Pawtucket

Through all the games played in frigid temperatures, in a near-empty stadium in April, with a roster that kept changing like a car's odometer, the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx never reached for excuses. Their only interest was reaching the International League playoffs for the first time since winning the 1995 Governors Cup. They've made it, clinching the wild card with Saturday's 6-3 win over Buffalo. Matt Riley struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings, Geronimo Gil hit his first home run since the Orioles sent him down and Darwin Cubillan registered his 20th save.

Dec. 20 1790 The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I. 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

Dec. 20 1790 The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating at Pawtucket, R.I. 1860 South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union.

Catcher Javy Lopez officially departed the Orioles for the Boston Red Sox yesterday in exchange for a player to be named. The mystery player is outfielder Adam Stern, according to industry sources. But the Orioles won't find out if Stern clears waivers until next week. If he does, he'll come to the Orioles immediately. If not, he won't arrive until after the season. Stern started the season in Boston but was sent down after hitting .150 in 20 at-bats. He was batting .266 with eight homers and 21 steals for Triple-A Pawtucket.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - John Stephens pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Ottawa Lynx over the Pawtucket Red Sox, 2-0, and tie the best-of-five Triple-A International League semifinal series at two games apiece. Stephens (1-0), who walked one, yielded six hits and struck out three to pick up the win for the Orioles' affiliate. Darwin Cubillan pitched a perfect ninth to save the shutout. Raul Casanova hit a two-run homer to left field in the first inning to provide the only runs. Joey Hammond had two hits, and Napoleon Calzado and Luis Lopez both doubled for Ottawa, which has won back-to-back games to push the series to a fifth and deciding game today in Pawtucket.

Baseball Boston Red Sox -- Activated P John Dopson (1-2, 2.37 ERA) from Triple-A Pawtucket. Activated LF Mike Greenwell. Returned P Peter Hoy on option to Pawtucket. Asked waivers on utilityman Mike Brumley.Cincinnati Reds -- Activated 1B Hal Morris. Optioned P Milt Hill (0 runs, 2 hits in 3 1/3 innings) to Triple-A Nashville.New York Yankees -- Called up P Shawn Hillegas (2-0, 3.29 ERA) from Triple-A Columbus. Optioned P Jeff Johnson (1-2, 5.70 ERA in 6 games) to Columbus.

Baseball Blue Jays: Signed following draft choices: P Jason Colson, P Ryan Costello, P Brendan Fuller, P Darren Heal, P David Gassner, 1B Ernesto Durazo, 3B Aaron McEachran, SS Nick Tempesta and C Timothy Whittaker. Brewers: Activated P Jamey Wright. Designated IF Lou Collier for assignment. Red Sox: Assigned P Tomo Ohka to Triple-A Pawtucket. Purchased contract of IF Jon Shave from Pawtucket. Transferred P Bret Saberhagen from 15-day to 60-day DL. Royals: Placed OF Mark Quinn on 15-day DL with strained left hamstring.

Baseball Diamondbacks: Placed P Brian Anderson on 15-day DL with strained groin. Recalled P Geraldo Guzman from Triple-A Tucson. Rangers: Placed P Ryan Glynn on 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday, with back injury. Red Sox: Placed IF Craig Grebeck on 15-day DL with bruised left foot. Recalled IF Lou Merloni from Triple-A Pawtucket. Yankees: Recalled P Brandon Knight from Triple-A Columbus. Transferred P Christian Parker from 15-day to 60-day DL.

BaseballAstros: Re-assigned IF Dave Hajek and OF Ken Ramos to minors.4 Blue Jays: Placed P Woody Williams on 15-day DL.Cubs: Assigned P Brian Barnes, P Mike Campbell, C Lance Jennings and IF Paul Faries to minors.Mariners: Mariners: (Light) Announced four-year extension of player development contract with Single-A Lancaster (Calif.).Reds: Assigned P Rich Rodriguez and C Joe Kmak to minors.Red Sox: Optioned IF Jim Tatum to Triple-A Pawtucket. Assigned C Alan Zinter and IF Nomar Garciaparra to Pawtucket.

BaseballBlue Jays: Placed P Joey Hamilton on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 14. Recalled former Orioles P Nerio Rodriguez from Triple-A Syracuse.Dodgers: Activated P Antonio Osuna from the 15-day DL.Mariners: Reassigned P Robert Luce to Triple-A Tacoma.Marlins: Accepted P Eric Ludwick from Blue Jays and assigned him outright to Triple-A Calgary.Mets: Optioned OF Terrence Long to Triple-A Norfolk. Recalled C Vance Wilson from Norfolk.Pirates: Placed P Francisco Cordova on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 11. Purchased contract of P Jim Dougherty from Triple-A Nasvhille.

Moves Baseball ASTROS: Placed P Andy Pettitte on 15-day DL, retroactive to April 7, with strained left elbow. Called up P Brandon Backe from Triple-A New Orleans. DEVIL RAYS: Signed OF Bubba Trammell to minor league contract; assigned him to Triple-A Durham. RED SOX: Designated IF Brian Daubach for assignment. Purchased contract of P Frank Castillo from Triple-A Pawtucket. TWINS: Recalled OF Lew Ford from Triple-A Rochester. Colleges BOWLING GREEN: Named Vance Joseph defensive backs coach.

Exactly four years ago last night, left-hander Matt Riley made his major league debut with the Orioles by taking the ball in Minnesota and churning out the first of his three September starts. He didn't make it back to the team until yesterday. Included among four Triple-A call-ups, Riley flew from Pawtucket to Ottawa on Monday night, packed his belongings and drove to Baltimore. He arrived in town around 5 a.m. and was in uniform last night. No further proof was needed of his desire to reach the majors again, that a four-year wait was much too long.

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - John Stephens pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to lead the Ottawa Lynx over the Pawtucket Red Sox, 2-0, and tie the best-of-five Triple-A International League semifinal series at two games apiece. Stephens (1-0), who walked one, yielded six hits and struck out three to pick up the win for the Orioles' affiliate. Darwin Cubillan pitched a perfect ninth to save the shutout. Raul Casanova hit a two-run homer to left field in the first inning to provide the only runs. Joey Hammond had two hits, and Napoleon Calzado and Luis Lopez both doubled for Ottawa, which has won back-to-back games to push the series to a fifth and deciding game today in Pawtucket.

Through all the games played in frigid temperatures, in a near-empty stadium in April, with a roster that kept changing like a car's odometer, the Triple-A Ottawa Lynx never reached for excuses. Their only interest was reaching the International League playoffs for the first time since winning the 1995 Governors Cup. They've made it, clinching the wild card with Saturday's 6-3 win over Buffalo. Matt Riley struck out eight over 6 1/3 innings, Geronimo Gil hit his first home run since the Orioles sent him down and Darwin Cubillan registered his 20th save.

Baseball Blue Jays: Signed following draft choices: P Jason Colson, P Ryan Costello, P Brendan Fuller, P Darren Heal, P David Gassner, 1B Ernesto Durazo, 3B Aaron McEachran, SS Nick Tempesta and C Timothy Whittaker. Brewers: Activated P Jamey Wright. Designated IF Lou Collier for assignment. Red Sox: Assigned P Tomo Ohka to Triple-A Pawtucket. Purchased contract of IF Jon Shave from Pawtucket. Transferred P Bret Saberhagen from 15-day to 60-day DL. Royals: Placed OF Mark Quinn on 15-day DL with strained left hamstring.

Baseball Diamondbacks: Placed P Brian Anderson on 15-day DL with strained groin. Recalled P Geraldo Guzman from Triple-A Tucson. Rangers: Placed P Ryan Glynn on 15-day DL, retroactive to Friday, with back injury. Red Sox: Placed IF Craig Grebeck on 15-day DL with bruised left foot. Recalled IF Lou Merloni from Triple-A Pawtucket. Yankees: Recalled P Brandon Knight from Triple-A Columbus. Transferred P Christian Parker from 15-day to 60-day DL.

BaseballDevil Rays: Signed P Aaron Small; assigned him to Triple-A Durham.Diamondbacks: Optioned P Bobby Chouinard to Tucson.Padres: Activated P Carlos Almanzar from 15-day DL; optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.Red Sox: Recalled C Creighton Gubanich from Triple-A Pawtucket. Designated C Mandy Romero for assignment. Sent P Bret Saberhagen to Pawtucket on rehabilitation assignment. Selected P Danny Haas from Single-A Sarasota.BasketballUSA Basketball: G Jennifer Azzi withdrew from women's senior national team.

BaseballAL: Named Rangers 1B Rafael Palmeiro Player of the Week.NL: Named Diamondbacks P Randy Johnson Player of the Week.Blue Jays: Sent P Pat Lynch to Rockies to complete earlier trade.Cardinals: Purchased contract of P Rick Ankiel from Triple-A Memphis. Optioned P Rick Heiserman to Memphis.Phillies: Purchased contract of P Joe Grahe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Optioned P Anthony Shumaker to Scranton.Red Sox: Optioned P Brian Rose to Triple-A Pawtucket. Recalled P Tomokazu Ohka from Pawtucket.

BaseballAL: Named Rangers 1B Rafael Palmeiro Player of the Week.NL: Named Diamondbacks P Randy Johnson Player of the Week.Blue Jays: Sent P Pat Lynch to Rockies to complete earlier trade.Cardinals: Purchased contract of P Rick Ankiel from Triple-A Memphis. Optioned P Rick Heiserman to Memphis.Phillies: Purchased contract of P Joe Grahe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Optioned P Anthony Shumaker to Scranton.Red Sox: Optioned P Brian Rose to Triple-A Pawtucket. Recalled P Tomokazu Ohka from Pawtucket.

BaseballDevil Rays: Signed P Aaron Small; assigned him to Triple-A Durham.Diamondbacks: Optioned P Bobby Chouinard to Tucson.Padres: Activated P Carlos Almanzar from 15-day DL; optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.Red Sox: Recalled C Creighton Gubanich from Triple-A Pawtucket. Designated C Mandy Romero for assignment. Sent P Bret Saberhagen to Pawtucket on rehabilitation assignment. Selected P Danny Haas from Single-A Sarasota.BasketballUSA Basketball: G Jennifer Azzi withdrew from women's senior national team.