MLB News and Notes June - 11

Mets' activate Green
June 10th, 2007

Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - The New York Mets activated outfielder Shawn Green from the 15-day disabled list following Sunday's 15-7 setback to the Detroit Tigers.

Green has been out since suffering a chip fracture on the base of the first metatarsal of the right foot on May 25. It was the first time in his 15-year career that he was sent to the disabled list.

Green is batting .314 with five homers and 22 runs batted in.

To make room on the roster, the Mets optioned outfielder Ben Johnson to Triple-A New Orleans.

Notes from Sunday's games
June 10, 2007

PITTSBURGH: The Pirates went 7-13 while playing 20 games in 20 days. Monday's off day will be their first since May 22. ... The Pirates have lost three of their past four series. ... Pittsburgh is 52-87 against AL teams since interleague play began in 1997. ... After beginning the season in the bullpen, RHP Shawn Chacon made his fourth start of the year. He gave up seven earned runs in 3 1-3 innings after allowing a total of five earned runs in his first three starts covering 16 innings. The former Yankee fell to 6-4 in 14 career starts at Yankee Stadium. ``This is a team where you have to go right after them, get ahead of them and then make good pitches. I didn't do that. I wasn't anywhere near what I wanted to be as far as commanding the strike zone,'' Chacon said.

NEW YORK: RHP Roger Clemens is expected to get his second start Friday night against the New York Mets. The Rocket beat Pittsburgh in his season debut Saturday, shaking off some early rust and allowing three runs over six innings. ``He's pitching against a stronger ballclub. Hopefully, he'll have a stronger outing,'' manager Joe Torre said. ... C Jorge Posada got a day off while Wil Nieves started behind the plate. ... Torre thinks the switch from CF to DH has benefited Johnny Damon offensively and been good for the club overall, in large part because of CF Melky Cabrera's performance. ``I just like the energy the ballclub is showing right now. I think Melky has added a lot,'' Torre said. ``He's playing like he was last year.'' Cabrera has made 11 straight starts, hitting .390 (16-for-41). New York is 9-2 in those games. ... 3B Alex Rodriguez has 16 RBIs in his last six games. ... New York has won 17 of its past 18 interleague series at Yankee Stadium.

NEW YORK: The Mets have hit an NL-high 201 homers during interleague play. ... Mets OF Moises Alou flew back home Sunday morning for an examination on his strained left quadriceps. He was scheduled to be examined Monday in New York and will likely make the next step of his comeback at the Mets' minor league facility in Florida. Alou, injured on May 12, is hitting .318 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 30 games. ... OF Shawn Green is expected to be activated from the disabled list Monday after a roster spot was created by sending OF Ben Johnson to Triple-A New Orleans after the Detroit Tigers beat New York 15-7. Green has been out since breaking his right foot May 25, an injury that put him on the DL for the first time in his major league career.

DETROIT: OF Magglio Ordonez was scratched from the lineup because of minor stiffness in his left knee. ``His knee was barking a little bit, so I gave him the day off,'' manager Jim Leyland said. Ordonez, who expects to play Tuesday, was replaced in right by Marcus Thames. ... SS Carlos Guillen left the game in the third inning Sunday against the New York Mets with a right hamstring spasm. Guillen said he didn't know whether he would be healthy enough to play Tuesday at home against Milwaukee. ... DH Gary Sheffield hit his first triple since 2004. ... The Tigers drew their sixth straight sellout and 10th this season. ... OF Curtis Granderson extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games.

OAKLAND: RHP Santiago Casilla has retired 18 of 21 batters he has faced since being called up from the minors June 3. He has two wins and one save in five outings. ``They haven't been easy games,'' LHP Alan Embree said. ``He's shown a lot of poise for a guy who has not been up here in a lot of situations. He's stepped up. I'm impressed with that.''... After posting back-to-back shutouts for the first time since May 31-June 1 last season, Oakland has an AL-best seven shutouts this season. ... C Kurt Suzuki was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, a day after backup Adam Melhuse was traded to Texas for cash considerations. Suzuki, a second-round pick in 2004, was hitting .280 with three homers and 27 RBIs at Sacramento. While Melhuse had only seven starts all season, manager Bob Geren said he'd like to give Suzuki at least one start a week. ``We want to give him some experience here so he can learn the league,'' Geren said. ``We will get him in some games.''

SAN FRANCISCO: The Giants were blanked in consecutive games for the first time since June 22-23, 1996, when Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine did it for Atlanta. ``We couldn't mount anything,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. ``No question it's gut check time and we know it. Every team goes through stretches like this. We have to toughen up here and fight our way through it.'' ... C Eliezer Alfonzo will get a second opinion Monday on whether to have surgery on his injured left knee. Alfonzo has a Grade 3 sprain of his PCL after his collision at the plate with Oakland pinch-runner Donnie Murphy on Friday. ``You don't see a lot of these,'' trainer Dave Groeschner said. ``This is obviously more of a football type injury.'' Surgery would sideline him for about eight months, while rehabbing without an operation would shut him down for about two months.

HOUSTON: OF Hunter Pence missed his second straight game because of a sore right hip flexor muscle but hopes to play Monday, when the Astros visit the Cubs for a makeup game. Pence, who left Friday's game, felt close to normal after running before Sunday's 6-3 loss to the White Sox. ``Today, I can hit my last gear,'' Pence said. ``(Saturday) I was a little timid.'' ... OF Luke Scott (strained hip flexor muscle) did some stretching exercises and took batting practice before Sunday's loss. Then, he struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the game. ``I had this at the beginning of the year when we were in Chicago,'' he said. ``It took a couple days but I still played. ... It eventually got better.'' ... LHP Mark McLemore was called up from Triple-A Round Rock to help out an overworked bullpen. ``We're at risk with those guys,'' manager Phil Garner said. ``We just needed another pitcher.''

CHICAGO: DH Jim Thome was looking forward to seeing some old friends and playing the field when the White Sox visit Philadelphia and Pittsburgh this week. Thome spent three seasons with the Phillies before being traded to the White Sox and played under manager Charlie Manuel in Cleveland. ``For me, it was a special time,'' Thome said. ``When I left Cleveland, a lot of those people - including the fans - took me in when I first got there. A lot of my memories are fond. They treated me very well. ... I've been with Charlie more than anybody in the game, so it'll be good to see him.'' Manager Ozzie Guillen plans to have Thome start two games at first during this trip, although he has concerns - about rustiness and injuries. ``We need to play him because we need to use his bat,'' Guillen said. ... OF Jerry Owens missed his second straight game with a strained right hamstring, and Guillen wasn't exactly sure how it happened. ``I don't know how he can be hurt,'' Guillen said. ``He wasn't on base at all.'' Owens has three hits in his last 27 at_bats. ... Guillen was upset he had to bring in closer Bobby Jenks after the White Sox took a five-run lead into the ninth. Fans let Dewon Day and Boone Logan hear it, too. The bullpen allowed two runs, boosting its ERA to 9.09 in its last 29 games. ``It's one of those things where everybody caught the same bug, I think,'' Jenks said. ``It just makes it look that much worse when, instead of one person struggling, it's a handful.''

TAMPA BAY: Manager Joe Maddon said OF Rocco Baldelli (left hamstring strain) ``had a good day'' on Saturday when he worked out at the team's minor-league facility in St. Petersburg, Fla. Maddon said if Baldelli has a good week of extended spring training, he could be activated or sent for an official rehab assignment. ... C Dioner Navarro missed his second straight game after being hit in the throat with a ball Friday night. With the Devil Rays off Monday, Navarro is expected to be available Tuesday or Wednesday. ... Maddon said he was looking forward to this week's series against San Diego for two reasons. First, he never had seen RHP Greg Maddux pitch in a regular-season game. Second, the Padres are managed by Bud Black, who coached with Maddon on the Angels staff. Maddux was scheduled to oppose LHP Scott Kazmir on Tuesday night. ``As Buddy Black would say, 'It's a marquee matchup,''' Maddon said.

FLORIDA: RHP Josh Johnson (right elbow) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday for Double-A Carolina. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said if all goes well, Johnson could be activated from his rehab stint no sooner than June 18. ``But let's not put the cart before the horse,'' Gonzalez said. ... 3B Miguel Cabrera's home run Sunday left him two shy of Jeff Conine (120) for fifth place on the team's all-time homer list. Mike Lowell leads with 143. ... The Marlins have homered in a team-record six consecutive games.

COLORADO: RHP Jason Hirsh picked up his first career complete game Sunday, tossing a career-high 115 pitches. ``He's been able to put a split down,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ``He's made some adjustments. His command has been much, much better.'' ... 1B Todd Helton went 5-for-13 during the weekend series at Camden Yards and is now 48-for-131 (.366) lifetime against AL East clubs. Versus the Orioles, he is 10-for-33 with seven RBIs in his career. ... SS Troy Tulowitzki fanned four times Sunday and now leads the Rockies with 53 strikeouts. ... The Rockies have won five of six series.

BALTIMORE: LHP Erik Bedard absorbed the loss Sunday, but he fanned eight Rockies, increasing his total to 103, tops in the majors. ... 3B Melvin Mora asked for - and received - a day off Sunday. Mora was replaced at third by Chris Gomez. ``I don't know if his mind wasn't right or he wasn't hitting. He didn't look good at the plate,'' manager Sam Perlozzo said. ... Baltimore has held the lead in 18 consecutive games, but is only 9-9 over that span. ... Orioles pitchers matched a season high with 14 strikeouts Sunday.

CLEVELAND: The Indians optioned LHP Jeremy Sowers to Triple-A Buffalo and recalled RHP Matt Miller. Sowers (1-6) allowed five runs in four innings Saturday night. The Indians were counting on Sowers being a key part of the rotation but he's struggled, with a 6.93 ERA in 12 starts. ``Jeremy just needs to go down there and get himself righted,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ``He needs to take a step backward to take a couple steps forward.'' ... 3B Casey Blake doubled in his first at bat, extending his career-high hitting streak to 19 games. That's Cleveland's longest streak since Marty Cordova hit in 22 straight in 2001. ... C.C. Sabathia had two hits Sunday, while position players mustered five others. ``It's a little easier for me because I have no pressure,'' he said. ``I just go up there and swing as hard as I can.''

CINCINNATI: When OF Josh Hamilton gunned down Franklin Gutierrez at the plate Sunday, manager Jerry Narron wasn't surprised. ``He's got one of the better arms in all of baseball,'' Narron said. ``I just didn't know if he'd throw a strike on one hop or two.''... Ken Griffey Jr., who had homered in three consecutive games - getting his 578th Saturday night - did not start but pinch hit in the 11th and flied out. ... Sunday's game was only the 29th homerless game ever in home-run-friendly Great American Ball Park. And it was only the second extra-inning shutout in the park. Cincinnati beat Milwaukee 3-1 in 11 innings June 14, 2006. ... The Reds honored long-time broadcasters Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall and the late Waite Hoyt before the game.

WASHINGTON: Cristian Guzman and Dmitri Young continued to carry the lineup this weekend. Guzman is batting .500 over his last 11 games with 13 runs and five extra-base hits while raising his average to .346. Young is batting .506 with 19 RBIs in his last 22 games. ... Without a target date yet for the return of his injured starting pitchers, manager Manny Acta will keep his rotation intact. He said he will break up his three left-handers, Matt Chico, Mike Bacsik and Micah Bowie, to avoid starting them over three straight games. ... 1B Nick Johnson, out since last September with a broken right leg, has been taking batting practice from Acta. ``He looks like he's ready to play ... (but) it will take awhile,'' Acta said.

MINNESOTA: By beating the Nationals on Sunday, the Twins avoided being swept at home for the first time since dropping three straight to the White Sox on June 29-July 1, 2004. ... Joe Mauer rested after his first two games back from the strained left quadriceps that kept him out for 29 games. Manager Ron Gardenhire said he'll be brought back slowly for now, but eventually will be used as the DH on games when he doesn't catch. Said Mauer: ``I told him it's feeling pretty good. and hopefully they won't be worried about my leg or anything like that.'' ... LH reliever Glen Perkins (shoulder) will begin a throwing program Tuesday, the same day LH Dennys Reyes (shoulder) will throw a simulated game. LF Rondell White (calf), out since the first week of the season, is still only running at about 75 percent strength.

PHILADELPHIA: Ryan Howard was 3-for-13 in the three-game series, with two home runs, one double, one fly ball out, one double-play grounder and eight strikeouts. ... The Phillies staff has reached a double-digit strikeout total 14 times. ... In his previous start against Kansas City, Jamie Moyer had thrown a complete-game, two-hit shutout. At Kauffman Stadium, the veteran lefty is 6-6. Lifetime in 29 starts against the Royals, he's 14-9.

KANSAS CITY: In another indication of how weak their hitting has been, the Royals have won only three nine-inning games when giving up more than four runs. Opponents have won seven times when KC scored more than four. ... In each of Jorge De La Rosa's four wins, opponents scored only once. ... David DeJesus tied a career-high with four runs scored, and is the first Royal to score four times in a game this year. He reached five times on a single, a double, a walk and two HBPs. ... Tony Pena's home run was just the second of his career. He had an interesting line on Sunday - two at_bats, two hits, two runs, two RBIs, two sacrifice bunts and a sacrifice fly.

MILWAUKEE: Manager Ned Yost shook up the batting order to get more production from a team that had scored three or fewer runs in five of its previous seven games entering Sunday night. 2B Craig Counsell jumped from ninth to leadoff, RF Corey Hart batted fifth for just the second time this season and CF Bill Hall dropped to eighth for the second time. C Johnny Estrada was seventh, the first time he has batted lower than fifth in 2007. With 1B Prince Fielder as the DH, Tony Graffanino played 1B for the first time this season. ... Yost said he wasnt concerned about a team that lost 19 of 28 games after a 24-10 start. ``Our kids are not panicking,'' he said.

TEXAS: Manager Ron Washington said newly-acquired C Adam Melhuse will be in the lineup about twice a week as the backup to Gerald Laird. Melhuse wanted out of Oakland because of a lack of game action, but he's not likely to get much more with the Rangers. Washington said Melhuse will serve as a mentor to Laird and add leadership in the clubhouse. ``He's excellent'' as a leader, said Washington, who worked with Melhuse when he was third-base coach for the A's. ``He's not a loud guy. But he knows right from wrong. When I heard we had an opportunity to get him, I said, 'Get him.''' ... Among the Rangers' draft picks was C Benjamin Petralli, taken in the 47th round out of Sacramento City College. Petralli is the son of former Rangers' C Geno Petralli.

TORONTO: RHP Roy Halladay's RBI on Sunday was the first by a Toronto pitcher since June 21, 2003, when Mark Hendrickson, playing for the Blue Jays, hit a home run in Montreal. Hendrickson, now pitching for the Dodgers, allowed four runs in three innings of relief. ... OF Curtis Thigpen, a late-game replacement in Toronto's 11-5 victory, doubled in the eighth for his second big-league hit and first for extra bases. ... Toronto reached double figures in runs for just the third time this season. ``We got a few big hits when we needed them,'' said Troy Glaus, who doubled and homered twice. ``We've been lacking the big hit.''

LOS ANGELES: The Dodgers recalled 1B-OF James Loney from Triple-A Las Vegas, making room by designating OF Brady Clark for assignment. Loney played first base to give Nomar Garciaparra a day off, and went 1-for-4. Garciaparra struck out as a pinch hitter in the seventh. ... C Russell Martin stole his 10th base in 12 attempts in the first. He stole 10 bases as a rookie last season. ... OF Luis Gonzalez hit two doubles, lifting his career total to 599 - one behind Dodgers hitting coach Eddie Murray for 19th place on the career list. ... The Dodgers have an 81-86 record against AL teams since interleague play began in 1997, but are only 21-36 the past four seasons. ... Longtime Dodgers fan Virginia Brickell, celebrating her 100th birthday, received an ovation when shown on Diamond Vision in the middle of the third inning.

SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki, who hit a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh against San Diego, is batting .625 (5-for-8) with 12 RBIs with the bases loaded this season, and .464 (32-for-69) with 75 RBIs for his career. ... The Mariners swept the Padres in San Diego for the first time. ... Mariners ace Felix Hernandez got his first big league hit, an RBI bunt single in the third inning.

SAN DIEGO - Losing three games to the Seattle Mariners was the first time San Diego has been swept since last Aug. 14-17 against San Francisco. ... Closer Trevor Hoffman's streak of 16 1-3 scoreless innings, spanning 17 appearances, ended when he allowed an unearned run in the ninth. ... Khalil Greene went 2-for-4 to break out of a 1-for-12 slump. He also stole a base and scored a run.

CHICAGO: Manager Lou Piniella said RHP Carlos Zambrano and C Michael Barrett will not work as battery mates on Monday night for a makeup game against Houston, adding that his decision has nothing to do with the teammates' fight at Wrigley Field on June 1. Koyie Hill will catch Zambrano, who returned to Chicago for an extra night of rest. Zambrano gave Barrett a black eye and sent him to a hospital for six stitches in his lip after they scrapped in the dugout and in the clubhouse during an 8-5 loss to the Braves. ``At some point, we'll reunite the battery mates,'' Piniella said. ... OF Cliff Floyd, currently on the bereavement list to spend time with his critically ill father, could be in uniform against the Astros. ``Floyd's dad is still struggling,'' Piniella said. ``There's a possibility that he'll be available tomorrow night against Houston.'' ... Piniella managed his 3,000th game on Sunday, joking that the milestone felt more like his 4,000th. Now in his 20th season, the 63-year-old Piniella has a career record of 1,546-1,453, including a 27-33 mark with the Cubs. ``That's a long time,'' he said. ``I'm proud of that. I had the good fortune of managing a lot of good teams and a lot of great players.''

ATLANTA: After team hand specialist Gary Lourie told him that everything looks fine, 3B Chipper Jones took a couple of cuts in live batting practice for the first time since May 24. The 1999 NL MVP, who went on the 15-day with a bruised right hand June 1, still has soreness in his wrists, but he's ``doing normal stuff around the house, like playing with the kids.'' Jones added that his right hand hurts worse, particularly with the knob of a bat in his hand. ... RHP Tim Hudson, who left his start on Saturday after taking a line drive off his left leg, believes he will feel strong enough to make his next start Thursday at Minnesota. ``I feel like a big sissy today,'' Hudson joked. ``It really hurt yesterday, but I got some ice on it and this little thing here (an anti-inflammatory pad) is a miracle-worker.'' ... Manager Bobby Cox said C Jarrod Saltalamacchia started Sunday and will be in the lineup again Tuesday to give Brian McCann more time to let a cortisone shot take effect.

Cubs: Floyd might be available Monday

The Cubs might have Cliff Floyd back in the mix as soon as Monday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Floyd left the Cubs and was placed on the bereavement list on Friday so he could be with his ill father.

Angels: Kotchman should be ready Tuesday

The Angels played Sunday's game without Casey Kotchman. He was hit on his right elbow by a pitch the night before and sustained a bruise, according to the LA Times.

Angels: Anderson should play on Tuesday

Garret Anderson missed Sunday's game after leaving Saturday's contest with tightness in his ailing right hip flexor. Manager Mike Scioscia said that Anderson should be available after the Angels' off-day Monday, according to the LA Times.

Braves: Chipper could return on Tuesday

Chipper Jones took a turn for the better on Sunday, as he continues to recover from sore wrists. He was able to test them by taking batting practice, and it's possible he could return to action as soon as Tuesday, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I'll probably come in early tomorrow before we leave to go to Minnesota, take some more batting practice from both sides, see how it feels," said Jones. "Depending on that, I guess we'll make a decision on Tuesday. If it feels good enough to go, I want to get back in there. If I'm still feeling pain, I'll probably wait another couple days."

Unbeatable Yankees Sweep Pirates to Win Sixth Straight
June 11th, 2007

All of a sudden, the Yankees can’t lose.

Alex Rodriguez homered twice and Bobby Abreu finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three runs batted in to power New York to a 13-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The Bronx Bombers swept the three-game interleague series and have now won a season-high six straight.

They moved within 9.5 games of American League East-leading Boston. The Yankees also paid -245 on the moneyline (meaning a winning wager of $245 would net a $100 profit).

Rodriguez, who finished with four runs scored, clubbed a three-run homer in the fourth to erase a one-run deficit and added a two-run shot in the sixth. He has four multi-homer games this season and 48 in his career.

Abreu stroked a double, a triple and two singles to go along with a walk. Hideki Matsui added two RBIs and Derek Jeter scored twice for New York, which has won nine of its last 11 to claw within one game of .500 (30-31).

Sean Henn (2-0) was credited with the win in two scoreless innings of relief. Starter Tyler Clippard was roughed up for six runs on six hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings.

Former Yankee Shawn Chacon (2-1) took the loss in his return to the Bronx. The righthander, who was an important acquisition for New York during the 2005 season, was shelled for seven runs on eight hits in just 3.1 innings. Jose Bautista, Jose Castillo and Chris Duffy each drove in two runs for the Pirates, who have lost three straight and nine of their last 12.

In other action in the major leagues on Sunday:

Arizona 5, Boston 1: Eric Byrnes went 3-for-5 with a double as the Diamondbacks avoided a three-game sweep at Chase Field. Randy Johnson (4-2) gave up just one run on four hits while striking out nine and walking three in six frames. Johnson has four victories in his last five starts for Arizona, a +104 underdog in this one. Daisuke Matsuzaka (7-5) went six innings, allowing two runs on four hits for the Red Sox.

Oakland 2, San Francisco 0: Marco Scutaro homered to break up a scoreless game in the eighth inning and Oakland shut out its Bay Area rivals for the second straight day to complete a three-game sweep in San Francisco. The A’s were +120 underdogs.

Seattle 4, San Diego 3: Trevor Hoffman gave up an unearned run in the ninth inning and the Mariners completed a three-game sweep of the NL West leaders. Seattle was a +140 underdog on the road. Mike Cameron and Terrmel Sledge homered for San Diego.

Toronto 11, Los Angeles Dodgers 5: Roy Halladay settled down after a rocky start at Dodger Stadium, Troy Glaus had two homers and the Blue Jays - a -101 road favorite - handed Los Angeles its fifth loss in six games.

St. Louis 9, Los Angeles Angels 6: Albert Pujols had two home runs and five RBIs for his 19th career multiple homer game and his second in eight days. The Cardinals were a +144 home underdog.

Minnesota 6, Washington 3: Torii Hunter and Jason Bartlett each had three hits to help the Twins avoid being swept at home for the first time by a National League team since interleague play began in 1997. Boof Bonser scattered nine hits over five innings, and the Twins’ bullpen worked four scoreless innings to reward their backers with a -200 payday.

Kansas City 17, Philadelphia 5: Mark Grudzielanek homered and drove in five runs and the Royals scored their most runs in a game since 2005 to take a series from Philadelphia, which was visiting for the first time since the 1980 Fall Classic. Kansas City was a +121 underdog at home.

Detroit 15, New York Mets 7: Gary Sheffield contributed to one of Tom Glavine’s worst outings with a homer and an RBI triple. Glavine gave up nine earned runs for just the second time in his stellar career and for the first time in eight years. The Tigers paid -101 at Comerica Park.

Chicago White Sox 6, Houston 3: Mark Buehrle pitched eight strong innings for his 100th career victory and Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak and did it as a -159 home favorite. Paul Konerko had three hits, including a solo homer, and drove in two runs as the White Sox won for just the third time in 15 games.

Tampa Bay 9, Florida 4: Devil Rays rookie Andy Sonnanstine struck out 10, including seven straight at one point, and got his first career victory. Tampa Bay was a +106 underdog in Miami.

Colorado 6, Baltimore 1: Ryan Spilborghs homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs, and Jason Hirsh won for the first time in nine starts for the Rockies, a +159 road underdog. Hirsh struck out two and walked one as the Rockies won for the sixth time in eight games.

Cincinnati 1, Cleveland 0: Alex Gonzalez’s RBI single gave the Reds a 12th-inning win in the second consecutive extra-inning game between the two Ohio rivals. The teams played 23 innings in fewer than 24 hours. Cincinnati paid +150 at home.

Milwaukee 9, Texas 6: Geoff Jenkins hit a three-run homer in the 12th inning and the visiting Brewers stopped a three-game losing streak. Prince Fielder connected for his NL-leading 23rd home run as Milwaukee finished with a season-high 22 hits. The Brew Crew paid their backers -119.

There was one National League game on Sunday:

Atlanta 5, Chicago Cubs 4: Willie Harris scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Chicago closer Ryan Dempster with two outs in the eighth inning. Chad Paronto (3-1) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Bob Wickman closed for his 11th save as the Braves paid -101 at home.

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Lester optioned to Pawtucket
June 11, 2007

BOSTON (AP) -Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, whose 2006 season was cut short because of lymphoma, will remain at Triple-A for now.

The Boston left-hander was optioned to Pawtucket on Monday after being activated from the disabled list. He felt a muscle cramp in his left forearm on May 2 and began a rehabilitation assignment on May 19.

In his last appearance, Lester gave up three runs and five hits in 2 2-3 innings last Saturday against Ottawa.

With the Red Sox getting solid pitching from all five starters and having the best record in the majors, they kept Lester at Pawtucket.

Only one Boston starter has missed a game due to injury. Josh Beckett was out for two starts; Curt Schilling, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield and Julian Tavarez have taken all of their turns.

Lester began the season on the 15-day disabled list while continuing to come back from lymphoma, which was diagnosed last summer and led to offseason treatment.

As a rookie last season, Lester was 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA for Boston.

Devil Rays recall Hammel
June 11, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -The Tampa Bay Devil Rays recalled right-hander Jason Hammel from Triple-A Durham and said Monday that right-hander Jae Seo accepted an assignment to the minor league affiliate.

Hammel, 0-6 with a 7.77 ERA in nine starts for the Devil Rays last season, fills one of two openings created when Tampa Bay optioned relievers Chad Orvella and Tim Corcoran to Durham after Sunday's game against Florida Marlins. The other roster spot will be filled on Tuesday.

Seo, 3-4 with an 8.13 ERA this season, was designated for assignment on June 2. Hammel was 4-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 13 starts at Durham.

Seattle's Reitsma back on DL
June 11th, 2007

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Seattle Mariners placed right-handed pitcher Chris Reitsma on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with inflammation in his right elbow.

It is Reitsma's second stint on the DL this season as he spent May 19 through June 4 on the list with the same elbow problem.

On the season, Reitsma is 0-1 with a 5.79 earned run average in 18 appearances.

To take Reitsma's spot on the roster, the team recalled pitcher Jake Woods from Triple-A Tacoma. Woods made two appearances with Seattle earlier in the season and has a 5.87 ERA in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Cubs place Ramirez on DL
June 11th, 2007

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Chicago Cubs placed infielder Aramis Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list on Monday with left patellar tendinitis, retroactive to June 7. Also, the club reinstated outfielder Cliff Floyd from the bereavement list.

Ramirez, who turns 29 on June 25, is hitting .299 and leads the team with 13 home runs and 39 RBI in 53 games this season.

Floyd, 34, is hitting .306 with three home runs and 23 RBI in 42 games with the Cubs. He was placed on the bereavement list prior to Friday's game in Atlanta.

He signed with the Cubs as a free agent on January 24, 2007 after spending the previous four seasons with the New York Mets.