Yan

BEIJING - In 1944, Mao Tse-tung eulogized a fallen Red Army soldier by proclaiming the great honor of dying in service of the people, a speech that became known to everyone here as "Serve the People." In his recently published novella, Serve the People, author Yan Lianke had a different take. "To serve the people, you take it off," a young woman says at a crucial point in the story. The woman, married to a military commander who is impotent, is urging a soldier who works for her husband to undress.

Who's hot Ken Griffey of the Reds has 33 career homers against the Yankees. Who's not The Expos have scored 22 runs in the past nine games. Line of the day Garret Anderson, Angels LF AB R H RBI HR 5 3 3 5 3 On deck Jose Contreras of the Yan kees makes his second start tonight, facing the Reds. He said it "That kid could have pitched all day out there, the way he was throwing the ball." Grady Little, Red Sox manager, on Byung-Hyun Kim's first start with the team in a win over the Pirates

Devil Rays: Tampa Bay finished its homestand at 0-5 and dropped its third straight one-run game after not losing one in the first 21. Esteban Yan yielded one hit while striking out two over the final two innings. Batters had been 0-for-30 against Yan over the last five games until Dave Magadan's single with two out in the ninth.Red Sox: After pitching at least seven innings in each of his first four starts, Pedro Martinez has lasted 5 1/3 innings and six innings in his past two games.Royals: Outfielder Shane Mack's hitting streak ended at 15 games.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- They are their league's most dominant pitching team, but the Orioles continue to search for help. The last week has made clear why.Manager Davey Johnson entered last night's game against the Kansas City Royals in need of something resembling a competent starting effort. Jimmy Key was coming off his worst outing of the season. Scott Kamieniecki was blasted while pitching on abbreviated rest. Esteban Yan, unhitable at Triple-A Rochester, was hitter-friendly in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

Quote: "By Monday, I'll be in the lineup. I'm getting a little frustrated sitting around waiting, but we have to do what's best for the team." - Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez, on the DL with a sprained knee, who did some fielding, hitting and running It's a fact: . Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who batted .196 in interleague play last year, hit .468 this year. Who's hot: The Twins' Mark Redman leads all AL rookie pitchers in victories, strikeouts and innings pitched. Who's not: Devil Rays starter Esteban Yan faced 20 batters, allowing 10 hits and one walk.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.-- --He stood stoically near the third-base line with his arms folded, and his eyes, hidden by a pair of dark sunglasses, fixated on the field in front of him. It was a warm day at Fort Lauderdale Stadium and the monotony of another spring training fielding drill was testing the players' focus and challenging the manager's patience. Aggressively chomping on a piece of bubble gum while observing every sequence of the drill, Sam Perlozzo intermittently shouted praise and criticism.