Ben Grieve

Ben Grieve couldn't have faced much loftier expectations as a rookie. A former first-round draft pick and minor league player of the year, Grieve was counted on to deliver immediately for the Oakland Athletics, especially after he hit major league pitching with such ease in September 1997. And deliver he did. Grieve met all of the expectations this year and was rewarded Tuesday by easily winning the American League rookie-of-the-year award.

Johnny Damon, the Dodgers' great winter hope for a leadoff-hitting center fielder, is coming west. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, he's headed for Oakland rather than Chavez Ravine. Damon, 27, was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the American League West champion Athletics in a three-team, nine-player deal Monday that included the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Relaxed after sleeping in his own bedroom at his parents' home, rookie Ben Grieve put on a show for family and friends Tuesday night. Grieve homered twice in his hometown debut and the Oakland Athletics hung on after blowing most of a nine-run lead to beat the Texas Rangers, 9-7. "It was neat to do it here," Grieve said. "It was exciting, but I know my parents are 10 times more excited about it than I am. It's just a lot more special because it came at home.

Ben Grieve couldn't have faced much loftier expectations as a rookie. A former first-round draft pick and minor league player of the year, Grieve was counted on to deliver immediately for the Oakland Athletics, especially after he hit major league pitching with such ease in September 1997. And deliver he did. Grieve met all of the expectations this year and was rewarded Tuesday by easily winning the American League rookie-of-the-year award.

Johnny Damon, the Dodgers' great winter hope for a leadoff-hitting center fielder, is coming west. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, he's headed for Oakland rather than Chavez Ravine. Damon, 27, was traded from the Kansas City Royals to the American League West champion Athletics in a three-team, nine-player deal Monday that included the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Nick Bierbrodt pitched seven scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays completed a four-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 5-1 victory Monday. Minnesota, which has lost 21 of 28, dropped 1 1/2 games behind AL Central Division-leading Cleveland, which was off Monday. The Indians and Twins open a three-game series tonight at Cleveland. Bierbrodt (1-2) gave up two hits. The left-hander, who struck out seven and walked three, retired the last 10 batters.

The Texas Rangers honored the Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars before Wednesday's game against the Oakland Athletics and then went out and ended their longest losing streak of the season with a 7-6 victory. Star captain Derian Hatcher carried the Stanley Cup onto the field, where he received a standing ovation. The Stars and Rangers are owned by Dallas businessman Tom Hicks.

MATT WISE (1-3, 4.34 ERA) vs. ATHLETICS' CORY LIDLE (11-6, 3.61 ERA) Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, 12:30 p.m. Radio--KLAC (570), XPRS (1090). Update--Though Oakland left-hander Barry Zito struggled with his control, walking four, he gave up only one run on four hits in six innings Wednesday night to improve to 15-8. Zito is 10-1 with a 1.04 earned-run average in his last 11 starts.

A guest list of sports figures to be featured on TV and radio from today through Thursday. * Shaquille O'Neal, Karl Malone --"The Last Word," tonight, 6 and midnight, Fox Sports West. * Bob Toledo, Barry Alvarez, Santa Anita executive vice-president and general manager Cliff Goodrich --"The Irv Kaze Show," tonight, 7-8, KIEV (870). * Larry Holmes, George Foreman --"Up Close," Monday, 1:30-2 p.m., ESPN. * Ricky Williams, Cade McNown, Tim Couch --"The Last Word," Monday, 6 p.m. and midnight.

Call it an error, call it a homer. In either case, it scored three runs that helped the Boston Red Sox win. Darren Lewis hit a three-run inside-the-park homer that initially was ruled a four-base error and Troy O'Leary added a two-run shot as Boston began a 12-game trip with an 8-4 victory over Oakland on Tuesday night. The loss was the season-high eighth in a row for Oakland, which has its longest losing streak since dropping the final nine games of the 1995 season.

Relaxed after sleeping in his own bedroom at his parents' home, rookie Ben Grieve put on a show for family and friends Tuesday night. Grieve homered twice in his hometown debut and the Oakland Athletics hung on after blowing most of a nine-run lead to beat the Texas Rangers, 9-7. "It was neat to do it here," Grieve said. "It was exciting, but I know my parents are 10 times more excited about it than I am. It's just a lot more special because it came at home.

Jimmy Haynes came to the right place for his first road win of the season. Haynes gave up only two singles in seven shutout innings Wednesday night and the Oakland Athletics beat the San Diego Padres, 3-0. Haynes had been 0-3 with a 6.75 earned-run average in five road games, including four starts. But the Padres came in hitting a National League-low .248 and batting star Tony Gwynn, sidelined since May 22 because of a strained left calf, won't return until today.

If the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees meet in the playoffs, Oakland Manager Art Howe knows who to send to the mound. Omar Olivares pitched a six-hitter to defeat Roger Clemens for the second time in a month, and Ben Grieve drove in four runs in Oakland's 7-1 victory Wednesday night. "He's been near perfect for us," Howe said of Olivares, who is 5-0 since joining the A's in a July 29 trade with the Angels.