Mussina

BOSTON - The moment of truth, or perhaps it was a truce, came late in the afternoon while the Boston Red Sox began to vacate the field so their opponent could take batting practice. Players on both teams got close enough to land punches. Elderly coaches were placed in harm's way again. The seconds seemed to pass like hours, but everyone made nice. The Red Sox walked undisturbed into their clubhouse. Manny Ramirez didn't charge the mound, Pedro Martinez didn't drill anyone in the back. Keeping with their usual routine, the New York Yankees separated for pre-game running and infield drills.

NEW YORK - Rather than continue to be manipulated by a supposed curse, the kind that can torment a franchise for 85 years and be used to explain away every failure, the Boston Red Sox appear determined to pound it into submission. They took a few more swings last night, raising some welts and the expectations of their loyal following. Unwilling to yield to an unfavorable pitching matchup, a weakened lineup and constant reminders of their postseason glitches, the Red Sox hit three home runs off Mike Mussina and seized early control of the American League Championship Series with a 5-2 victory over the New York Yankees in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.

With Hurricane Isabel due to arrive in the Baltimore area today, the Orioles have moved up the starting time of their game against the New York Yankees from 7:05 p.m. to 12:35 p.m. The Orioles contacted the commissioner's office and consulted with the Yankees about making the switch, and later received the approval of Major League Baseball. If the game is postponed, a distinct possibility given the ominous forecast, it would be made up next weekend as part of a doubleheader in New York.

NEW YORK - Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez stood on the mound at Yankee Stadium for the first time in his career yesterday, playing mind games with one of the best lineups in baseball. Brook Fordyce, his trusted catcher, would flash a sign, and Lopez would shake it off. Fordyce would flash a second sign, and a third, and Lopez would keep shaking until they finally came back to the first idea all over again. Lopez was that confident. His stuff was that good. On a day when he seemed to find himself again, Lopez purposely made it look as if he were lost.

B.J. Surhoff and Mike Mussina were teammates with the Orioles for 4 1/2 seasons, and every time Mussina pitched, Surhoff thought there was a chance he might see a no-hitter. Yesterday, Surhoff had the same feeling, and it was troubling because Mussina now makes his money pitching for the New York Yankees. After adding a new pitch to his arsenal, Mussina tossed a three-hitter against his former team, as the Yankees clobbered the Orioles, 8-0, to complete a four-game sweep before 48,700 at Camden Yards.

Who's hot Orlando Cabrera of the Expos is batting .328 (21-for-64) during his team-high 15-game hit ting streak. Who's not Eric Byrnes of the Athletics is 5-for-57 (.088) in July, dropping his average from .334 to .290. Line of the day Mike Stanton, Mets P IP R H BB SO 1/3 5 5 0 0 He said it "I'm never going to complain about six runs in an inning, even if I have to sit there for a half-hour." Mike Mussina, Yankees pitcher, who lost his shutout after the rally On deck The Brewers' next victory will be their 40th, a total they didn't reach last season until Aug. 7.

The positives are scattered in front of Orioles manager Mike Hargrove, who rummages through the mess to more clearly view the 2003 season. He pushes aside all the losses, the injuries, the innumerable disappointments. It's a dirty job, much like being in charge of a fourth-place team, but how else to find the good stuff that's hidden? Sometimes, a gem teeters on top of the pile. A win over Mike Mussina qualified as one last night. The Orioles batted around in the third inning while knocking Mussina from the game, and they reached the halfway point with a 7-3 victory over the New York Yankees before 36,023 at Camden Yards.

THERE IS a change in the local air - a modest and, to the uninitiated, a nearly imperceptible change, but it is change nevertheless. It drifted softly, yet purposefully, across the hopeful pilgrims who made their way to Camden Yards during the last home stand, when an uncommonly wet and cool May surrendered mercifully at last to June. In a move that may mean nothing, yet may mean everything, the Orioles reached an agreement with a 19-year-old, 6-foot-6 left-handed pitching prospect from Canada named Adam Loewen.

NEW YORK - In the weeks leading up to Mike Mussina's controversial parting with the Orioles in 2000, there seemed to be widespread agreement on only one point: The small-town pitcher with the big IQ would never sign with the New York Yankees. That was a logical assumption, considering the introverted Mussina's apparent aversion to the Big Apple. He would go to New York with the Orioles and leave his hotel room only long enough to go to work. Who could have imagined he would ever agree to live there?