Julio Franco

Today's schedule* Parking lots open: 8:30 a.m.* Gates open: 11 a.m.* Orioles batting practice: 11:10 a.m.* Rangers batting practice: 12:10 a.m.* Pre-game ceremonies begin: 1:05 p.m.* Rangers lineup introduced: 1:12 p.m.* Orioles lineup introduced: 1:16 p.m.* National anthem: 1:25 p.m.* Ceremonial first pitch, by President Clinton: 1:30 p.m.* First pitch: 1:35 p.m.Weather forecast* Increasing cloudiness and continued cool, highs near 50. East winds around...

BaseballChiba Lotte Marines (Japan League) -- Signed OF Pete Incaviglia, IF Julio Franco and P Eric Hillman.BasketballNew Jersey Nets -- Placed G Sean Higgins on the injured list. Activated G Chris Childs from the injured list.New York Knicks -- Placed F Charles Oakley on the injured list. Activated F Doug Christie from the injured list.CollegeFordham -- Announced C Connie Mack will miss the 1994-95 season due to injury and will still have three years of eligibility remaining.FootballCincinnati Bengals -- Promoted Bobby DePaul from defensive assistant to defensive line coach.

Ramon Martinez of the Los Angeles Dodgers strained his left hip during yesterday's 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves and will not pitch in tomorrow's All-Star Game.Martinez, whose 12th victory tied him with the Atlanta Braves' Tom Glavine for the National League lead, was examined by Dr. Frank Jobe after leaving the game in the sixth inning and was ordered not to play tomorrow night. Martinez said he doesn't expect to miss any starts for the Dodgers.Martinez hurt himself trying to reach Deion Sanders' roller to shortstop and felt his hip tighten.

Jeffrey HammondsHis projected role with the Orioles: Hammonds probably will open the season as the club's left fielder, batting ninth.Number crunching: Hammonds has put in just one full season of games over three years, playing 158 games. In those 158 games, he's batted .280, with 15 homers, 73 RBIs, 73 runs, and 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts.Where he's been this off-season: Hammonds spent most of the winter in Baltimore, working out and rehabilitating the strained muscle in his neck and shoulder.

Cal RipkenHis projected role for the Orioles: Shortstop. Everyday.Where he has been this off-season: Ripken, who figured the demand on him for public appearances increased "20-fold or 30-fold" this off-season, took on some of those kinds of obligations. He also served as a technical adviser for a movie. In the final weeks of winter, he spent most of his time at home in Reisterstown, working out and playing basketball.Number crunching: Ripken begins the season with his consecutive-games streak at 2,153.

Moves Baseball BRAVES -- Designated 1B Julio Franco for assignment. Optioned P Jose Ascanio to Double-A Mississippi. BREWERS -- Optioned 2B Rickie Weeks to Triple-A Nashville. Placed P Scott Linebrink on bereavement list. Activated P Elmer Dessens from 15-day DL. Purchased contract of IF-OF Joe Dillon from Nashville. CARDINALS -- Optioned OF Skip Schumaker to Triple-A Memphis. DODGERS -- Signed P Tim Sexton (Calvert Hall). INDIANS -- Activated P Aaron Fultz from 15-day DL. Designated P Fernando Cabrera for assignment.

Is there any chance that Big Brown's owner will send the thoroughbred on an injury rehab race before the Belmont Stakes? Big Brown visited a hoof specialist earlier this week. Strangely, it was Dr. James Andrews. But seriously ... I'm reading reports on how the actual specialist, Ian McKinlay, inserted stainless steel wire stitches into a crack in Big Brown's left front foot to draw it together. He'll return to Belmont Park today and likely clean the area and replace the stitch before covering it with adhesive.

At Oriole Park at Camden Yards@6Day.. .. .. .. . Time.. .. .. TV.. .. .. .. StartersToday .. .. .. ..1:35 .. .. ..2, 20 .. ...Craig Lefferts (14-12, 3.76 in '92) .. ... .. .. .. .. .. ... .. .. ... ..... Rick Sutcliffe (16-15, 4.47)Wednesday .. .. ..7:35 .. .. .HTS .. .. ..Charlie Leibrandt (15-7, 3.36) vs. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... ... .. .. .. .. .. ..Mike Mussina (18-5, 2.54)Radio: Both games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM). . .. .. .. .. ..Rangers updateThe Rangers feature a revamped look under first-year manager Kevin Kennedy.