* Houston Astros manager Art Howe, on the trials and tribulations of managing one of the worst teams in baseball: "I'd be a liar to say it doesn't eat at me. It's all going to pay off in the end. I just hope I'm here when the end comes."

* Tale of two teams: The Toronto Blue Jays scored 1 run in eac of their 3 games against the Cleveland Indians last week and still won the series. The Baltimore Orioles scored 12 runs in 3 games against the last-place Kansas City Royals and were swept.

* Chicago Cubs first baseman Mark Grace has been effectiv bringing home runners from third base with fewer than 2 out. Through Wednesday, he had made 21 plate appearances in that situation and driven in 17 runs with 9 hits, 4 sacrifice flies and 3 walks.

* National League Cy Young front-runner Ramon Martinez wo his 10th game in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 56th game of the season. That's the earliest a Dodgers pitcher has recorded his 10th victory since Don Sutton did it in game No. 53 in 1975.

* When outfielder Doug Dascenzo made his second career relief appearance Monday night against the Dodgers, he became the second Cubs position player in this century to make 2 pitching appearances. The other was outfielder John Upham, who took the mound twice in 1968.

* Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Pete Harnisch struck out a career-high 11 New York Mets last Sunday, which was the anniversary of his previous career high of 10, set against the New York Yankees.