21.   It was a bleak start -- the Dodgers followed a home sweep by San Diego with a listless loss in the series opener -- but it ended gloriously.

22.   It started last Monday, when Piniella launched a Billy Martin-like throwback temper tantrum in the series opener against the Yankees.

23.   John McTiernan, who directed that series opener, returns for this clever twist.

24.   Johnson faces Greg Maddux tonight at Turner Field in a dream pitching matchup that very well could be a preview of the divisional series opener.

25.   Kevin Millwood, whose usual turn would come up Tuesday, has been moved up to pitch the series opener tonight.

26.   Olajuwon is referring to a conversation that took place barely an hour before the series opener with the Suns.

27.   On Friday, Sheffield traded home runs with Piazza, who had three runs batted in as the Mets won the series opener.

28.   Pettitte vows to try on Sunday to reverse the trend that saw him imitate Rogers rather than Key in the series opener.

29.   Randy Johnson, who pitched a three-hit shutout in the series opener, will start for the Diamondbacks against Tom Glavine.

30.   Since playing just three minutes in the series opener, a Suns victory, Cedric Ceballos has taken on a bigger role.