Between The Lines

Follow the Bouncing Ball
When Pirate rookie Tim Wakefield beat the Dodgers' Tom Candiotti 2-0 on Aug. 26, it was the first meeting of two National League knuckleballers since Houston's Joe Niekro beat his brother Phil and the Braves 5-3 on Sept. 13, 1982. "At the end of the game I was a little cross-eyed," says Pittsburgh catcher Mike LaValliere, who had two hits. "I waved at a few knuckleballs, both offensively and defensively."

Surprising Cyclist

There has probably never been a more unlikely player to hit for the cycle than Houston shortstop Andujar Cedeno. In 102 at bats with the Astros, Cedeno had hit .186 with only eight extra-base hits before being sent down to the minors June 3. But last week, in his first game after being recalled from Triple A Tucson, Cedeno's triple-homer-double-single night made him the 113th player in National League history to hit for the cycle—something Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth never did in their long careers. Cedeno, 23, is the youngest player to hit for the cycle since Cesar Cedeno (no relation) did it for the Astros in 1972 at age 21.

By the Numbers
? Philadelphia's Darren Daulton has a chance to become the first catcher in history to drive in 100 runs for a last-place team. At week's end he had 91.