By The Associated Press

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets-Cubs

NEW YORK: The Mets are struggling for runs, scoring only 12 in their last seven games. And it's not that they're not getting any offense. New York outhit the Cubs 8-4 Friday and left seven on base. "We have to find ways to scratch runs across because we're getting quality pitching," said UT Joe McEwing, who was 1-for-4. Added OF Shane Spencer, "We're throwing a pretty good lineup out there. We should be able to manage to score more runs than that." ... 3B Ty Wigginton has an ulcer and could be released from a New York hospital Saturday. He's on the 15-day DL and will rehab in Florida. ... CF Mike Cameron's homer was his first since April 8.

CHICAGO: RHP Greg Maddux's victory was his first in a Cubs uniform since Sept. 30, 1992, a span of 11 years, six months and 22 days. That's a team record, topping the eight years, six months and 15 days Ferguson Jenkins went between victories with the team. "I'm sure it is nice to get that first Cubs win. Again," C Paul Bako said. ... LF Moises Alou is hitting .514 with six homers and 13 RBIs over his last nine games. "Hey man, keep it rolling," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Stay hot as long as you can be hot." ... RHP closer Joe Borowski worked a perfect ninth and lowered his ERA from 9.00 to 7.71. "For some reason, I'm getting it handed to me right now. The baseball gods aren't being very kind to me," he said. "Sooner or later things are going to go your way." ... With the wind blowing in at 8 mph, balls didn't carry nearly as far as they normally would. "I hit it as far as I've ever hit a ball, and it goes in the first row," Todd Walker said of his solo home run in the third. "I saw Karim Garcia camped out underneath it and I thought, I need to go do more reps on the bench press because I got no pop."'

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Reds-Pirates

CINCINNATI: RF Austin Kearns was in the lineup again Friday in Pittsburgh despite a 1-for-35 slump. Kearns is hitting below .200 since having right shoulder surgery in May. Manager Dave Miley said Friday, "Some people believe a day off may help, but I tend to believe when guys are struggling a little bit, the way to get out of slumps is going out there on a daily basis and playing." ... UT Ray Olmedo was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday mostly because the Reds couldn't find any meaningful playing time for him. He was replaced on the 25-man roster by UT Josh Romano, who was claimed on waivers from Tampa Bay. Romano led the Dodgers in hitting during spring training, but is now with his third team in two months. ... CF Ken Griffey Jr. attended the funeral of maternal grandfather Curtis Littleton on Friday in Donora, Pa., and was not available to start. Miley said Wily Mo Pena started in center because he got more playing time there during spring training.

PITTSBURGH: The Pirates are taking the unusual steps to help RHP Josh Fogg (0-3, 17.00 ERA) get on track. He's throwing two simulated games between starts. He threw about 50 pitches in a session Friday and plans to throw again Sunday before starting Tuesday against the Astros. Fogg said his sinker lacks its usual sharp bite and his changeup has been erratic. Fogg didn't retire a batter during the Cubs' eight-run first inning Wednesday, allowing six consecutive batters to reach base. ... Thursday's rain out against the Cubs pushed back LHP Oliver Perez's next start from Friday to Sunday. Manager Lloyd McClendon didn't want to give any extra days off to RHP Kip Wells, who started Friday against the Reds, or RHP Kris Benson, who will pitch Saturday. ... The Pirates switched the time of games against the Astros on Sept. 11 (from 7:05 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.) and Sept. 12 (from 1:35 p.m. to 7:05 p.m.) to avoid conflicts with football games at nearby Heinz Field. Pitt plays its home opener on Sept. 11 and the Steelers open Sept. 12 against the Raiders. ... The Cubs' eight runs Wednesday marked the biggest first inning against the Pirates since the Braves scored 10 times during a 11-2 victory in the second game of a June 12, 1953, doubleheader, also in Pittsburgh. ... The Pirates still haven't decided when OF Jason Bay (shoulder surgery) will begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment. He has been at their extended spring camp in Bradenton, Fla., since the season started.

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Braves-Florida

ATLANTA: OF Chipper Jones won't play this weekend against the Marlins, manager Bobby Cox said. Jones was expected to miss five to seven days because of a hamstring injury. Now he could be out a little longer. He missed three games against Cincinnati and will miss three more against the Marlins. Then the Braves play three night games in San Francisco, where temperatures are expected to be below 50 degrees - not ideal for an injured hamstring. Jones was hurt last Sunday against the Marlins. He initially injured it April 11 against the Chicago Cubs and missed two games before returning to the lineup. Jones, hitting .314 with three homers, is accompanying the team on its 12-game road trip. ... The Braves threw out just their second base runner of the season Friday when Johnny Estrada caught Juan Pierre trying to steal second in the first inning. ... OF Andruw Jones celebrated his 27th birthday Friday. Chipper Jones turns 32 on Saturday, the same day RHP Will Cunnane turns 30.

FLORIDA: C Mike Redmond got a second straight start behind the plate Friday. He had a home run, a double and three RBIs in Thursday's win over Philadelphia. It was his first homer since September 2002. "He's knocking in runs," manager Jack McKeon said, adding that C Ramon Castro be back in the lineup Saturday. ... The Marlins don't expect SS Alex Gonzalez to be suspended for his role in Thursday's bench-clearing brawl with the Phillies. McKeon said Gonzalez was just defending himself against C Todd Pratt. Both players were ejected. ... McKeon on playing the Braves without Chipper Jones, who homered twice against the Marlins last weekend: "They've got a good club without him, but you always like to have your big gun. I don't think one guy makes the difference in a three- or four-game series, but he really hurt us in Atlanta."

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Phillies-Expos

PHILADELPHIA: The freshly installed FieldTurf gives Olympic Stadium a whole new look. The new field is similar to the one the Phillies used over the final few seasons at Veterans Stadium, as well as the one currently used in Tampa Bay. Phillies manager Larry Bowa thinks the new turf is a significant improvement over the threadbare surface which preceded it. "I think this is slower than the Vet," Bowa said. "I think it'll be easier on your joints because that old stuff was like playing on a runway." ... The Phillies participated in their third opener of the season. Philadelphia began the season with a 2-1 loss in Pittsburgh on April 5 before christening Citizens Bank Park one week later with a 4-1 loss to Cincinnati. ... 1B Jim Thome hit his fifth homer off RHP Claudio Vargas in the first following RF Bobby Abreu's three-run shot. Thome got his ball back when a fan in the left-field bleachers tossed it onto the field, drawing a cheer from the subdued crowd.

MONTREAL: With the Phillies moving to their new home, the Expos are the only NL team which still plays its home games on artificial turf. Montreal hasn't had a grass field since moving to Olympic Stadium from Jarry Park before the 1977 season. The Expos also play on FieldTurf in Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they play 22 "home" games this season. Minnesota also installed a similar playing surface this season, leaving Toronto's SkyDome as the only major league stadium with the old-style artificial turf used extensively in baseball in the 1970s and '80s. ... 2B Jose Vidro was presented with his 2003 Silver Slugger Award by Expos GM Omar Minaya before the game. Vidro hit .310 with 36 doubles, 15 homers and 65 RBIs last season. ... CF Endy Chavez hit leadoff after being recalled from Triple-A Edmonton on Thursday.

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Cardinals-Brewers

ST. LOUIS: The biggest difference between the Cardinals who lost three of four to the Brewers in early April and this week's? "Better pitching," manager Tony La Russa said. "We made so many mistakes against them. They have got a very capable, professional lineup, just like ours." St. Louis pitchers gave up 30 runs in the four games to the Brewers. ... RHP Jason Isringhausen threw the 10th and 11th innings to get the win at Houston Thursday. La Russa said it's one of only a handful of times in his 20-plus years as a manager he has let his closer do that on the road. ... St. Louis, the National League's top hitting team and the first in baseball to score 100 runs this season, scored only two in the victory over Houston. "I think we're going to have a lot of 2-1 games," La Russa said. "There's a lot of good pitching in this division." ... RHP Woody Williams (0-1, 7.98) pitches Saturday.

MILWAUKEE: The Brewers were the last team in the major leagues to put a player on the disabled list when LHP Chris Capuano went on Friday with a strained left quadriceps muscle. Manager Ned Yost credited his training staff - and something less scientific. "It all revolves around luck," he said. "The guys are all in great shape. They all do their strength and conditioning. They all get themselves loose. It's just luck." ... RHP Adrian Hernandez took the loss in Milwaukee's 15-inning game against Arizona Thursday despite pitching five strong innings to rescue a depleted bullpen. "It was phenomenal," Yost said. "It was a very gutsy performance. He just gave us everything that he had and kept us in the ballgame for five extra innings." ... Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols, who played with Brewers first baseman Lyle Overbay in the Arizona Fall League, liked what he saw. "The guy's amazing, the talent that he has," Pujols said. "The Brewers fans are going to enjoy this kid." Overbay had four hits, including three doubles, and four RBIs on Thursday. ... Yost said he was still uncertain about Saturday's starting pitcher given Capuano's trip to the disabled list. RHP Chris Saenz (1-1, 3.86 with Double-A Huntsville) was one possibility. "We'll just have to work it out," Yost said. "Sometimes you just have to react to the situation and just go."

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Astros-Rockies

HOUSTON: LHP Andy Pettitte threw a simulated game Friday morning at the team's spring training facility in Kissimmee, Fla. The Astros are hoping to have Pettitte start on April 30 against Pittsburgh. He's on the 15-day DL with a strained elbow. "Andy threw 70 or 78 pitches and threw well," manager Jimy Williams said. "He's on his way here." ... SS Adam Everett had his string of consecutive multihit games stopped at four Thursday with a 1-for-5 game against St. Louis. Everett has eight this year. ... With a win in his Saturday start, RHP Roger Clemens will tie Gaylord Perry for 15th on the all-time victory list with 314. Clemens is 18 strikeouts behind Steve Carlton for second place all-time. "Roger has been an influence on the whole team," Williams said. "He has been good with position players and pitchers." ... OF Craig Biggio needs 19 hits to become the team's first player to reach 2,500 hits.

COLORADO: OF Larry Walker ran without pain underneath the grandstand. Walker began the season on the DL with a strained groin. ... The rain shortened six-inning victory by Shawn Estes Thursday was the 69th complete game for the Colorado franchise. "It was a big positive step, a professional step for him," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "He went back to basics after the St. Louis loss and never got in front of himself." ... The Coors Field grounds crew spent seven hours clearing the field and preparing the field after a spring snowstorm dropped four inches of snow on the field. The crew was helped by team president Keli McGregor and general manager Dan O'Dowd. ... Hurdle said he would keep OF Matt Holliday in the lineup Saturday to face RHP Roger Clemens. "Why would I deny Holliday that opportunity and it is an opportunity a young player lives for," Hurdle said. "I remember facing Nolan Ryan for the first time. He schooled me." ... Another opportunity afforded by Hurdle was to let 41-year-old Jeff Fassero oppose Clemens on Saturday. "This was Jeff's desire to start when he signed with us," Hurdle said. "Jeff will have a chance with this and another start to be our No. 5 starter." ... 3B Vinny Castilla is hitting .367 with five home runs and 11 RBIs over the past eight games. He has an RBI in eight straight games.

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Padres-Diamondbacks

SAN DIEGO: The Padre hitters snapped out of a slump with 32 runs on 51 hits in their four-game series in San Francisco. San Diego won three games for their first series victory at SBC Park. ... The Padres scored eight runs on nine hits in their three games against the Diamondbacks. ... RHP David Wells will make his second career start against Arizona on Saturday. He allowed four runs on six hits in a 6-4 New York victory over the Diamondbacks in Yankee Stadium on June 11, 2002.

ARIZONA: 2B Roberto Alomar underwent surgery Friday to repair a broken bone in his right hand. He's expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks. Alomar was hit by a Ben Sheets pitch in Milwaukee on Tuesday. ... RHP Matt Mantei blew his second save in a row on Thursday. His ERA is 16.62. ... Manager Bob Brenly shook up his batting order, moving 2B Matt Kata into the leadoff spot in place of struggling CF Steve Finley. Kata, starting in place of Alomar, is hitting .371, while Finley is at .190. ... RF Danny Bautista extended his hitting streak to 14 games with his first career five-hit, five-RBI game on Thursday. He homered twice and raised his average to .397, fourth-best in the NL.

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Giants-Dodgers

SAN FRANCISCO: RHP closer Robb Nen, on the DL because of tendinitis in his right rotator cuff, isn't expected back anytime soon, manager Felipe Alou said. "The two times he's been on the mound, he's shown good arm strength. But we have a guy (RHP Matt Herges) who has saved five of our six wins," Alou said. "So we don't have a problem there right now. Nen has got to be healthy first before he can do his thing." ... Pitching coach Dave Righetti was sitting at his locker next to the club house television before batting practice while a replay of his 1983 no-hitter for the Yankees against the Boston Red Sox was being aired. Righetti left for the field and didn't stick around for the final three outs. He knew the ending. But coach Ron Wotus, one of the early arrivals in the clubhouse, really got into it, yelling, "C'mon, Rags" at the TV. ... LF Barry Bonds entered the weekend series with a .672 on-base mark, a .500 batting average, nine homers and 19 RBIs.

LOS ANGELES: The Dodgers' 10-5 start was their best in seven years. The Los Angeles team to start faster was the 1988 Dodgers, who won 11 of their first 15. ... The Dodgers reached double digits in hits eight times in their first 15 games. Last year they had 10 or more hits in a game 48 times all season. ... Los Angeles' bullpen had given up four hits and no runs in the last 12 innings of relief entering Friday, including a stretch of 8 2-3 hitless innings.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox-Yankees

BOSTON: The team hopes OF Trot Nixon (back) will be ready to start facing live pitching in about seven to 10 days. He started the season on the DL. ... Manager Terry Francona said he might use Manny Ramirez as the DH for the first time this season Saturday. ... LHP Brad Thomas, acquired from Minnesota on Wednesday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained elbow. ... The bullpen came in with 13 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings spanning the previous five games. ... CF Johnny Damon saved at least one run in the first inning with a sliding catch of Gary Sheffield's liner.

NEW YORK: RHP Javier Vazquez will pitch on three days' rest against Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox on Sunday. With RHP Jon Lieber and RHP Jorge De Paula on the disabled list, manager Joe Torre had few other viable options. Vazquez pitched eight sharp innings Wednesday night in a victory over the Chicago White Sox. "He felt good today," Torre said on Friday. "Early in the year, I'm not that concerned about it." ... Bubba Crosby started in center and batted leadoff for the second time in three games. "He came over from the Dodgers and I think he made up his mind that we were going to notice him in spring training. He hasn't done anything wrong," Torre said. Bernie Williams, who missed much of spring training after having his appendix removed, served as the DH. "Bernie right now, he's getting in shape," Torre said. "He just needs to bring back the strength."... C Jorge Posada was rested and replaced by John Flaherty. ... Lieber (right groin) might be ready to join the rotation next week. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch for Class A Tampa on Sunday in his third minor league start since getting hurt last month. "It really depends on Sunday," Lieber said after a bullpen session at the team's spring training complex. "If I feel like I'm hitting my spots like I normally do, maybe this could be the last one." Lieber allowed six hits in eight scoreless innings in two extended spring training games. ... RHP Orlando Hernandez is scheduled to make his fourth extended spring training start Saturday. "El Duque" had rotator cuff surgery May 12 and is not expected to be ready to pitch in the majors until late May or June.

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Indians-Tigers

DETROIT: Brandon Inge has started at four positions this season and thinks that the outfield presents a special challenge. "When you catch, it doesn't matter what park you are playing in, and when you are playing third base, you only have to worry about the grass," said Inge, who caught his first three major-league seasons. "But in the outfield, you have to check out the walls and the corners and the texture of the warning track and how wide they are - it is a lot different than anything else I've played." ... RF Bobby Higginson returned to the lineup after three games with a sprained ankle, but CF Alex Sanchez missed Friday's game with the flu.

CLEVELAND: LHP C.C. Sabathia (biceps) is expected to miss about a week. An MRI Friday showed nothing more than a strained tendon, and Sabathia was able to play catch without pain in the outfield. He will throw at least two bullpen sessions, and could be back in the rotation by next weekend. "We examined him this morning and he looked and felt great," said Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff. "At this point, though, we want to take every precaution possible for his long-term health." ... 3B Casey Blake sat with a mild strain of his right hamstring, and is day-to-day. ... The Indians sent LHP Jeriome Robertson to Triple-A Buffalo and recalled RHP Jason Anderson. On April 20, Robertson allowed eight runs in 5 1-3 innings to Kansas City in his only appearance for the Indians.

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Blue Jays-Orioles

TORONTO: Manager Carlos Tosca hopes INF Chris Gomez's game-winning grand slam off Boston's Curt Schilling on Thursday night will provide a spark to the slumping Blue Jays. "I think we got one last night," he said Friday. "Trailing with one of the best pitchers in baseball on the mound, to come back and win that game is a good start." ... Addressing the death of former NFL defensive back Pat Tillman, who was killed while serving in the Army Rangers, Tosca said, "I think it should give us all some perspective on what we're doing, how fortunate we are that there are people like (him) in the world that allow us to do what we're able to do. That's a real hero." ... Toronto began a 10-day, 10-game road trip in Baltimore. Given the Blue Jays' 1-8 record at home, the road trip may be just what the team needs. ... The Blue Jays entered the weekend series with the lowest batting average (.222) in the AL. Carlos Delgado, Eric Hinske and Vernon Wells, who hit a combined .292 in 2003, posted a dismal .148 (9-for-61) during the six game homestand. Hinske entered the weekend batting .189 and was hitless in his last 14 at-bats.

BALTIMORE: A President threw out the first ball at Friday's game - albeit, a television President. Martin Sheen, playing the role of President Josiah Bartlet, tossed the pitch to Orioles C Javy Lopez in a scene from the upcoming series finale of "The West Wing." Rain delayed the effort for about an hour. ... OF Luis Matos was given a rare day off. Matos was hitting .136 (6-for-44) over his last 12 games. "Yesterday I got counts to hit, 3-1 and 3-2, and I swung at bad pitches," he said. "I'm so close. I just want to get a base hit." ... The addition of Lopez, SS Miguel Tejada and 1B Rafael Palmerio has paid off. The Orioles reached double figures in hits in six of nine games before Friday while outscoring the opposition 42-19. The trio hit .371 (26-for-70) with 17 RBIs during that span.

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Mariners-Rangers

SEATTLE: LHP Mike Myers entered Friday fifth among active major league pitchers with the most non-starting appearances. Myers had pitched in 616 games without a start. Former Mariner reliever Jeff Nelson, now with the Rangers, was second with 720. John Franco of the Mets was the leader with 1,050 games. ... Seattle has spent 16 days in the AL West basement, the Mariners' longest spell in the division cellar since a 39-day stay in 1998.

TEXAS: OF Brian Jordan took batting practice following a day off to rest his left knee. After taking his cuts in the cage, Jordan made the one-hour drive to Frisco, where he was scheduled to make a rehab start for the Double-A RoughRiders on Friday night. "I'm progressing. I'm trying to get back full confidence in my knee," said Jordan, who has been on the disabled list all season as he recovers from knee surgery. ... LHP Kenny Rogers stayed at home due to the flu. Rogers is taking antibiotics in an attempt to recover in time to start against Seattle Sunday. If Rogers can't go, LHP Ryan Snare would be an option. ... 1B Mark Teixeira hit in the cage and didn't report any problems with the strained left oblique muscle that forced him to the DL on April 16 (retroactive to April 13). If he doesn't report any soreness on Saturday, Teixeira could begin a minor league rehab assignment next week.

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Devil Rays-White Sox

TAMPA BAY: RHP Doug Waechter will be making his first start of the season on Saturday against the White Sox. Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella is hoping to get six innings out of the right-hander. Waechter was optioned to Triple-A Durham on March 30 and had a blister during his stint in Durham, but he will be recalled on Saturday. "The only setback that he has had is the blister," said Piniella. "He got a couple of starts down there, I was hoping he would pitch a little more than (6 2-3) innings that he has pitched." Waechter allowed eight runs on 10 hits in two starts for Durham. He didn't figure in any of the decisions. ... OF Rocco Baldelli got the night off. Piniella wanted to rest Baldelli with the day game on Saturday. "We haven't been able to rest our outfield much so we will do a little bit on this road trip," said Piniella. ... Rays hitting coach Lee Elia will stay in Florida after getting his gall bladder removed on Thursday. He is expected to rejoin the team April 30 in Tampa Bay. Rays minor league hitting coordinator Steve Henderson will fill in for Elia during his absence.

CHICAGO: DH Frank Thomas was back in the starting lineup after missing three consecutive games with a hamstring injury. Thomas says he is not talking to the media. He is upset over stories in Chicago newspapers about his contract status. ... White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen doesn't care about being out of the spotlight now that the Yankees have left town. "That's the only time the White Sox are on ESPN and I kind of like that," said Guillen. The White Sox drew 92,218 fans during the three-game series, their highest total for a three-game series in April since April 22-24, 1994, when they drew 110,500 fans for a series against Detroit. He also isn't bothered that the Cubs are getting most of the attention in Chicago. The Cubs played in front of a sellout crowd Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, while the White Sox played in front of a sparse crowd at U.S. Cellular Field on Friday night. "They (Cubs) have the pressure, they have to win, we lose a game and nobody knows it," said Guillen. ... INF Juan Uribe was 14-for-32 (.438) over his last nine games. He has been starting at shortstop with Jose Valentin (hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list.

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Twins-Royals

MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire decided not to start CF Torii Hunter on Friday because of the weather. Hunter was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 7 with a strained right hamstring. Gardenhire said he'd planned to DH him on Friday but decided not to because the cold weather and wet turf posed a danger of re-injuring the hamstring. ... OF Shannon Stewart was held out to rest his hamstring. "It's going to rain. I refuse to take chances like that," Gardenhire said. "I've got plenty of guys who need swings. Some guys that are swinging good. We'll put them out there and make sure we protect the others."

KANSAS CITY: A display honoring the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues was dedicated on the main concourse of Kauffman Stadium. The display is tied in with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is located in midtown Kansas City about a block from where Rube Foster founded the Negro Leagues in 1920. The display includes plaques honoring the four Monarchs players in the Baseball Hall of Fame - Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Hilton Smith and Wilbur "Bullet" Rogan. ... 1B Mike Sweeney was scratched from the lineup because of soreness in his right wrist. Trainer Nick Swartz said Sweeney was day-to-day. .. INF Desi Relaford, who's been on the DL with a sore hamstring, will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday at Triple-A Omaha.

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Angels-Athletics

ANAHEIM: CF Garret Anderson missed his second game of the season because of stiffness in his upper back. "I'm not playing. It bothers me," he said. "When I'll be back I don't know, no clue. Neck and back can take a week or it can go away in a day." For manager Mike Scioscia, it's a little strange to not have Anderson available. "It's very rare," Scioscia said. "If you look at the amount of games Garret played the last five or six years, I don't think there are many guys who have done that. He's in elite company." ... DH Tim Salmon missed his fourth straight game with a sore left knee. He did early hitting and took batting practice. "I made some progress," he said. "I'm going in the right direction. I'm not quite where I'm ready to let it fly." He expects to be back Tuesday following the off day Monday. ... The Angels are going to simplify things for RHP Ramon Ortiz after he was tagged for 11 runs and 15 hits over five innings in his two losses against Texas. "When things kind of start to go awry, the best philosophy I know is to get more simple and go back to basics," Scioscia said. "We're going to give him less pitch selection and let him focus on pitch execution."

OAKLAND: SS Bobby Crosby, who has a bone bruise on his left knee following Tuesday's collision with teammate OF Bobby Kielty in Seattle, hit off the tee and hopes he'll get to run and work in the field Saturday. Manager Ken Macha would like to see Crosby playing again by Sunday. "I finally felt comfortable at the plate and something like that happens," Crosby said. "The replay looked ugly. I'm fortunate." Kielty had a test on his sore ribs that came out normal. He took some swings and worked in the whirlpool and was held out of the lineup. ... UT Mark McLemore, on the DL following minor right knee surgery, took practice at second base before the game for about 20 minutes. McLemore has done several infield sessions already and will do another Saturday. "He's getting close," third-base coach Ron Washington said. "All he needs to do is go play." McLemore is still working to get back in playing shape. ... Longtime A's public address announcer Roy Steele will miss this weekend's series while recovering from hernia surgery. Dick Callahan, current PA announcer for Cal football and formerly for the Golden State Warriors, is handling the duties. Steele has been the A's PA announcer since the team moved west in 1968. His 37 years of service is the third longest tenure in the majors behind the Yankees' Bob Sheppard (54 seasons) and Minnesota's Bob Casey (43). Steele had missed just two games.