CURTIS LESKANIC

THE "IDIOTS" REVERSE THE CURSE

June 21, 2004 ...  No game scheduled ... The Sox bullpen leads the American League with a 3.28 ERA and ranks second only to the Dodgers (2.88) in the majors, though it has tailed off after a sensational start and surrendered home runs that buried the team in the two losses against the Giants.

The Sox signed ex-Royal righthanded reliever Curtis Leskanic, who signed a major league minimum deal for the rest of the season. The Sox are probably paying a prorated share of the minimum $300,000, while the Royals are on the hook for the majority of his $1.3 million salary. Leskanic's addition meant lefthander Mark Malaska was optioned to Pawtucket.

The Sox will unveil a Pan-Massachusetts Challenge logo on the Green Monster before tomorrow's game, in recognition of the 25th annual bicycle ride to fight cancer.