Interleague

The Montreal Expos don't have the best starting rotation in the National League. They don't have a brand-new stadium. They don't even have a representative payroll.They do, however, have a solid team and a ton of momentum. That much was evident in their 6-4 victory over the Orioles in the first interleague game ever played at Camden Yards.The Orioles were just starting to like this interleague stuff. They just swept three games from the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field to make the biggest splash of the first interleague weekend only to come home and run into the hottest team in baseball.

Even with a five-day advance warning, Rafael Palmeiro was none to happy with the news. Told last week the Orioles would be facing Randy Johnson in tonight's interleague opener at Camden Yards, Palmeiro immediately flipped on the sarcasm switch. "Great," he said. "You just made my day. Got any other good news?" Well, there is this: Entering tonight's start for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Johnson is 1-6 in 10 career games in Baltimore. His return brings to mind one of the most impressive conquests in franchise history.

Every time Sidney Ponson goes head-to-head with another team's ace, it gives the Orioles a new measuring stick to chart his progress, and anyone who watched last night's game at Camden Yards probably had the same thought: Boy, that Randy Johnson sure is tall. A crowd of 28,927 saw Ponson get outclassed in every way, as Johnson pitched the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-1 victory in the interleague opener for both teams. Arizona grabbed the lead in the third inning, and the 6-foot-10 Johnson never let go, as the Orioles lost for the 12th time in their past 17 games.

Baseball All-Star Game 8 p.m. [CHS. 45, 5] : Take a closer look. That's not a Red Sox-Cubs interleague game. Other teams are allowed to have players, too.

PITCHING LINE OF THE DAY Kirk Rueter, Giants AB R H RBI HR BATTING LINE OF THE DAY Mark Teixeira, Rangers 1B 4 2 3 4 2 IP H R BB SO 4 11 6 1 0 WHO'S HOT Darin Erstad of the Angels has 196 interleague hits, the most since interleague play began in 1997. WHO'S NOT Brad Radke of the Twins has won once in his past five outings and yielded 42 hits and 18 runs in 29 2/3 innings.

Freddy Garcia White Sox pitcher He is 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA in interleague games. Phillies They have lost five straight and seven of eight to fall under .500 for the first time since May 3.

Brewers@Indians 7 p.m. [ESPN] It's either a cost-cutting measure (ESPN was already in Cleveland for Sunday night's game) or it's really just a light schedule in interleague play, but the Cleveland Indians are the national game two nights in a row - and they stink this season.

Quote: "We have 102 more games with him back and it's hard to think of another 102 without him." -- Giants manager Dusty Baker on Barry Bonds' return from disabled list.It's a fact: Despite yesterday's loss, the Giants hold a 7-3 advantage over the Angels since the inception of interleague play in 1997.Who's hot: The Expos, who outscored Boston, 26-4, in their latest series, are 6-0 at home against the Red Sox in interleague play.Who's not: Ex-Orioles closer Gregg Olson, who gave up a three-run, game-winning homer to the Cubs' Tyler Houston on Tuesday, has six blown saves in 14 chances this season with the Diamondbacks.