Dallas ? Kansas City outfielder Mark Quinn isn’t expected back before May 1 as he recovers from a cracked rib sustained in a playful karate skirmish with his brother. That is good news for Rangers bullpen coach and former Royals Jamie Quirk.

Quinn and Quirk, you see, share the distinction of having hit the most home runs among players whose names start with the letter Q. Quirk hit his 43 homers in 18 seasons and 2,266 at-bats. Quinn caught him in three seasons and 1,013 at-bats.

Eerie coincidence: MLB officials decreed that the first home night game for every team in 2002 was to include a one-minute moment of silence at 9:11 p.m., in memory of those lost in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. When the moment was observed Wednesday at Cincinnati’s Cinergy Field, it seemed greater forces were at work. Standing side-by-side at home plate were Cubs catcher Todd Hundley, wearing No. 9, and the next batter due up, Reds shortstop Barry Larkin, wearing No. 11.