Notes from Tuesday's games
August 14, 2007
TAMPA BAY: The Devil Rays have the worst record in baseball and face a tough 10-game homestand starting Friday with three games against both Cleveland and Boston and four against Oakland. ... When Scott Kazmir struck out Mike Lowell to end the first inning, it was his 539th strikeout. That's 10th all-time for pitchers before the age of 24. He had been tied with C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland. ... Rookie RHP Andy Sonnanstine, who starts Wednesday in the series finale, has lost eight straight decisions since winning his second start of the year.
BOSTON: Boston's top two hitters have struggled against Kazmir. David Ortiz entered the game with a .156 batting average and one homer in 32 at_bats, while Ramirez was hitting .118 with one homer in 34 at_bats. ... The Red Sox closed their clubhouse 15 minutes early before the game to take team photos. Ramirez, who almost never talks to reporters, yelled out with a little smile, ``Hurry up and get your stories done, you guys. We have to take a picture.'' ... RHP Brendan Donnelly underwent ``Tommy John'' surgery on a ligament in his right elbow on Monday in California, an operation that usually takes at least 12 months to come back from.
DETROIT: Tigers DH Gary Sheffield isn't sweating his upcoming return to New York. Sheffield recently criticized Yankees manager Joe Torre, accusing him of playing favorites and treating black and white players in the Yankees clubhouse differently. ``I'm not even focused on that,'' said Sheffield, who was traded by the Yankees in November. ``Right now I'm focused on Cleveland.'' Sheffield knows there will be plenty of attention on his comeback. ``I'll deal with whatever I have to deal with. It's not like I haven't had to deal with it before. I've played in every environment you can think.'' ... RHP Jair Jurrjens will be called up from Double-A Erie to make his major league debut Wednesday against the Indians. The 21-year-old Jurrjens was 7-5 with a 3.20 ERA at Erie. He has never pitched at Triple-A. ... RHP Joel Zumuya (middle finger strain) retired two of the three batters he faced on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Toledo against Norfolk on Monday night, throwing 18 pitches. He's scheduled to pitch again for Toledo on Wednesday.
CLEVELAND: Kenny Lofton's back on top with the Indians. Looking to spark his slumbering offense, manager Eric Wedge moved Lofton into the leadoff spot for Tuesday's opener and moved Grady Sizemore, the club's No. 1 hitter for the past few years, down to third. ``It's something that we talked about even prior to this stretch that we're going through,'' said Wedge, whose team is just 7-13 since July 23. ``We felt like this was the right time to do it.'' Sizemore, one of baseball's best leadoff hitters, had not been out of the top spot since May 14, 2005. He hit a two-run homer in the first off Jeremy Bonderman. ... Manager Eric Wedge said he never considered benching Jhonny Peralta for his baserunning blunder in Sunday's loss to the New York Yankees. Down 4-0, the Indians loaded the bases in the seventh inning with nobody out, but Peralta was picked off first by starter Andy Pettitte. The out sabotaged a potential big inning for the Indians. Wedge bristled at the idea of yanking Peralta. ``Why would you do that?'' he said. ``To prove what? That's not the way I operate and that's not the way anybody with any feel for the game should operate. You shouldn't penalize somebody or show somebody up or embarrass somebody because they made a mistake. ``You handle it in the appropriate manner. I just think that (benching Peralta) is very reactionary and silly.''
BALTIMORE: OF Jay Gibbons (torn labrum) had successful surgery on his injured left shoulder and is expected to be ready for spring training next year. ... Since June 18, when Dave Trembley took over as manager, the Orioles are second in the American League with a .293 batting average and third with a .354 on-base percentage. ... LHP Erik Bedard is slated to get the ball for the series finale Wednesday afternoon. He is 8-0 in his last 11 starts and hasn't lost since June 10 against Colorado. He also leads the majors with 199 strikeouts.
NEW YORK: The Yankees and their top draft pick, North Carolina State right-hander Andrew Brackman, were trying to negotiate a deal by Wednesday's midnight deadline. Brackman is represented by Scott Boras. ... Manager Joe Torre said INF Wilson Betemit would start at second base Wednesday and Robinson Cano would get a day off. ... CF Melky Cabrera made a great running catch near the wall in center to take a hit away from Corey Patterson in the fourth inning Tuesday. Patterson ended up with a sacrifice fly. ... The Yankees mourned the loss of Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto, who had pneumonia and died in his sleep late Monday night. They observed a moment of silence before Tuesday night's game and will wear Rizzuto's No. 10 on their left sleeves for the rest of the season.
LOS ANGELES: RHP Bartolo Colon (right elbow) will throw a bullpen session in Toronto on Wednesday and, if all goes well, could soon be ready for a minor league rehabilitation assignment. ... C Mike Napoli (right hamstring) took part in agility drills before Tuesday's game and will take part in running drills for the second time within the next couple of days. Manager Mike Scioscia said no decision has been made on whether Napoli will require a minor league rehab assignment. ... Scioscia said OF Garret Anderson and OF Vladimir Guerrero will each get a day at DH during the current three-game series in Toronto. ... The Angels have yet to name their starter for the first game of Friday's doubleheader at Boston, but Scioscia said RHP Ervin Santana is a candidate. Santana was demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake after starting the season 5-11 with a 6.22 ERA. He is 2-1 with a 5.01 ERA in five starts at Triple-A.
TORONTO: 3B Troy Glaus missed his second straight game Monday because of a sore left ankle and left the team to be examined by doctors. Hector Luna started in Glaus' place. ... Blue Jays pitchers have recorded a major league-low 3.40 ERA since the all-star break. ... The Blue Jays lead the American League with 256 doubles this season and have hit at least one double in each of their past 20 games, the longest current streak in the AL. Toronto's club record for consecutive games with a double is 31, set in 2004.
KANSAS CITY: As of Tuesday night, the team still hadn't signed its first-round pick, SS Michael Moustakas, the second overall selection of the draft. Moustakas is represented by Scott Boras. The deadline is Wednesday night. Unsigned picks will be eligible for next year's draft. ...RHP Brandon Duckworth will make his third rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday night. Duckworth has been under a 45-50 pitch limit and has been brought along slowly after landing on the 15-day DL on June 14 due to a left rib cage strain. Duckworth figures to have two more rehab starts with the goal of adding him to the Royals' rotation by the end of the month.
TEXAS: As of Tuesday night, the team still hadn't signed three draft picks: RHP Blake Beavan (17th overall selection), OF Julio Borbon (35th) and RHP Neil Ramirez (44th). GM Jon Daniels expressed optimism that Beavan would be signed. ... LHP Kason Gabbard said he'll be able to make his scheduled start Friday night in Minnesota. Gabbard was forced to leave his last start in the second inning last Friday night due to left forearm stiffness. Gabbard has already had four arm surgeries during his career, so there was natural concern that the injury could be serious. Gabbard skipped a throwing session on Tuesday but insisted he'll be ready to take his turn in the rotation. ...RHP Vicente Padilla is on schedule to return to the rotation on Wednesday night against Kansas City. Padilla has been on the 15-day DL since June 25 with right triceps irritation. ...RHP Kameron Loe is also on track to rejoin the rotation after his final minor league rehab start on Monday night. Loe, out since Aug. 4 because of back stiffness, is penciled in to start Saturday night against Minnesota.
NEW YORK: OF Marlon Anderson was taken off the bereavement list in time for the start of a three-game series against the Pirates, with utilityman David Newhan optioned to Triple-A New Orleans. ... C Ramon Castro is bothered by a stiff back, but said it's possible he could catch if a long game or an injury left the team shorthanded. ``If they need me today or whatever, if something happened, I'll be there. ... I think it's going to be quick,'' Castro said ... Time for some ballot-stuffing by Mets fans: the beloved Mr. Met is one of 12 nominees for the Mascot Hall of Fame. Votes will be counted through Sept. 6 at the hall's Web site.
PITTSBURGH: C-OF Ryan Doumit sprained and bruised his left wrist while diving for a fly ball Monday night against the Giants and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He will wear a splint for a week and is scheduled to be re-examined next week. ... C Carlos Maldonado was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis partly so Josh Phelps can get more playing time at first base and the outfield, manager Jim Tracy said. With the Pirates thin on their bench, Phelps caught the second game of Monday's doubleheader - the first time he's caught in the majors since 2001. ... OF-1B Xavier Nady has been bothered by a hamstring injury for more than two weeks, but the Pirates decided not to put him on the disabled list. General manager Dave Littlefield said, ``He's getting better, but it's a slow process. Hopefully sometime soon we'll be able to get him back full-time.''
ARIZONA: LHP Doug Davis, scheduled to start Wednesday at Florida, is 4-0 over his past six starts with an ERA of 2.66. ... SS Stephen Drew, batting .217 against left-handers, was held out of the lineup Tuesday against Florida's Dontrelle Willis.
FLORIDA: Alfredo Amezaga lost his starting job in CF last week when rookie Alejandro De Aza came off the disabled list. ``Alfredo may be more valuable coming off the bench,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ``We're a better team. He's a weapon, and he's so versatile.'' ... NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez began the week batting .367 in the leadoff spot and .296 in other spots. ... Tuesday's game began a stretch where Florida is scheduled play 16 days in a row. ... RHP Sergio Mitre, scheduled to face Arizona on Wednesday, is 0-3 with a 13.17 ERA in four games against the Diamondbacks.
PHILADELPHIA: OF Shane Victorino, who's been on the 15-day disabled list since July 31 because of a strained right calf, began a rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Reading. ... 2B Chase Utley, who has been on the DL since July 27 because of a broken hand continues to travel with the club. He did some light throwing before the game. Utley was hit by a pitch from Washington LHP John Lannan on July 26. Lannan was making his major league debut. ... Manager Charlie Manuel said he was unsure if RHP Adam Eaton would make his scheduled start on Friday. In his last three starts, Eaton has allowed 16 runs in 12 2-3 innings.
WASHINGTON: Washington signed LHP Josh Smoker, the 31st pick in June's draft. Smoker, who was 13-0 with a 1.24 ERA with Calhoun (Ga.) High School in 2007, will report to the Rookie League GCL Nationals on Saturday. ``Josh is a pretty remarkable left-handed pitcher,'' Jim Bowden, the Nationals' General Manager said. ``He's a dominating left-handed pitcher. We were very pleased he was still there when we selected.'' ... 1B Dmitri Young, who missed the last four games due to tightness in his left hamstring, started. ... RHP Shawn Hill, who missed more than three months because of soreness in his right elbow, was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list to start the game.
SAN FRANCISCO: The Giants are closing in on a contract with first-round pick Wendell Fairley. The outfielder from George County High School in Mississippi was selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2007 draft. The deal reportedly will include a $1 million signing bonus. ... OF Rajai Davis wasn't in the lineup after playing both games of Monday's doubleheader in Pittsburgh. ``He's young. He could have played today,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. But Barry Bonds was in the lineup, and Bochy decided to go with two more veterans, Randy Winn and Dave Roberts, against Atlanta starter John Smoltz. ``Barry's good to go and we're facing Smoltz,'' Bochy said. ``That's a tough match-up for a young kid.''
ATLANTA: The Braves returned home to find Atlanta still in the grips of a brutal heat wave. The temperature was 96 degrees at the start of the game, and it was expected to be near 100 the next two days. Manager Bobby Cox said he would keep an eye on all his players, especially the catchers. ``They have all that gear on and they have to do a lot back there,'' he said. ``You've really got to watch 'em. They can have some heat-related problems.'' ... For now, CF Andruw Jones has decided to play through the pain of his ailing left elbow. Asked whether he underwent an MRI to determine a possible cause during Monday's off day, Jones shook his head. ``I don't feel like it,'' he said.
CINCINNATI: SS Alex Gonzalez wasn't with the team for the start of a series against the Cubs in Chicago, remaining at home with his 10-month-old son Johan, who is ill. Gonzalez has twice been on the bereavement list this season. ``We don't know what we'll do yet. It's kind of a touchy situation,'' interim manager Pete Mackanin said. ``It's got to be difficult for him to play under the circumstances.'' Jeff Keppinger started at short for the Reds. ... The Reds brought up catcher Ryan Jorgensen from Triple-A Louisville to replace David Ross, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a concussion suffered in a home plate collision Sunday with the Padres' Mike Cameron. Mackanin said he saw Ross on Monday and he was feeling better. But the team couldn't take any chances after Ross seemed disoriented Sunday. Mackanin said Cameron's play was a clean hit. ... There is still no timetable for the return of INF Pedro Lopez from the DL. He suffered a broken cheekbone when he was hit by a pitch from Milwaukee's Matt Wise on July 25. He doesn't need surgery. ``He's still got soreness in his face,'' Mackanin. Lopez is also experiencing some dizziness when he exerts himself.
CHICAGO: Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs have another hot streak left in them and are in good shape, despite some injuries and a 2-5 road trip. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez was a scratch from a game last Wednesday because of a sore right wrist and finally returned to the lineup Tuesday night. Alfonso Soriano is out until next month because of a quadriceps injury. And right fielder Cliff Floyd is on the bereavement list following the death of his father. Despite the recent difficulties, the Cubs were only 1 1/2 behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. ``We'll have another hot spell. We're in the race to stay. We're not going to fall out of this thing,'' Piniella said, adding the Cubs could be five or six ahead or 10 to 12 games behind the way things have unfolded. One hitter the team must get going is 1B Derrek Lee, who was 4-for-27 on the road trip. Piniella said he and batting coach Gerald Perry had studied tapes and found a mechanical flaw dealing with Lee's hip. ... Closer Ryan Dempster said he'll still take the approach that he's going to finish games, although manager Lou Piniella said last week he'll also use Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol in that role. Piniella said he has an understanding with Dempster, who needs more work and hasn't been as sharp since coming off the DL with an oblique strain.
ST. LOUIS: LHP Mark Mulder will likely make a minor-league rehab start Thursday, although team officials were unsure what team he would pitch for. Mulder has missed 116 games as a result of shoulder surgery. ... Kip Wells was the No. 8 batter Tuesday night, the 10th straight game manager Tony La Russa used a pitcher in that spot. ... After Wells gave up three runs in the first inning, the Cardinals have been outscored 84-40 in the opening inning. The runs are the fewest scored in the first inning by any team in the National League.
MILWAUKEE: 3B Ryan Braun hit in the cleanup spot for the first time Tuesday night and 1B Prince Fielder hit third. Braun, usually in the No. 3 spot, singled in the first inning and has an 11-game hitting streak. ... Milwaukee has not had a winning streak longer than two games since winning four straight against Colorado and Arizona from July 14-17. ... Milwaukee and St. Louis wore replica uniforms commemorating the 1982 World Series between the franchises. The Brewers honored members of their 1982 team in a ceremony before the game.
HOUSTON: Retiring 2B Craig Biggio will play at Dodger Stadium for the final time Thursday night, and the Dodgers are planning to salute him in a pregame ceremony. His best game at Chavez Ravine was on Sept. 14, 1989. He hit his first career grand slam against John Wetteland that day and added a two-run homer off Jeff Fischer to help teammate Mike Scott become a 20-game winner for the first time - and mathematically eliminate the defending World Series champion Dodgers from the NL West race. ``Dodger Stadium has been here forever, it seems, so you just appreciate the fact that you had the opportunity to play in one of the greatest ballparks in the history of the game,'' said Biggio, who has 96 hits, nine home runs and a .264 average there. ``Some ballparks you go to like this one are unique and special to me because they take me back to the beginning of my career, and I love that part of it. But one thing I won't miss is the long walk from home plate to the dugout after you strike out. It was the walk from hell. I mean, you ask anybody who's ever played here. It was the worst. It was a good 40-50 yards. You're still mad from striking out, then everybody behind the dugout is ragging on you and you can't get back to the dugout quick enough.''
LOS ANGELES: 2B Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day DL because of a strained left calf and LHP Eric Hull was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. ... A familiar face returned to Dodger Stadium to broadcast the Astros series for Houston's Spanish-language radio network: Rene Cardenas spent 21 seasons calling Dodgers games in Spanish on radio - including the 1959 and 1988 championship seasons, and the Fernando Valenzuela years when ``Fernandomania'' was the buzz word at Chavez Ravine. ``I was trembling yesterday when I walked from the bus to the stadium,'' said Cardenas, who came out of retirement to fill in for color analyst Adrian Chavarria for the final six weeks of the season. ``I left my heart here, and now that I'm back here I am the happiest guy in the major leagues. I miss Peter O'Malley and Vin Scully immensely, and I miss other people who used to be here who made my life so happy in those years.''
Athletics add infield depth by acquiring Jack Hannahan from Tigers
August 14, 2007
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -The Athletics acquired infielder Jack Hannahan from the Detroit Tigers in a minor league trade, and Hannahan joined the big league team to help fill in while six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez is injured.
The A's traded outfielder Jason Perry for Hannahan, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and joined the A's in time to start at third base for Tuesday night's series opener with the Chicago White Sox. Oakland optioned infielder J.J. Furmaniak to Sacramento in order to clear roster room for Hannahan.
``He's going to get a shot to play,'' Geren said. ``We'll definitely get a chance to see what he can do.''
Chavez has been on the disabled list since Aug. 3 because of lower back spasms and is scheduled to rest for another week before being re-evaluated.
Also Tuesday, left-hander Dan Meyer joined the A's after being recalled Monday when struggling left-hander Dallas Braden was sent down. Manager Bob Geren said Meyer was available out of the bullpen, but also was still in consideration to start Friday against the Kansas City Royals.
But right-hander Esteban Loaiza could be activated from the disabled list to start Friday - which would be his first outing of the year. He allowed three runs in 6 2-3 innings of a rehab outing for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday and pronounced himself ready to go, though Geren said he ideally would have one more appearance in the minors first. Loaiza has been throwing all his pitches without problems, even if he's not yet quite 100 percent with his surgically repaired knee.
``I'm fine,'' Loaiza said. ``I threw 92-93 (mph) the other day. I've had good stuff. ... I'm really anxious. I want to be up here and help the team. I want to start, I want to pitch, I want to win games.''
The 27-year-old Hannahan, who grew up playing third base but also can play first and second, was batting .295 with 13 home runs and 63 RBIs in 101 games with Triple-A Toledo. He had been leading the International League in on-base percentage at .422.
He was pulled out of a game in Indianapolis and told he had been traded to the A's. Hannahan then returned home to Toledo to pack his things and flew to Oakland late Monday.
``It was a huge surprise,'' he said. ``Baseball's a crazy game.''
Dodgers place Nomar Garciaparra on DL
August 14, 2007
LOS ANGELES (AP) -The Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason hopes took another hit on Tuesday when third baseman Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left calf muscle.
Garciaparra said the injury has plagued him for more than a week.
``We all have injuries and you deal with them. It wasn't an easy decision,'' said Garciaparra, who is on the DL for the ninth time in his career and third time in less than two seasons with the Dodgers.
``I was still running hard throughout the week and it wasn't bothering me too bad, so I was able to get by with it. But it just got progressively worse,'' he said. ``So before it gets really bad, I figured let's try to control this and put a stop to it now.''
Garciaparra is hitting .280 with six home runs and 57 RBIs in 110 games. He began the season at first base, then was shifted to third because of a lack of offense at that position and the emergence of first baseman James Loney.
The Dodgers replaced Garciaparra on the 15-man roster with left-handed pitcher Eric Hull, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Flu bug hits Tigers second baseman Polanco, outfielder Monroe for game with Indians
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CLEVELAND -- Second baseman Placido Polanco and outfielder Craig Monroe were sick with the flu and scratched from the Detroit Tigers' series-opener against the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Ryan Raburn started at second while Marcus Thames took Monroe's spot in the left field. Curtis Granderson, who wasn't in manager Jim Leyland's original lineup, played center field and batted leadoff. Carlos Guillen, originally in the lineup at shortstop, was moved to first base.
Both Polanco and Monroe came to the Jacobs Field, but were not feeling well and told Leyland.
''They're sick,'' Leyland said. ''When they'll be ready to play, I don't know. We make to make some adjustments. It's part of the game.''
The flu bug is going around Detroit's clubhouse. Right-hander Justin Verlander was sick Monday night, but felt better on Tuesday. The illnesses left Leyland with two players on the bench, first baseman Sean Casey and backup catcher Michael Rabelo.
''That's the way it goes,'' Leyland said. ''Polanco's all wrapped up in jackets. He's trying to sweat it out. He's sick as a dog.''
Polanco has been one of the AL's top hitters since June 28, batting .385 with six homers and 16 RBIs in 34 games. On Monday, he set a major league record by playing in his 144th consecutive game without an error. The previous mark was held by Luis Castillo, who played 143 straight without an error from May 30, 2006, to June 5 for Minnesota.
Baseball Today - August 15
ASSOCIATED PRESS
SCOREBOARD Wednesday, Aug. 15
Colorado at San Diego (10:05 p.m. EDT). Chris Young looks to keep San Diego on top of the NL wild-card race.
STARS Tuesday
-Roy Halladay, Blue Jays, pitched his major league-leading fifth complete game in a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
-Aubrey Huff, Orioles, drove in five runs in a 12-0 rout of the New York Yankees.
-Mike Lowell and Coco Crisp, Red Sox. Lowell hit game-tying homer in the ninth inning and Crisp singled in the winning run three batters later to push Boston past Tampa Bay 2-1.
-Chipper Jones, Braves, hit a game-winning double in the ninth inning to lift Atlanta over San Francisco, 5-4.
-Jack Cust, Athletics, hit a pair of solo homers to help Oakland edge the Chicago White Sox 4-3.
FAREWELL TO PHIL
Hall of Fame shortstop Phil Rizzuto died Monday night. Known as ''The Scooter,'' Rizzuto was at 89 the oldest living Hall of Famer. He played for the New York Yankees throughout the 1940s and '50s, won seven World Series titles, was an AL MVP and played in five All-Star games. Rizzuto later announced Yankees games for four decades. The Yankees will wear his No. 10 on their left sleeves for the rest of the season.
RECORD-BREAKER
Bobby Cox set a dubious record in the Atlanta Braves' 5-4 victory over San Francisco on Tuesday. Atlanta's cantankerous manager was tossed after the fifth for arguing a called third strike - the 132nd ejection of his career to break the mark originally set by Hall of Famer John McGraw.
CENTRAL SHOWDOWNS
After a sluggish start relegated them to fifth place in the NL Central by mid-May, the St. Louis Cardinals have climbed their way back into the division race. With Tuesday's 12-4 victory over Milwaukee, the reigning World Series champions trail the Brewers by 4 1/2 games. ... The staggering Detroit Tigers have the AL Central all to themselves - for at least one day. Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in Detroit's four-run 10th inning as Detroit moved one game ahead of Cleveland in the up-for-grabs division with a 6-2 win over the Indians.
STRUGGLING
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who led the NL West by 1 1/2 games on July 26, were defeated 7-4 by Houston on Tuesday and have lost 13 of 16 since then and trail first-place Arizona by 6 1/2 games. Now in fourth place, their postseason chances took another hit before the game when third baseman Nomar Garciaparra was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
SNAPPED
Melky Cabrera went 0-for-3 with two walks, ending his career-best 18-game hitting streak in the New York Yankees' 12-0 loss to Baltimore on Tuesday. ... Dontrelle Willis earned his first win since May 29, striking out 11 in seven innings and letting Florida's bats do the rest in a 14-5 victory over Arizona. Willis (8-12) had gone 0-7 over his past 13 starts. ... Minnesota routed Seattle 11-3 to snap a five-game losing streak.
SPEAKING
''Those are our horses. They go out and perform like that, we have to get over the hill and get them some runs. We haven't been able to do that.'' - Tampa Bay designated hitter Jonny Gomes, on wasting six innings of four-hit ball from Scott Kazmir in a 2-1 loss to Boston on Tuesday. The Devil Rays also wasted a solid outing by James Shields on Monday and have scored two runs in their last 30 innings.
Brewers recall Gross; designate Spurling
August 15th, 2007
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - The Milwaukee Brewers have recalled outfielder Gabe Gross from Triple-A Nashville and designated pitcher Chris Spurling for assignment.
Gross, 27, batted just .202 with four home runs and nine RBI in 55 games with Milwaukee earlier this season.
Spurling, a 30-year old right-hander, was 2-1 with a 4.91 earned run average in 38 relief appearances for the Brewers this year.
Reds' Gonzalez to bereavement list, Bellhorn back
August 15, 2007
CINCINNATI (AP) -The Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday put shortstop Alex Gonzalez on the bereavement list and replaced him with infielder Mark Bellhorn.
Bellhorn went to Triple-A Louisville after being designated for assignment by the Reds after Sunday's game. He rejoined the Reds in Chicago for the second game Wednesday night of a three-game series.
Gonzalez is staying at home with his ill 10-month-old son, the third time he has been on the bereavement list this season. The Reds said there was no timetable for his return.
Bellhorn, 32, batted .167 with no home runs during his earlier stint with the Reds.
The Reds also moved veteran infielder Juan Castro, who recently had season-ending elbow surgery, to the 60-day disabled list.
Yankees add Ramirez, Henn to bullpen
August 15, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -The New York Yankees tweaked their bullpen Wednesday, recalling relievers Edwar Ramirez and Sean Henn from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The club optioned Jeff Karstens and Jim Brower to its top farm club one day after they pitched poorly in a 12-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Karstens got a spot start Tuesday night and allowed five runs and five hits in three innings to drop to 0-3 with a 11.20 ERA this season. Brower, who relieved Karstens, was charged with six runs - four earned - and five hits in two-plus innings.
Henn is 2-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 21 games with New York this season. Ramirez has appeared in three games with the Yankees this year, going 1-0 while allowing four runs in 2 1-3 innings.
Brower, who was promoted Aug. 6, appeared in three games. He left the team briefly to be with his wife, Jessica, after the birth of the couple's first child.
Fielder suspended 3 games for run-in
Associated Press
Prince Fielder was suspended for three games by the commissioner's office Wednesday, leaving the Milwaukee Brewers without their top slugger in the middle of a pennant race.
Fielder was suspended and fined an undisclosed amount for "inappropriate and aggressive conduct" during a confrontation with plate umpire Wally Bell on Sunday, when the Brewers lost 6-4 at Houston. The first baseman was ejected after arguing a called third strike and had to be restrained by bench coach Dale Sveum.
Unless he appeals, Fielder was due to begin serving the penalty Wednesday night when Milwaukee hosts the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. The Brewers began the day in first place in the NL Central, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Chicago Cubs.
Fielder, the starting first baseman for the NL in the All-Star game last month, is having a breakout season at the plate. A leading candidate for MVP, he entered the day leading the league with 37 home runs. He was batting .288 with 89 RBIs and a .618 slugging percentage, second in the league to Florida's Miguel Cabrera (.619).
Diamondbacks cut Kim
August 15, 2007
PHOENIX (AP) -Arizona parted ways with Byung-Hyun Kim again Wednesday following two awful starts by the right-hander since the Diamondbacks acquired him.
Kim was designated for assignment, meaning the team has 10 days to trade, release or send him outright to the minors.
The former Diamondbacks closer lasted only 17 pitches in Arizona's 14-5 loss at Florida on Tuesday night. He retired one batter and allowed four runs, three earned, to boost his ERA to 23.62 in two starts with Arizona.
The Diamondbacks claimed Kim off waivers from Florida, hoping to make him their No. 5 starter.
``It just didn't work out,'' Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes said, adding that other roster moves were planned later in the day.
The Diamondbacks entered play Wednesday leading the NL West race by two games over San Diego
Rangers put McCarthy on 15-day disabled list, activate Padilla
August 15, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Brandon McCarthy on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and activated right-hander Vicente Padilla.
McCarthy, who has a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade, was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 11. He is 5-8 with a 4.79 ERA.
Padilla, the team's scheduled starter Wednesday night against Kansas City, had not pitched for the Rangers since June 21. He was 3-8 with a 6.69 ERA.
Padilla, who was sidelined with right triceps irritation, had a rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Friday. Texas manager Ron Washington has said Padilla would be limited to 85 pitches in his first game back.