Seattle places Felix Hernandez on DL
April 23rd, 2007
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Seattle Mariners young phenom pitcher Felix Hernandez was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to a strained flexor pronator muscle in his right forearm.
Hernandez left last Wednesday night's game against Minnesota with tightness in his throwing elbow in the first inning. The standout right-hander gave up three runs on two hits over just one-third of an inning before being lifted in favor of Jake Woods.
The 21-year-old Hernandez was coming off a one-hitter against Boston his last time out, and had yielded no runs and just four hits over his first two starts (17 innings) before Wednesday's setback.
In three outings this season, Hernandez has gone 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA. He went 12-14 with a 4.52 ERA in 31 games last year.
The Mariners replaced Hernandez's spot on the roster by recalling pitcher Cha Seung Baek from Triple-A Tacoma.
Finally, Prior to have shoulder surgery
April 23rd, 2007
Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - After suffering through shoulder problems for over a year, Chicago Cubs pitcher Mark Prior will undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery on Tuesday.
The procedure will be performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. The hope is that they can find what is wrong with the one-time promising right-hander. Andrews does have permission to fix any problems he finds during the procedure.
After spring training this year, Prior didn't go with the Cubs to start the season. Instead, he remained behind in Mesa, Arizona for extended spring training. He's only had one outing since, which ended early because of discomfort in his shoulder.
Prior was 0-2 in four spring training games, three of which were starts, with a 6.97 ERA this year.
Last season, Prior was limited to just nine games because of the shoulder problem, going 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA. Prior to his injuries, he won 18 games in 2003, helping the Cubs reach the NLCS for the first time since 1989.
In other team news, the Cubs placed starting pitcher Wade Miller on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms and recalled relief pitcher Rocky Cherry from Iowa.
Miller is 0-1 with a 10.54 ERA in three starts this season. The move was made in part because the Cubs don't need a fifth starter until the beginning of May. The club can now go with an extra arm in the bullpen instead.
Griffey sidelined by colon problem
Mon, Apr 23, 2007
By Associated Press
CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr. was expected back in the Cincinnati Reds' lineup Tuesday after recovering from diverticulitis.
The right fielder was out of the starting lineup for the last four games of a homestand last week. He pinch-hit in the ninth inning of a 9-3 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday.
Griffey confirmed that he was diagnosed about six months ago with diverticulitis, or inflammation of the colon.
''It's just a condition that I have,'' Griffey said. ''I've got to watch everything that I eat. There are certain foods that I have to stay away from. It's something that a lot of people have, and it's uncomfortable.''
Griffey expects to be back in the lineup for the start of a series Tuesday in St. Louis. Griffey is batting .275 with seven RBIs and no homers. He missed most of the Reds' spring training games while recovering from a broken left hand, an injury sustained in December.
Cubs RHP Miller placed on DL with back spasms
April 23, 2007
CHICAGO (TICKER) -- Wade Miller's disappointing season has taken a turn for the worst.
The Chicago Cubs on Monday placed Miller on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms.
The move came one day after the righthanded Miller was rocked for seven runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 12-9 loss to St. Louis. In three starts this season, Miller is 0-1 with a 10.54 ERA.
In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled righthander Rocky Cherry from Class AAA Iowa. The 27-year-old Cherry was impressive for the Cubs during spring training, going 1-1 with a 1.46 ERA and five saves in 12 relief appearances.
A's outfielder Milton Bradley was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday due to a strained left hamstring, the Associated Press reported. Bradley left Sunday's game against the Rangers with the injury, which also caused him to miss six contests from April 11-18.
Yankees top pitching prospect Phil Hughes will make his major league debut on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. The 20-year old, who is2-1 with a 3.94 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Scranton, will face the Blue Jays. Manager Joe Torre said Hughes was the only minor league pitcher recommended by the minor league staff to make the start, and Torre also didn't rule out Hughes making more than one start, depending on how he fares Thursday.
Baseball Today - April 24
Tue, Apr 24, 2007By Associated Press
San Diego at Arizona (9:40 p.m. EDT). Randy Johnson makes his first start for the Diamondbacks since 2004. The Diamondbacks are listed as -146 favorites. The total is set at 9.
STARS Monday
-Prince Fielder, Brewers, hit two home runs, including one in the 12th inning, and Milwaukee beat the Cubs 5-4.
-Paul Konerko, White Sox, hit a pair of two-run homers and drove in five runs in a 7-4 win over Kansas City.
-Dan Uggla, Marlins, homered and drove in three runs and Florida beat Atlanta 8-7.
-Nick Swisher, Athletics, hit home runs from both sides of the plate and Oakland beat Baltimore 6-5.
-Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, went 3-for-5 with a three-run triple in a 5-4 victory over Texas.
LONGBALL STANDARD
Alex Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to hit 14 homers in the first 18 games of a season and tied the record for April homers, connecting in the second and ninth innings of the New York Yankees' 10-8 loss to Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday night.
EXTRAS
Prince Fielder homered twice, including a 12th-inning drive that capped a comeback from a four-run deficit and led the Milwaukee Brewers over the Chicago Cubs 5-4 Monday night. ... Ryan Garko drove in the go-ahead run for the second straight game, blooping a soft single in the 12th inning that sent the Cleveland Indians to a 7-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
COOL UNDER PRESSURE
Awaiting the imminent birth of his first child, Dontrelle Willis went about his business Monday, pitching 6 2-3 innings and hitting a standup triple to help the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-7. Willis (4-1) became the NL's first four-game winner.
TWICE IS NICE
Jimmy Rollins and Craig Biggio each hit a lead off home run in Philadelphia's 11-4 win over Houston. It marked the first time this season leadoff batters went deep in the same game.
SNAPPED
Ichiro Suzuki went 3-for-5 with a three-run triple as the Seattle Mariners snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night. ... The Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-3, as Toronto ended a five-game losing streak and stopped Boston's five-game winning streak. ... Boston's Wily Mo Pena had struck out in five straight at-bats before hitting into a forceout in the fourth inning of a 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays. ... Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks hadn't made an error in his last 27 games, going back to last season, before booting a Jacque Jones grounder in the third inning of a 5-4 win over the Cubs.
HIT PARADE
Philadelphia had a season-high 20 hits in an 11-4 win over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
SPEAKING
''Even in the heat of battle, they understand the situation. They were like, 'Man, you're a tough guy to be out here tonight.' I was like, 'Nah, just stupid.'''- Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis, on Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Jeff Francoeur congratulating him on the impending birth of his daughter during Monday night's game
Devil Rays put Iwamura on DL; recall Cantu
April 24th, 2007
St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - The Devil Rays placed third baseman Akinori Iwamura on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain on Tuesday, and recalled infielder Jorge Cantu from Triple-A Durham.
Iwamura currently ranks ninth in the American League in hitting with a .339 batting average, and leads the club in on-base percentage at .479, runs scored (15) and walks (15).
He apparently suffered the injury in Monday's 10-8 win over the Yankees, but finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Cantu, meanwhile, was batting .267 (20-for-75) at Durham with five doubles, a triple and eight RBI in 19 games.
Cantu had a monster rookie year in 2005, posting 28 home runs and 117 RBI, but his production fell off dramatically last season, partly due to a lingering foot injury.
Orioles place Williamson on DL
April 24th, 2007
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Orioles placed right-handed reliever Scott Williamson on the 15-day disabled list with right triceps tendon tightness.
In a corresponding move, Baltimore recalled right-handed pitcher Jim Johnson from Triple-A Norfolk.
Williamson left Monday's game against Oakland after facing one batter and recording a strikeout. He has appeared in six games, allowing one earned run over five innings. The nine-year veteran has a career ERA of 3.31 with 55 saves.
Johnson was 0-1 with a 2.81 ERA in three starts for Norfolk. He has appeared in one game for the Orioles in his career -- a loss against the White Sox last July.
Pirates activate Grabow
April 24th, 2007
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have activated pitcher John Grabow off the 15-day disabled list.
Grabow began the season on the DL with left elbow irritation. He appeared in four minor league games while on a rehab assignment and allowed one earned run in four innings.
The 28-year-old lefty was 4-2 with a 4.13 earned run average in 72 games last season for the Pirates. A third-round pick in the 1997 draft, Grabow has pitched in 208 games -- all in relief -- and has a record of 8-10 with a 4.64 ERA since making his big league debut in 2003.
Pittsburgh opened a roster spot for Grabow by optioning pitcher Juan Perez to Triple-A Indianapolis. The lefty specialist appeared in eight games for the Pirates, allowing one unearned run on four hits with five walks in 3 1/3 innings.
Tornado watch postpones Texas-Seattle game
April 24th, 2007
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Tuesday's game between the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers was postponed due to a tornado watch and projected poor conditions.
The contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader when the Mariners return to Arlington in July.
"The safety of our customers is always our number one concern," said Rangers president Jeff Cogen. "Today's matinee had over 8,000 school children in attendance. The tornado watch and the forecast made this decision a prudent one."
Seattle has been followed by bad weather all month. The Mariners had an entire four-game series in Cleveland postponed because of snow earlier this month and also had a contest in Boston postponed because of inclement weather.
Jarrod Washburn was scheduled to pitch for Seattle on Tuesday, while Vicente Padilla was slated to take the mound for Texas.
The Rangers now head to Cleveland for two games, while the Mariners visit Oakland for a pair.
Hawkins put on disabled list
April 24th, 2007
New York, NY (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies placed right-handed relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 21, with right elbow inflammation.
The 13-year veteran has struggled this season, posting an 0-3 record with an 8.59 earned run average in nine appearances. He was signed by the Rockies in the offseason after spending 2006 with the Orioles.
Hawkins has a lifetime record of 54-74 with a 4.78 ERA and 75 saves.
To take his place on the roster, Colorado has activated left-handed pitcher Tom Martin from the 15-day disabled list.
Martin has been on the DL since March 29 with a strained left groin.