Kent Mercker

On the field: It had been nearly four weeks since Manny Alexander and Kent Mercker appeared in the field, before they entered the second game of the doubleheader yesterday in the same inning. Alexander took over second base in the sixth after Bill Ripken was ejected, just as Mercker took the mound in relief of Arthur Rhodes.In the dugout: When the managers took their lineup cards to the umpires before Game 2, Davey Johnson argued the final play of NTC Game 1 with umpire Larry Barnett. The ump had ruled Roberto Alomar out for leaving the baseline, part of a game-ending double play.

The 20 free agents offered salary arbitration by their former teams Sunday. Players have until Dec. 19 to accept or reject the offers and may negotiate with their former teams through Jan. 8:American LeagueOrioles (2): x-Brady Anderson, OF; Harold Baines, DH.Cleveland (1): Pat Borders, C.Detroit (1): y-Willie Blair, RHP.Kansas City (1): Dean Palmer, 3B.New York (2): Tim Raines, OF; Darryl Strawberry, OF.Seattle (1): Rick Wilkins, C.Texas (3): x-Scott Bailes, LHP; Bill Ripken, 2B; Bobby Witt, RHP.National LeagueCincinnati (4)

Quote: "I've said it before: He's a real good player who happens to hit home runs. You watch him play defense, and at the plate he'll take a base on balls." -- Cardinals manager Tony La Russa about Mark McGwire, who had a bases-loaded walk and a tie-breaking double yesterday.It's a fact: The Cardinals are 5-1 in Kent Mercker's starts this season. He was 3-6 with the Orioles in 1996.Who's hot: The Cardinals' Delino DeShields hit his league-leading fifth triple and raised his average to .395.

Moves Baseball REDS: Optioned P Seth Etherton and P Jeff Austin to Triple-A Louisville. Purchased contracts of P Jimmy Anderson, P Felix Heredia, P Kent Mercker and P Josias Manzanillo from Louisville. ROCKIES: Optioned IF Garrett Atkins, IF Kevin Eberwein, OF Luke Allen and P Elio Serrano to minor-league camp. Assigned P Vic Darensbourg and IF Kit Pellow to minor-league camp. TIGERS: Released P Julio Santana and P Oscar Henriquez. College HARVARD: F Jennifer Botterill won her second Patty Kazmaier award as the best player in women's college hockey.

BaseballDodgers: Agreed to one-year contract with C Carlos Hernandez. Traded SS Jose Offerman to Royals for P Billy Brewer; Kansas City signed Offerman to one-year contract.Orioles: Traded P Rachaad Stewart and P Joe Borowski to Braves for P Kent Mercker.FootballBrowns: Placed RB Leroy Hoard on IR. Signed DB Donny Brady from practicesquad.HockeyFlames: Recalled RW Sheldon Kennedy from AHL Saint John.Jets: Sent D Brent Thompson on loan to Springfield.Rangers: Sent F Steve Larouche to AHL Binghamton.

BaseballGiants: Agreed to terms with P Rich Rodriguez on a two-year contract and P Danny Darwin on a one-year contract.Padres: Offered salary arbitration to P Pete Smith. Declined to offer salary arbitration to IF Craig Shipley.Rangers: Offered salary arbitration to P Bobby Witt and IF Bill Ripken. Agreed to terms with P Scott Bailes on a one-year contract.Reds: Offered salary arbitration to P Kent Mercker, P Mike Morgan, P Jose Rijo and OF Deion Sanders. Declined to offer salary arbitration to C Joe Oliver and 1B Hal Morris.