Dodger Stadium

Late Orioles game: Last night's interleague game between the Orioles and Dodgers in Los Angeles ended too late to be included in this edition. A complete report can be found in later editions or on the Internet at www.baltimoresun.com. LOS ANGELES - It has been nearly four decades since Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer recorded the final out of a four-hit complete-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Nearly four decades since he out-dueled Sandy Koufax to send the Fall Classic back to Baltimore, where Wally Bunker and Dave McNally would pitch 1-0 gems to complete an unlikely sweep that gave the Orioles their first world title.

Beware in Philly, Bronx Bill Kline The Morning Call When they say 99.9 percent of baseball fans are nice, they aren't talking about New York and Philadelphia. True, alcohol makes louts out of most of us. But when you couple booze with the ornery disposition most fans in those cities acquire by kindergarten, the combination is combustible. If you want trouble in New York or Philly, just pop on the visiting team's cap, settle into your seat, duck and cover.

LOS ANGELES - It has been nearly four decades since Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer recorded the final out of a four-hit complete-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Nearly four decades since he out-dueled Sandy Koufax to send the Fall Classic back to Baltimore, where Wally Bunker and Dave McNally would pitch 1-0 gems to complete an unlikely sweep that gave the Orioles their first world title. The 63rd World Series would be the beginning of a golden era of Orioles baseball, but the Orioles would not set foot in Dodger Stadium again until last night's interleague series opener.

On deck -- Mets@Dodgers -- Former Red Sox teammates Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe face each other tonight at Dodger Stadium.

On deck -- Mets@Dodgers -- Former Red Sox teammates Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe face each other tonight at Dodger Stadium.

Beware in Philly, Bronx Bill Kline The Morning Call When they say 99.9 percent of baseball fans are nice, they aren't talking about New York and Philadelphia. True, alcohol makes louts out of most of us. But when you couple booze with the ornery disposition most fans in those cities acquire by kindergarten, the combination is combustible. If you want trouble in New York or Philly, just pop on the visiting team's cap, settle into your seat, duck and cover.

The Dodgers Los Angeles has won seven straight games overall and 11 of its past 12 at Dodger Stadium. The Royals Kansas City has lost 13 straight games and is a major league-worst 10-35.

Doug Jones,OriolesHis favorite ballparks:1. El Paso (Double-A), old Dudley Field. "It was a lot of fun to play there. It was kind of a small park, a double outfield wall. The announcer was nuts, and he never stopped talking."2. Vancouver (Triple-A), Nat Bailey Stadium. "A pitcher's ballpark. The ball just didn't travel at all. The fans were right on top of you."3. Camden Yards. "There are a lot of people there, which makes it a lot of fun to play. Jacobs Field is like that, too, all the new ballparks."

Fernando Valenzuela, signed last week by the Philadelphia Phillies, has agreed (reluctantly, according to one source) to participate in a hastily arranged pre-game ceremony tonight at Dodger Stadium.Valenzuela, 141-116 as a Dodger from 1980 to 1990, never was honored after being released by Los Angeles in the spring of 1991.Bitterness over the parting, which included a grievance filed against the club and later dropped, was believed to be the reason Valenzuela was not acknowledged in the same manner as other former Dodgers.

It's a fact Jeff Conine, who turned 38 on June 27 and went 3-for-5, has batted .388 (14-for-36) in 10 games on his birthday. Milestone Jose Cruz Jr. hit his 166th home run last week, one more than his father, Jose Cruz, hit from 1970 to 1988. The number 13: Sellouts at Dodger Stadium, the most since there were 27 in 1991. There were 11 last season.

The Dodgers Los Angeles has won seven straight games overall and 11 of its past 12 at Dodger Stadium. The Royals Kansas City has lost 13 straight games and is a major league-worst 10-35.

Frank Wilkinson, 91, a Los Angeles housing official who lost his job in the Red Scare of the early 1950s and later became one of the last two people jailed for refusing to tell the House Un-American Activities Committee whether he was a communist, died Monday in Los Angeles. Mr. Wilkinson, whose experiences inspired a half-century campaign against government spying, had been ill for several months and was recovering from surgery and a fall, said Donna Wilkinson, his wife of 40 years. In 1952, when Mr. Wilkinson was head of the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, he spearheaded a project to replace the sprawling Mexican-American neighborhood of Chavez Ravine, home to 300 families and roamed by goats and other livestock, with thousands of public-housing units.

MIAMI - Deep down, Mark Wiley knew he'd resurface as a major league pitching coach. He figured his 35 years in pro ball would mean something to somebody. The reality exceeded his expectations. "Sometimes, one door closes and another one opens," said Wiley, the first-year pitching coach of the Florida Marlins, the big league team closest to his Boca Raton, Fla., home. "I'm a pretty good example of that." Wiley, the Orioles' pitching coach in 1987 and again from 2001 to '04, was reassigned to scouting duties last June 26 and replaced by Ray Miller.

It had to be a strange sight - reliever Eric Gagne getting two standing ovations after blowing a save against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night - but the fans at Dodger Stadium were showing their appreciation for one of the most impressive pitching accomplishments in the history of baseball. Gagne's record string of 84 successful save opportunities stretched back to Aug. 26, 2002 and was 30 saves longer than the previous record, set by Tom Gordon. During the streak, Gagne registered an 0.82 ERA, gave up just 43 hits and struck out 141 batters, but never got overly impressed with himself.

It's a fact Jeff Conine, who turned 38 on June 27 and went 3-for-5, has batted .388 (14-for-36) in 10 games on his birthday. Milestone Jose Cruz Jr. hit his 166th home run last week, one more than his father, Jose Cruz, hit from 1970 to 1988. The number 13: Sellouts at Dodger Stadium, the most since there were 27 in 1991. There were 11 last season.

LOS ANGELES - Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez stopped short of saying he wanted to be traded yesterday, but in his first public comments since being sent back to the bullpen, he said, "I'm unhappy; that's for sure." After starting the season in the bullpen, Lopez went 2-1 with a 6.41 ERA in five starts before Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli moved him back into a relief role Tuesday. Lopez was the team's Opening Day starter in 2003 after going 15-9 and finishing second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2002.

Quote: "I've always said batting practice is overrated." - Mark McGwire, who didn't take batting practice in Pittsburgh and hit a 444-foot homer in the first inning It's a fact: The Rockies failed to steal a base for the first time in nine games. Who's hot: The Giants' Terrell Lowery went 5-for-6 and is 12-for-19 in six games since being recalled from Triple-A. Who's not: The Astros' Jose Lima, a 21-game winner last year, has allowed 19 home runs in nine starts. On deck: The Dodgers will play 20 of their next 26 games at Dodger Stadium, and three of the six road games are scheduled in Anaheim.

There's a price to pay for patriotism. Ryan Klesko, the San Diego Padres' All-Star first baseman, might be out for the rest of the season in what could be the first flag-waving ailment in baseball history. On Sept. 17, Klesko joined his teammates and the Los Angeles Dodgers in spreading out a huge American flag in pre-game ceremonies at Dodger Stadium to honor people killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Klesko and Padres manager Bruce Bochy both stumbled as they backpedaled across the outfield grass toward home plate.

LOS ANGELES - The face of Orioles rookie Daniel Cabrera was covered with frustration in the sixth inning last night, and the worst was yet to come. Locked in a scoreless tie with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Jose Lima, Cabrera had mishandled a fairly routine comebacker off the bat of Adrian Beltre, allowing Milton Bradley to score the game's first run. Sensing Cabrera's disappointment, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada went to the mound, and soon the...

Late Orioles game: Last night's interleague game between the Orioles and Dodgers in Los Angeles ended too late to be included in this edition. A complete report can be found in later editions or on the Internet at www.baltimoresun.com. LOS ANGELES - It has been nearly four decades since Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer recorded the final out of a four-hit complete-game victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the 1966 World Series at Dodger Stadium. Nearly four decades since he out-dueled Sandy Koufax to send the Fall Classic back to Baltimore, where Wally Bunker and Dave McNally would pitch 1-0 gems to complete an unlikely sweep that gave the Orioles their first world title.