Dennis Reyes

Ricky Jordan was a last-minute scratch from the JetHawk lineup on Wednesday night because of back spasms, though he still rejoined the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. Jordan was 10 for 31 during his seven-game rehabilitation assignment. "I don't think I'm all the way back," said Jordan, who had rotator cuff surgery in May. "It's tough to go 60 days without playing then come back in one week." * Manager Dave Brundage took advantage of his team's day off Thursday to reshuffle his rotation.

Mychael Williams was projected to be Quartz Hill's No. 2 running back this season, but nagging injuries to Derrick Teal moved him to the top of the depth chart. Teal is back in the lineup, but Williams remains No. 1. He enters the final week of the regular season needing 66 yards to become the Rebels' first 1,000-yard rusher since Jeremiah Harris gained 1,354 yards in 1995. Tony Ortiz of Lancaster, who rushed for 1,191 yards last season, needs 69 yards to reach 1,000.

The issue of replacing Hideo Nomo in the rotation will come to the forefront Friday--the day he was next scheduled to start. The day off Monday will allow Ismael Valdes to start on his usual rest, and Dennis Reyes--Nomo's true replacement--will start Saturday. "We'll take it a start at a time," pitching coach Glenn Gregson said, adding that the move allows Reyes to stay in the bullpen a little longer.

Second baseman Eric Young took the day off Wednesday to rest his strained right quadriceps muscle. Young, who leads the National League with 27 stolen bases, is becoming increasingly frustrated because of his injury. "It's been sore for a while now, and it's been hurting a lot the last few days," Young said. "Some days it hurts worse than other days, but that soreness is always there.

The Dodgers are in the market for a fifth starter. Dennis Reyes had occupied that role, but he was dealt Saturday along with Paul Konerko to the Cincinnati Reds for all-star closer Jeff Shaw. Pete Harnisch of the Reds is on most general managers' wish lists, but the Dodgers probably don't have enough prospects remaining to engineer that deal. Unless, of course, interim General Manager Tom Lasorda is willing to trade coveted third baseman Adrian Beltre--which he says he isn't.

Considering the tightness of the playoff race in the Southern Division, and that the JetHawks trail the Lake Elsinore Storm, one can't help but remember June 16. A night after the Storm beat the JetHawks to eliminate them from the first-half title chase, Manager Dave Brundage rested three of his top offensive players in a "meaningless" 2-0 loss to the Storm. Since overall records determine the wild-card berth the JetHawks are chasing, the game is not so meaningless now.

This may come as a shock to some, but they played at game at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. Amid all the speculation about the blockbuster seven-player trade between the Dodgers and the Florida Marlins, and the news conference and the Mike Piazza sightings, the Dodgers and Montreal Expos managed to squeeze in a game.

Franklin High is noted for its passing game, but the Panthers used a ball-control rushing attack and outstanding defense to defeat previously unbeaten Eagle Rock, 18-7, Friday night in a Northern League game before a turn-away crowd of 4,000 at Franklin. Carlos Rodriguez returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown and Dennis Reyes had a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to lead Franklin (8-0, 3-0 in league).

Pitcher Dave Mlicki didn't show much confidence in his first start since being acquired Thursday from the New York Mets in the Hideo Nomo trade. In his shortest outing of the season, the right-hander gave up eight hits and six runs--five earned--in three innings against the Seattle Mariners Saturday night. But the Dodgers' overcame his poor debut in a 10-6 victory. "I made some pitches up [in the strike zone] a little bit, and I never got into a good rhythm," said Mlicki, who is 1-4 with a 6.