First number, last word

1,000: Career games started at catcher, a level reached by only three active players -- A.J. Pierzynski (1,633 games), Yadier Molina (1,197) and Brian McCann (1,004). Russell Martin, who started No. 999 Thursday night, will become the fourth this weekend in Miami.

"I expected him to reverse-flip, dismount and stick the landing."
-- Hurdle, on acrobatic and athletic catcher Martin's chase of a foul popup in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game, which had ended with him jumping on the dugout railing to watch the ball bounce into the seats.