Ogea

At Veterans Stadium, PhiladelphiaDay Time TV StartersTonight 7: 35 13, 50 Juan Guzman (4-6, 4.39) vs. Curt Schilling (12-4, 3.20)Tomorrow 7: 05 13, 50 Mike Mussina (10-4, 3.61) vs. Paul Byrd (11-4, 3.72)Sunday 1: 35 13, 50 Scott Erickson (3-8, 6.34) vs. Chad Ogea (4-8, 5.29)Radio: All games on WBAL (1090 AM) and WTOP (1500 AM)Phillies updateThe Phillies are 6-3 in interleague games. More important, they are only 6 1/2 games out of the NL East lead, and only 1 1/2 behind the second-place New York Mets.

There was no letdown. No post-Yankees depression. The Orioles played a near-perfect game last night and opened the American League Championship Series with an uplifting, 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians before 49,029 at Camden Yards.Right-hander Scott Erickson, who had come up so big in the Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, towered over the Indians the same way, giving up just four hits over eight innings for his second victory of the postseason. He combined with closer Randy Myers to pitch the first Orioles shutout since Aug. 12 and carry the Orioles another small step closer to the World Series.

BaseballBoston Red Sox -- Activated P Gar Finnvold from the 15-day DL. Placed 3B Scott Cooper on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 4.Cleveland Indians -- Sent P Chad Ogea to Triple-A Charlotte. Called up P Jerry DiPoto from Charlotte.Florida Marlins -- Optioned C Greg O'Halloran to Double-A Portland.Houston Astros -- Activated IF Andy Stankiewicz from the 15-day DL. Optioned IF Roberto Petagine to Triple-A Tucson.Kansas City Royals -- Placed OF Dave Henderson on the 15-day DL. Purchased the contract of OF Dwayne Hosey from Triple-A Omaha.

On the field: Eddie Murray got into a bit of a tiff with Game 5 starter Greg Maddux in the first inning, and last night he had a shouting match with plate umpire Joe Brinkman. Murray took a 1-1 pitch and Brinkman called it for a strike, and Murray stepped out of the box and jawed at the umpire. Brinkman called him out on the next pitch, a borderline strike, and Murray's anger flashed again. He screamed at Brinkman before walking back to the dugout.In the dugout: Dennis Martinez said Friday that he wasn't 100 percent, and Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove certainly took his words to heart.

BaseballOrioles -- Optioned OF Jeffrey Hammonds to Double-A Bowie. Placed OF Andy Van Slyke on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 11.Boston Red Sox -- Designated P Joel Johnston for assignment. Activated P Zane Smith. Optioned P Mike Hartley, P Frank Rodriguez and IF Steve Rodriguez to Triple-A Pawtucket.Chicago Cubs -- Placed P Chris Nabholz (Towson State) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to May 11. Optioned P Tom Edens and P Tanyon Sturtze to Triple-A Iowa.Cleveland Indians -- Optioned IF David Bell and P Chad Ogea to Triple-A Buffalo.

Baseball Devil Rays: Fired Rick Williams, pitching coach. Named Bill Fischer pitching coach. Activated OF Jose Guillen from 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Durham. Indians: Signed P Chad Ogea to minor-league contract. Mets: Claimed P Anthony Shumaker off waivers from Phillies and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. Basketball Women's NBA: Invited Tesha Tinsley (Western High/Northeastern University) to pre-draft camp April 13-15 in Chicago. Colleges America East Conference: Named New Hampshire's Jessie Groszkowski (Franklin)

CLEVELAND -- As far as David Wells was concerned, his place in the postseason rotation was secure. Sixteen wins during the regular season -- second-most on the team -- apparently solidified his spot. Yet when New York Yankees manager Joe Torre was making out his playoff rotation, he considered keeping Wells out of it.But Torre decided to go with Wells. And the pudgy left-hander did not disappoint last night. With a huge assist from Paul O'Neill's fourth-inning grand slam, Wells' complete game lifted New York to a 6-1 win over the Cleveland Indians in Game 3 of an American League Division Series.