CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge rested DH Travis Hafner and SS Jhonny Peralta on Wednesday with an off-day Thursday. ``They each needed a day off,'' Wedge said. Ryan Garko hit third and Franklin Gutierrez fifth, each for the first time this season. Kenny Lofton hit sixth for the first time since rejoining the club. ... In the 7-4 loss, the Indians picked up 10 hits, but went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position. ... Two years ago, the Indians nearly took the AL Central from the front-running White Sox during a second-half surge. This season the Indians have been in front and Wedge thinks the experience the remaining players got from that season might be benefiting the club. ``That experience is part of who we are today,'' the manager said. ``What we've gone through the last four years is part of who we are.'' ... Asdrubal Cabrera singled in the first Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

CHICAGO: DH Jim Thome hit his 499th homer Wednesday in a 7-4 win over the Cleveland Indians. Like he's done recently, Thome traded some memorabilia for the ball. He plans a bigger reward for the fan who catches 500 and said he'll announce it on Friday, when the team plays host to the Los Angeles Angels for a three-game series. ``It'll be neat,'' he said. ... White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper laid out the team's starting rotation for the next couple weeks and one name was missing: John Danks. The rookie left-hander is 6-13 with a 5.50 ERA in 26 starts. He gave up three runs in 2 2-3 innings Tuesday after a 10-day rest, probably his last start of the season. ``We're not mentioning Danks right now,'' Cooper said. ``We're going to talk to him and have him do some sidelines. He's going to be in the bullpen, but it's more about we're going to be working on some things.'' ... Closer Bobby Jenks is the only reliever with a guaranteed job next season after a horrendous run by the bullpen. Chicago's relievers were 17-24 before Wednesday with a 5.44 ERA and 21 blown saves. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen isn't sure who else will be in the bullpen when the team reports to spring training in five months. ... Guillen said he asked rookie reliever Heath Phillips to do one thing Tuesday night when he brought him in the game - don't make him go back out to the mound to change pitchers, again. ``It's embarrassing,'' Guillen said. Phillips did what Guillen asked, pitching 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. ... Scott Podsednik started in center for the first time this season. He played there once before this season and in seven games in 2005.

---Twins-Royals

MINNESOTA: Wednesday's loss was the first in Kauffman Stadium for Carlos Silva. He had been 3-0 in five career starts. ... Glen Perkins pitched one inning Wednesday, his first appearance since May 21 at Texas. He had been on the DL with a shoulder strain and missed 100 games. ... The Twins' 106 home runs are the second-fewest in the AL, ahead of only the Royals' 95. ... With his run-scoring double Wednesday, Torii Hunter moved to within one RBI of his career-high of 102 set in 2003. His 705 RBIs are seventh all-time for the Twins. Rod Carew is next with 733.

KANSAS CITY: The Royals and Twins broke even in their season series at 9-9. It's the first time the Royals have finished .500 or better against Minnesota since they went 11-8 in 2003, their only winning season since 1993. ... The Royals are 20-7 when rookie Billy Butler has at least one RBI. ... Mark Teahen had his 10th three-hit game of the year. Six of Teahen's seven home runs this year have come at home. ... Alex Gordon's double was his 34th, breaking the team's rookie record. The mark had been shared by Kevin Seitzer in 1987 and Mark Quinn in 2000. ---Rangers-Tigers

TEXAS: RP Scott Feldman flew back to Texas Wednesday to have his right knee examined. ``He didn't feel it was getting any better, so we decided the best thing was for him to get an MRI,'' said Rangers manager Ron Washington. ... The Rangers' bullpen threw 7 1-3 innings in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader. Texas relievers have pitched at least seven innings in three of its previous four games, a first in team history. ... Michael Young's first-inning single extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games and matched Mark Teixeira for the longest this year by a Ranger. Young needs 22 hits to reach 200 for the fifth straight year. ... Edinson Volquez entered Wednesday's start with an 0-4 record and a 16.50 ERA in four career starts against the AL Central.

DETROIT: Tigers owner Mike Ilitch had a rare meeting with the media Wednesday. ``It's been a big jump, but we finally got to the highest level last year, and we're learning how to stay there,'' he said after posing for the Tigers' annual photo. ``It's the same thing I had to learn in the other sport, and that's the outcome I want - to be like the Red Wings and have more wins than anyone over a 16- or 17-year period.'' ... Jim Leyland announced Wednesday that Yorman Bazardo will start Saturday in Minnesota, with Kenny Rogers moving back to Monday's series opener in Cleveland. Rookie Jair Jurrjens is expected to pitch Sunday's game. ... The Tigers pulled off a rare 3-4-3 putout in the second inning against Texas. Jarrod Saltalamacchia's hard grounder hit off 1B Carlos Guillen's glove, but deflected right to 2B Placido Polanco, who threw to Guillen for the out.

---Devil Rays-Red Sox

TAMPA BAY: B.J. Upton, who began the game as the majors' top road hitter with a .352 batting average, hit a two-run homer in the first inning. ... The Devil Rays' 16-10 loss Tuesday night was the eighth time in their 10 seasons that they scored at least 10 runs and lost. ... Jonny Gomes stole his 10th base of the season in the first. He's been thrown out just once. ... Tampa Bay's four-run first was the third time in a span of nine innings that it scored exactly four runs. It did it in the second and fourth Tuesday.

BOSTON: 3B Mike Lowell missed the game because of illness after getting four hits Tuesday. ``You do worry'' that other players might get sick, manager Terry Francona said. ``When that happens, it never fails. It goes through the whole team.'' ... LF Manny Ramirez took about 30 swings in batting practice, the last sending the ball into the center-field bleachers. Afterward, he had ice wrapped on the left side of his midsection. Ramirez missed his 15th straight game with a strained muscle in his left side. ... OF Jacoby Ellsbury was not in the starting lineup after banging his right wrist against the outfield wall Monday. He homered Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to all 11 games he's played since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on Sept. 1.

---Angels-Orioles

LOS ANGELES: INF Chone Figgins made his first start of the season in the outfield, playing right field on Wednesday. It was the 13th time in 648 career starts that he played in right field. ... OF Gary Matthews Jr. was in a soft cast and on crutches after leaving Tuesday's game in the third inning with a right ankle sprain. Though X-rays were negative, manager Mike Sciosia said no timetable had been set for his return, but that Matthews would not play before the end of the road trip Sunday ... Vladimir Guerrero was the DH for the second straight night after missing four games due to an inflamed right triceps. Sciosia said Guerrero wasn't quite ready to play the field. ... OF Tommy Murphy was recalled from Triple-A Salt lake City. It is his third stint with the Angels this season.

BALTIMORE: OF Corey Patterson (sprained left ankle) missed his sixth straight game, but ran in the outfield. Manager Dave Trembley said Patterson ``was close'' to being ready to play. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie said Wednesday that he wants to pitch again this month despite being hindered by a strained rib cage muscle. ``I would be very excited to be able to pitch in two starts. It could be irrational to feel that way, or it could be right on the money,'' he said. ``We'll just have to see.'' ... Daniel Cabrera, who entered Wednesday's game with a career 5.02 ERA against Los Angeles, yielded six runs in the first two innings.

---Yankees-Blue Jays

NEW YORK: OF Shelley Duncan underwent an MRI in New York on Wednesday that revealed a bone bruise in his left pelvis and a small hernia. Duncan was expected to rejoin the team in Toronto during Wednesday's game. He's listed as day-to-day. ... RHP Luis Vizcaino's sore back felt better Wednesday, manager Joe Torre said. Vizcaino, who has also been bothered by a sore shoulder, threw a side session Wednesday and could be ready to pitch Thursday or Friday. ... Torre said C Jorge Posada will likely get the day off Thursday, then catch all three games when the Yankees visit Boston over the weekend. Posada started behind the plate Wednesday, his 131st game of the season. ... Torre said the Yankees might use six starters for the remainder of the season once RHP Roger Clemens (sore elbow) is healthy again. ``We may find an extra day here or there won't hurt anybody,'' Torre said.

TORONTO: Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus will undergo surgery next week to repair a sore nerve in his left foot and will miss the remainder of the season. Glaus is expected to be healthy in time for spring training. Russ Adams and Hector Luna will split time at third in Toronto's remaining 18 games. ... OF Matt Stairs is batting .414 (29-for-70) with 19 extra-base hits (14 doubles and five homers) in his past 27 games. ... Toronto pitchers have issued a major league-low 143 walks since the all star break.

---NATIONAL LEAGUEBrewers-Pirates

MILWAUKEE: LHP Brian Shouse wasn't available for the final two games in Pittsburgh as he returned home to be with his wife, Trish, for the birth of their third child. Shouse is expected to rejoin the Brewers on Friday. ... The Brewers are a combined 8-4 at home against the Reds and Astros, the two opponents on their upcoming homestand. ... Manager Ned Yost on reliever Derrick Turnbow, who gave up three runs in the eighth Wednesday after Milwaukee had rallied from four runs down in Pittsburgh: ``When he got the first guy out, I thought he was going to roll, but it was just one of those days.'' Turnbow said he couldn't control his fastball, which led to the difficult inning.

PITTSBURGH: LHP Paul Maholm (lower back stiffness) looked sharp during a sideline throwing session Tuesday night, according to manager Jim Tracy. If Maholm has no problems during another session on the Pirates' off day Thursday, he is expected to return to the rotation for the first time in two weeks Sunday in Houston. ... If Maholm does return, rookie RHP Bryan Bullington may not start during the upcoming 10-game road trip to Houston, Chicago and San Diego. Bullington, the No. 1 draft pick in 2002, was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his first two career starts this month, losing 16-4 to St. Louis and 6-1 to Milwaukee. ... C Ronny Paulino (.261) isn't having the offensive season he had a year ago when he hit .310 as a rookie. But manager Jim Tracy plans to start him most of the way down the stretch as the Pirates play mostly against contenders. Paulino had the go-ahead single in the eighth inning Wednesday and is 16-for-38 (.421) this month.

---Nationals-Marlins

WASHINGTON: OF Austin Kearns did not start Wednesday's game because of swelling in his left elbow. Kearns was hit by a pitch from Matt Lindstrom in Tuesday night's game. He pinch-hit in the 12th inning on Wednesday and struck out. ... RHP John Patterson was scheduled to have surgery Thursday to repair a damaged nerve in his right elbow. He has only 15 starts the past two seasons due to injury.

FLORIDA: SS Hanley Ramirez did not play Wednesday afternoon to be at the hospital with his wife, who is expecting their second child. Doctors planned to induce labor. He is expected to travel with the team for this weekend's series at Colorado. ... C Matt Treanor will likely return to the lineup this weekend, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez. Treanor has been nursing a bruised knee since Sept. 2. ... LHP Renyel Pinto, who pitched a simulated game on Tuesday, might join the join in its upcoming road trip. Pinto has been on the DL since Aug. 3 because of a shoulder strain.

---Rockies-Phillies

COLORADO: C Yorvit Torrealba was ejected in the second inning after getting called out on strikes by plate umpire Bill Welke. ... Todd Helton extended his hitting streak to nine games with a second-inning double. ... Denny Bautista was the 12th different starting pitcher used by the Rockies this season. He escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the first inning.

PHILADELPHIA: Ace Cole Hamels threw 30 pitches in the bullpen and could return to the mound Tuesday in St. Louis. The All-Star lefty has been sidelined since Aug. 22 with an elbow strain. ``It was completely different. That was the best I've felt,'' Hamels said. Hamels will throw a simulated game Saturday. If all goes well, he'll return to the rotation. ... RF Shane Victorino was out of the lineup again after tweaking the calf injury that's hampered him since early last month. Victorino said he's fine, but manager Charlie Manuel wasn't buying it. ``Every time he gets in a game, he keeps grabbing it,'' Manuel said.

---Cardinals-Reds

ST. LOUIS: Manager Tony La Russa adjusted his pitching plans for the next few games. He moved RHP Adam Wainwright from Thursday against Cincinnati to Friday against the Cubs at St. Louis and substituted in RHP Kip Wells. Friday's starter, RHP Braden Looper, was moved to the first game of Saturday's day-night doubleheader against Chicago, with RHP Joel Pineiro pitching the second game. ``We just looked at it and put some factors together, and we think this sets up better for us,'' La Russa said. ... La Russa has been told that IF-OF Scott Spiezio, on the restricted list since Aug. 9 after admitting abuse of an unidentified substance, has been working out at Busch Stadium. ``I expect to see him Friday,'' La Russa said. ... RF Rick Ankiel struck out and flied out in his first two at-bats Wednesday to extend to 19 his streak of consecutive hitless at bats.

CINCINNATI: RHP Kirk Saarloos will start Saturday at Milwaukee in place of LHP Phil Dumatrait, who gave up three consecutive home runs to lead off the game in his last start Sunday against Milwaukee. Saarloos' start will be his third of the season in 33 appearance and first since May 27. ``He's been stretched out, and I saw some movement in his changeup and sinker and slider his last time out,'' manager Pete Mackanin said. ... SS Alex Gonzalez returned to the lineup. Gonzalez missed two games after fouling two balls off of his lower left shin last Saturday. ... With two home runs and five RBIs Tuesday, Dunn matched in one game his production for the entire month of September last season.

---Cubs-Astros

CHICAGO: Manager Lou Piniella changed his lineup after the Astros announced they were starting RHP Matt Albers instead of LHP Troy Patton. Piniella would've started C Geovany Soto and SS Ronny Cedeno, but went with regular starters Ryan Theriot and Jason Kendall. ``They changed, so we changed,'' Piniella said. ... The Cubs stranded 15 runners in Tuesday's loss, but Piniella wasn't suggesting his hitters make any drastic changes. ``You look for approaches in April and May,'' he said. ``Now, what counts are results. You can have approaches, good or bad or indifferent. But you want results this time of the year.'' ... Piniella said he's got his pitching rotation mapped out for the rest of the season, except for two days - Sept. 22, against Pittsburgh and Sept. 27, against Florida. ``The rest of the time, we're slotted pretty well, just the way we want it,'' he said. Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly, both 15-game winners, will each make one start on three days' rest before the end of the regular season.

HOUSTON: Rookie LHP Troy Patton missed his scheduled start on Wednesday with soreness in his throwing shoulder. Patton, who turned 22 on Sept. 3, gave up a hit with a strikeout in one inning of relief in New York last Friday. He could hardly throw a pitch after that and felt soreness in his biceps tendon. ``It's weak,'' he said, ``and when I try to throw hard, it hurts.'' Patton, called up from the minors on Aug. 24, is taking anti-inflammatory medication and manager Cecil Cooper wasn't sure when Patton would pitch again. ``We're just going to kind of wait and see how he progresses,'' Cooper said. ``We can't take any chances.'' ... Cooper said LHP Stephen Randolph will be evaluated at the end of the week, about a month after an MRI test showed a right knee strain. Randolph was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 16. ... Cooper and pitching coach Dave Wallace were mapping out a schedule for RHP Dennis Sarfate, acquired on Tuesday from Milwaukee. ``I just had a chance to say hello to him,'' Cooper said before Wednesday's game.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.