MLB News and Notes June - 17

Eckstein goes on disabled list with lower back injury
June 16, 2007

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -St. Louis shortstop David Eckstein was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a lower back strain, and the Cardinals called up Brendan Ryan from Triple-A Memphis to start in his place.

Eckstein left Wednesday's game at Kansas City with tightness in his lower back and sat out Thursday against the Royals and again in Friday's series opener with Oakland. Manager The move is retroactive to June 14, and Tony La Russa believes Eckstein will be back in the minimum time.

``We are really encouraged,'' La Russa said. ``He's feeling better, but he's got enough bumps and bruises that if we don't give him an extended period, he's going to have a lot of lingering aches.''

St. Louis also brought up right-hander Anthony Reyes and optioned righty reliever Kelvin Jimenez to Memphis. Reyes - who won the World Series opener for the Cardinals last fall but has lost 10 straight regular-season decisions and was demoted to the minors - is scheduled to start Sunday against the Athletics in place of Brad Thompson, who will be available out of the bullpen.

Reyes found out around midnight Saturday morning he was being called up. Memphis was playing in Iowa and he got about an hour of sleep before flying to the Bay Area. Reyes said he talked about pitching with new reliever Troy Percival, who signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals on June 8 and reported to Memphis.

``It's different pitching down there than it is up here,'' Reyes said.

Eckstein, who also was bothered by tightness in his lower back late last month, is not expected to need a rehab assignment before rejoining the Cardinals.

``He's experienced enough that when he gets closer, in a week or 10-to-12 days, he will have an extensive workout and be ready,'' La Russa said.

Eckstein is hitting .313 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 192 at_bats.

Braden Looper remained a question mark to make his next scheduled start Wednesday, though the team probably won't know more about his status until he is seen by a team doctor once back home. He started Friday's 14-3 loss, but had to leave with tightness in his right shoulder in the fifth.

Baez hits DL as Orioles shuffle bullpen
June 16, 2007

BALTIMORE (AP) -The Baltimore Orioles retooled their ineffective bullpen Saturday, placing Danys Baez on the 15-day disabled list, releasing Todd Williams and bringing up two rookies from Triple-A Norfolk.

The moves came less than 24 hours after Baltimore relievers permitted five runs in the final two innings of a 7-3 loss to Arizona on Friday night, the latest collapse of a bullpen that received a $42 million makeover during the offseason.

In his postgame session with the media, manager Sam Perlozzo said changes had to be made in a bullpen that has not performed to its potential.

``We're going to need to do something. We can't keep going like this,'' he said.

On Saturday, the team's front office reacted. Baez (0-4, 6.52 ERA) was shelved with tendinitis in his right forearm and the 36-year-old Williams, who took the loss Friday night, was dropped.

To fill the void, the Orioles purchased the contract of Cory Doyne and called up Jim Hoey. Doyne was 0-1 with a 1.99 ERA at Norfolk and Hoey was 0-0 in six games after being unscored upon at the Double-A level.

``I think we needed to do something to help the ballclub out,'' Perlozzo said Saturday. ``Hoey and Doyne have done tremendous jobs down there. Hopefully they can carry that over and give us a little bit of a boost.''

It couldn't hurt. Baez signed a three-year, $19 million contract during the offseason to become Baltimore's setup man, but he failed in that role. Williams, who started the season in the minor leagues, was 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in 14 games with the Orioles.

``We felt like at some point we were going to mix things up a little bit, so we figured after last night's game to go ahead and do that,'' said Jim Duquette, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations.

Entering Saturday's game against Arizona, Baltimore's bullpen had yielded runs in nine of 11 games and was 0-7 with a 9.11 ERA in that span.

The Orioles tried to be patient with Baez, using him in non-pressure situations in the hope he would return to form, but he only ended up hurting his arm.

``I've been working too much, doing mechanics, throwing bullpens, being in games, stuff like that. It looks like I have some kind of tendinitis in my forearm and I'm going to take a rest,'' Baez said. ``Right now, our bullpen needs more guys in the bullpen, not less guys in the bullpen, so they put me on the DL and they brought up somebody from the minor leagues, somebody fresh.''

Hoey made his major league debut with the Orioles last season, going 0-1 with a 10.24 ERA in 12 games. The 24-year-old hopes the experience he received will translate to better numbers this time around.

``I'm more comfortable now than I was in the beginning,'' the right-hander said. ``I think it's going to be a lot better - especially since last year, I was tired toward the end. I was trying to sling my slider up there and just trying to get my ball over the plate. This year's going to be totally different.''

Doyne arrived in Baltimore with no major league experience. The 25-year-old right-hander was drafted by Houston in 2000 and since played in the Padres and Cardinals organizations.

``I can't really think of a word to describe it other than amazing. I actually only made one call, to my mom, and she's taken care of (calling everyone) else,'' Doyne said. ``But my cell phone is blowing up.''

Notes from Saturday's games
June 16, 2007

NEW YORK METS: SS Jose Reyes got his 192nd stolen base in the first inning, passing Darryl Strawberry for sole possession of third place on the club's career list. ... The Mets fell to 30-7 when scoring at least four runs. ... Manager Willie Randolph on struggling LHP Tom Glavine: ``He's missing his spots. It's very uncharacteristic of Glav. He has to keep working on his location.'' ... The Mets stranded 12 runners, including eight in scoring position - four by CF Carlos Beltran, who went 0-for-6. ... Cleanup batter Carlos Delgado was 2-for-26 with nine strikeouts before hitting singles in his final two at_bats.

NEW YORK YANKEES: C Jorge Posada might play first base Tuesday night at Colorado so the Yankees can keep his bat in the lineup when backup Wil Nieves catches RHP Mike Mussina, which has become the routine. If everything goes OK, Posada could be back at first when Mussina starts again Sunday in San Francisco. Posada began his minor league career with the Yankees as a second baseman. He has appeared in 17 major league games at 1B, making one error. ... DH Johnny Damon was back in the leadoff spot after being scratched from the lineup Friday night with a mild abdominal strain. ``I felt it on every swing,'' Damon said. ``But the times I got out, it's just because I wasn't good.'' Damon doesn't think the injury should prevent him from playing every day. ... The Yankees scored two runs in five straight innings, the first time they've scored multiple runs in five consecutive innings since April 7, 1994, against Texas, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Yankees relievers tossed 21 1-3 straight scoreless innings before RHP Kyle Farnsworth allowed a run in the eighth. ... 3B Alex Rodriguez hit his 490th home run. ... SS Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 11 games. ... RHP Tyler Clippard was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the game. ``He still needs to work on things. He has to throw more strikes,'' manager Joe Torre said. OF Kevin Thompson was called up. LHP Kei Igawa will likely be recalled from the minors to pitch in San Francisco next weekend, the next time the Yankees need a fifth starter.

WASHINGTON: 2B Felipe Lopez went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts Saturday, his second four-strikeout game of the season and the fifth of his career. Manager Manny Acta planned to give Lopez the day off Sunday but as a rest, not a punishment. SS Cristian Guzman got the day off Saturday and was replaced by Ronnie Belliard. ... The Nationals have an off day Thursday and have not decided whether to skip RHP Levale Speigner, who allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings Saturday. Speigner beat Minnesota in his previous start, giving up one run over six innings. ``He's coming from a great outing so we're not going to be changing our minds every time he goes out there depending on what he does,'' Acta said. ... The Nationals are 1-7 in Canada since the franchise moved from Montreal to Washington following the 2004 season.

TORONTO: OF Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer in the third inning Saturday, his first since May 20 at Philadelphia, a span of 88 at_bats. Wells has 147 career homers, two shy of Lloyd Moseby on the Blue Jays' career list. ... RHP Shaun Marcum struck out a career-high 11 batters, giving Toronto its first 10 strikeout game since A.J. Burnett struck out 13 against Tampa Bay on June 7. ... OF Alex Rios stole his 50th career base, swiping second in the sixth inning. Rios has a team-high six steals this season.

ATLANTA: 3B Chipper Jones had two hits Saturday and is one shy of 2,000 for his career. ... After not starting the last two games, 1B Scott Thorman returned to the lineup Saturday against RHP Paul Byrd. He doubled in the third inning. ... RHP Rafael Soriano has allowed runs in four of his 31 appearances. Soriano and RHPs Tyler Yates and Peter Moylan each pitched a scoreless inning Saturday. ... RHP Tim Hudson, who left his last start with a stiff neck, is scheduled to start Tuesday in Boston. ... The Braves are playing in Cleveland for the first time since the 1995 World Series. Manager Bobby Cox, RHP John Smoltz, 3B Chipper Jones and bullpen coach Eddie Perez, who was a catcher on the '95 team, are the only uniformed personnel still with the team.

CLEVELAND: The Indians have lost nine of their last 14 games. ... RHP Jake Westbrook (left abdominal strain) will make his fourth minor league rehabilitation start Monday for Triple-A Buffalo. He is expected to throw about 85 pitches. If Westbrook gets through that outing with no problems, he likely will start for the Indians next weekend in Washington. ... 1B Ryan Garko, mired in a 2-for-34 slump, didn't start Saturday against RHP John Smoltz. Victor Martinez was the designated hitter and Travis Hafner played first base. ... OF Trot Nixon broke an 0-for-20 skid with a fourth-inning single. ... RHP Cliff Politte (torn labrum and rotator cuff) struck out the side in one inning of work for Double-A Akron on Friday. ... The Indians have signed LHP Brandon Taylor, a 10th-round pick from Oklahoma, and OF Matt Brown, their 13th-round pick from Wichita State.

SAN FRANCISCO: SS Omar Vizquel made a nice over-the-shoulder basket catch in shallow center to retire Kevin Youkilis in the second. ... RHP Matt Cain has gone seven or more innings in each of his last two starts and six or more in 7-of-8. ... C Bengie Molina is batting .317 (51-for-161) in 42 games since April 24. ... 3B Pedro Feliz is batting .275 (47-for-171) over 44 games, raising his average from .200 to .255.

BOSTON: SS Julio Lugo was given the day off. He is 5-for-40 in his last 11 games. ... OF Manny Ramirez is third all-time with 44 interleague homers, tied with Carlos Delgado. Jim Thome leads all batters with 52, and Ken Griffey Jr. hit two on Saturday to give him 46. ... It was the first time since July 23, 1963, that Fenway Park and Wrigley Field each hosted 1-0 games.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS: 3B Chone Figgins went 0-for-5, ending his career-high 14-game hitting streak. ... LF Garret Anderson went back on the DL after re-aggravating his right hip while making a backhanded catch in the first. He came off the DL June 3 after missing more than a month with a torn tendon in his right hip flexor. ``He went to get his jump and go and just felt like his leg was real weak and he just didn't have the strength in it,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We're going to take some time and make sure this thing gets 100 percent.'' ... The Angels' 43rd victory kept them tied with Boston for the most in the majors.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS: With the Dodgers' four-game winning streak over, closer Takashi Saito can put away his samurai outfit, including the sword and headband. The Japanese right-hander had vowed to continue donning the outfit until the team lost. ... Before the game, relievers Joe Beimel and Rudy Seanez and INF Wilson Betemit were glued to the TV watching an ESPN interview with Jessica Alba, who frequently appears on lists of Hollywood's sexiest actresses.

SEATTLE: Trying to get more punch in the lineup with 3B Adrian Beltre still out with a sprained left thumb, manager Mike Hargrove inserted Jose Vidro at second and moved Jose Lopez to third Saturday. It's only the second full career game for Lopez at third. He started there June 17, 2005, against the Mets and played one inning there in 2004. ``I'm just trying to get Vidro's bat in the lineup,'' Hargrove said. ``This is a one-time thing right now. But we may do it tomorrow.'' Lopez had little to say about the move. ``I've played there before,'' he said. ``It's not that different. You just keep playing.'' Vidro has played second most of his career but has been a designated hitter all this season and hadn't played second since September of last year. ``I'm definitely glad I'm getting to play some there,'' said Vidro, who is hitting .291. ``I don't know what to expect but hopefully I can help the club there.'' ... Ben Broussard has started only 14 times this year but Hargrove likes what he has done as a pinch hitter. Broussard is leading the AL in pinch-hit RBI with five and is second in the league in pinch-hit hits, going 4-for-9 for a .444 average. ``That's the toughest job in baseball,'' Hargrove said. ``Ben has done a good job at it.''

HOUSTON: SS Adam Everett appeared in the Astros clubhouse before the game, his first time back since breaking his leg in a collision with Carlos Lee in Thursday's game. Everett is out four to eight weeks and is in an air cast. ``I'm not 100 percent sure it will be that long but that's probably about right,'' he said of the time he will be out. ``I should get out of this cast in two or three weeks.'' ... Rookie Hunter Pence is drawing more attention than he expected to in just his six weeks in the big leagues. ``Any time I go out in Houston I get noticed,'' Pence said. ``I'm surprised. I didn't think anybody would recognize me for a couple of years.'' ... Manager Phil Garner hopes his team continues to be aggressive at the plate as it was in getting 16 hits against Seattle on Friday. ``We've told them when you see it come out of the pitcher's hand, swing at it,'' Garner said. ``We don't mean that literally. Naturally, I want them to wait for a good pitch. But a lot of guys have been a little bit too selective some of the time this year.''

DETROIT: After his second successful rehab start with Class-A West Michigan, Kenny Rogers (left shoulder) is expected to join the team in Washington and could start next Friday. Rogers won 17 games last year and finished with a 3.84 ERA, but hasn't pitched this season. ... SS Carlos Guillen remains in the starting lineup, despite being bothered by hamstring spasms. ``He's not great, but he knows how to play with it, so he's fine,'' manager Jim Leyland said. ... C Ivan Rodriguez will have Sunday off. Mike Rabelo will catch in his place. ... Justin Verlander (7-2) makes his first start Sunday since pitching a no-hitter.

PHILADELPHIA: Babe Ruth's 91-year-old daughter, Julie Ruth Stevens, presented Ryan Howard with the award in her father's name for hitting 58 home runs last season. ... Manager Charlie Manuel officially named Kyle Kendrick the starter for Tuesday night at Cleveland. Kendrick pitched well in his debut against the White Sox, but there had been a chance he could be skipped in the rotation. ... Shane Victorino's first-inning homer gave him a career-best seven.

CHICAGO: The White Sox made official Saturday a move the announced Friday night - RHP Dewon Day was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained back muscle and RHP David Aardsma was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. Aardsma joined the White Sox on Saturday but was not able to pitch. That's because he threw three innings Friday night for Charlotte. Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said Aardsma likely would not be available to pitch until the team returns home. Aardsma has only once pitched as many as three innings in the major leagues. ... Heading into Saturday's game, Chicago had gone 42 games without a triple and had recorded a major league-low two the entire season.

PITTSBURGH: 2B Freddy Sanchez was not in the lineup for the second consecutive game Saturday due to flulike symptoms. INF Jose Castillo, who was hit by a pitch in his left elbow Friday night, started at second base for the second game in a row. Bench coach Jim Lett, running the team with manager Jim Tracy at his son's college graduation, said Sanchez could play in an emergency but that possibility would likely be avoided. Sanchez was to see how he felt Sunday morning before a decision was to be made about his status for the game that afternoon. ... OF Chris Duffy did not start Saturday due to a right hamstring sprain he sustained during the game Friday. He left that game early, but Lett said Duffy would be available to pinch hit if necessary Saturday. ... The plights of Sanchez and Duffy - plus the fact the Pirates have been carrying 13 pitchers this week as they await word on the four-game suspension appeal of RHP Matt Capps - meant that Pittsburgh had only two healthy players on its bench Saturday, including C Ronny Paulino.

ARIZONA: The Diamondbacks recalled RHP Enrique Gonzalez from Triple-A Tucson to take the roster spot of RHP Randy Johnson, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with muscle tightness. Manager Bob Melvin expects Johnson to play catch soon after the team returns home on Monday and is optimistic Johnson will return in the minimum amount of time. ... Gonzalez was 3-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 18 starts last season, his first in the majors. He will pitch out of the bullpen. ... RF Carlos Quentin did not start Saturday but will Sunday, Melvin said. ... A three-error game against the New York Yankees on Thursday prompted Melvin to put the team through a round of infield practice Friday for the first time since spring training. They will take infield again Sunday, Melvin said.

BALTIMORE: The Orioles shook up their bullpen Saturday, placing RHP Danys Baez on the 15-day disabled list, releasing Todd Williams and bringing up rookies Cory Doyne and Jim Hoey from Triple-A Norfolk. Baez has tendinitis in his right forearm, and Williams was cut loose after going 0-2 with a 7.53 ERA in 14 games. ... LHP Adam Loewen showed up in the clubhouse Saturday, wearing a sling on his left arm after undergoing season-ending surgery Thursday to repair a fracture in his elbow. He said the operation was a success, and he expects to be 100 percent well before spring training.

TEXAS: RHP Wes Littleton was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma to open a roster spot for Jamey Wright. Littleton was 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in nine appearances. ... The Rangers also recalled RHP Josh Rupe from Oklahoma and put him on the 60-day DL. Rupe hasn't pitched since May 17 because of a sore elbow. ... Wright hadn't pitched since his first start of the season, when he lasted only 2 2-3 innings on April 10. He's been sidelined by a sore shoulder. ... RHP Kevin Millwood will try to emerge from his slump Sunday. Millwood is 0-5 in his last seven starts, failing to win a game since April 13.

CINCINNATI: Ken Griffey Jr. homered in each of his first two at_bats, leaving him with 581 career - eighth on the list, two behind Mark McGwire. It was his 54th multihomer game. He has 46 homers in interleague play, second to Jim Thome at 52. ... Griffey and Adam Dunn homered in the same game for the 33rd time. ... LHP Bill Bray plans to throw in the bullpen on Sunday to see if the soreness in his shoulder is gone. If he's fine, he'll pitch for Single-A Dayton next week. The reliever broke the index finger on his left hand during spring training, then developed a sore shoulder during a rehab stint in the minors.

FLORIDA: LHP Dontrelle Willis' hand is just fine and he will make his regularly scheduled start Tuesday at the Chicago White Sox. There was concern Willis had injured the hand while covering first base on Thursday. Manager Fredi Gonzalez also said Sergio Mitre would probably be OK for his start at Chicago on Wednesday. ... The good news for Kansas City was that Gonzalez said there was a ``99.9 percent'' chance Miguel Olivo would not catch on Sunday against KC. Gonzalez said he probably would give him the day off and catch Matt Treanor. Going 3-for-4 Friday night raised Olivo's career average against the Royals to .381 with 21 RBIs in 26 games.

KANSAS CITY: Esteban German, the appointed fill-in while 2B Mark Grudzielanek recovers from knee surgery, was not in the lineup Saturday. ``We're giving Esty a rest because he had a little bit off a back problem and hip problem,'' said manager Buddy Bell. ``He'll be back in there tomorrow.'' ... RHP Gil Meche's performance Friday night lowered his ERA to 3.00, making him eighth in the AL between Andy Pettitte's 2.93 and Fausto Carmona's 3.17. Meche was sympathetic with his mound opponent, Sergio Mitre, after the Marlins' strategy of walking Mark Teahen to pitch to Mike Sweeney backfired. Sweeney responded with a three-run double. ``The same thing has happened to me many times,'' Meche said. ``You always get mad at your manager. You think, `I could have got the guy out.'''

MILWAUKEE: Reliever Elmer Dessens (strain in right shoulder) took the mound Saturday afternoon for a simulated game that included 2B Rickie Weeks (tendinitis in right wrist, out since May 31). Weeks felt fine, had a couple of hits and moved closer to being activated from the disabled list - perhaps on Monday. Dessens, however, had to shut down early because of discomfort. Manager Ned Yost said Dessens had been nearing a return until Saturday's setback. ... The Brewers would prefer to start top prospect Yovani Gallardo on Monday, provided that he's not needed in relief this weekend. The other option is Carlos Villanueva, who has been valuable out of the bullpen. ``We know that Villanueva can start, but he's getting adjusted well to this role,'' Yost said. ... 3B Corey Koskie, who has been fighting post-concussion syndrome for nearly a year, still lives in the Twin Cities area from his days with Minnesota and has been at the ballpark this weekend. He's slowly progressing, but nowhere near returning to the field.

MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire got bad news on LF Rondell White's rehabilitation. White, out since April 10 because of a strained right calf, played in a simulated game at the team's minor league complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on Friday, but he showed up ``very sore'' on Saturday and has been set back from his recovery. ``Back off and go back to work,'' Gardenhire said. ... RHP Scott Baker will make his next start Wednesday in New York against the Mets, Gardenhire said, unless general manager Terry Ryan otherwise makes a roster move. Baker has struggled in almost every start since an impressive debut on May 19 against Milwaukee. ... The Twins are past the concern of keeping C Joe Mauer's legs loose when he's the DH. Mauer missed a month because of a strained left quadriceps, but he was the DH on Friday and reported no problems. He was behind the plate Saturday and expected to DH again on Sunday.

TAMPA BAY: Manager Joe Maddon said the biggest improvement to Coors Field wasn't the humidor, but the infield. ``They put in a Velcro-like surface that sucks up ground balls,'' Maddon said. ... OF Elijah Dukes was not in the starting lineup again Saturday night. He hasn't started the last four games. ``I thought Jonny Gomes is swinging the bat well and he's been hustling in the field,'' Maddon said. ... Maddon and Dukes had a brief closed door meeting. ``I ain't talking about nothing,'' Dukes said afterward. ... OF Rocco Baldelli (strained left hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at Triple-A Durham. He will alternate between designated hitter and playing in the field over the next four games.

COLORADO: OF Cory Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs late Friday night. Sullivan was the Rockies' starting center fielder most of last season. ``We believe he can add value to what we're doing,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ``He's going to have to embrace this opportunity.'' ... Hurdle said the reason for the Rockies' recent turnaround has to do with the team's forward-thinking attitude. ``They're not holding on to anything negative,'' said Hurdle, whose team has worked its way back into the NL West picture. ``I'm very encouraged. These guys truly found ways to complement one another.'' ... The Rockies pitching staff has allowed two runs or less in six straight games.

SAN DIEGO: Starter Chris Young got ejected for fighting in the fourth inning, but the Padres' bullpen was superb Saturday, allowing just two hits as San Diego pitched its major league-best 11th shutout. They've shut the Cubs out three times this season. ... Trevor Hoffman got his 19th save and is now one save shy of his 500th career save as a Padre. ... Justin Hampson hasn't allowed a run in his last nine appearances after working 3 1-3 scoreless innings Saturday. ... Marcus Giles played peacemaker in the fourth inning, trying to keep Young away from the scrum after he and Derrek Lee went at each other after Lee had been hit with a pitch. Lee walked to first unescorted as umpire Mike Everitt talked to Padres catcher Rob Bowen at the plate over whether Lee had actually been hit by the pitch. There was no one between Lee and Young when they threw punches at each other and the brawl erupted. ``Usually the umpire does step in the middle of that, but at that point the last thing you're thinking about is the umpires,'' Giles said. ``You're just thinking about your teammate who is getting ready to get in a fight.''

CHICAGO: Asked if he'd ever been at a game where both starting pitchers had not given up a hit and there was also a brawl, manager Lou Piniella didn't seem to think it was a big deal. ``Things happen on the baseball field. These guys are competitive,'' said the 63-year-old Piniella who was in the middle of the skirmish trying to break it up after Derrek Lee and Chris Young had thrown punches. ``It seemed like the umpires should have been on the field anticipating something. There was plenty of time in between. Then again I'm not an umpire,'' Piniella said ... Carlos Zambrano finished with his first complete game since Sept. 18, 2005, despite the loss. Zambrano had a no-hitter for 7 1-3 innings before Marcus Giles reached on an infield single off the pitcher's glove. Zambrano also had a no-hitter into the eighth last season when Houston's Preston Wilson broke it up with a one-out single. Zambrano's longest stretch with a no-hitter was 7 2-3 innings against Arizona in 2003 when he also gave up an infield single. ... Backup catcher Henry Blanco, who's on the DL, had a cortisone injection for herniated discs in his neck. ``Not good. He's got some pain,'' Piniella said. ``It hasn't responded. ... I don't think there is any target for him to come back.''

Orioles send Baez to DL
June 16th, 2007

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles put reliever Danys Baez on the 15-day disabled list Saturday due to a strained right forearm.

Baez has given up runs in eight of his last 13 outings, starting May 13, after allowing runs in only three of his first 18 appearances of the year. The veteran right-hander has struggled to an 0-4 mark and 6.52 ERA in 31 games this year.

The Orioles also released pitcher Todd Williams and also promoted pitchers Cory Doyne and Jim Hoey from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Baseball Today - June 17

Sun, Jun 17, 2007
By Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Monday, June 18

Houston at L.A. Angels (10:05 p.m. EDT).

John Lackey goes for his major league-leading 11th win of the season for the Angels.

STARS

Saturday

-Edgar Renteria, Braves, went 5-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs in Atlanta's 6-2 win over Cleveland.

-Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox, struck out eight in seven scoreless innings to help Boston edge San Francisco 1-0.

-Derek Jeter, Yankees, had four hits, including a go-ahead homer, to help the Yankees defeat the Mets 11-8.

-Shaun Marcum, Blue Jays, gave up two runs and struck out a career-high 11 in seven innings to lead Toronto past Washington 7-3.

-So Taguchi, Cardinals, went 4-for-6 and knocked in three runs in St. Louis' 15-6 rout of Oakland.

RUMBLE AT WRIGLEY

San Diego's 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday wasn't the average pitcher's duel. A bench-clearing skirmish and four ejections were the result of Padres starter Chris Young hitting the Cubs' Derrek Lee with a pitch, knocking him to the ground. Lee got up and threw a punch that didn't land. Young responded with another missed blow. Lee and Young were ejected, as were Padres pitcher Jake Peavy and Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Carlos Zambrano pitched a complete game Saturday, giving up one run on two hits and walking five. He held San Diego hitless for 7 1-3 innings and surrendered a solo homer to Russell Branyan with one out in the ninth. The Padres edged the Cubs 1-0. ... Matt Cain gave up a run and three hits but took the loss in San Francisco's 1-0 loss to Boston.

BATTLE FOR THE BASEMENT

Cincinnati topped Texas 8-4 on Saturday in a matchup of the worst teams in the AL and the NL. Ken Griffey Jr. made sure it wouldn't be the Reds ending the day with the worst record in baseball, hitting his 580th and 581st career homers home runs to pull within two of tying Mark McGwire for seventh on the all-time homer list. Sammy Sosa went 0-for-5 on the day to remain at 599 career homers.

GRIEF FOR GLAVINE

Making his fifth attempt at win No. 296, Tom Glavine failed to hold three early leads in the Mets' 11-8 loss to the crosstown-rival Yankees on Saturday. Glavine was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in four-plus innings. The 41-year-old left-hander has allowed 16 runs and 19 hits over 8 1-3 innings in his past two starts. He is 0-4 in five starts since he beat the Yankees on May 19.

STREAKS

Casey Blake extended his hitting streak to 25 games in Cleveland's 6-2 loss to Atlanta on Saturday. ... David Wright extended his hitting streak to 17 games in the Mets' 11-8 loss to the Yankees. ... Juan Encarnacion stretched his hitting streak to 16 games in St. Louis' 15-6 pounding of Oakland. ... Arizona defeated Baltimore 8-4 to hand the Orioles their seventh straight loss. ... Houston topped Seattle 9-4 to deal the Mariners their fourth straight loss following a season-high five-game winning streak.

SPEAKING

''I felt lost on the field today. I felt lost afterwards.'' - Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, on the celebratory handshakes following his team's 6-1 win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The White Sox had lost four straight and nine of 10 entering the game.

Reds place Stanton on disabled list
June 17th, 2007

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Reds placed veteran relief pitcher Mike Stanton on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left hamstring.

In 35 games this season, the 39-year-old lefty is 1-2 with a 4.44 earned run average in his first year with the Reds.

In a corresponding roster move, Cincinnati purchased the contract of pitcher Michael Gosling from Triple-A Louisville.

Reliever Donnelly goes on 15-day DL
June 17, 2007

BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander Brendan Donnelly on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm on Sunday and recalled right-hander Manny Delcarmen from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Donnelly was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 20 2-3 innings over 27 starts. He last pitched on June 11 and will be eligible to be activated on June 26.

Delcarmen pitched one scoreless inning against the New York Yankees on May 21, his only appearance for Boston.