Yankees: Chad Curtis, making his 23rd start in center field for New York in place of the injured Bernie Williams, batted cleanup for the first time because he began the night with a .406 career average against Wilson Alvarez. He went 0-for-3 against the Devil Rays starter.

Devil Rays: The inside-the-park homer by Dave Martinez was the first against the Yankees since Aug. 8, 1996, when Minnesota's Roberto Kelly hit one off Dwight Gooden at the Metrodome.

Twins: Otis Nixon has 575 career steals and needs five to tie Ozzie Smith for 19th place on the career list.

Blue Jays: Right-hander Dave Stieb, who turns 41 on July 22, will make his first major-league start since 1993 in the second game of the team's twi-night doubleheader in Chicago on Wednesday. Stieb, Toronto's career victory leader, is 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA in three relief appearances since rejoining the Blue Jays on June 18.

White Sox: Albert Belle has driven in six runs twice previously this season. He did it once in 1997.

Royals: Hal Morris went 0-for-4, ending a 12-game hitting streak. Kansas City lost for just the second time in eight road games. It is now 0-4 in its last 14 road games.

Pub Date: 7/11/98