciaparra's next homer will be the 150th of his career. ... Pedro Martinez told the media Friday that he won't talk for the rest of the season. It's a claim he's made in the past, but changed his mind. ... The new seats above the Green Monster have been a been a hit at Fenway Park. But with it has come extra trash that blows onto the field from atop the 37-foot wall, causing a grounds crew member to run out and clean up the area a few times this season. ... RHP Robert Person is scheduled to start for Class-A Sarasota in a Florida State League game Sunday against Tampa. He had right shoulder surgery last July 22 while with Philadelphia. Person went 4-5 with a 5.44 ERA in 16 starts for the Phillies last season.

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Indians-White Sox

CLEVELAND: Aaron Myette came off the DL on Saturday and the former White Sox first-round pick had a rough one inning. He gave up Carlos Lee's three-run homer in the eighth that completed the 12-3 rout. Chad Paronto was sent to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Myette, who'd been on a rehab assignment for a strained right quadriceps muscle. ... Milton Bradley returned to the lineup after missing a game with a sore hamstring and went 2-for-4. Bradley, who had a 14-game hitting streak to start the season, is hitting .538 (14-for-26) against lefties this season. ... Casey Blake hit his third major league homer and first since 2001 when he was with Baltimore. Blake hit his first major league homer with Toronto in 1999. He got his first RBI of the season, matching his total in nine games with the Twins a year ago. "I don't have to worry about going without a homer or RBI, I got them both out of the way," Blake said. ... Omar Vizquel was given the day off and John McDonald started at shortstop.

CHICAGO: Carlos Lee's slow start has faded away. He hit his third homer in as many games, a streak that started Thursday night with a grand slam. It's the third time in his career Lee has homered in three consecutive games. He has 11 RBIs in his last five games after collecting four more Saturday .... When the White Sox sent 11 men to the plate in the first inning, it marked the fourth time this season they had batted around. ... Magglio Ordonez's 15-game hitting streak is the longest in the AL this season and two shy of his career best. He's batting .317 during the 15-game stretch. ... Miguel Olivo had a career-high three hits and D'Angelo Jimenez tied a career best with four hits. ... U.S. Cellular Field has a good ring to it so far for the White Sox. At least in the way they are playing. Chicago is 7-1 in its newly named ball park. The 12 runs and 16 hits Saturday were both season highs.

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Rangers-Athletics

TEXAS: RF Carl Everett was hit in the back of the head with a cell phone thrown by a fan. The male fan was arrested, according to A's spokesman Jim Young, and Everett said he planned to press charges. Everett was discussing it with an Oakland police officer after the game in the clubhouse. "Luckily I was wearing a hat," Everett said. "If it wasn't for the hat, I'd be cut back there. That fan should be ashamed of himself." Everett was hit four days after umpire Laz Diaz was attacked by a fan at U.S. Cellular field in Chicago during a White Sox-Royals game. "This is always happening in major league baseball and maybe now they'll do something about it," Everett said. "I'm going to be pressing charges. Fans pointed him out and they arrested him. It's just ignorance and alcohol and probably too much of both. That's what causes this." ... The Rangers faced a left-handed starting pitcher for the seventh time in 12 games, and still have to go against LHP Ted Lilly on Sunday. ... Texas has lost four straight road games.

OAKLAND: RF Jermaine Dye got a "mental" day off. Terrence Long, the regular LF, moved to right, and Ron Gant started in left. Dye also is nursing a sore and tight right shoulder, though he says it doesn't affect his hitting or throwing. "I'll just take a day to get away from the game and come back tomorrow," he said. ... Ramon Hernandez extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single in a 10-pitch at-bat in the fifth for Oakland. He also doubled in the seventh after getting plunked twice. ... Leadoff hitter Mark Ellis doubled to end an 0-for-12 slump.

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Mariners-Angels

SEATTLE: Mariners 3B Jeff Cirillo did not start for the second straight night because of a strained muscle on his right side, but expects to be back in the lineup for the finale of the Angels series. "It feels good," said Cirillo, whose only stint on the DL was two years ago because of the same injury on his left side. "I took groundballs and threw across the diamond a little harder today, and I'm ready to go." ... Jamie Moyer's seven shutout innings in Friday night's 8-2 victory at Anaheim extended the left-hander's consecutive scoreless inning streak against the Angels to 23. Teammate Freddy Garcia had a 28-inning scoreless streak against the Angels two seasons ago, going 5-0 in six starts with a 0.96 ERA. ... Ichiro Suzuki drew more than twice as many walks in 2002 as he did in his MVP rookie season - including a league-leading 27 intentional walks. Through the first 17 games this season, he had nine walks in 81 plate appearances.

ANAHEIM: LHP Scott Schoeneweis entered Saturday with a 9.53 ERA in seven appearances, allowing six runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings of relief. Angels GM Bill Stoneman was happy about the job Schoeneweis did the second half of last season after being demoted to the bullpen in favor of John Lackey, and insisted in keeping him in the bullpen. "Schoney's going through a little rough stretch right now," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He had a little problem in his triceps last week and I don't know how much that affected him. His stuff is still good, but his command isn't as crisp as it will be, and it hurts a guy's confidence a little bit when you're not getting the ball where you need to get guys out." ... 2B Adam Kennedy, who homered Friday in a rehab stint with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, is eligible to come off the 15-day DL on Tuesday. Kennedy has been sidelined with a bruised hamstring after colliding with Tim Salmon in short right field chasing a popup on April 2. ... RHP Aaron Sele, making his way back from rotator cuff surgery last October, is scheduled to make his first Triple-A rehab start on Wednesday when Salt Lake plays at Fresno. He's already made a couple of starts at Rancho Cucamonga while pointing toward a return in early May.