Darren Oliver

Moves Baseball CARDINALS: Optioned P Bud Smith to Triple-A Memphis. Signed P Darren Oliver to minor-league contract and assigned him to Memphis. DEVIL RAYS: Designated P Doug Creek and OF Dave McCarty for assignment. Optioned IF Jason Smith to Triple-A Durham. Recalled P Victor Zambrano and purchased contracts of OF Carl Crawford and IF Andy Sheets from Durham. INDIANS: Activated P Jaret Wright from 60-day DL and P Charles Nagy from 15-day DL. Recalled P Sean DePaula and IF Earl Snyder from Triple-A Buffalo.

At Oriole Park at Camden YardsDay .. .. .. ..Time .. .. .. .TV .. .. .. .. .StartersTonight .. .. .7:35 .. .. ...HTS .. .. ..Roger Pavlik (9-1, 5.01) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Scott Erickson (3-5, 5.79)Tomorrow .. .. 7:35 .. .. ...13, 50 .. ..Darren Oliver (5-2, 3.86) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Kent Mercker (3-5, 6.79)Wednesday .. ..7:35 .. .. ...HTS .. .. ..Bobby Witt (6-5, 6.05) vs... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Mike Mussina (9-3, 5.13)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM)

Baseball Astros: Removed IF Charlie Hayes from restricted list. Optioned IF Keith Ginter to Triple-A New Orleans. Blue Jays: Sent IF Homer Bush to Single-A Dunedin for rehabilitation. Cardinals: Activated P Jason Christiansen. Sent P Jason Karnuth to Triple-A Memphis. Marlins: Activated P A. J. Burnett. Sent P Joe Strong to Triple-A Calgary. Rangers: Activated P Tim Crabtree. Optioned P R. A. Dickey to Triple-A Oklahoma. Placed P Darren Oliver on 15-day DL. Recalled P Aaron Myette from Oklahoma.

Baseball Diamondbacks: Placed 1B Greg Colbrunn on 15-day DL with bruised left knee. Recalled C Chad Moeller from Triple-A Tucson. Mets: Purchased contract of IF-OF Mark Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk. Designated OF Darren Bragg for assignment. Padres: Recalled P Carlton Loewer and P Brian Lawrence from Triple-A Portland. Placed P Rudy Seanez on 15-day DL with strained right groin. Optioned P Wascar Serrano to Portland. Phillies: Waived OF Rob Ducey. Recalled OF Eric Valent from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Although the Orioles are focused on adding a starter and a hitter by Tuesday's non-waiver trade deadline, they are asking about left-handed relievers in the trade market as well, according to multiple industry sources. With one of the best bullpens in baseball, adding another lefty appears to be a lesser priority on the Orioles' wish list than the rotation and corner infield/left field, but it also would come more cheaply than their other searches. Currently, the Orioles have just one lefty reliever on the 25-man roster: Troy Patton, who heading into Friday has held left-handed hitters to a .227 average, the second best mark in the bullpen (lefties hit .223 against closer Jim Johnson)

* The Tigers became the 41st team in major-league history to hit seven homers in one game last Sunday. They also became the first team to hit seven homers and lose.* From May 10 to June 1, Albert Belle hit .217, Carlos Baerga .269, Eddie Murray .229, and Kenny Lofton .215. And the Indians went 13-5, which speaks volumes about the other hitters in their lineup, like Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome.* More Tribe: In his first 12 appearances for Triple-A Buffalo, reclamation project Gregg Olson is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and seven saves.

Highlights and lowlights from the Orioles' 2-0 loss to the Texas Rangers in Port Charlotte, Fla. UP - Calvin Maduro: Looking more and more like the fifth starter. UP - Jose Mercedes: Nothing wrong with pitching in relief. It's still the majors. DOWN - Chuck McElroy: Allowed two hits and a run in the sixth. DOWN - The wind: Had more knockdowns than Mike Tyson. DOWN - Eddy Martinez: Got in the game long enough to commit an error at shortstop. EVEN - Eugene Kingsale: Had the club's first hit and a base-running blunder.

AMERICAN LEAGUE Who's hot The Mariners are a major-league best 18-4 and have won seven straight games and 11 of 12. Who's not Mike Mussina is 0-3 with a 6.29 ERA in his past four starts. Line of the day Hideo Nomo, Red Sox pitcher IP H R BB SO 7 1 0 5 8 NATIONAL LEAGUE Who's hot The Reds swept the Giants in San Francisco for the first time since 1996. Who's not The Mets are tied for last in the NL East at 8-13 after getting swept by the Brewers. Line of the day Desi Relaford, Mets third baseman AB R H RBI HR 4 2 4 2 1 AMERICAN LEAGUE He said it "I call him `Cacique.

Moves Baseball BLUE JAYS: Purchased contract of former Orioles C Greg Myers from Triple-A Syracuse. Sent P Justin Miller outright to Syracuse. CARDINALS: Placed OF Rick Ankiel on waivers for the purpose of his unconditional release. Placed P Matt Morris on 15-day DL. Purchased contract of P Bill Pulsipher and 2B Abraham Nunez from Triple-A Memphis. INDIANS: Agreed with C Victor Martinez on five-year contract. ROCKIES: Released P Darren Oliver from his minor league contract. Basketball BULLS: Placed F Luol Deng on injured list.

A recap of the Orioles' 11-6 loss to the Angels last night: Fewer than six again Orioles starter Radhames Liz was pulled in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs and the Orioles trailing 6-3. It was the sixth time in his past seven starts that he failed to get through six innings. He's not alone. Orioles starters have pitched six innings only twice in 10 games since the All-Star break and have an ERA of 8.35 in that span. Liz was charged with six runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.