The Sacramento Bee from Sacramento, California • C4

V1N39VIAI yiovna 1701-260 "IVNId 3383VS -Q- C4 The Sacramento Bee Tuesday, September 2 1 2004 McLemore enjoying ride into career sunset 3 retiring last winter to spend more time as a businessman, husband and father. He owns a customized-car company and a home-entertainment company in South-lake, Texas, a few miles from Dal joke with his teammates and at the same time monitor his 9- and 10-year-old sons running around the clubhouse. Released twice before turning 27 and labeled a utility player for las, where his wife and three children live most of the year. In the summers, the McLemores reside in the city of Mark's team. McLemore said he's back because his children told him more than a decade, McLemore feels blessed to still have the only job he ever wanted since he began playing as a child in San Diego.

McLemore, the youngest of seven children, Associated PressTed S.Warren Mark McLemore keeps helping the A's, even with aching knees. By Tim Casey BEE STAFF WRITER Saturday morning at Safeco Field, before the A's-Seattle Mariners game, A's second baseman Mark McLemore signed baseballs, hats and other memorabilia. McLemore, a popular member of the Mariners the previous four years, interacted with the fans for about a half-hour, moving from the top step of the visitors' dugout to the seats along the third-base line. He fulfilled every request and enjoyed the experience in likely the final season of his 19-year major-league career. One person gave McLemore a hard time, reminding him of the night before, when he had hit only his second homer of the season.

The ball barely cleared the 385-foot marker in right-center field. "It went far enough," McLemore responded, smiling but with conviction in his voice. "All it had to do was go 38572-" Despite being a part-time contributor and fighting through sore knees, the 39-year-old McLemore has shown his competitive and fun-loving sides in his first season with the A's. McLemore, the A's oldest player, can around the clubhouse." Said Crosby: "You've got to have a lot of respect for a guy like him. He's definitely a guy I look to for advice.

And he's a lot of fun. He's always telling me, You're so smooth. He just keeps everyone loose." McLemore flew to Texas on Sunday night in advance of the A's three-game series starting tonight against the Rangers. He's looking forward to sleeping in his home in Southlake and watching the videotape of his sons' first football games, which he missed Saturday. McLemore said he almost certainly will retire at the end of this season, but he hasn't made an official announcement.

"I love being in the majors, absolutely love it," McLemore said. "I'm definitely going to miss the camaraderie with the guys, the competition on the field. There'll be a lot I'll miss. But I've always known there comes a point in time where it's going to end. "There are so many things to do.

It'll be just a new chapter in my life." The Bee's Tim Casey can be reached at (916) 326-5510 or tcaseysacbee.com. the disabled list. McLemore made his A's debut May 1 1 and has shared time with Marco Scutaro. Entering today's game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, McLemore is batting .253 in 72 games. With the A's in first place in the American League West, McLemore might yet get to play for a World Series championship.

Several times this year, doctors have drained fluid from his right knee. Every day, before and after games, McLemore has ice on both knees. He had surgery on his left knee in 1998. Three years ago, McLemore stole 39 bases. He's no longer a running threat, having been caught on his two steal attempts this year.

Many are amazed he's still playing. "You don't play as long as Mac has without (a) being a tremendous talent and (b) putting up with some physical adversity and just mentally overcoming it," A's trainer Larry Davis said. "He's been a marvel in what he'll put up with in order to play." Said A's third-base coach Ron Washington: "He's doing a hell of a job for how hurt he is. He has no excuses. He goes out there, gives you what he has, and usually, it's pretty good." Washington, 52, remembers McLemore as a rookie in 1986.

Washington then played for the Minnesota Twins, McLemore for the Angels. Six years later, after being released by the Cleveland Indians in 1990 and Houston Astros in 1991, McLemore turned around his fortunes with the Orioles. Near the end of the 1992 season, Baltimore manager Johnny Oates noticed McLemore catching fly balls in batting practice. He had always been an infielder, but the next spring, McLemore reported early and became an outfielder. In 1993, he led A.L.

right fielders in assists. McLemore has never been an All-Star, but he has made an impact on and off the field. McLemore has a secret handshake for each teammate, and he encourages the entire squad. He also tutors the young infielders, including Scutaro and rookie shortstop Bobby Crosby. "He's a good player that can do a lot of things for you, and he's just an upbeat guy, Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez said.

"He's a super guy to have received more college scholarship offers as a wide receiver and defensive back than as an infield-er. But when the then-California Angels drafted him out of high school in the ninth round in 1982, McLemore signed, beginning a journey during which he has played several positions in seven organizations. "I was good at other sports, but baseball's always been my passion," McLemore said. "That's the difference. It's not something I like or love or enjoy.

This is my passion. This is what God put me here to do." Still, McLemore was close to they wanted him to continue playing and because he yearns for his first World Series championship. Five times since 1996, McLemore has been on playoff teams yet has never played in a World Series. In early March, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles. But he underwent right knee surgery March 20, and the Orioles didn't put him on their active roster.

A's general manager Billy Beane then asked McLemore's agent if the player was available. McLemore asked for and received a release from the Orioles on April 3. Two days later, he signed with the A's and went on NATIONAL LEAGUE BOX SCORES American League box scores Tigers 3, Indians 1 Baseball Blue Jays 6, Yankees 3 TORONTO AB Bl BB SO AVG. First Game Cubs 5, Marlins 1 CHICAGO AB Bl BB SO AVG. CLEVELAND Bl BB SO AVG.

0 0 0 0 0 .282 1 2 0 5 5 4 0 0 .350 0 .265 0 .279 1 .270 1 .285 0 .249 1 .280 1 .228 0 .219 5 1 2 5 1 2 5 2 2 3 0 1 4 0 1 5 0 1 5 1 2 3 1 1 4 0 1 39 6 13 CHICAGO IP RER BBSO ERA Clement 9-1 3 273 3 5 5 3 3 3.68 Leicester 173 1 0 0 1 3 3.79 Farnsworth 2 0 0 0 1 1 4.95 Mercker 1 0 0 0 0 1 2.17 Wuertz 1 0 0 0 1 1 4.94 FLORIDA IP RER BBSO ERA Weathers 7-7 5 2 1 1 2 6 4.42 Seanez 12 111 2 3.63 2 0 0 0 0 2 2.06 1 1 0 0 0 1 1.10 HBP by Clement (Conine). WP Clement. A 2 Cardinals 7, Brewers 4 ST. LOUIS AB Bl BB SO AVG. National League WEST DIVISION American League WEST DIVISION 1 .287 0 .272 0 .292 0 .248 0 .316 0 .289 1 .231 0 .271 1 .333 0 .293 1 .208 4 0 10 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 11 0 0 0 0 4 0 10 3 0 2 0 3 0 10 10 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 .280 2 .251 1 .292 4 .294 0 .278 0 -0 .263 0 .316 0 .268 0 .208 1 .133 0 .000 0 .306 Pet GB L10 5 110 5 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 2 0 10 4 13 1 4 110 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 5 16 5 Bl BB SO AVG.

584 Adams ss OHudson2b VWellscf CDelgado 1b Riosrf Hinske3b Menechino dh Gross If Quirozc Totals NEWYORK Jeter ss ARodriguez 3b BWilliamscf Matsui If Posada Sierra dh Olerudlb Cairo 2b Lofton rf TCIarkph Crosby pr Totals Toronto NewYork Str W2 W1 W2 L3 5 0 1 0 0 0 .290 3 0 1 2 1 1 .295 3 0 1 0 1 0 .257 62 65 67 94 Belliard 2b Crisp If Blake 3b VMartinezc JPhelpsdh THafner ph Merloni pr-dh Ludwickrf Broussard 1 Peralta ss Vizquel ph-ss Sizemorecf Totals DETROIT Infante ss Higginson rf IRodriguezc DYoungdh Monroe If CPena 1b Inge 3b JSmith 2b Logan cf Totals Cleveland Detroit 34 1 8 1 4 4 AB Bl BB SO AVG. A'S Anaheim Texas Seattle 6- 4 5-5 7- 3 4-6 .567 2V2 .550 5 .373 31V2 87 85 82 56 0 0 0 .267 Bl BB SO AVG. CPattersoncf NPerezss Aloulf DeLee 1 TWalker2b Hawkins Grieve rf ARamrz ph-3b Macias 3b-rf Bakoc Prior Dempster Grdzielanek2b Totals FLORIDA Pierre cf LCastillo 2b Lo Ducac Cabrera If Lowell 3b Conine 1b JEncrnacion rf AGonzalez ss Pavano Perisho Mordecai ph Bump LHarrisph Totals Chicago Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 3 0 CENTRAL DIVISION 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 3 10 0 3 110 110 0 10 10 0 0 0 0 31 3 7 2 1 .294 0 .268 1 .249 0 .261 0 .290 0 .279 0 .233 0 .156 3 Pet GB .246 .336 .280 .293 .248 .294 .264 .267 0 0 0 0 .298 1 .299 1 .304 2 .294 0 .278 1 .238 88 0 .306 0 .288 0 .330 1 .257 1 .315 0 .259 1 .284 0 .249 0 .247 0 .299 0 .227 0 .315 0 .239 0 .161 0 .219 0 .333 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Womack2b Taguchi cf Pujols 1b RSanders If LWalkerrf Cede no ph-rf Renteriass Matheny Lankford pr Mabry3b Luna 3b Edmonds ph YMolinac Morris MAnderson rf Isringhsen Totals 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 8 3 L10 8-2 3-7 3- 7 4- 6 5- 5 3 1 1 0 Home 49-25 43-33 46- 25 37- 42 Home 47- 31 41- 34 42- 35 35- 38 32-41 Home 52-23 51-24 31-39 36- 35 38- 40 Away 38-37 42-32 36-42 19-52 Away 41- 31 33-41 30-43 33-43 23-53 Away 42- 33 38- 36 39- 39 27-50 25-47 .587 1372 .480 16 .456 1972 .369 3272 x-Minnesota Chicago Cleveland Detroit Kansas City 101 010 120-6 13 1 000 001 020 3 7 0 Pet GB L10 Str Home Away LA. 86 63 .577 5-5 W1 45-29 41-34 GIANTS 84 66 .560 Th 8-2 W1 44-32 40-34 San Diego 80 70 .533 6V2 6-4 L1 36-36 44-34 Colorado 64 85 .430 22 3-7 L1 35-40 29-45 Arizona 47103 .313 3912 5-5 W1 25-50 22-53 CENTRAL DIVISION Pet GB L10 Str Home Away x-St. Louis 98 51 .658 5-5 W1 51-26 47-25 Chicago 83 66 .557 15 7-3 L1 43-32 40-34 Houston 83 67 .553 1512 7-3 W4 42-33 41-34 Cincinnati 68 81 .456 30 5-5 L1 39-39 29-42 Pittsburgh 68 81 .456 30 4-6 W2 38-36 30-45 Milwaukee 62 86 .419 3512 1-9 L7 34-41 28-45 EAST DIVISION Pet GB L10 Str Home Away Atlanta 88 62 .587 6-4 L1 43-29 45-33 Florida 79 70 .530 8V2 5-5 W1 42-35 37-35 Phila.

76 73 .510 1 1 V2 6-4 W1 37-37 39-36 New York 65 85 .433 23 4-6 L2 35-40 30-45 Montreal 63 87 .420 25 4-6 L1 33-38 30-49 000 000 010 1 8 1 200 100 OOx -3 8 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 10 10 2 110 0 0 0 0 36 7 13 6 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 34 1 7 1 Str W2 L1 L1 W1 W1 Str L1 L3 W1 L3 W3 62 75 78 81 94 56 60 78 85 87 1 .219 0 .000 0 .229 9 EAST DIVISION Pet GB L10 E-Adams (4). LOB -Toronto 10, New York 7. 2B OHudson 2 (30), VWells 2 (33), Cairo (17). HR-Adams (2), off JVazquez. RBIs Adams 3 (7), Rios 2 (27), Hinske (68), ARodriguez2 (1 01 GIDP ARodriguez, Matsui, Posada, Sierra.

DP -Toronto 4 (Hinske, OHudson and CDelgado), (Adams, OHudson and CDelgado), (OHudson, Adams and CDelgado), (MBatista, Quiroz and CDelgado); New E-Belliard (14), Inge (13). LOB -Cleveland 1 1 Detroit 1 0. 2B Ludwick (2), Broussard (26). 3B-Broussard (4), JSmith (4). HR Inge (12), off Elarton; DYoung (17), off Elarton.

RBIs THafner (109), DYoung 2 (57), Inge (58). CS-Monroe (3). S-Logan. GIDP-JPhelps. DP-Detroit 1 (Infante, 74 72 68 55 94 89 70 63 63 MILWAUKEE AB Bl BB SO AVG.

130 010 000 5 16 2 100 000 000 1 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 JSmith and CPena). York 1 (Lofton and Olerud). CLEVELAND IP RER BBSO ERA .627 .597 .473 .426 .420 New York Boston Baltimore Tampa Bay Toronto 6-4 5- 5 6- 4 4-6 4-6 TORONTO IP RER BBSO ERA 472 23 30 31 1 2 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 2 4 4.86 0 1 4.50 0 1 3.42 7 4 3 3 3 2 3.86 2 3 0 0 2 1 4.80 IP RER BBSO ERA 673 9 4 4 4 3 4.77 5 7 3 3 10 0 0 73 1 0 0 73 0 0 0 73 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 5.51 1 .247 2 .233 0 .249 1 .262 1 .260 0 .267 1 .264 0 .237 0 .000 1 .000 0 .268 0 .214 0 .279 0 .222 1 .000 0 .239 ChacinW, 1-0 MBatistaS, 2 NEWYORK JVazqzL, 14-10 Heredia Quantril Proctor Nitkowski Gordon 0 0 0.00 0 2 3.82 Elarton 3-5 Cabrera Miller Bartosh Robbins Riske DETROIT Maroth 11- JWalker 16 Yan 5 Podsednikcf Durrington 2b BHallss Jenkins If Branyan3b Magruderrf Helms 1b Counsell ph Liriano MLJohnsonc BCIarkph Moellerc Kieschnickph GBennettc de la rosa KGinterph Wise Overbayph-1t Totals St. Louis Milwaukee 73 0 0 0 73 4 2 2 73 0 0 0 73 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 6.69 0 0 4.47 0 0 5.24 0 0 7.36 0 1 2.27 10 10 0 0 0 0 10 0 1 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 10 10 IP RER BBSO ERA 673 6 0 0 2 3 4.23 73 1 1 1 0 0 4.61 73 1 0 0 1 1 3.21 E-NPerez (8), DeLee (6). LOB -Chicago 10, Florida 8.

2B-CPatterson (31), NPerez (15), Alou (33), DeLee (39). RBIs CPatter-son 2 (68), Alou (98), TWalker (44), Macias (1 9), Lo Duca (76). SB Pierre (39). Prior. SF- Lo Duca.

GIDP-ARamirez, Bako, AGonzalez. DP -Chicago 1 (Prior, NPerez and DeLee); Florida2 (LCastillo, AGonzalez andCo-nine), (AGonzalez and Conine). CHICAGO IP RER BBSO ERA PriorW, 6-4 773 5 1 1 1 9 4.59 Dempster 73 1 0 0 0 0 3.52 Hawkins 1 1 0 0 0 0 2.48 FLORIDA IP RER BBSO ERA 6 12 5 5 1 6 3.11 Perisho 1 1 0 0 0 0 4.01 Bump 2 3 0 0 0 3 5.13 HBP by Pavano (Grieve 2). 2:42. A 0 Second Game Marlins 5, Cubs 2 173 0 0 0 1 0 3.58 Chacin pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

IBB off JVazquez (CDelgado) 2. HBP by Chacin (Lofton). 3:08. A 1 0,732 Orioles 9, Red Sox 6 BALTIMORE AB Bl BB SO AVG. 0 0 0 0 0 0 000 x-clinched division Monday's games Baltimore 9, Boston 6 Detroit 3, Cleveland 1 Toronto 6, N.Y.

Yankees 3 Kansas City 6, Tampa Bay 3 Minnesota 8, Chi. White Sox 2 Anaheim 5, Seattle 2 Tuesday's games A's (Mulder 17-5) at Texas (Drese 13-8), 5:05 p.m. Baltimore (Lopez 13-8) at Boston (Schilling 20-6), 4:05 p.m. Cleveland (Cruceta 0-0) at Detroit (Knotts 5-6), 4:05 p.m. Toronto (Halladay 7-7) at N.Y.

Yankees (Loaiza 9-7), 4:05 p.m. Kansas City (Greinke 8-1 0) at Tampa Bay (Bell 4-8), 4:15 p.m. Minn. (Lohse 8-11) at Chi. White Sox (Garland 10-11), 5:05 p.m.

Seattle (Moyer 6-12) at Anaheim (Sele 9-3), 7:05 p.m. 2 0 0 0 0 0 .305 x-clinched division Monday's games Chi. Cubs 5, Florida 1 1st game Florida 5, Chi. Cubs 2, 2nd game St. Louis 7, Milwaukee 4 Today's games Houston (C.Hernandez 1-2) at Giants (Tomko 10-6), 7:15 p.m.

Chicago Cubs (Wood 8-7) at Pittsburgh (Fogg 9-10), 4:05 p.m. N.Y. Mets (Leiter 9-7) at Montreal (L.Hernandez 10-14), 4:05 p.m. Philadelphia (Lidle 9-12) at Florida (Willis 10-9), 4:05 p.m. Cincinnati (Claussen 2-5) at Atlanta (Thomson 12-8), 4:35 p.m.

St. Louis (Marquis 14-5) at Milwaukee (Santos 10-11), 4:35 p.m. Arizona (R.Johnson 14-13) at Colorado (Estes 14-7), 6:05 p.m. Los Angeles (Weaver 12-11) at San Diego (Eaton 10-13), 7:05 p.m. Bartosh pitched to 1 batter in the 7th.

HBP-by Miller (DYoung), by Maroth (VMartinez), by Elarton (Infante). WP-Maroth. 3:01 A (40,1 20). Royals 6, Devil Rays 3 KANSAS CITY AB Bl BB SO AVG. 33 4 9 4 110 000 113 7 13 1 010 101 100 4 9 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 2 1 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 1 2 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 8 7 1 .278 2 .268 1 .267 1 .266 0 .294 0 .259 1 .233 1 .261 1 .125 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 6 9 5 E-Womack(15).

LOB -St. Louis 10, 2B Taguchi (9), Renteria (33), Matheny (21), Podsednik (25), BHall (19), Magruder (5), Counsell (16), KGinter (19). RBIs-Womack (37), Taguchi (25), Pujols 2 (114), Cedeno (16), Renteria (67), BHall (53), Magruder (8), MLJohnson (1), BCIark (42). SB Luna (5), MAnderson (6). CS Luna (3), BHall (6).

S-Durrington, BHall. SF-Wom-ack, Pujols, MLJohnson. GIDP-Matheny. DP St. Louis 2 (RSanders, Luna and Renteria), (Matheny and Renteria); Milwaukee 1 BRoberts2b Newhan rf Mora 3b Tejada ss RPalmeirodh JLeon pr-dh LLopezph-dh JvLopezc Surhoff If Gibbons 1b Bigbiecf Totals BOSTON Damon cf Bellhorn2b Ramirez If DOrtizdh Millar 1b Mirabellic Mueller 3b Kapler rf Bl BB SO AVG.

Bl BB SO AVG. 1 1 0 0 .293 DeJesuscf Berroass Nunez rf Stairs 1b Randa3b Pickering dh Buckc Gomez If Murphy 2b Totals TAMPA BAY Crawford If Lugoss Huff 1b Baldellicf JoCruzrf TMartinezdh Upton 3b THallc RSanchez2b Totals Kansas City 1 2 0 0 (Branyan, Durrington and Helms; 1 .310 3 .261 0 .307 1 .297 ST. LOUIS IP RER BBSO ERA Cubs gain, then lose ground in playoff race 5 2 2 1 5 73 1 .273 0 .295 1 .283 0 .232 0 .268 0 .268 0 .262 0 .250 1 7 4.55 1 0 2.25 0 1 1.50 0 0 9.00 0 0 2.59 0 0 2.80 1 1 0 1 1 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 8 3 0 1 0 0 1 .297 0 0 0 1 1 .279 1 1 0 0 0 .277 2 2 0 1 1 .278 0 1 0 0 1 .227 73 1 1 1 73 1 0 0 73 0 0 0 10 0 0 Morris Flores Al Reyes Cali TavarezW, 7-4 IsringhusenS, 43 MILWAUKEE de la rosa Wise Adams BS, 5 LVizcaino Kolb 0-4 Liriano IP RER BBSO ERA CHICAGO AB Bl BB SO AVG. CPattersoncf 4 0 0 0 0 3 .278 NPerezss 3 110 1 0 .251 ARamirez3b 4 0 2 1 0 2 .318 Aloulf 3 0 0 0 1 1 .290 DeLee 1b 4 0 0 0 0 2 .292 SSosarf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .257 Grdzielanek2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 .302 TWalker ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .277 Barrett 3 111 1 1 .302 Clement 1 0 0 0 0 1 .145 Leicester 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Grieve ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .262 Farnsworthp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Macias ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .267 Merckerp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Wuertzp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 32 2 5 2 3 11 FLORIDA AB Bl BB SO AVG. Pierre cf 3 110 1 0 .321 LCastillo 2b 2 1 0 0 2 1 .297 Cabrera If 4 1 1 1 0 2 .303 Conine 1b 2 1 0 0 1 0 .277 Easleyrf 3 1 2 4 0 0 .247 JEncrnacion rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 .238 Lowell 3b 4 0 0 0 0 0 .292 AGonzalez ss 4 0 0 0 0 3 .231 Redmond 2 0 0 0 1 1 .252 Weathers 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000 Seanezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mordecai ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .216 Motap 0 0 0 0 0 0 .167 Benitezp 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 Totals 27 5 4 5 6 9 Chicago 001 001 000 2 5 0 Florida 302 000 OOx- 5 4 1 2 021 000 021 6 9 1 200 010 000 3 8 2 Tampa Bay 5 5 2 2 3 1 8.49 1 1 0 0 0 1 3.83 73 2 1 1 1 0 3.31 I73 110 11 4.05 73 4 3 3 1 0 2.83 73 0 0 0 0 0 3.86 E-Stairs (5), Crawford (2), Lugo (25).

Mientkwiczph 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 Varitekph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .298 Gutierrez ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 .324 Totals 38 6 10 6 3 9 Baltimore 000 530 001 9 8 2 Boston 000 222 000 6 10 2 E-Mora (20), Tejada (23), Bellhorn (14), Millar (6). LOB-Baltimore 5, Boston 8. 2B-Mora (37), MRamirez (39), Reese (7). HR Mora (26), off Foulke; DOrtiz (39), off Riley; Surhoff (6), off Wakefield. RBIs -Mora (99), JvLopez 2 (76), Surhoff 4 (45), Damon (81 Bellhorn (78), MRamirez 2 (1 20), DOrtiz 2 (128).

SB-BRoberts (27), Mora (11). CS Mora (6). GIDP -Gibbons. DP Boston IBB -off Adams (Pujols), off Flores (Helms). WP de la rosa, LVizcaino 2, Liriano.

PB Moeller. 3:23. A 1 4,21 3 (41 Wild-Card Races AMERICAN LEAGUE Pet GB Boston 89 60 .597 Anaheim 85 65 .567 4'A NATIONAL LEAGUE Pet GB LOB-Kansas City 7, Tampa Bay 5. 2B-DeJesus (12), Randa 2 (27), Pickering (4), JoCruz (23). HR Pickering (5), off Jo-Sosa; Crawford (10), off BriAnderson; Huff (28), off BriAnderson.

RBIs Pickering 3 (20), Buck (28), Gomez (4), Crawford (51), Huff 2 (98). SF-Buck. GIDP-Lugo, RSanchez. DP-Kansas City 4 (Berroa, Murphy and Stairs), (Berroa, Murphy and Stairs), (Berroa and Stairs), (Berroa and Stairs). KANSAS CITY IP RER BBSO ERA BrAndrsnW, 5-11 773 7 3 3 3 2 5.82 Camp 5 73 0 0 0 0 0 3.08 Affeldt S.

1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 4.35 TAMPA BAY IP RER BBSO ERA Brazelton 6 6 3 3 2 4 4.58 2 1 2 2 1 3 5.12 DBaez 12 11 0 1 3.56 IBB off Brazelton (Pickering). HBP- by Brazelton (DeJesus). 2:28. A 8,31 5 I (Gutierrez, Bellhorn and Millar) BALTIMORE IP RER BBSO ERA 5 4 3 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 6.28 1 0 3.65 0 0 5.36 0 0 3.65 0 2 2.02 0 1 4.16 Riley Williams Groom 5 GrimslyW, 5-6 Julio 22 BOSTON 84 66 .560 83 66 .557 Vi Seanez (1). LOB Chicago 6, Florida 5.

2B- NPerez (16), Cabrera (31), Easley (19). HR Barrett (1 6), off Weathers; Easley (8), off Clement. RBIs-ARamirez (98), Barrett (64), Cabrera (102), Easley 4 (41). SB Pierre (40). CS-Conine (4).

Giants Chicago Houston San Diego Florida 83 67 .553 1 80 70 .533 4 79 70 .530 42 IP RER BBSO ERA 10 473 5 8 7 5 7 4.96 173 0 0 0 0 0 4.62 173 0 0 0 0 2 5.77 1 1 0 0 0 0 4.34 12 11 0 1 2.00 Angels 5, Mariners 2 Wkefield MMyers Leskanic Embree Foulke SEATTLE AB Bl BB SO AVG. IBB-off Wakefield (Tejada). HBP-by Wakefield (Mora). PB-Mirabelli. A Twins 8, White Sox 2 MINNESOTA AB Bl BB SO AVG.

1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .367 1 .286 0 .247 0 .284 2 .249 1 .267 0 .350 1 .233 1 .200 2 .235 4 0 0 0 5 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 12 2 0 .299 1 .302 0 .256 0 .277 1 .263 Hunter and Corey Koskie hit two-run homers in the first inning, and Minnesota clinched its third straight A.L. Central title on its main rival's home turf, beating Chicago. Henry Blanco and Luis Rivas also homered for the Twins. It's the first time the Twins have won three straight division titles in their 44-year history. "This one is better than the other two," Hunter said.

"We had to sit around for the last two years and sit in the locker room and watch the game and wait for somebody to lose, and then we could get pumped up again. Just to celebrate on the field, that was the best feeling ever, man." Orioles 9, Red Sox 6 in Boston B.J. Surhoff hit a grand slam, and Baltimore kept Boston from gaining ground in the A.L. East race. The Red Sox failed to take advantage of the Yankees' loss to the Toronto Blue Jays and remained 472 games behind first-place New York.

Blue Jays 6, Yankees 3 in New York -Gustavo Chacin became the first left-handed starter to win his major-league debut against New York in the Joe Torre era, pitching Toronto past the Yankees. With a 19-2 record in the minors and fresh off a Double-A playoff win, Chacin held the Yankees to four hits before leaving in the eighth inning. Angels 5, Mariners 2 in Anaheim Anaheim closed within 2li games of the idle A's in the A.L. West and 4V2 of Boston in the wild-card chase on a night when Angels right fielder Vladimir Guerrero was hit in the head by a pitch in the first inning. X-rays at a hospital were normal, and Guerrero returned to the dugout during the game.

Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki went 2 for 4 with one walk. His two singles gave him 238 hits this season, 19 short of George Sisler's major-league record. Tigers 3, Indians 1 in Detroit Mike Maroth pitched splendidly into the seventh inning, and Dmitri Young and Brandon Inge homered to carry Detroit over Cleveland. Royals 6, Devil Rays 3 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Calvin Pickering hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to help Kansas City defeat Tampa Bay. ASSOCIATED PRESS MIAMI The Chicago Cubs' 24-hour visit to Miami included a brief stay atop the National League wild-card standings. Then they lost their lead because they couldn't beat Florida Marlins pitcher David Weathers. The journeyman right-hander, making his first start in six years, limited Chicago to two hits and KOUNDUP the Marlins won 5-2 for a split of their doubleheader Monday. Mark Prior allowed just five hits in 723 innings and outpitched Carl Pavano in the opener to help the Cubs win 5-1.

With the victory in Game 1, Chicago climbed one percentage point ahead of the Giants in the wild-card race. But the Cubs ended the day where they started: a half-game behind the idle Giants. "We've been knocking on first place for a while," Chicago manager Dusty Baker said. "We'll keep knocking until we kick the door in." The Marlins, who had hoped to gain ground with a sweep, instead remained 4V2 games behind the Giants. The defending World Series champions don't have any games left against the four teams ahead of them.

"Time's running out on us," Florida manager Jack McKeon said. "Maybe it's not going to happen. But as long as we've got the least bit of life, we'll give it a run." Weathers showed the Marlins that anything is possible in evening his record at 7-7. Pitching for his third team this season, he came into the game 0-4 lifetime against the Cubs with an 1 1 .44 ERA. But he received a standing ovation from fans behind the Florida dugout when he walked off the mound after the fifth inning with a 5-1 lead.

"It felt good to go out there and do something to help, instead of sitting around collecting a free check," Weathers said. Cardinals 7, Brewers 4 in Milwaukee -Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, and St. Louis defeated Milwaukee for its major-league-leading 98th victory. American League Twins 8, White Sox 2 in Chicago Torii Bl BB SO AVG. 0 0 0 0 0 .282 0 2 0 263 247 280 0 0 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 3 0 0 0 1 2 1 2 2 1 8 12 8 ISuzuki rf Winn If Bocachicacf I banez 1 BBoone2b JoCabrera3b Reedcf-lf Olivoc Dobbsdh Lopez ss Totals ANAHEIM DaVanon cf-rf Eckstein ss VGuerrerorf Pride pr-lf GAndrsn dh-cf JGuillenlf-rf Amezaga2b Erstadlb BMolinac McPherson3b Percival AKennedy2b Fggns2b-cf-3b Totals Seattle Anaheim 0 .282 0 .328 0 .252 0 .197 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 12 0 4 0 10 4 0 11 0 0 0 0 4 111 4 12 0 Bl BB SO AVG.

1 .276 2 .309 1 .298 0 .159 0 .299 0 .288 ShStewart If LFord rf JJonesrf THuntercf LeCroy 1 Cuddyerdh Koskie 3b CGuzman ss Rivas 2b HBIancoc Totals CHICAGO WHarris2b Rowand cf CaLee If Konerko dh Gload 1b Valentin ss SAIomarc TPerezph Borchard rf Crede 3b Totals Minnesota 0 0 0 0 1 .257 4 0 1 0 0 0 .317 3 0 3 1 1 0 600 4 0 10 0 3 0 10 1 4 12 0 0 4 12 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 10 0 33 2 8 2 1 0 .303 1 .282 0 .305 1 .214 0 .238 0 .251 0 .157 0 .232 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 .278 0 1 0 0 2 0 .292 33 5 12 4 3 4 000 020 000 2 12 0 012 010 01x- 5 12 1 Red Sox shortstop to miss two games ASSOCIATED PRESS Boston Red Sox shortstop Orlando Cabrera is expected to miss two games to be with his wife, who will have surgery in Colombia. Cabrera wasn't in the starting lineup Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles, but he should return Wednesday for the third game of the four- game series. The Red Sox didn't give NOTES details about his wife's surgery. Cabrera played in 271 consecutive games with the Montreal Expos before being traded July 3 1 His streak ended that day because he didn't play for the Expos or Red Sox, but he had played in 46 straight with Boston through Sunday. Vizquel might go Omar Vizquel's days with the Cleveland Indians could be dwindling.

Vizquel, who has played 1 1 seasons in Cleveland, might not get a 12th if the Indians decline to pick up the $5 million option on his contract for 2005. "Regardless of what happens, I'll play somewhere next season," Vizquel said. "I'll be sad if I have to leave Cleveland, but what can I do? That's how baseball operates." Brown sees doctor New York Yankees pitcher Kevin Brown had his broken left hand examined by a doctor. The team hopes Brown could have pins removed from his injured hand Friday. 400 110 002 8 12 0 000 000 200 2 8 0 Chicago LOB Minn.

7, Chi. 5. 2B-LFord (29), Amezaga (3). LOB Seattle 13, Anaheim 10. 2B-McPherson (1).

RBIs BBoone (75), JoCabrera (38), JGuillen (104), Erstad (62), McPherson (1), AKennedy (48). SB ISuzuki (35), Eckstein (14), Figgins (31). DaVanon. SF-AKennedy. GIDP-BBoone.

DP-Ana-heim 1 (Figgins, Amezaga and Erstad). SEATTLE IP RER BBSO ERA RFrnklin L. 4-16 5 11 4 4 0 2 5.09 Thornton 2 10 0 11 4.60 Williams 0 0 1 1 2 0 20.25 Hasegawa 1 0 0 0 0 1 5.15 ANAHEIM IP RER BBSO ERA LackeyW, 13-12 6 10 2 2 0 7 4.62 Donnelly 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 3.60 FRodriguez 25 1 0 0 0 2 1 1.84 Percival 29 1 2 0 0 0 0 3.02 Williams pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. IBB -off FRodriguez (ISuzuki). HBP -by Lackey (Winn), by RFranklin (VGuerrero).

A- 39,074 THunter (37), LeCroy (1 1), Rivas (19). HR- Rivas (10), off Buehrle; Valentin (27), off CSilva; HBIanco (10), off Buehrle; Koskie (24), off Buehrle; THunter (21 off Buehrle. RBIs THunter 2 (78), Cuddyer (43), Koskie 3 (64), Rivas (31), HBIanco (34), Valentin 2 (67). GIDP WHarris, Gload. DP-Minn.

2 (CGuzman, Rivas and LeCroy), (Rivas, CGuzman and LeCroy). MINNESOTA IP RER BBSO ERA CSilvaW, 13-8 7 7 2 2 1 0 4.26 JRincon 2 1 0 0 0 3 2.63 CHICAGO IP RER BBSO ERA Buehrle 14-10 8 10 7 7 3 3 4.12 Bajenaru 12 11 2 1 15.19 Buehrle pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. IBB off Bajenaru (THunter), off Buehrle (Cud-dyer). Major-league leaders on page C6 OUTPUT: 092004 23:22 USER: RWENIG BEEBROAD MASTER 06-26-02.