BOSTON: SS Nomar Garciaparra is making steady progress in his recovery from an Achilles' injury, and manager Terry Francona is encouraged. Garciaparra worked in a gym on Sunday and reported no problems. ''Nomar had a great day Sunday working out back home,'' Francona said. ''He did everything, took grounders, and told me he was going after it pretty good. He sounded great and said it was a stringent workout.'' The team doesn't have a date in mind for Garciaparra's return. ... OF Trot Nixon, sidelined all season with a herniated disc, also has a strained left quadriceps he injured during extended spring training. ''That's put him back a little,'' Francona said. ... Closer Keith Foulke was not available Sunday in Texas because of back spasms, and Francona wasn't sure how much he could use the right-hander during the four-game series in Cleveland. ... Red Sox vice president of baseball operations Mike Port was in serious condition after having a heart attack last weekend. Port, 58, was out shopping on Saturday when he felt ill. ''Everywhere we go, people ask about him,'' Francona said. ''He's one of the gentlemen in the game who has done so much. All our thoughts are with him.''
CLEVELAND: Ellis Burks was glad to be back home, but disappointed he wasn't playing. Burks, who spent three seasons with the Indians before signing as a free agent with Boston last winter, will miss the four-game series at Jacobs Field while he recovers from surgery on his left knee. ''Yeah, it's too bad,'' Burks said. ''It would have been nice. But it's just one of those things.'' Burks had hoped to re-sign with the Indians, but the team backed off following some initial talks. ''They decided to go another way,'' he said. ''But you can't hold grudges because of that. There's no hard feelings.'' ... Manager Eric Wedge shuffled his lineup, batting C Victor Martinez in the No. 4 spot for the first time this season. The move paid off immediately when Martinez hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from Curt Schilling. ... Before Martinez's shot, 17 of Cleveland's 21 homers were solo shots. ... Based on their May 1 roster, the Indians are the AL's youngest team with an average of 28.45 years. Detroit is second at 28.71. Only Montreal (27.75) and Pittsburgh (28.2) are younger.
Royals-Blue Jays
KANSAS CITY: The Royals recalled left-hander Jamie Cerda from Triple-A Omaha. Cerda made the opening day roster and went 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four games. He had a 3.00 ERA in four games with Omaha. The Royals optioned right-hander Eduardo Villacis to Double-A Wichita. He made his major league debut against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings. ... The Royals plan to start three left-handers against Toronto. LHP Jimmy Gobble pitched Monday, Darrell May is scheduled to go Tuesday and Brian Anderson pitches Wednesday. ... May will make his first start since April 24 against Minnesota. He left that game early with discomfort in his left groin. ... After using a club-record 53 players in 2003, the Royals have already used 32 this season. Kansas City has used 16 position players and 16 pitchers, including seven starters.
TORONTO: Cal Ripken threw out the ceremonial first pitch. He's on a 10-city tour to promote an instructional book co-written with his brother, Billy. Asked about steroids in baseball, Ripken said: ''The game is in jeopardy of being perceived as not fair or real.'' Ripken said he's also concerned that children are not playing baseball as much anymore. ''It's kind of sad to me that soccer fields have replaced baseball fields,'' he said. ''I'd like to do whatever I can to energize and try to get the kids out there playing again.'' ... The Blue Jays went 5-1 against the Royals last season. ... SS Chris Woodward missed his second straight game with a strained right hamstring. Manager Carlos Tosca said Woodward will probably miss two more games, then return Friday following an off-day on Thursday. Woodward hit .485 (16-for-33) on Toronto's 10-game road trip.
White Sox-Orioles
CHICAGO: 1B Paul Konerko was given the day off by manager Ozzie Guillen in an effort to let the slumping player clear his mind. ''I wanted to give him a day off,'' Guillen said. ''Not physically, but mentally.'' Konerko hit .167 (3-for-18) in his last five games. ... The White Sox entered with a major league-best 9-1 record in one-run games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time Chicago won nine one-run games in its first 25 was 1941. ... The White Sox had not made an error in 42 innings since April 24. ... Chicago had homered in 13 straight games, and led the AL with 37 home runs. ... Ross Gload got his eighth career start in LF. ... OF Magglio Ordonez came in with a .344 lifetime batting average at Camden Yards.
BALTIMORE: C Javy Lopez returned to the lineup after missing two games with a strained muscle in his right side. ''He said he felt great. I think he's chomping at the bit to get back,'' manager Lee Mazzilli said. ... Two rainouts in the span of a week has played havoc with the Orioles' rotation, and as a result Matt Riley has been assigned temporarily to pitch out of the bullpen. It's a unique role for Riley, who was preparing for the possibility of making his first relief appearance since 2000. ''It's going to be a little different, but it's something I don't have a problem doing,'' Riley said. ... 2B Jerry Hairston, who started the season on the 15-day disabled list with a broken finger, will probably remain in Florida on a rehab assignment until the middle of the week, Mazzilli said. ''His finger is fine, but you have to remember he hasn't played in six months,'' the manager stressed. ''It's kind of like spring training starting over.''
Tigers-Angels
DETROIT: The Tigers usually fly on owner Mike Ilitch's private plane. But they had to settle for a charter flight from Detroit to Anaheim because Ilitch's other team the Red Wings has first priority during the NHL playoffs. The Red Wings went into Monday night's game at Calgary trailing that series 3-2. ''Depending on what happens tonight, we may get it back not that I want that to happen, because when they win, it makes our owner happy,'' bullpen coach Lance Parrish said.
ANAHEIM: It was difficult for longtime members of the organization to concentrate on work Monday after hearing that Boston Red Sox executive Mike Port was hospitalized in serious condition because of a heart attack. Port, 58, was instrumental in building three division champions during his 14 seasons in Anaheim the last seven years as senior vice president and general manager. He was hired as minor league director in 1978. ''Mike's one of those people I refer to as truly indestructible,'' said Tim Mead, the team's vice president of communications. ''Mike's wife has been tremendous, sending us e-mails updating his condition but until I talk to him, I'm still going to worry about him. Mike's my mentor. ... I'm glad to see that the Red Sox recognized the type of person he is but he's as important to baseball as he is to the Red Sox. Mike is universally respected in this game, and that's why this comes as a shock whether he's 58 or 68.'' ... RHP Ramon Ortiz, who is 1-3 with a 9.28 ERA in five starts, was demoted to the bullpen. RHP Aaron Sele will start Thursday instead. Sele made an emergency start Saturday because of Kelvim Escobar's split fingernail and allowed two hits over five innings in a 1-0 win at Minnesota. Manager Mike Scioscia said Ortiz would have gone to the 'pen regardless of how well Sele pitched, because he wanted Ortiz to straighten himself out. ... RHP Brendan Donnelly was happy to be back at his locker although it was for a brief time while he packed for a rehab assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Donnelly, one of baseball's best setup men last season, hasn't pitched since a batted ball during batting practice broke his nose in spring training. ''It's taken longer than I expected. But I'm ahead of schedule, as far as what the doctors were saying,'' said Donnelly, who had been in Phoenix since the injury. ''I was going insane in Arizona, and it was frustrating having to start over. The biggest problem has been getting my strength back, but I'm pretty close right now.''
Devil Rays-Rangers
TAMPA BAY: Manager Lou Piniella has received calls from friends around the country checking on his health after recent media reports said he has diabetes. ''I feel great. I'm not dying,'' Piniella said with a laugh. ''I've just got to take a little pill.'' ... Rocco Baldelli was originally in the starting lineup as the centerfielder, but was switched to DH because of a stiff neck. Carl Crawford moved from LF to CF, Aubrey Huff switched from DH to 3B, and Damian Rolls from 3B to LF. ... Piniella has been encouraged by his starters' recent outings. Tampa Bay started the night having allowed 109 runs, tied with Texas for second fewest in the AL behind Boston. ''Our last time through the rotation, we had a chance to win every game,'' Piniella said. ''Now we've got to score some runs, and we will.'' The Devil Rays started the night last in the AL in runs scored.
TEXAS: RHP Mickey Callaway will undergo surgery this week to reposition the ulnar nerve in his pitching arm. Callaway has been on the DL since April 14 due to nerve irritation in his elbow after compiling a 23.14 ERA in two appearances. The Rangers hope Callaway will recover in time to resume pitching late in the season. ... CF Laynce Nix missed his fourth straight start due to a sore left foot, but was available to pinch hit. ... C Gerald Laird was named AL Rookie of the Month for April.
NATIONAL LEAGUE Cubs-Cardinals
CHICAGO: The outlook for the return of 2B Mark Grudzielanek from a partially torn right Achilles' tendon remains unclear. Gruzielanek said there was swelling from running a few days ago, ''so we kind of had to shut it down for a little bit.'' He's been out since April 10 and said once he feels right he'll have to go on a rehab assignment. ''We're kind of winging it here, but it's nice that you have the luxury to relax and make sure it's right.'' Todd Walker, who was 3-for-5 with three RBIs Sunday his third three-hit game of the season, has filled in for Grudzielanek. ... Greg Maddux is 21-16 against the Cardinals for his career with 2.52 ERA, including 11 complete games. He matched his career high with two runs scored. The last time he scored was June 12, 1988, at St. Louis when he was with the Cubs. ... The Cubs are 12-1 when scoring four or more runs. ... Sammy Sosa's ninth-inning home run was his first in nine games. He has 545 career homers, three behind Mike Schmidt for ninth place.
ST. LOUIS: RHP Jason Marquis is 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last five starts. ... The Cardinals were 9-for-64 (.141) with runners in scoring position during a 3-4 homestand. They were 1-for-8 Monday and 4-for-28 (.143) against the Cubs and never scored more than one run in any inning in the series. They had one inning with three hits, the sixth inning on Monday. ... OF Roger Cedeno (hamstring) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Monday. He could join the team in about a week. .. Reggie Sanders went 1-for-11 in the series and was hitless in the last three games. Before Sunday, Sanders hadn't gone hitless for two straight games since Aug. 27-28, 2003, a span of 44 games. ... Jim Edmonds was 0-for-10 for his career against Greg Maddux before he singled in the sixth. ... Cardinals starters have worked six or more innings in each of the last 13 games.
Reds-Astros
CINCINNATI: INF Ryan Freel will miss at least two games after hurting his neck in Sunday's 6-5 loss to Houston. Freel was injured while trying to field a ball in the fifth inning. He aggravated the injury while trying to turn a double play in the sixth. ''He's a little sore,'' manager Dave Miley said. ''He'll probably miss two, three days. Maybe four.'' ... SS Barry Larkin called a players-only meeting Sunday following the Reds' fifth consecutive loss. Larkin said he told the team that it's important to not get down on itself. ''It happens,'' Larkin said after Sunday's game. ''Don't get into cliques and blame this person or that person. There's no glaring reason why.'' Well, maybe there is. In the five defeats, Cincinnati's bullpen has blown three saves and has a 13.83 ERA. ... The Reds will end their longest road trip of the season Monday in Houston, then return to Cincinnati for a game against Milwaukee on Tuesday. They've played 10 games in 11 days in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Houston. ''What a journey it has been,'' Miley joked.
HOUSTON: RHP Roger Clemens added another honor to one of the most distinguished pitching careers in major league history: National League pitcher of the month. Clemens has been named pitcher of the month 15 times in his career, but this was his first in the NL. ''It means I had a lot of help,'' he said Monday. ''We've had a lot of guys shine and make me look good.'' Clemens, 41, became the first Astros pitcher to win five starts in April. He leads the league in wins and is tied for fourth in the NL with a 1.95 ERA. Clemens hadn't been named pitcher of the month since June 2001 with the New York Yankees. ... Struggling RHP Tim Redding will remain in the Astros' starting rotation for now. Redding is 0-3 with a 10.57 ERA after four starts, including a miserable performance in Houston's win on Sunday. Redding allowed four runs on five hits in 3 innings the third straight start in which he failed to get past the fourth inning. Manager Jimy Williams said Monday that he believes Redding will eventually turn it around. ''By him having confidence in me, it makes me feel like I belong here,'' Redding said. ''This team is trying to win championships this isn't a season to struggle and figure out whether you belong or not.''
CLEVELAND: Ellis Burks was glad to be back home, but disappointed he wasn't playing. Burks, who spent three seasons with the Indians before signing as a free agent with Boston last winter, will miss the four-game series at Jacobs Field while he recovers from surgery on his left knee. ''Yeah, it's too bad,'' Burks said. ''It would have been nice. But it's just one of those things.'' Burks had hoped to re-sign with the Indians, but the team backed off following some initial talks. ''They decided to go another way,'' he said. ''But you can't hold grudges because of that. There's no hard feelings.'' ... Manager Eric Wedge shuffled his lineup, batting C Victor Martinez in the No. 4 spot for the first time this season. The move paid off immediately when Martinez hit a two-run homer on the first pitch he saw from Curt Schilling. ... Before Martinez's shot, 17 of Cleveland's 21 homers were solo shots. ... Based on their May 1 roster, the Indians are the AL's youngest team with an average of 28.45 years. Detroit is second at 28.71. Only Montreal (27.75) and Pittsburgh (28.2) are younger.
Royals-Blue Jays
KANSAS CITY: The Royals recalled left-hander Jamie Cerda from Triple-A Omaha. Cerda made the opening day roster and went 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four games. He had a 3.00 ERA in four games with Omaha. The Royals optioned right-hander Eduardo Villacis to Double-A Wichita. He made his major league debut against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings. ... The Royals plan to start three left-handers against Toronto. LHP Jimmy Gobble pitched Monday, Darrell May is scheduled to go Tuesday and Brian Anderson pitches Wednesday. ... May will make his first start since April 24 against Minnesota. He left that game early with discomfort in his left groin. ... After using a club-record 53 players in 2003, the Royals have already used 32 this season. Kansas City has used 16 position players and 16 pitchers, including seven starters.
TORONTO: Cal Ripken threw out the ceremonial first pitch. He's on a 10-city tour to promote an instructional book co-written with his brother, Billy. Asked about steroids in baseball, Ripken said: ''The game is in jeopardy of being perceived as not fair or real.'' Ripken said he's also concerned that children are not playing baseball as much anymore. ''It's kind of sad to me that soccer fields have replaced baseball fields,'' he said. ''I'd like to do whatever I can to energize and try to get the kids out there playing again.'' ... The Blue Jays went 5-1 against the Royals last season. ... SS Chris Woodward missed his second straight game with a strained right hamstring. Manager Carlos Tosca said Woodward will probably miss two more games, then return Friday following an off-day on Thursday. Woodward hit .485 (16-for-33) on Toronto's 10-game road trip.
White Sox-Orioles
CHICAGO: 1B Paul Konerko was given the day off by manager Ozzie Guillen in an effort to let the slumping player clear his mind. ''I wanted to give him a day off,'' Guillen said. ''Not physically, but mentally.'' Konerko hit .167 (3-for-18) in his last five games. ... The White Sox entered with a major league-best 9-1 record in one-run games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time Chicago won nine one-run games in its first 25 was 1941. ... The White Sox had not made an error in 42 innings since April 24. ... Chicago had homered in 13 straight games, and led the AL with 37 home runs. ... Ross Gload got his eighth career start in LF. ... OF Magglio Ordonez came in with a .344 lifetime batting average at Camden Yards.
BALTIMORE: C Javy Lopez returned to the lineup after missing two games with a strained muscle in his right side. ''He said he felt great. I think he's chomping at the bit to get back,'' manager Lee Mazzilli said. ... Two rainouts in the span of a week has played havoc with the Orioles' rotation, and as a result Matt Riley has been assigned temporarily to pitch out of the bullpen. It's a unique role for Riley, who was preparing for the possibility of making his first relief appearance since 2000. ''It's going to be a little different, but it's something I don't have a problem doing,'' Riley said. ... 2B Jerry Hairston, who started the season on the 15-day disabled list with a broken finger, will probably remain in Florida on a rehab assignment until the middle of the week, Mazzilli said. ''His finger is fine, but you have to remember he hasn't played in six months,'' the manager stressed. ''It's kind of like spring training starting over.''
Tigers-Angels
DETROIT: The Tigers usually fly on owner Mike Ilitch's private plane. But they had to settle for a charter flight from Detroit to Anaheim because Ilitch's other team the Red Wings has first priority during the NHL playoffs. The Red Wings went into Monday night's game at Calgary trailing that series 3-2. ''Depending on what happens tonight, we may get it back not that I want that to happen, because when they win, it makes our owner happy,'' bullpen coach Lance Parrish said.
ANAHEIM: It was difficult for longtime members of the organization to concentrate on work Monday after hearing that Boston Red Sox executive Mike Port was hospitalized in serious condition because of a heart attack. Port, 58, was instrumental in building three division champions during his 14 seasons in Anaheim the last seven years as senior vice president and general manager. He was hired as minor league director in 1978. ''Mike's one of those people I refer to as truly indestructible,'' said Tim Mead, the team's vice president of communications. ''Mike's wife has been tremendous, sending us e-mails updating his condition but until I talk to him, I'm still going to worry about him. Mike's my mentor. ... I'm glad to see that the Red Sox recognized the type of person he is but he's as important to baseball as he is to the Red Sox. Mike is universally respected in this game, and that's why this comes as a shock whether he's 58 or 68.'' ... RHP Ramon Ortiz, who is 1-3 with a 9.28 ERA in five starts, was demoted to the bullpen. RHP Aaron Sele will start Thursday instead. Sele made an emergency start Saturday because of Kelvim Escobar's split fingernail and allowed two hits over five innings in a 1-0 win at Minnesota. Manager Mike Scioscia said Ortiz would have gone to the 'pen regardless of how well Sele pitched, because he wanted Ortiz to straighten himself out. ... RHP Brendan Donnelly was happy to be back at his locker although it was for a brief time while he packed for a rehab assignment at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga. Donnelly, one of baseball's best setup men last season, hasn't pitched since a batted ball during batting practice broke his nose in spring training. ''It's taken longer than I expected. But I'm ahead of schedule, as far as what the doctors were saying,'' said Donnelly, who had been in Phoenix since the injury. ''I was going insane in Arizona, and it was frustrating having to start over. The biggest problem has been getting my strength back, but I'm pretty close right now.''
Devil Rays-Rangers
TAMPA BAY: Manager Lou Piniella has received calls from friends around the country checking on his health after recent media reports said he has diabetes. ''I feel great. I'm not dying,'' Piniella said with a laugh. ''I've just got to take a little pill.'' ... Rocco Baldelli was originally in the starting lineup as the centerfielder, but was switched to DH because of a stiff neck. Carl Crawford moved from LF to CF, Aubrey Huff switched from DH to 3B, and Damian Rolls from 3B to LF. ... Piniella has been encouraged by his starters' recent outings. Tampa Bay started the night having allowed 109 runs, tied with Texas for second fewest in the AL behind Boston. ''Our last time through the rotation, we had a chance to win every game,'' Piniella said. ''Now we've got to score some runs, and we will.'' The Devil Rays started the night last in the AL in runs scored.
TEXAS: RHP Mickey Callaway will undergo surgery this week to reposition the ulnar nerve in his pitching arm. Callaway has been on the DL since April 14 due to nerve irritation in his elbow after compiling a 23.14 ERA in two appearances. The Rangers hope Callaway will recover in time to resume pitching late in the season. ... CF Laynce Nix missed his fourth straight start due to a sore left foot, but was available to pinch hit. ... C Gerald Laird was named AL Rookie of the Month for April.
NATIONAL LEAGUE Cubs-Cardinals
CHICAGO: The outlook for the return of 2B Mark Grudzielanek from a partially torn right Achilles' tendon remains unclear. Gruzielanek said there was swelling from running a few days ago, ''so we kind of had to shut it down for a little bit.'' He's been out since April 10 and said once he feels right he'll have to go on a rehab assignment. ''We're kind of winging it here, but it's nice that you have the luxury to relax and make sure it's right.'' Todd Walker, who was 3-for-5 with three RBIs Sunday his third three-hit game of the season, has filled in for Grudzielanek. ... Greg Maddux is 21-16 against the Cardinals for his career with 2.52 ERA, including 11 complete games. He matched his career high with two runs scored. The last time he scored was June 12, 1988, at St. Louis when he was with the Cubs. ... The Cubs are 12-1 when scoring four or more runs. ... Sammy Sosa's ninth-inning home run was his first in nine games. He has 545 career homers, three behind Mike Schmidt for ninth place.
ST. LOUIS: RHP Jason Marquis is 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last five starts. ... The Cardinals were 9-for-64 (.141) with runners in scoring position during a 3-4 homestand. They were 1-for-8 Monday and 4-for-28 (.143) against the Cubs and never scored more than one run in any inning in the series. They had one inning with three hits, the sixth inning on Monday. ... OF Roger Cedeno (hamstring) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Monday. He could join the team in about a week. .. Reggie Sanders went 1-for-11 in the series and was hitless in the last three games. Before Sunday, Sanders hadn't gone hitless for two straight games since Aug. 27-28, 2003, a span of 44 games. ... Jim Edmonds was 0-for-10 for his career against Greg Maddux before he singled in the sixth. ... Cardinals starters have worked six or more innings in each of the last 13 games.
Reds-Astros
CINCINNATI: INF Ryan Freel will miss at least two games after hurting his neck in Sunday's 6-5 loss to Houston. Freel was injured while trying to field a ball in the fifth inning. He aggravated the injury while trying to turn a double play in the sixth. ''He's a little sore,'' manager Dave Miley said. ''He'll probably miss two, three days. Maybe four.'' ... SS Barry Larkin called a players-only meeting Sunday following the Reds' fifth consecutive loss. Larkin said he told the team that it's important to not get down on itself. ''It happens,'' Larkin said after Sunday's game. ''Don't get into cliques and blame this person or that person. There's no glaring reason why.'' Well, maybe there is. In the five defeats, Cincinnati's bullpen has blown three saves and has a 13.83 ERA. ... The Reds will end their longest road trip of the season Monday in Houston, then return to Cincinnati for a game against Milwaukee on Tuesday. They've played 10 games in 11 days in Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Houston. ''What a journey it has been,'' Miley joked.
HOUSTON: RHP Roger Clemens added another honor to one of the most distinguished pitching careers in major league history: National League pitcher of the month. Clemens has been named pitcher of the month 15 times in his career, but this was his first in the NL. ''It means I had a lot of help,'' he said Monday. ''We've had a lot of guys shine and make me look good.'' Clemens, 41, became the first Astros pitcher to win five starts in April. He leads the league in wins and is tied for fourth in the NL with a 1.95 ERA. Clemens hadn't been named pitcher of the month since June 2001 with the New York Yankees. ... Struggling RHP Tim Redding will remain in the Astros' starting rotation for now. Redding is 0-3 with a 10.57 ERA after four starts, including a miserable performance in Houston's win on Sunday. Redding allowed four runs on five hits in 3 innings the third straight start in which he failed to get past the fourth inning. Manager Jimy Williams said Monday that he believes Redding will eventually turn it around. ''By him having confidence in me, it makes me feel like I belong here,'' Redding said. ''This team is trying to win championships this isn't a season to struggle and figure out whether you belong or not.''
