June 4, 2002
Rockies' bullpen springs leak

DENVER — Four members of the Colorado Rockies' air-tight bullpen sprung a leak Monday night.

Rockies zero in on a few good pitchers

DENVER — In one of the most unpredictable drafts in the last 10 years, the Colorado Rockies have put pitching and a center fielder at the top of their priority list.

Rockies notes

Rockies first baseman Todd Helton was named National League player of the month for May on Monday.

Orioles continue hex on Rivera, Yankees

NEW YORK — Mike Bordick hit an RBI double in the ninth inning as the Baltimore Orioles got to Mariano Rivera again, beating the New York Yankees 4-3 Monday night.

Schilling wins ML-high 11th

PHOENIX — Curt Schilling, showing no effects from a high fever, allowed three hits in seven innings to become baseball's first 11-game winner as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Houston Astros 10-4 Monday night.

June 3, 2002
Rockies target pitchers in draft

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have all their options open when they pick ninth overall in the 2002 amateur draft beginning Tuesday.

Giants stymie Rockies as Bonds hits No. 586

SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds is honored his name is right up there on the career home run list with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Frank Robinson. But what matters now, he said, is wins.

Rockies notes

The Dodgers have won four of their last five during their homestand to move into second place in the National League West. They swept the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series.

Possible picks

Here are capsule views of the best players most likely to be available with the ninth pick overall of the 2002 draft Tuesday:

This starting pitcher no ordinary Person

PHILADELPHIA — Starting pitcher Robert Person drove in seven runs with a grand slam and a three-run homer to lead the Philadelphia Phillies to an 18-3 rout of the Montreal Expos on Sunday.

Red Sox pound Yanks

NEW YORK — Rickey Henderson homered and scored twice before being carted off to a hospital after crashing into a wall, leading Frank Castillo and the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees 7-1 Sunday.

Draft notes

Here is a list of the players picked with the ninth overall selection and the bonuses received year by year:

June 2, 2002
Homer-happy Yanks pound Red Sox, 10-2

NEW YORK — Enrique Wilson, a late addition to the starting lineup for injured Alfonso Soriano, hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the sixth inning to lead the New York Yankees over the Boston Red Sox 10-2 Saturday.

Ashby, L.A. blank D-backs

LOS ANGELES — Andy Ashby pitched eight sharp innings and Brian Jordan hit a two-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 on Saturday.

Baseball must now face steroid problem head on

There have been whispers about steroids for years, but baseball was so busy reveling in the Herculean home run feats of its biggest stars that nobody really wanted to rock the boat. Football's dirty little secret had become baseball's salvation, so everyone who wasn't going anabolic just sort of looked the other way.

Hampton ends road skid as Rockies whip Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Mike Hampton kept it simple and made it easy on himself. As a result, he earned a rare road win, picking on a familiar victim and pitching the Colorado Rockies past the San Francisco Giants 5-4 Saturday.

Rockies notes

Rockies outfielder Benny Agbayani went 1-for-3 Friday night, giving him a .429 (6-for-14) batting average with Triple-A Colorado Springs through the first four games of his minor league rehabilitation assignment.

June 1, 2002
Red Sox hold off Yanks

Derek Lowe overcame two rain delays to pitch six scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox won another road game, snapping a seven-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium with a victory over New York.

Maddux, Braves blank Reds

CINCINNATI — Greg Maddux got his breaking ball working and stayed sharp through a 64-minute delay Friday night, setting the tone with five shutout innings as the Atlanta Braves pulled away for a 7-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Rockies notes

Rockies right-hander Shawn Chacon is scheduled for another minor league rehabilitation start with Triple-A Colorado Springs Monday in Omaha.

May 31, 2002
Grand slam carries win

SAN DIEGO — A minor league coach once told Greg Norton to think less about his average and more about getting big hits off the bench.

Rockies notes

AAA Colorado Springs (25-27) beat Salt Lake 10-8 Wednesday night at home. Bob Scanlan (2-2, 4.05) picked up the win in relief with Matt Whiteside (3.52) getting his seventh save. Ben Petrick (.311) hit his fifth homer of the season.

Twins edge Angels 7-6 in 10

MINNEAPOLIS — Cristian Guzman, who tied the game in the eighth, drove in the winning run in the 10th with a sacrifice fly, giving Minnesota a 7-6 win over Anaheim Thursday.

Caminiti backs off steroid statement

Ken Caminiti backed away from statements about steroids attributed to him in Sports Illustrated, insisting he never meant that half of major leaguers are taking the drugs.

Diamondbacks nip Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — Luis Gonzalez's home run into McCovey Cove sent Rick Helling and the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.

May 30, 2002
Middlebrook, Padres pound Rockies, 11-3

SAN DIEGO — Rookie reliever Jason Middlebrook pitched seven shutout innings and San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 11-3 Wednesday night.

Chacon goes four innings

COLORADO SPRINGS — Shawn Chacon's minor league rehabilitation start lasted just a fraction too long.

Rockies notes

The Rockies recalled left-handed relief pitcher Brian Fuentes from their Triple-A Colorado Springs team, replacing right-handed Rick White.

Red Sox sweep Toronto

TORONTO — Brian Daubach hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning as Boston completed a three-game sweep of Toronto with a 7-4 victory Wednesday night.

Bucs' Wells four-hits Cubs

PITTSBURGH — Kip Wells pitched a four-hitter for Pittsburgh's first complete game this season, and the Pirates finally solved their Jon Lieber jinx by beating the Chicago Cubs 5-0 Wednesday night.

May 29, 2002
Rockies win in 12th

SAN DIEGO — Bobby Estalella homered with two outs in the top of the 12th inning and the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 Tuesday night, their seventh win in eight games.

Rockies notes

The healing of Denny Neagle's left knee accelerated while in San Diego, which may allow him to make his scheduled start Thursday against the Padres at Qualcomm Stadium.

Cubs beat Bucs

PITTSBURGH — Every time Matt Clement walked off the mound, manager Don Baylor or pitching coach Larry Rothschild paid him a visit. It was a pattern they started early and weren't about to stop.

D-Rays upset Mariners

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Ryan Rupe pitched his first career complete game, and John Flaherty hit his second career grand slam Tuesday night as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.