1.   Maybe it was the anticipation of facing big-name starters David Wells, Andy Pettitte and David Cone back-to-back-to-back.

2.   Nine batters faced starter Clemens in three innings and it was nine up, nine down.

3.   Schmid says facing a depleted cast is sometimes just as tough as facing the starters.

4.   Things seem to work better for the Red Sox when they are facing righthanded starters and can turn loose the lefthanded likes of Reggie Jefferson and Scott Hatteberg.

5.   Before Wednesday, Polonia had never faced Indians starter Ken Hill.

6.   Catcher Tom Pagnozzi, given a rest Wednesday so he could face Braves starter Steve Avery, had two doubles, an RBI and scored twice.

7.   OF Darren Lewis, the only Red Sox player to have faced Marlins starter Reid Cornelius, doubled off him to open the game.

8.   The Reds faced left-handed starters in all three games against the Mets.