Kenny Lofton

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Recalled P Ezequiel Astacio from Triple-A Round Rock. Optioned OF Luke Scott to Round Rock. CUBS: Placed P Kerry Wood (shoulder) on 15-day DL. Recalled P Todd Wellemeyer from Triple-A Iowa. DODGERS: Activated P Wilson Alvarez from DL. Optioned P Buddy Carlyle to Triple-A Las Vegas. NATIONALS: Placed OF Terrmel Sledge (pulled hamstring) on 15-day DL. Purchased contract of former Orioles OF Jeffrey Hammonds from Triple-A New Orleans. Recalled OF Endy Chavez from New Orleans.

PITTSBURGH -- The American League starting lineup last night hit 20 more home runs and drove in 80 more runs in the first half of the season than the National League starting lineup, and the AL had a six-game All-Star winning streak going into last night's game at Three Rivers Stadium.Even some of the NL All-Stars aren't too proud to admit the other locker room housed more talent."The AL is more powerful than the NL," Houston Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell said. "There's no doubt about it. You look at that locker room and they've got the Big Hurt [Frank Thomas]

SAN FRANCISCO -- They are not Barry Bonds. There is only one of this species. Only one man on the planet could make opposing managers sweat through hours upon tedious hours of endless second-guessing: What do you do with Barry Bonds? The problem is, no matter what scheme a baseball manager could devise to attempt to thwart the greatest, most dangerous living offensive threat in baseball, the San Francisco Giants turned out to be a force not to be denied. The St. Louis Cardinals found that out last night.

Pitching against the Cleveland Indians, it seems, is like trying to endure one of those all-day picnics. If the thunder doesn't get you, the mosquitoes will.He probably didn't need the reminder, but Kevin Brown found that out the hard way Monday night, when the dreaded thunder (Albert Belle and Eddie Murray) accounted for only one run and the pesky mosquitoes (Omar Vizquel, Tony Pena and Wayne Kirby) produced three.It isn't supposed to happen that way. If you control the heart of the Indians' lineup, the rest should be routine.

ATLANTA -- Andy Benes will watch the World Series with a firsthand knowledge of what it's like to get pounded by Fred McGriff, and how it feels to challenge Albert Belle.Benes pitched for six seasons in the National League with the San Diego Padres, and he was dealt to the Seattle Mariners and went 7-2 the last two months. Benes started Game 4 of the AL Championship Series against Cleveland, getting knocked out inthe third inning.Although Benes acknowledged, with a laugh, that he didn't always pitch the way he intended, he ran down the lineup of each team and suggested how each player should be pitched, starting with the Indians:* Cleveland center fielder Kenny Lofton -- "You've got to throw him fastballs inside.

O's Mike Mussina (19-11, 4.81) vs. Indians' Jack McDowell (13-9, 5.11)What Mussina throws: Fastball, changeup, knuckle-curveball. Mussina's fastball can range from about 85-86 mph on his bad TC days to overpowering, in the low-90s.Mussina of late: He pitched extremely well in his last outing, in Toronto, allowing a run in eight innings against the Blue Jays. He retired the first six and the last seven hitters he faced. Before that, however, Mussina had been struggling.Something to look for: Mussina's fastball can be a barometer.

CHICAGO - It has been a dream season for the Chicago Cubs, but they might not be in the middle of this compelling postseason if not for the misfortune of the National League Central rival Pittsburgh Pirates. The three players that the Cubs acquired from the Pirates at midseason - Kenny Lofton, Aramis Ramirez and Randall Simon - all made significant contributions to the club's division title drive, and all have had an impact on the postseason. Lofton, in particular, has been the catalyst for a Cubs offense that entered Game 6 averaging 5.2 runs a game, even after factoring in Josh Beckett's overpowering performance in Game 5. Lofton came into last night with a .349 postseason average, 15 hits, 10 runs and four stolen bases.

Due to an editing error in yesterday's final edition, a quote from the Orioles' Roberto Alomar was attributed to his brother, the Cleveland Indians' Sandy Alomar Jr., incorrectly stating his free-agent status. Sandy Alomar is signed with the Indians through next season with a club option through 2000.The Sun regrets the error.DENVER -- For one night, he was the old Robbie Alomar, beating out a bunt single, stealing a base, hitting a home run.Showcase, anyone?This is what happens when Alomar wants to play.

Better to be lucky than good in this time of year. But in the first two games of the American League Division Series against Cleveland, the Orioles were lucky and good on defense.The Indians, conversely, haven't made the plays and have been terribly unfortunate, as well, and now they must win the final three games to survive. Game 3 begins today at Cleveland's Jacobs Field at 4: 07 p.m., with the Orioles' Mike Mussina pitching against Cleveland's Jack McDowell.The Orioles have generated their share of highlight material in the first two games.