MLB News and Notes July - 27

Shiell brought up by Royals
July 26, 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Reliever Jason Shiell was brought up Thursday by the Kansas City Royals, who purchased his contract from Triple-A Omaha.

The 30-year-old right-hander takes the roster spot created when Scott Elarton was released on Wednesday, a day after he gave up seven runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings against the Yankees.

Elarton, the Royals' opening-day starter in 2006, was in the second year of an $8 million, two-year contract with Kansas City. He came off the DL on Tuesday after sitting out 26 games with a sprained right foot.

Shiell was 1-4 with two saves and a 4.70 ERA in 24 games with Omaha, including seven starts.

Twins plan to call up 3B Buscher from Rochester, transfer Rabe to 60-day DL
July 26, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -The Minnesota Twins planned to call up third baseman Brian Buscher from Triple-A Rochester before Friday's game against Cleveland.

Buscher began the season with Double-A New Britain, where he hit .308 with seven home runs and 37 RBI in 63 games. He was promoted to Triple-A Rochester on June 20, where he batted .313 with six home runs and 20 RBI in 35 games.

The Twins, who have lost four straight and are in danger of falling out of the playoff race, will transfer outfielder Josh Rabe to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Buscher on the 40-man roster. Outfielder Darnell McDonald was optioned to Rochester after Wednesday's game, leaving a spot on the 25-man roster.

Notes from Thursday's games
July 26, 2007

TAMPA BAY: OF B.J. Upton, who left Thursday's game in the seventh inning with back and leg cramps, will play Friday when the Devil Rays open a three-game homestand against Boston, manager Joe Maddon said. Upton was removed as a precaution. ``I saw him walking back (to center field) like Fred Sanford,'' Maddon said. ... Tampa Bay is 4-19 in its last 23 road games. ... OF Delmon Young's 117 hits lead all major league rookies.

BALTIMORE: The Orioles' four-game winning streak is their longest since taking six straight from May 26-31. They are six games under .500 for the first time since June 12, when they were 29-35. ... RHP Steve Trachsel, who pitched 4 2-3 innings in Thursday's victory and did not qualify for the win, has allowed at least four runs in seven of his last eight starts. ... Baltimore's three-game sweep of Tampa Bay was its second against the Devil Rays this season. The Orioles have won nine straight games versus Tampa Bay in Baltimore and are 8-1 against the Rays this season. ... 2B Brian Roberts stole a base Thursday, giving him 166 for his career and tying him with Luis Aparicio and Mark Belanger for fifth on the club's career list.

DETROIT: RHP Joel Zumaya is nearing a return. Zumaya, who has been out since May 3 with a sprained right middle finger, has thrown off a mound twice and said his finger is completely healthy. ``It's a long process. It ain't easy,'' he said. ``The finger is fully healed. It's just I lost a lot of strength in my shoulder and elbow the two months I was off.'' Zumaya plans on throwing off a mound two more times before ``trying to cut it loose.'' ... DH Gary Sheffield missed his second straight game with soreness in his right shoulder. Sheffield received a cortisone shot in the shoulder on Wednesday and manager Jim Leyland hopes to have him back Friday in Anaheim. ... OF Ryan Raburn batted third on Thursday, a day after he went 4-for-5 with two home runs and 7 RBIs. Despite his big game the day before, Raburn was shocked when he saw the lineup. ``I was very surprised,'' he said. ``They said I might be in there today but never in my mind would I think I'd be hitting third.''

CHICAGO: The White Sox have only won two series since May 21-23, when they won a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics. The two series wins came against the Detroit Tigers, who lead the AL Central, and the Cleveland Indians. ``I think the weird thing was we've played real bad baseball against the teams that are under .500,'' said manager Ozzie Guillen. ``We play against a team that we're supposed to beat or at least compete against and we don't.'' ... Despite a 5-13 record and a 6.22 ERA, Guillen doesn't plan to demote Jose Contreras to the bullpen. ``Jose takes about an hour to get loose,'' Guillen said. Contreras has an 8.27 ERA in his last 11 starts and gave up nine runs and 12 hits in 4 2-3 innings in Wednesday's loss to the Indians. ... White Sox closer Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth inning for the victory against the Tigers and improved to 1-0 in 19 career appearances against the Tigers with a 0.89 ERA.

BOSTON: The Red Sox were riveted to the TV following a game earlier this week as they watched ``The Bronx Is Burning,'' a miniseries about the 1977 New York Yankees. A fan of the show, manager Terry Francona isn't sure if a similar program about the Red Sox would work. Asked who would play him, he said, ``Max Patkin,'' referring to the late rubber-faced comic who entertained baseball fans for decades. Francona wasn't enamored with the acting. ``I'm no Siskel and Ebert, but I think the acting is awful,'' he said. ``But it is really entertaining. I watch it and laugh. I think it should win an award.'' ... INF Alex Cora blamed himself for a 1-0 loss Wednesday after missing a hit-and-run sign, but Francona defended the utility man. ``He got a little mixed up and that happens,'' Francona said. ``Everything sticks out in a 1-0 game. He's tough on himself because he's a kid that cares.'' ... 2B Dustin Pedroia wasn't happy about being hit in the fourth inning on Wednesday by Cleveland's Fausto Carmona, who later buzzed the rookie with an inside pitch. Pedroia, though, didn't think Carmona was trying to hit him. ``I was mad the second time, but I know he wasn't throwing at me,'' Pedroia said. ``I'm OK.''

CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge said the Indians are being aggressive as the July 31 trading deadline nears. General manager Mark Shapiro was in Buffalo to watch and evaluate the Bisons, looking at a handful of players he might want to use in a package to get the Indians some help for their playoff run. ``They are being as aggressive as they can be,'' said Wedge, who was later than usual for his pregame interview session on Thursday. Wedge said he was delayed because ``of everything going on,'' but made no mention of any imminent deals. Shapiro has said several times that he would like to get more help for his bullpen. With David Dellucci on the disabled list and Trot Nixon stuck in a batting slump, the Indians could also use another left-handed hitter. ... Jeremy Sowers seems to be fixing whatever needed fixing. The left-hander, demoted to Triple-A Buffalo on June 10 after going 1-6 with a 6.93 ERA in 12 starts, has allowed just one earned run in 14 innings over his last two starts.

NEW YORK: Manager Joe Torre said both he and GM Brian Cashman thought DH Jason Giambi's prediction that he would be ready to rejoin the team next week might be overly optimistic. Giambi has been out since May 30 with torn tissue in his left foot and is set to start a minor league rehab assignment on Friday with Class-A Tampa. ``I just talked to Cash about that, and he - like I - thought that was a little quick,'' Torre said. ``I don't know who communicated that to Jason. I haven't.'' ... C Jose Molina made his first start with the Yankees on Thursday night, giving Jorge Posada the night off. The Yankees acquired Molina from the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for minor league reliever Jeff Kennard. ... Rookie DH Shelley Duncan was back in the lineup Thursday night after taking two days off. ... SS Derek Jeter started as expected after being hit in the left arm by a pitch in the ninth inning of Wednesday night's game.

KANSAS CITY: The Royals bought the contract of RHP Jason Shiell from Triple-A Omaha. Shiell, a 30-year-old reliever, takes the roster spot created by the release of right-hander Scott Elarton. ... Royals broadcaster Denny Mathews left town Thursday for Cooperstown, N.Y., where he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend as the 2007 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award.

PITTSBURGH: LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who left Wednesday's game because of shoulder stiffness, reported no problems Thursday. He will play catch Friday on flat ground. ... LHP Pat Maholm's career record after the All-Star break is 10-4. ... Maholm has lowered his ERA from 5.82 on May 20 to 4.57. ... 1B Adam LaRoche was unavailable Thursday because of food poisoning. LaRoche is hitting .354 with six home runs and 17 RBIs in his last 21 games.

NEW YORK: OF Lastings Milledge leads the Mets with 12 RBIs since the All-Star break. ... Attendance was 52,150, New York's 16th crowd over 50,000 this season. Mets are third in major league attendance, trailing the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. ... New York has hit 12 home runs in the last eight games. ... LHP Oliver Perez's sixth-inning error was the first by a Mets starting pitcher this season.

MILWAUKEE: The Brewers are hitting .228 since the All-Star break, worst in the NL. ... Rookie Ryan Braun hit his 17th homer and had three hits, but also grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the seventh and into another double play with two aboard in the ninth. ``That's the way it is right now,'' manager Ned Yost said. ... J.J. Hardy, emerging from a 7-for-53 slump, hit a double and a pair of singles. ... Tony Graffanino's solo homer ended a 1-for-15 slide. It was his ninth homer, a career high. ... RHP Dave Bush is 0-2 in four starts at Great American Ball Park, giving up 21 runs in only 17 1-3 innings. He gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings Thursday.

CINCINNATI: LHP Eddie Guardado will pitch for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, starting his second rehab assignment. Guardado, who is recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery last September, had to stop pitching in the minors last month when his forearm got sore. ``We're just going to see how he reacts after he pitches on a day-to-day basis,'' interim manager Pete Mackanin said. ``I'm sure we're going to be cautious. Eddie wants to get back real bad. We're going to make a smart decision on when that happens.'' ... OF Josh Hamilton had his sprained right wrist examined. He is expected to resume swinging a bat next week. He hurt the wrist swinging on July 11. ... RHP Homer Bailey played catch and reported no problem with his strained groin. Bailey got hurt while pitching for Triple-A Louisville.

WASHINGTON: There were rumors of a contract extension for 1B Dmitri Young, but nothing has been made official, according to the Nationals. Young came to the organization as a non-roster invitee to spring training. Young is hitting .333 with nine homers and 52 RBIs. ... After an 0-for-14 skid, OF Nook Logan has four hits in his last seven at_bats. ... The starting battery of LHP John Lannan and C Jesus Flores were both 22 years of age. ... RHP Jon Rauch (6-2) has thrown seven consecutive scoreless innings and leads the majors with 55 appearances. ... The Nationals rotation against the New York Mets will be Friday: Mike Bascik (3-6, 4.39); Saturday 1st game: Tim Redding (1-2, 2.92); Saturday night: Billy Traber (2-1, 4.09); Sunday: Jason Bergmann (2-5, 4.56).

PHILADELPHIA: RHP Jose Mesa became the 11th pitcher to appear in 1,000 games for his career. He joins Ken Tekulve (1988) and Dan Plesac (2002) as Phillies on the list. ... 1B Ryan Howard has 13 homers among his last 32 hits. ... Manager Charlie Manuel expects RHP Brett Myers back in the bullpen within the next seven days. Myers has been out since May 24 because of a right shoulder strain. ... Phillies pitchers have combined for 36 hits - tops in the majors. RHP Adam Eaton has a team-leading 11 hits.

ATLANTA: 3B Chipper Jones, the leading hitter in the NL at .346 coming into the game, did not start because of a groin injury that flared up during Wednesday's game. Jones is batting .415 during his current 10-game hitting streak. Jones, who missed time last month with a groin injury, is day-to-day. ... SS Edgar Renteria, who has been in the starting lineup for 13 straight days, was held out Thursday to get a rest. Renteria is batting .419 since the All-Star break, raising his average from .319 to .335.

SAN FRANCISCO: Pedro Feliz started for the 11th straight day but manager Bruce Bochy said he'd like to give his third baseman a day off soon. Feliz is batting .370 since the All-Star break. ``He's been as hot as anybody,'' Bochy said. ``It's impressive. He's a guy you kind of forget about and keep writing his name in there. He needs a break too.'' ... RHP Russ Ortiz (strained forearm) is expected to throw between 70 and 75 pitches in a rehab start Saturday for Class-A San Jose and could be back in the majors after that if all goes well.

SAN DIEGO: LHP Joe Thatcher arrived in Houston ready to play. Manager Bud Black is anxious to see what the Padres got in the Wednesday trade that brought Thatcher, LHP Steve Garrison and RHP Will Inman from the Brewers for RHP Scott Linebrink. ``I haven't seen him,'' Black said of Thatcher. ``But the scouts and the front office feel he's going to be a main addition to our bullpen. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does.'' Thatcher was a combined 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville this year. He had 53 strikeouts and only nine walks. RHP Clay Hensley was also brought up from Triple A-Portland to join the bullpen. Black said Hensley would be used as a long reliever. OF Terrmel Sledge was sent down to make room for Hensley.

HOUSTON: Manager Phil Garner said Roy Oswalt will start Saturday, moving him up three days from his scheduled start next Tuesday. Oswalt had missed a start Wednesday due to chest pain suffered last Friday while pitching at Pittsburgh. Oswalt pitched a bullpen session Wednesday and reported little soreness Thursday. ``He felt pretty good,'' Garner said. ``This may turn out to be just fine.'' Oswalt said the pain he felt last Friday was new to him. ``I never have had any pain in my chest,'' he said. ``That's the biggest reason it scared me. Now I know I can take it and go on and push it a little.'' Garner said with the off day Monday, the only change in the rotation now will be moving Chris Sampson from Sunday to a Tuesday start in Atlanta. The Astros have been known for late-season rallies the last few seasons but that might be too much to expect now, with the team coming in to Thursday at 44-57. ``It certainly seems like it's impossible,'' Lance Berkman said. ``But we're going to keep playing hard and just see where it goes. We're certainly a better team than we've shown.''

CHICAGO: The Cubs are 4-0 against the Cardinals in St. Louis this season. In the 120-year rivalry between the teams, this is just the fifth time the Cubs have started the season 4-0 in St. Louis. The last time it happened was in 1978. when the Cubs won their first seven games in St. Louis. It also happened in 1906, 1907 and 1911.

ST. LOUIS: Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Scott Spiezio likely will return to the club next week. Spiezo went on the disabled list July 14 after being hospitalized with an infected left index finger and has missed 12 games. Spiezio is hitting .279 with three homers and 26 RBIs. ... Juan Encaracion had four hits Wednesday and has hit safely in 13-of-16 games in July. He it hitting .375 (21-for-56) this month. ... La Russa remains 20 games shy of tying Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst as the winningest manager of the Cardinals.

LOS ANGELES: RHP Derek Lowe had an MRI exam done three hours before Thursday's game, but no results were released at game time. Lowe's injury had been listed as a strained left groin. ... Manager Grady Little said he hasn't made plans for an alternative starter if Lowe were forced to go on the DL, and said he'd make that decision if and when it's needed. ... LHP Randy Wolf (left shoulder soreness) rejoined the team in Denver on Thursday and had no ill effects a day after making a rehab start for Single-A Inland Empire. ``The shoulder feels fine,'' said Wolf, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 4. ``I'm ready for whatever they want to do.'' ... The Dodgers had a 20-minute team meeting before the game. ``We met to focus on the Rockies,'' Little said. ``This wasn't about individuals, only about the Rockies.''

COLORADO: LHP Brian Fuentes threw Thursday and a decision on his rehab schedule will be made in the next few days. Fuentes is on the disabled list because of a mild back strain. ``We'll wait and see how he feels (Friday), then we'll establish what happens after that,'' Manager Clint Hurdle said. ``It was a good step for him.'' ... SS Troy Tulowitzki was back in the lineup Thursday after missing two games because of food poisoning. ``I feel a lot better,'' said Tulowitzki, who lost five pounds because of the illness. ... The Rockies have won a franchise record seven straight series at Coors Field. ... OF Ryan Spilborghs has 16 RBIs in July despite starting only 10 of Colorado's 20 games.

Baseball Today - July 27
By Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Friday, July 27

N.Y. Yankees at Baltimore (7:05 p.m. EDT). Andy Pettite squares off against Jeremy Guthrie following the completion of a suspended game from June 28.

STARS Thursday

-Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks, hit a game-ending, three-run homer to lift Arizona over Florida 7-4.

-Albert Pujols, Cardinals, drove in five runs in an 11-1 win over the Cubs.

-Ken Griffey Jr., Reds, had three hits, including his 588th homer, in a 6-5, 10-inning victory over Milwaukee.

-Jesus Flores, Nationals, hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the eighth inning to lift Washington over Philadelphia 7-6.

-Nick Swisher, Athletics, hit a pair of homers in Oakland's 6-2 win over Seattle.

-Josh Phelps, Pirates, capped a five-run sixth inning with a two-run homer and added an RBI double in the seventh in an 8-4 win over the Mets.

UNDONE

Chase Utley broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch by Nationals starter John Lannan in the fifth inning of Philadelphia's 7-6 loss to Washington on Thursday. The All-Star second baseman, who finished the game 2-for-4, leads the majors with 17 hit by pitches this season. He was hit 14 times last season.

SLAMMED

Albert Pujols snapped an 0-for-11 slump with a three-run homer, Chris Duncan added a grand slam and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Chicago Cubs 11-1 on Thursday. Pujols drove in five runs, tying his season high.

MAGIC WANDY

Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run and five hits in seven innings to earn the win in Houston's 7-1 victory over San Diego on Thursday. Rodriguez (7-9) improved to 6-2 with a 1.76 ERA at home. The left-hander is 1-7 with a 7.43 ERA on the road.

LIFT OFF

Manny Ramirez hit the third-longest home run at Jacobs Field, a tree-clearing solo shot into a monument area, and added a two-run homer as the Boston Red Sox outslugged the Cleveland Indians 14-9 on Thursday night. Ramirez's tape-measure rocket in the second inning off Cliff Lee (5-8) was conservatively estimated at 481 feet.

SNAPPED

Kansas City beat the New York Yankees 7-0 on Thursday to snap the Yankees' six-game winning streak. ... Tony Pena Jr.'s eighth-inning walk for the Royals was his first since May 5, ending a string of 244 plate appearances without one. ... James Loney went 0-for-4 in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 5-4 win over Colorado to end his 30-game streak of reaching base safely. It was the second longest streak in the majors this year.

SPEAKING

''That was one of the hardest balls I've seen go out. I thought it might go through (the wall).'' - Red Sox manager Terry Francona on Wily Mo Pena's three-run homer in a 14-9 victory over the Indians on Thursday night.

Utley undergoes surgery; could be out four weeks
July 27th, 2007

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Phillies announced that All- Star second baseman Chase Utley had successful surgery to repair the fourth metacarpal in his right hand.

In a 20-minute surgery performed by Dr. Randall Culp at Methodist Hospital on Friday, Utley had a pin inserted into his hand. His expected recovery time is up to four weeks.

Utley was struck on the right hand with a pitch by Nationals pitcher John Lannan on Thursday. Lannan, making his MLB debut, then plunked Ryan Howard, earning an ejection from home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt. Utley remained in the game, but the Phillies announced the severity of the injury afterwards.

The two-time All-Star is among the league leaders with his .336 batting average, 17 home runs, 41 doubles and 82 RBI. To replace him on the roster, the Phillies purchased the contract of infielder/outfielder Joe Thurston from Triple-A Ottawa.

Thurston hit a combined .278 with three home runs and 44 RBI in 105 games between Double-A Reading and Ottawa.

Cleveland acquire well-traveled Lofton in trade with Texas
July 27, 2007

CLEVELAND (AP) -Kenny Lofton returned for his third stint with Cleveland - and another playoff run - on Friday as the Texas Rangers traded the 40-year-old outfielder to the Indians for minor league catcher Max Ramirez.

Lofton was expected to arrive in Cleveland and be in the lineup for their series opener against the Minnesota Twins.

The Indians entered the weekend 1 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central and leading the wild card. They've been in the market for a left-handed hitter with speed and had been scouting Lofton the past few weeks with the July 31 non-waiver deadline nearing.

Lofton was a five-time All-Star in nine seasons in Cleveland, the leadoff catalyst for the Indians, who dominated their division throughout the 1990s but haven't made the playoffs since he left as a free agent following the 2001 season.

Nationals put RHP Bergmann on 15-day DL, plan to call up RHP Hanrahan
July 27, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -The Washington Nationals put right-hander Jason Bergmann on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a tight left hamstring and planned to recall right-hander Joel Hanrahan from Triple-A Columbus so he can make his major league debut Saturday.

Bergmann, 2-5 with a 4.56 ERA, left his start Wednesday at Philadelphia in the third inning after hurting his leg while running the bases. This is his second trip to the disabled list this season.

Hanrahan will be brought up from the minors to start during Washington's day-night doubleheader at the New York Mets on Saturday.

He is 5-4 with a 3.70 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 75 1-3 innings at Columbus. The 25-year-old Hanrahan signed with the Nationals as a minor league free agent in November.

Indians send struggling left-hander Cliff Lee to Triple-A Buffalo
July 27, 2007

CLEVELAND (AP) -Indians starter Cliff Lee has been sent back to the minor leagues, a surprising demotion for Cleveland's left-hander who lost his fourth straight start on Thursday night.

Lee, who signed a three-year, $14 million contract extension last season, dropped to 5-8 with a 6.38 ERA following a 14-9 loss to the Boston Red Sox in the final of a four-game series. The 28-year-old allowed eight runs - seven earned - and nine hits in four-plus innings.

After giving the ball to manager Eric Wedge in the fifth inning, Lee ran off the field and sarcastically tipped his cap at booing fans before disappearing down the dugout steps. He's the first Cleveland pitcher to allow seven earned runs in three straight starts since Wes Ferrell in 1933.

Lee will report to Triple-A Buffalo. The Indians also recalled reliever Edward Mujica, and after acquiring outfielder Kenny Lofton in a trade from Texas, they optioned rookie outfielder Ben Francisco to the Bisons.

After beginning the season on the disabled list with an abdominal strain, Lee has looked nothing like the pitcher who won 14 games in 2004, 18 in 2005 and 14 last season.

The Indians had hoped he could work through this troubling stretch, but the club finally ran out of patience with Lee, who had two minor league options remaining and will next pitch for the Bisons.

Following Thursday's loss, Wedge refused to discuss Lee's future but hinted to a possible move.

``What I want is to put our team in position to win as many games as possible in the last days of July, and August and September,'' Wedge said.

The Indians, who haven't been to the playoffs since 2001, trail first-place Detroit by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central and lead the wild-card race.

Cleveland signed Lee to a multiyear contract last August, one of several young players the team has locked up to long-term deals. Lee is making $2.75 million this season. He'll make $3.75 million in 2008, $5.75 million in 2009 with the club holding an $8 million option for 2010.

This will be Mujica's fourth stint with the Indians this season. He went 2-1 with 13 saves in 30 appearances for Buffalo.

Stiff elbow delays comeback of Florida Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson
July 27, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -The return of Florida Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson has been delayed by a stiff elbow, and he'll be examined next week by specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

Johnson complained of stiffness the day after a three-inning rehabilitation start Wednesday for Single-A Jupiter, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Johnson won't throw again until he's examined by Andrews, and surgery is a possibility. The Marlins already have lost one starter to a season-ending injury - right-hander Anibal Sanchez underwent surgery last month to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder.

Sanchez and Johnson, both rookies last season, were expected to help give the Marlins one of the top young rotations this year. Johnson went 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2006 and finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

But he spent the first 2 1/2 months of this season on the disabled list because of an irritated ulnar nerve in his right elbow, then made only four starts before he was again sidelined by forearm stiffness.

Another second-year starter, Ricky Nolasco, has missed most of the season with right elbow inflammation.

Phils activate Myers from DL
July 27th, 2007

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies activated pitcher Brett Myers from the 15-day disabled list Friday.

Myers suffered a right shoulder strain after throwing a wild pitch in Philadelphia's win over Florida on May 25. This was his first trip to the DL in his major league career.

Myers, the club's Opening Day starter, had excelled since he was moved to the bullpen. In 18 relief appearances, Myers is 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA and six saves in seven opportunities. He also led all NL relievers in strikeouts (32) and strikeouts per nine innings (13.9) at the time of his injury.

To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Phillies optioned struggling reliever Mike Zagurski to Triple-A Ottawa.

Zagurski went 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA in 23 appearances for Philadelphia.

Alou returns to lineup for Mets
July 27th, 2007

Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets activated outfielder Moises Alou from the 15-day disabled list on Friday, prior to their game against the Washington Nationals.

Alou has sat out since May 17 with a strained left quad. The veteran outfielder is hitting .318 with two homers and 13 RBI this season.

In another move, the Mets recalled reliever Jon Adkins from Triple-A New Orleans. Adkins, a 29-year-old righty, was 1-3 with a 3.83 earned run average in 28 games at New Orleans.