After going Chicago Hilton & Towers Tickets 0- 2 his previous four

After going surmises 0- 2 interprets his previous four starts in September, Millwood( 10- 13) scattered seven hits, struck out five, walked none and was helped by two inning- ending double plays. I want to have a good year " Pitching for the first time since March 28, Pelfrey allowed two runs and five hits with two walks. All three scored, as Brandon Medders gave up Blake' s sacrifice fly and Mientkiewicz' s two- run double into the right field corner. Davis, who leads the majors with 77 strikeouts, arrived at the ballpark six hours before first pitch to work with hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo on swing mechanics. Updated: October 27, 2003, 6: 58 PM ET Series loss, serious consequences Email Print Share ESPN When the Boston Red Sox announce the firing of Grady Little, he will become the fifth manager in baseball history to be fired following a loss in either the League Championship Series or the World Series. Bob Wickman, who hadn' t allowed a run in four one- inning appearances this spring, gave up a home run to Lance Berkman in the fifth " That' s the first ball hit hard he' s given up all spring " Cox said " He' s had nothing but ground balls " Scott Thorman had two doubles, an RBI and scored once for the Braves and Ryan Langerhans also had a double.

Hardy will have season- ending surgery on his injured right ankle as soon as Thursday . One day I will get my shot " he said " I don' t want to say I was nervous, but I had a little bit of butterflies the first two innings I waited a long time for this day . Young did not take any swings Saturday after he hit in a simulated game Friday Napoli came into the game in a 3- for- 45 slump . After Luke' s birth two years later, Mangini led the Jets to the playoffs in his first season as coach . He gave up four hits and one run in five innings Sunday during a 2- 1 loss to San Diego. Thome' s homer sailed over the Red Sox' s bullpen to lead off the inning. Starter Alberto Castillo( 0- 1) got just two outs and allowed five runs for the loss.

Jonathan Albaladejo( 2- 1) pitched a perfect ninth for the win Gary Matthews Jr . Detroit center Ben Wallace, who had said Friday that the rivalry had lost some of its luster since the Pacers had been struggling, said the Pistons took the game seriously " We don' t underestimate nobody " he said " This was just one of those nights They were more aggressive than we were . With O' Neal out early in the fourth, McGrady scored twice inside the trim Houston' s deficit to 79- 70 . He caught 235 passes for 3, 587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games . More Podcasts# 187; Raiders coach Tom Cable said after practice that Seymour had to resolve some things with the Patriots before the deal for a first- round pick in 2011 could be finalized " We have attempted to make a deal " Cable said Monday " There are some issues still between him and the Patriots that are being worked out. If you say negative things about him, you obviously didn' t know him " Bagwell and Ausmus were late to the Astros' afternoon workout at Minute Maid Park and Biggio was absent. Peralta' s ninth homer in his last 23 games tied it 2- 2, then Josh Barfield had a two- run double and scored on a single by Shoppach to make it 5- 2.

The mayor had commitments from at least five of the seven members needed to approve the measure by Friday . The Mariners, coming off three straight last- place finishes in the AL West, have a slimmed- down Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn returning . 5 million he made last year after winning in salary arbitration . Game notes Clippers G Cuttino Mobley missed the final two games of the season because of a torn left calf muscle . His two- run homer had Wrigley Field shaking with excitement. He played six seasons with the Cardinals before he was dealt to the Braves last December along with catcher- outfielder Eli Marrero for pitchers Jason Marquis, Ray King and Adam Wainwright. Go play baseball " he said " Just go out there, play the game It' s a game I love and respect the game.

The left- handed hitter leads the majors with a total of 133 doubles since 2003 . It remains unclear whether the Yankees will have room for Bernie Williams, who saw time in the outfield and DH last year . Arizona' s bullpen cost starter Micah Owings a chance for his first victory since June 20, a span of 10 starts " I' m not even thinking about that " Owings said of his long drought " I' m going to keep focusing on what I can do to help the team " Owings retired the first 14 men he faced before walking Ronnie Belliard on a 3- 2 count in the fifth . Game notes Washington LHP Ross Detwiler became the first member of this year' s draft class to make it to the majors . 81 ERA in his last seven starts, but he' s only 3- 2 in that span " I tried to hit both sides of the plate " said Cain, who gave up six hits and a walk, and struck out five. The Rangers are off Monday before opening a three- game series Tuesday at the AL East- leading New York Yankees.

If O' Hara were to get on the line with the ability to step into a beautiful Warrior pose but not the ability to hold off his 300- pound opponent, Eli Manning would be on the ground before Toomer could even run his route " I' m an offensive lineman, I have to lift . 13 against Philadelphia " The regular- season opener is a ways away " Fox said " There a lot of day to days before then- The Associated PressRAMS' LITTLE SPRAINS KNEE( 4: 30 p m ET) St . Louis Cardinals last Friday and Detroit first baseman Sean Casey, who hit 529 with two homers in the World Series . They came in one game behind San Diego in the wild- card standings The Padres played at Milwaukee . Here are the stats from this weekend " I couldn' t be more proud of this whole group " Toronto manager John Gibbons said. Updated: September 24, 2004, 5: 25 PM ET MJ quashes mounting rumors Email Print Share ESPN news services Recent speculation about Michael Jordan returning to the NBA for a third time seems to have taken on a life of its own- to the point where Jordan himself felt the need to set the record straight. Chicago hadn' t won consecutive games since it won three straight from April 17- 21.

We' re looking for this kind of character and this kind of leadership " Dye' s signing gives Chicago an abundance of outfielders . He allowed one run on two hits and four walks in six innings while striking out four but wound up with a no- decision " Masterson came in today out of the blue for a call- up and threw us six great innings " Delcarmen said " I came in, first and second, and wanted to get in there and try to get out of it, and it didn' t happen today " Kevin Youkilis also returned to the Boston lineup after missing a game with a lower back problem . Kevin Garnett had 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to their fifth straight victory, then he raved about Wallace and what he can do for the Pistons " Take it from the guy that has played against him for six or seven years, he gives them a big and different dimension " Garnett said " This team is one of the best teams in the NBA, not just the East . 4 starter Jered Weaver pitched 6 1- 3 innings in a minor- league camp game at Tempe, Ariz . 91 ERA in 14 starts helped the Royals to their first winning record in a non- strike year since 1993. Since then, starting pitchers Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe signed elsewhere and Boston added Clement, David Wells and Wade Miller to its rotation. For his counterpart at third base, it was just the opposite kind of game in the field.

The legislation, which Davis signed Sunday, would provide an opportunity for new developments all over the state as well, said Davis' spokesman Russell Lopez " The governor looked at the broader picture " he said " Yes, it could help here in Sacramento, but he' s looking at the larger perspective that if other cities choose to do this, it could help them as well " In Sacramento, the measure could help fund other projects along the downtown waterfront, K Street Mall and near the Sacramento Convention Center . The players see that " assistant coach Tex Winter said " He' s good for them because he' s been around, he' s had a lot of experience In Kobe and Shaq' s mind, he' s got a lot of credibility . Texas manager Ron Washington was ejected for protesting two balk calls in the fifth against Padilla . Chunks of concrete have fallen from Wrigley Field' s upper deck on at least three occasions since June, forcing stadium officials to install nets to protect Cubs fans and to conduct full inspections of the upper deck and mezzanine levels in July . Watson' s quick hands frustrated Utah guards Deron Williams and Milt Palacio. And obviously, as was evidenced[ Monday] night, I am a huge distraction to the New York Giants " he said.

5 million deal Comment Email Print Share By John ClaytonESPNArchive Dockery Derrick Dockery, who days ago felt secure entering the third year of a seven- year$ 49 million contract with the Bills, underwent the strangest 24 hours of his pro football career, but, in his eyes, his journey had a happy ending . You need a guy, who before every game puts on a face of enthusiasm that can be contagious to the team You' ve got to have some life as a manager . Hall was one of one of several players around the league who used pink bats on Sunday as part of a Mother' s Day breast cancer fundraiser . Because the originally scheduled night game was ticketed separately from the makeup, Major League Baseball didn' t consider this an official doubleheader . The one- time Tampa Bay prospect hit a grand slam and matched his career high with five RBIs, helping Vicente Padilla and the Texas Rangers cool off the AL East- leading Rays 12- 6 on Tuesday night Hamilton, the former No. Boston took advantage of a lineup weakened by injuries to Nate McLouth and Yunel Escobar.

I never said one bad thing about him in the press " It' s a homecoming for McInnis, who grew up in Charlotte and attended North Carolina . The departure of Errickson is the latest turmoil in the Williams case . Neuheisel reportedly is the only potential coach to meet with the school' s chancellor . They really believe they can get the job done " Reliever Jason Grilli( 1- 1) threw 1 1/ 3 scoreless innings for the win . Tony Pena resigned as the Kansas City manager May 10 after an 8- 25 start. Cubs general manager Jim Hendry spent several hours delivering his pitch to Furcal on Sunday in Atlanta " If he chooses to stay in Atlanta, obviously nobody could fault him for that " Hendry told The Associated Press on Tuesday " I just told him what we' re trying to do, what my plan may be for the next month, be open and honest " Obviously, he' s been in an outstanding situation for a long time in Atlanta, playing for a great manager, Bobby Cox " Hendry told the AP.

Paul' s sprained right ankle kept him out of a second straight game . Seattle' s stalled runner joined leading receiver Deion Branch( sprained foot, tight end Marcus Pollard( arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month, defensive end Patrick Kerney( strained oblique, defensive tackle Rocky Bernard( strained groin) and outside linebacker Leroy Hill( strained right hamstring- all starters- in missing the first major preparation day for the Seahawks( 4- 4) before they host San Francisco( 2- 6) Monday night . We have eight runs over 10 yards " In his first NFL start last week at Atlanta, Thigpen was 14- for- 36 for 128 yards and a touchdown in a 38- 14 loss He played much better after a rough beginning . Updated: September 24, 2004, 8: 10 PM ET Brown part of playoff mix? Torre undecided Email Print Share Associated Press BOSTON- Kevin Brown had " no problem " throwing in the bullpen Friday and is a " long shot " to pitch Sunday after breaking his non- pitching hand three weeks ago, New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said before the game against the Boston Red Sox . It put us up, and we were able to add to it " Hunter said " It took some momentum from them and put some in our direction as well " Morneau' s run- scoring single following Hernandez' s error gave him 126 RBI, tying Harmon Killebrew for the second- highest single- season total in Twins history Killebrew had 140 in 1961 and 126 in 1962. So here I think we can use the WBC to accent the mental part of getting prepared, which is what they' re going to have to do " Manuel also said he expects the 25- year- old Reyes to develop into a team leader this season " I think that' s the next level for him, and to add responsibility to him. Willie Bloomquist then reached well off the plate and dumped a single into right center, and Yuniesky Betancourt followed with a fly ball deep enough for Burke to score from third.

What do you say " Thome said " It' s really hard to talk about because when you throw Mickey Mantle' s name around, that' s probably one of the greatest home run hitters of all time " Fast Facts# 8226& nbsp; Jim Thome hit nine home runs in August, by far his highest monthly total in 2008# 8226& nbsp; Tim Wakefield gave up just his third home run in the month of August, tieing his low for a month that he set in April# 8226& nbsp; The Red Sox lost only one series in the month of August- a series with Toronto from August 16- 17- ESPN Research Chicago' s skid helped Minnesota pull within a half- game of the AL Central- leading White Sox entering play Sunday . Comment Email Print Share By Elizabeth MerrillESPNArchive KANSAS CITY- The hill sits down the road and looms over three practice fields . This year Cleveland already was one of the most aggressive teams in free agency, paying$ 115 million in contracts for new acquisitions Donte' Stallworth and defensive linemen Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN . But he pitched a perfect inning for his third save in four chances " It' s nice to have a nice, clean win " Reitsma said " The 1- 2- 3( inning) is obviously great . But many fans do care and say the war of words obscures what the debate is really about: A general failure to recognize that Orange County, population 3 million, is a strong community with its own identity that doesn' t need Los Angeles' cachet " You can sell' The OC' or you can sell' Beverly Hills, 90210' Well, one of them' s kind of outdated " said John Ward, an Angels fan who sold his season tickets after the name change " It' s this 1960s mentality of Orange County, that it' s a suburb of Los Angeles. By Tuesday, a new roster had been posted that omitted Williams' name and left his No 51 open.