Lance Johnson

BaseballAL: Named Royals 3B Joe Randa Player of the Week.NL: Named Diamondbacks 3B Matt Williams Player of the Week.Cubs: Placed CF Lance Johnson (abdominal strain) on 15-day DL, retroactive to June 10. Purchased contract of P Doug Creek from Triple-A Iowa.Devil Rays: Recalled OF Bubba Trammell from Triple-A Durham. Sent OF Terrell Lowery outright to Durham. Assigned P Albie Lopez to Single-A St. Petersburg on rehabilitation assignment.Indians: Signed P Mike Manning.Phillies: Claimed P Jason Brester off waivers from Rockies; assigned him to Double-A Reading.

Quietly. That might best describe how rookie Billy Nelson has settled into a regular spot in the Blast lineup this season. For a 22-year-old defender in the Major Indoor Soccer League, that can be considered a fairly high compliment. Out of necessity, the Blast (6-7 going into tonight's game in Kansas City) had to bring along its 2001 first-round draft pick quicker than anticipated because of a rash of injuries in the back. The Bel Air High grad and former UMBC standout has turned the necessity into a luxury, developing into a reliable presence as a tough, physical marker whose confidence on the ball grows with every shift.

The door to Scott Thomson's professional baseball career was opened by former Old Dominion University teammate Ty Hawkins.After a string of injuries left the Erie (Pa.) Sailors -- a Class A independent cooperative team in the New York Penn League -- short of outfielders midway through the season, Manager Barry Moss asked Hawkins if he knew of any power-hitting outfielders who could fill the void immediately.His answer was Thomson. So after a phone call, a quick tryout anda minor problem getting his contract faxed to the league commissioner's office, the 22-year-old Westminster grad found himself the Sailors' starting center fielder in late July.

BaseballAthletics: Recalled OF Jason McDonald from Double-A Midland.Cubs: Activated OF Lance Johnson from DL. Optioned P Kyle Farnsworth to Triple-A Iowa.Giants: Placed IF Ramon Martinez (groin) on 15-day DL.Marlins: Optioned P Jesus Sanchez to Triple-A Calgary. Recalled P Vic Darensbourg from Calgary.BasketballRockers (WNBA): Fired Linda Hill-MacDonald, head coach, and Susan Yow, assistant coach.FootballBrowns: Signed K Chris Boniol.Seahawks: Released DT Gary Holmes.

Mets: Lance Johnson's three hits brought his National League-leading total to 225, the most by an NL player since Pete Rose's 230 in 1979. Johnson's sixth-inning triple gave him 21 for the season, the most in the league since 1930, when Adam Comorosky had 23 for the Pirates.Astros: With 734 runs scored, Houston needs just 14 runs the last three games to break the club mark set last season.Cubs: Finished 33-48 on the road, their first losing road record since 1992, when they were 35-46.Pub Date: 9/27/96

The Spirit has renewed the options of Rob Ukrop, Lance Johnson, Ricky Bush and Eric Dade, thereby putting them under contract for the 1994-95 National Professional Soccer League season.Ukrop, Johnson and Bush were rookies last season, and Dade was a second-year player. They are scheduled to report for the start of training camp Sept. 19 at Du Burns Arena.The Spirit will hold an open house there Sept. 13 and 14 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night, featuring scrimmages, a discount sale of youth soccer equipment and availability of season tickets for purchase.

Opponent: Tampa Bay TerrorSite: Bayfront Center, Tampa, Fla.Time: 7: 05Radio: Updates after each quarter on WWLG (1360 AM)Outlook: The 6-5 Spirit is second in the NPSL East Division after home wins against Wichita and Milwaukee last weekend. Terror coach Kenny Cooper, the longtime Blast coach, has missed the last two games with pneumonia and isn't expected back tonight. His team (3-8) is last in the East and lost to the Spirit, 12-10, at Baltimore Arena on Oct. 19. For the Spirit, Mike Stankovic (knee)