MONDAY'S TIDBITS
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Line of the Day
Mark McLemore
He'd gone 17 years -- and 5,348 at-bats -- without a grand slam. Until Monday. McLemore hit his first career grand slam, ending the longest slam drought among active players. |
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Hero of the day
Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup after missing two games with tonsillitis and he drilled his fourth homer in his last five games, a 427-foot shot in the ninth with two runners on to seal the Marlins' 8-3 victory over the Braves.
Goat of the day
The Braves' Julio Franco twice hit into inning-ending double plays with the bases loaded in a loss to the Marlins.
Injury report
Braves OF Gary Sheffield underwent an MRI on his ailing left wrist. While the procedure confirmed that Sheffield doesn't have anything more serious than a sprain, he wasn't able to start against the Marlins. Sheffield already has missed three games because of the injury, which occurred April 3 and has lingered ever since.
Streak of the day
The Mariners won for the 13th time in their last 14 games, improving the majors' best record to 16-4.
Stat of the day
Since McLemore ended the longest current drought with his grand slam, Milwaukee's Eric Young now has the longest active drought with 4,585 at-bats and no slams.
The last word
"So he's the one who's on the hook now. Oh well. Sorry about that."
-- The Mariners' McLemore upon hearing Young leads the grand slam drought list
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
White Sox-Indians
Chicago: OF Kenny Lofton, back in Cleveland for the first time
since leaving the Indians, entered Monday having scored in 14
consecutive games. The only streak longer in the AL since 1996 was
Lofton's 18-game streak in 2000. During that span, Lofton scored 26
runs. ... White Sox manager Jerry Manuel has been more impressed by
Lofton's attitude than his fast start. "He's been a great leadoff
hitter and a great teammate," said Manuel. "He's taken Ray Durham
under his wing. I don't know how long he can last, but he's been
special." ... Chicago's bullpen came in with a nine-inning
scoreless streak. ... RHP Todd Ritchie, Tuesday's scheduled
starter, is 2-0 with a 1.36 ERA in his career against Cleveland. He
shut out the Indians on four hits last season with Pittsburgh. ...
SS Royce Clayton came into the four-game series with the longest
current errorless streak among AL shortstops, 47 games.
Cleveland: Wil Cordero was designated for assignment and will
likely be released in a week. Cordero has been a disappointment for
three years, and the Indians have run out of patience. "We just
don't think Wil can succeed in that role anymore," Indians GM Mark
Shapiro said. "This was the time to make the move." Cordero has
never adjusted to being a role player, and was batting just .222
with one RBI. ... In the last seven games, Indians starters have
seen their ERA soar from 3.19 to 6.03 as they went 0-6 with an
11.97 ERA. They started the season 10-0 when the Indians got off to
an 11-1 start before losing six straight. ... Shapiro said RHP
Jaret Wright will likely have his first bullpen session on May 1.
Wright was placed on the disabled list in March with stiffness in
his shoulder. He has had surgery the past two years.
Tigers-Royals
Detroit: The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP Julio Santana
from Triple-A Toledo and activated INF Damian Jackson from the
disabled list. At the same time, they placed C Mitch Meluskey on
the 15-day DL retroactive to April 21 with lower back pain. Also,
LHP Matt Perisho was designated for assignment, OF Craig Monroe was
optioned to Toledo and C Brandon Inge was recalled from Toledo.
.... The eight runs Jose Lima gave up to Chicago in the first
inning Sunday were the most the Tigers have allowed in an opening
inning since Minnesota got eight on May 20, 1998.
Kansas City: Tony Muser admitted his days as manager could be
numbered. He said he had been talking about the situation with
owner David Glass and general manager Allard Baird. "He wants to
win. Mr. Glass wants to win. I want to win," Muser said. "And
when you don't win, they make changes and that's a fact in this
game. It's a fact. So I'm not afraid of it." The Royals on Monday
began a 13-game span against two other struggling clubs, Detroit
and Baltimore, which could give him a chance to get things turned
around. ... OF Mark Quinn, on the DL with a fractured rib, is
expected to go to Triple-A Omaha soon for at least a week. Closer
Roberto Hernandez, out with a strained elbow, will also get a
couple of outings at Omaha soon.
Angels-Mariners
Anaheim: Entering Monday's game, Angels starters had pitched
into the seventh inning in seven of the previous nine games. The
team's record during that stretch is 3-6. ... Before losing to
Oakland on Sunday, Anaheim had a streak of 89 consecutive victories
when leading after eight innings.
Seattle: The starting lineup against LHP Scott Schoeneweis
featured eight right-handed hitters. Ichiro Suzuki was the only
lefty. ... Dan Wilson entered Monday's game with a six-game hitting
streak, his longest since 1999. ... After scoring three or more
runs in at least one inning in each of their first 16 games, they
enter Monday's game without more than one run in an inning in any
of the last three games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Marlins-Braves
Florida: OF Cliff Floyd was back in the lineup after missing two
games with swollen tonsils. Floyd, who treated the condition with
antibiotics, was robbed of a homer in his first at-bat. Braves RF
B.J. Surhoff reached above the yellow line to snare a ball that was
headed out of the park, costing Floyd a two-run homer. He stood
between first and second with his hands on his helmet, a look of
disbelief when he realized that Surhoff made the catch. ... Josh
Beckett will make a homecoming of sorts on Tuesday. The Spring,
Texas, native is scheduled to start against the Houston Astros. ...
C Charles Johnson started slow after coming off the disabled list.
He had just one hit in his first six games for an .077 average.
Atlanta: OF Gary Sheffield underwent an MRI on his ailing left
wrist. While the procedure confirmed that Sheffield doesn't have
anything more serious than a sprain, he wasn't able to start
against the Marlins. "It's just too sore," manager Bobby Cox
said. "It's OK. It's just a sprain. But he can't go." Sheffield
already has missed three games because of the injury, which
occurred April 3 and has lingered ever since. He returned to play
two games over the weekend but is clearly hampered by the sore
wrist. Coming into Monday, Sheffield was batting just .238 and had
not homered since beginning the season with three in the first
three games for the Braves. ... Wes Helms had three hits in
Sunday's victory over the Marlins. His reward: a spot on the bench
for Monday's game. Even with Sheffield sidelined, Cox started
Surhoff in right field and Julio Franco, batting just .175, at
first base. Helms was hitting .500 (7-of-14). ... RHP Albie Lopez
will make a rehab start for Double-A Greenville when the minor
league team plays Tennessee in a Southern League game Tuesday
night. Lopez, the Braves' fifth starter, has been on the disabled
list since April 8 with a strained right groin. In two games, he is
1-1 with a 4.50 ERA.
