1.   And now a fan, knowingly or not, helped them win the subway series opener.

2.   Both have played well lately, but in the series opener, he chose Grissom and batted him fifth to provide protection for Shawn Green.

3.   But the series opener had a bitter subplot.

4.   But what impressed manager Jim Tracy was the way Sheffield played despite getting hit by a pitch on the left knee Wednesday night in the series opener.

5.   Certainly, except for the ragged finish, they turned in a better and more consistent overall game than in the series opener.

6.   Certainly, they turned in a better and more consistent overall game than in the series opener.

7.   Charlton put the finishing touches on the series opener despite surrendering a leadoff double to Carlos Baerga and two-out walk to Eddie Murray.

8.   ESPN will carry the series opener between the Rangers and the Flyers Friday night in the New York and Philadelphia market areas, the cable television network announced Tuesday.

9.   Fassero faced two batters in the series opener against the Angels, four the night before in Cleveland.

10.   Former Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo is slated to start the series opener for Milwaukee against the Dodgers on Monday.