On Deck

NEXT UP IN THE WEEK AHEAD

PLAYOFF PUSH
The wild-card-chasing Red Sox enter a crucial nine-game stretch starting on Friday, facing the Twins at Fenway and then heading west to play the Mariners and Minnesota again. There is some good news for Boston fans: Manny Ramirez hits for a higher average (.348) against Minnesota than against any other American League team and has more RBIs (92) against the Twins than any other AL club except the Royals (also 92). And Nomar Garciaparra has more home runs (14) and RBIs (58) against Seattle than against any other opponent.

CHASING HISTORY
As Barry Bonds closed in on his 600th career home run, he approached a three-game series at Pac Bell against his old team, the Pirates, beginning on Friday. At week's end Bonds, who hit 176 home runs for Pittsburgh from 1986 through '92, needed two homers to join Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and his godfather, Willie Mays, in the 600 club.