1.   A Cleveland win would have knocked Phoenix, which won its first three games and six of its first seven, to its lowest playoff standing of the season.

2.   But while winning three of their first seven and falling behind Baltimore in the American League East standing, they have already affected major alterations.

3.   Grambling won its first seven before losing last week to Alabama State.

4.   His group hopes to use these first seven as a jumping-off point for obtaining even more awards for soldiers.

5.   Smoltz spent his first seven full major-league seasons as the hardest-luck pitcher on the Atlanta staff.

6.   That move came after some of the reported illnesses were linked to oysters taken from beds other than the first seven that were known to have produced tainted oysters.

7.   The eighth inning was a complete reversal from the first seven, when the Astros were frustrated by Nomo.

8.   The first seven came in the employ of the Twins.

9.   The guessing now is that Johnson will get rid of Stevens, who has been with Miami the past nine years, the first seven with Don Shula.

10.   The Nets have lost their last three games on their home floor after setting a franchise record by winning their first seven.