Bud Black

Outfielder Marquis Grissom, acquired in a trade with Montreal on April 6, signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Braves. The deal is worth $4.9 million for Grissom, who made $3.575 million with the Expos last year. * The Cleveland Indians placed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore left knee. He was put on the DL retroactive to last Wednesday, and the Indians recalled infielder David Bell from Class AAA Buffalo.

Lee Stevens, who batted .300 and drove in six runs in his first week in the major leagues, has been named Angel of the Week by The Times' Orange County Edition. Stevens was called up Monday from triple-A Edmonton to replace first baseman Wally Joyner, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Stevens, 23, singled in his first major league at-bat, drove in a run with another single in his second, and doubled in his third, going three for four in his first game.

at Philadelphia 3, Colorado 1: Cliff Lee allowed one run and six hits and struck out nine in seven impressive innings in his home debut, and Paul Bako hit a tiebreaking homer. at Washington 12, Florida 8: Ryan Zimmerman finished a double short of the cycle, and Ronnie Belliard's tiebreaking single in the eighth inning helped the Nationals rally from a six-run deficit. at San Diego 8, New York 3: Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in a four-run third inning and drove in three runs for the Padres, who extended Manager Bud Black's contract through the 2010 season.

Left-handed complements A look at some of baseball's best left-handed trios of starters: 2003 Oakland Athletics Mark Mulder; 15-9; 3.13 Barry Zito; 14-12; 3.30 Ted Lilly; 12-10; 4.34 1997 Seattle Mariners Randy Johnson; 20-4; 2.28 Jeff Fassero; 16-9; 3.61 Jamie Moyer; 17-5; 3.86 1993 Atlanta Braves Tom Glavine; 22-6; 3.20 Steve Avery; 18-6; 2.94...

ST. LOUIS -- In spring training 2005, Rick Ankiel launched his new career as a 26-year-old minor league outfielder. In his first game back in the major leagues, he launched one out of the ballpark. Ankiel's three-run homer capped a storybook return, and Joel Pineiro worked seven scoreless innings in the St. Louis Cardinals' 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night. "Unbelievable," said Ankiel, who played right field. "You almost can't put that into words."

Greg Maddux was more interested in discussing the upcoming NBA draft and the great golf courses in San Francisco than his own success. "When's the draft?" Maddux asked after another strong outing. Back in the same ballpark where he won his 300th game in 2004, Maddux earned his 340th victory, outpitching someone nearly half his age to lead the San Diego Padres past the San Francisco Giants, 4-2, Wednesday. Maddux (7-4) won for the fourth time in five decisions, getting help from Jose Cruz Jr.'

Mike Cameron hit a go-ahead homer in the 11th inning after tying it with a run-scoring double in the ninth, and the San Diego Padres overcame a disputed call taking away a home run in a 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. The Padres rallied from a two-run deficit and won despite a dominating outing by Pirates starter Shawn Chacon, who shut them out on three hits over seven innings.

NEW YORK -- Billy Wagner couldn't close it out. Trevor Hoffman couldn't, either. After two of baseball's best closers flopped again Thursday night, Heath Bell had enough moxie to hang on for his first major league save. Adrian Gonzalez homered in the 10th inning and the San Diego Padres outlasted the New York Mets, 9-8, in a wild game that included blown saves by Wagner and Hoffman. "It's a rarity, that's for sure," Padres Manager Bud Black said. "It just goes to show you closers are human.

Geoff Blum singled in the go-ahead run with two out in the eighth for the San Diego Padres, who nearly wasted a brilliant performance by Greg Maddux before rallying to beat the New York Mets, 5-4, on Wednesday night. Blum, subbing for slumping second baseman Marcus Giles, singled to right off Joe Smith to drive in Khalil Greene and finished with two hits in three at-bats. Giles, who is batting .191 since May 7, has been benched for at least three games.

Florida 7, at Washington 4: Cody Ross hit the tying homer in the eighth inning, then hit a three-run double in the ninth to give the Marlins their seventh straight victory. Cincinnati 4, at Houston 2: Reds pitcher Micah Owings hit a pinch-hit, two-run double to help Cincinnati rally. Owings is two for three as a pinch-hitter this season. at Philadelphia 5, San Diego 4: The Phillies' Raul Ibanez hit a walk-off two-run homer in the ninth inning off Edwin Moreno.