MLB News and Notes June - 18

Notes from Sunday's games
June 17, 2007

ATLANTA: The Braves' stretch of facing tough starting pitchers will continue against Boston when they oppose RHPs Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett on Monday and Tuesday. The Braves have faced LHPs Johan Santana and C.C. Sabathia and RHP Fausto Carmona in the last week. Those five are a combined 38-14. ... OF Andruw Jones has two hits in his last 20 at_bats. ... RHP John Smoltz's next start will come Saturday against Detroit, the team he grew up rooting for and was drafted by in 1985. The Tigers traded him to the Braves for RHP Doyle Alexander on Aug. 12, 1987. ... 1B Scott Thorman got his third three-hit game of the season Sunday, going 3-for-4. ... RHP Kyle Davies is 0-3 with an 8.36 ERA in his last three starts. ... OF Willie Harris is hitting .382 (42-for-110) since April 30.

CLEVELAND: 3B Casey Blake has hit safely in 36 of his last 38 games, going 49-for-148 (.331) with seven homers and 24 RBIs. His 26-game hitting streak is five shy of the club record set by Hall of Famer Napoleon Lajoie in 1902. ``I had a 31-game streak in the minors back in 1998 when I could hit a little,'' Blake joked. ... RHP Joe Borowski has one-fifth of his 100 career saves in just 2 1/2 months with Cleveland. ``It's a satisfying number,'' he said. ``When I started my career, I never thought I'd have one.'' ... RHP Fausto Carmona has a 2.28 ERA and allowed three or fewer runs in 11 of 13 starts. His ERA is 3.12 overall. ... The Indians are 33-7 when scoring five or more runs and their 22-10 record at home is second-best to the Los Angeles Angels (24-9).

WASHINGTON: OF Ryan Church (sore quad) got the day off Sunday. ``He's a little banged up,'' manager Manny Acta said. ... The Nationals have an off-day Thursday and will skip RHP Levale Speigner (2-3, 8.76). Acta said Speigner, who started Saturday against Toronto, will be available to pitch in relief starting Tuesday. ... RHP Luis Ayala, who is rehabbing from elbow surgery, will pitch for Triple-A Columbus on Monday and then work in back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday. Ayala pitched in back-to-back games for the first time last Thursday and Friday and reported no pain.

TORONTO: RHP A.J. Burnett felt pain during a throwing session Sunday and will skip his next scheduled start, June 23 against Colorado. Burnett (5-6, 4.00) left his start at San Francisco last Tuesday after 4 2-3 innings with a sore shoulder. He had been the only Toronto starter not to miss a turn so far this season, making 14 starts. RHP Josh Towers started in his place Sunday against Washington. ... DH Frank Thomas hit his 496th career home run Sunday, his ninth of the season and first since May 31 against the Chicago White Sox. It was Thomas' 244th home run as a DH, breaking the record set by Edgar Martinez. ... Thomas verbally challenged Towers in the clubhouse during the game after Towers allowed two runs on a pair of doubles and a two-out single in the second inning. ``It was about getting pissed off and not accepting what was happening,'' Towers said. ``It needs to be done sometimes. He's the guy that's not afraid to step up and let you know. It's a good thing.''

TEXAS: The Rangers are 7-5 in interleague play. ... RH Kevin Millwood struck out a season-high 10 to get his first victory since April 13. It was the 12th double-digit strikeout performance by Millwood, his first since Sept. 3 last season against Cleveland. ... SS Michael Young had a pair of run-scoring singles, extending his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games. The shortstop has a .348 career average in interleague play, the highest of any player with 300 plate appearances. ... RF Marlon Byrd hit his first homer since July 4 of last season with Washington. The Nationals sent him to the minors on July 15, and he never returned. ... Sammy Sosa gets his next swing at homer No. 600 on Tuesday in Chicago against his former teammates. Sosa last played for the Cubs in 2004.

CINCINNATI: The Reds are 5-7 in interleague play. ... Adam Dunn's two homers off Millwood left him 8-for-17 career against the right-hander with six homers and five strikeouts. It was the 19th multihomer game of Dunn's career, his third this season. ... Dunn has three homers in his last two games and has hit safely in his last seven (13-for-29 with four homers). ... 2B Brandon Phillips was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Millwood in the first inning, and left the game three innings later. X-rays were negative. ... The Reds are headed for their first series in Oakland since June 2004. During that series, the Reds gave up 40 runs and 51 hits while getting swept - the most runs the A's have scored in a three-game series and the most the Reds had allowed in a series since 1950 against the Boston Braves.

DETROIT: Tigers manager Jim Leyland originally wanted to give C Ivan Rodriguez the day off. But Leyland said Rodriguez insisted that he play on Father's Day and instead will take a day off on Tuesday. ... SS Carlos Guillen was not in the starting lineup. He's been bothered by hamstring spasms. ... No no-no for Justin Verlander with Adam Eaton in the lineup. Eaton, a career .185 hitter with only four hits this season, had two hits and an RBI off Verlander. ``I'd say I'd like to face the pitcher, but he got two hits off me,'' Verlander said. ``He was my nemesis.''

PHILADELPHIA: RHP Adam Eaton had two hits for his eighth career multi-hit game and first since June 3, 2005 against the Cubs. The Phillies pitching staff has an NL-high 25 hits. ... CF Aaron Rowand's assist in the first inning was his seventh of the season. Phillies outfielders have a major-league high 25 assists this season. ... Rowand left the game after the seventh inning with left leg cramps. Rowand said he felt his leg ``lock up'' while he jogged off the field after the top half of the inning. He tried to hit and felt the same thing, so he took himself out of the game. ... RHP Antonio Alfonseca has a sore left ankle. He walked around the clubhouse after the game with a huge ice wrap on the ankle. ... Phillies manager Charlie Manuel returns to Cleveland on Monday for the start of a three-game series. Manuel managed the Indians from 2000-02. ``It'll be special if we beat them,'' he said.

CHICAGO: Manager Ozzie Guillen took winning his 300th game in stride. Speaking the morning after win No. 300 against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday night, Guillen said, ``You win because the players make you win. But it's a nice step in my career.'' ... Guillen said that while no major roster shake up was imminent, he and general manager Ken Williams are in constant communication searching for ways to help end the team's 4-17 slide and into fourth place in the AL Central. ``We'd like to see the guys that are here play better,'' Guillen said. ``When the general manager put this team together, the expectations were high, and because we have not gotten very good production on the field, obviously it's not working out the way we wanted to.''

PITTSBURGH: RHP Ian Snell will have his next start pushed back from Tuesday in Seattle until Saturday in Anaheim. Snell, who pitched a complete game in his previous outing Wednesday, burned his right index finger while cooking. The remainder of the rotation moves up a day, and with the team idle, no starter will miss his regular rest. Snell's 2.63 ERA ranks fifth in the NL. ... It is the Pirates' hope that 2B Freddy Sanchez and OF Chris Duffy will be able to return to the lineup Tuesday in Seattle. Sanchez has missed the past three starts with flu-like symptoms and Duffy has missed the past two after leaving Friday night's game with a right hamstring injury. Duffy pinch hit Sunday afternoon and Sanchez was available in an emergency.

ARIZONA: The Diamondbacks' 6-4 victory over Baltimore on Sunday gave them their fifth series sweep of the season, the first against an AL club. ... RHP Jose Valverde earned his 73rd career save and is one behind Matt Mantei (74) for the franchise record. ... Five of the six homers C Chris Snyder has this year have been his only hit of the game. Snyder's sacrifice fly in the eighth was his first of the year. ... RHP Brandon Webb has gone a minimum of seven innings in his last six starts and is 4-1 over that period.

BALTIMORE: OF Jay Gibbons got two hits in Sunday's loss to Arizona and finished with three hits in 17 at_bats over the nine-game homestand. ... Orioles relievers were 0-5 with one save and a 6.00 ERA (24 IP, 16 ER) during the 1-8 homestand. ... Jay Payton's pinch-hit double in the ninth inning Sunday was Baltimore's fifth pinch hit of the season in 22 at_bats. ... RHP Chad Bradford has allowed runs in his last three appearances and has taken two losses in those three games. In the weekend series, Bradford got only one out and allowed two hits and two earned runs.

SEATTLE: Mariners manager Mike Hargrove is disappointed in the recent struggles of his starting pitchers, but is convinced they'll turn it around. ``I don't want to sit here and say that (the starters) are struggling and didn't give us a chance,'' he said. ``It's tough when you're down four or five nothing, it's tough to get anything going and sustain anything. They'll get back on track and pitch well.'' ... Seattle fell to 2-4 all-time at Minute Maid Park after the three-game weekend sweep by Houston. ... Ichiro Suzuki had four hits on Sunday for his fourth game this season with at least four hits. ... Sunday's game in Houston marked the end of a 10-day, 4-city road trip for Seattle. ``It will be nice to get back to our park and be home for a while,'' Hargrove said.

HOUSTON: Reliever Rick White, who missed 15 games with a pinched nerve in his neck, made his return on Sunday. He allowed one hit and no runs in the ninth inning. ``Physically I feel great,'' he said. ``It's good to get out there with a big lead like that so I can just get the ball over the plate and try to get three quick outs. It wasn't quick, but I got three.'' ... SS Eric Bruntlett made his first start of the season on Sunday. He got his first hit on a single to center field in the eighth inning. He was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday after Adam Everett was placed on the disabled list with a broken leg. ... C Brad Ausmus had a double in the eighth inning on Sunday to extend his hitting streak to six games. He is hitting .545 during the streak and has a .480 average in Interleague games this season.

SAN FRANCISCO: Manager Bruce Bochy said Barry Bonds will probably rest on Wednesday in Milwaukee. ... Matt Morris, who threw complete games in his previous two starts, lasted just four innings for his shortest start since last July 25. His eight earned runs on Sunday were one more than his total from his previous five starts. ... Omar Vizquel had two hits, including an RBI double in the third that snapped an 0-for-20 slump.

BOSTON: Manny Ramirez is tied with Jim Thome for 25th on the all-time list with 480 homers. He is tied with Willie McCovey for 36th on the career RBI list with 1,555. ... The Red Sox played ``Take Me Out to the Ballgame'' in the middle of the sixth inning so they could play ``God Bless America'' in the seventh. ... Boston placed RHP Brendan Donnelly on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm on Sunday and recalled RHP Manny Delcarmen from Triple-A Pawtucket.

FLORIDA: The Marlins optioned outfielder Reggie Abercrombie to Triple-A Albuquerque following the game. They're expected to bring right-hander Josh Johnson off the DL on Monday and start him against the Chicago White Sox. ... It was a rough major league debut for center fielder Brett Carroll, who made two errors on one play and struck out to end the game with the potential tying run on first. He was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt. ``It didn't go the way you want it to go on your first day, but you learn from it,'' he said. ... After going 8-for-9 the first two games of the series, Miguel Olivo went hitless for just the fourth time in 25 career starts against KC.

KANSAS CITY: The Royals had two wins and one loss against Florida, St. Louis and Philadelphia while going 6-3 in this nine-game interleague series. ... Rookie 3B Alex Gordon shows signing of awakening from a two-month slump which has marred the beginning of his major league career. He went 2-for-4 Sunday with an RBI and a run scored and stretched his hitting streak to seven games. His average is now higher than it's been, .215. He said he's not going to look at his average when it appears on the scoreboard during his at_bats the rest of the year. ``Why worry about the past?'' he said. ``I'm just looking to the future.''

MILWAUKEE: Just as he had planned, manager Ned Yost did not use rookie pitcher Yovani Gallardo out of the bullpen on Sunday, instead saving him to start Monday's game against San Francisco. He was asked if he thought about changing that plan when Jeff Suppan was roughed up in the 10-9 loss. ``We didn't want to use him today when it was 5-0,'' Yost said. ``He has only been here three days, but I think he'll be fine.'' ... Prince Fielder may weigh 262 pounds, but Geoff Jenkins wasn't surprised when he rumbled around the bases for an inside-the-park home run in the ninth inning. ``He runs better than you think,'' Jenkins said. ``I wouldn't call him fast, but he's quicker than you think.''

MINNESOTA: Despite giving up two runs on four hits in the ninth, closer Joe Nathan said he thought he had great stuff. He was visibly disappointed that Lew Ford lost Fielder's popup in the roof for the home run, but said he didn't blame Ford. ``He lost the ball in the roof at a football stadium,'' Nathan said. ``That's why a lot of us will be happy to get out of here.'' The Twins are scheduled to move into a new outdoor ballpark in 2010. ... Rookie Kevin Slowey used his typical dry sense of humor to describe his start, in which he allowed four runs on eight hits with three home runs and threw 97 pitches in 5 1-3 innings. ``I don't think throwing all those pitches really hurt me,'' Slowey said. ``The home runs hurt me.''

TAMPA BAY: OF Elijah Dukes was out of the starting lineup for a fifth straight day. ``I want to see more of Jonny Gomes,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ``Jonny is seeing the fastball better.'' Gomes rewarded Maddon with the fourth multihomer game of his career. ... Gomes never saw Brad Hawpe's grand slam or a fly ball hit by Garrett Atkins on Saturday. ``The gray sky was the problem,'' Maddon said. ... Maddon played for a summer league team in nearby Boulder in 1975. ``I was one of six catchers,'' he said.

COLORADO: 3B Garrett Atkins has reached base on either a walk or hit in 18 straight games. ``The kid can hit,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ``He's turned the corner.'' ... RHP Aaron Cook has lost his last three decisions. ... OF Brad Hawpe has homered in three consecutive games.

ST. LOUIS: Juan Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 17 games - a Cardinals' season high - with a single in the seventh. ... So Taguchi hit an RBI single in the fourth to give him a 10-game hitting streak and stole his fourth base. ... RHP Anthony Reyes avoided becoming the first St. Louis pitcher to lose nine straight decisions to start a season since Danny Jackson did it from April 27 to July 2, 1995. Reyes, the winner in Game 1 of the World Series against Detroit last fall who is 0-8 this year, was called up Saturday from Triple-A Memphis to make his 10th start of 2007. He gave up five runs in the first inning, when he also plunked two batters. ``I wasn't nervous, just a different setting, different from pitching up here than down there,'' Reyes said. ``It'll take a little time to get comfortable again and I'll try my best to grind it out.''

OAKLAND: Jack Cust hit a three-run homer and also doubled in the fourth and singled leading off the seventh for his third straight three-hit game. He's the 11th player in Oakland history to do it and the first since Scott Hatteberg - coming to town with the Cincinnati Reds on Monday - from April 8-10, 2003, at Texas. ... 3B Eric Chavez missed his second straight game with soreness on the left side of his rib cage area. Manager Bob Geren was hopeful the six-time Gold Glover would play in Monday night's series opener with Cincinnati. ... Mike Piazza might be catching for the A's after all. The A's have decided to bring Piazza back from his stint on the disabled list as a catcher and a DH, postponing the scheduled start of his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Sacramento to give him more time to get his arm in shape. The 38-year-old Piazza has been sidelined since May 3 with a sprained right shoulder, missing his 41st game Sunday. Piazza, playing in the American League and as a DH for the first time after 15 seasons as a catcher, is batting .280 with one home run and four RBIs in just 25 games so far in 2007. ... Injured RHP Rich Harden, sidelined since April 16 with a strained throwing shoulder, is slated to throw Monday against live hitters and perhaps pitch an inning Wednesday for Triple-A Sacramento.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS: INF Casey Kotchman sat out Sunday with a mild concussion after being hit on the helmet by a pickoff throw at second base by Dodgers catcher Russell Martin on Saturday. Kotchman's CT scan was normal and he received three stitches behind his right ear. ... OF Garret Anderson went on the 15-day DL because of an aggravated right hip. To replace him on the 25-man roster, OF Terry Evans was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS: Manager Grady Little said RHP Jason Schmidt (1-4) may not make his next scheduled start Thursday at Toronto, adding the team will evaluate him. Schmidt failed to reach the fifth inning of a 3-0 loss Saturday. He came off the DL on June 5 after missing 45 games with bursitis in his right shoulder. Schmidt said he's not in pain, but he doesn't feel like himself. Little hinted that Schmidt may not travel with the Dodgers on their upcoming 10-game road trip starting Tuesday. ... 3B Wilson Betemit went 0-for-3, striking out each time. ... C Russell Martin, a Montreal native, returns to Canada for the first time as a major leaguer when the Dodgers open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday. It's the team's first trip north of the border since Aug. 26, 2004.

NEW YORK METS: Slumping CF Carlos Beltran said his sore left quadriceps is about 75 percent. He said if LF Moises Alou and backup OF Endy Chavez weren't out with injuries, he would have considered resting for a week to see if that helped his leg feel better. ``I can run. I'm not saying that I'm not able to run. I just get tight,'' Beltran said. ``I want to play through it.'' Beltran said his ailing leg is affecting him at the plate, especially from the left side, but that's not an excuse for why he's been struggling. ``He hasn't said anything to me about it,'' manager Willie Randolph said, adding that he thought Beltran was moving around well in center field. Beltran went 0-for-6 on Saturday and entered 6-for-35 (.171) on the team's nine-game road trip, which ended Sunday. ... C Paul Lo Duca batted second for the first time since April 30. Lo Duca, who had three hits Saturday, was in the No. 2 spot most of last year and early this season.

NEW YORK YANKEES: Manager Joe Torre said it would be C Jorge Posada's choice whether he plays 1B in Colorado on Tuesday night, when backup Wil Nieves catches RHP Mike Mussina, which has become routine. But Posada sounded as though he was looking forward to the challenge. ``Right now it's a go. I don't see why not,'' Posada said. ``I'm thinking of it almost like a day off. It's not fun, but we'll try and make it fun. I don't want to hurt the team. I've taken grounders there. Knock it down and cover first base. That's pretty much it. A one-day tryout.'' ... Torre said he was unsure whether DH Johnny Damon would play the outfield in Colorado this week, and the decision will be based on how Damon feels physically. ... OF Kevin Thompson joined the team after he was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. ``I don't anticipate him getting a start unless there's an injury,'' Torre said. ... LHP Kei Igawa is likely to come up from the minors to start Friday night in San Francisco.

SAN DIEGO: RHP Jake Peavy was still trying to figure out Sunday why he was ejected during a fight that broke out in the fourth inning of the Padres' 1-0 win over the Cubs on Saturday. ``I was (surprised to get ejected),'' Peavy said. ``I was just trying to get out there and grab people and stop the fight. ... I certainly wasn't trying to cause any trouble.'' The Padres' Chris Young hit Derrek Lee on the hand with a pitch, and Lee threw a punch at Young, igniting a bench-clearing altercation. Lee, Young, Cubs hitting coach Gerald Perry and Peavy were ejected. ... 3B Chase Headley got his first big league hit when he singled up the middle in the second inning. He was relieved after going a combined 0-for-5 in his first two games since being called up from Double-A San Antonio on Friday. ``It was awesome,'' he said. ``I was waiting a few days to get it and I finally got one.'' ... 1B Adrian Gonzalez was 4-for-5 with a homer and a career-high three doubles. Gonzalez set career highs with four runs scored and 10 total bases - the most this season by a Padre.

CHICAGO: 1B Derrek Lee was awaiting word on any disciplinary action from the league resulting from Saturday's bench-clearing altercation with the Padres. ``I'm anxious to find out, see where it comes in at,'' he said. ... 3B Mark DeRosa was shocked to see Lee and Young go at it. ``I played with Chris Young, I know what his makeup is,'' said DeRosa, Young's teammate with the Texas Rangers. ``He's a Princeton grad. He's one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and I could say the same for Derrek Lee.'' ... OF Cliff Floyd had some good news to share on Father's Day; his dad Cliff Sr. is ``getting a ton better.'' Although the elder Floyd remains in intensive care in a Chicago hospital because of fluid around his heart and lungs, he was taken off a breathing tube on Saturday. And Floyd Jr. hoped his dad would start talking on Sunday. ``I can't ask for a better Father's Day,'' the younger Floyd said. ... LHP Rich Hill lasted just three innings on Sunday - his shortest start since a three-inning outing against Cincinnati on Aug. 10, 2005.

Blue Jays' Burnett likely headed to disabled list
June 17, 2007

TORONTO (AP) -Toronto Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett felt pain in his right shoulder during a throwing session Sunday and was scratched from his next scheduled start, June 23 against Colorado.

``He was a little tender so he won't make that one,'' Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ``We'll probably throw him on the DL. We'll know something Tuesday.''

``We're not going to throw him out there if he's still feeling it,'' Gibbons said.

Burnett, who did not speak to reporters, is 5-6 with a 4.00 ERA in 14 starts this season. He left a start in San Francisco last Tuesday after 4 2-3 innings because of pain in his shoulder.

Burnett, who had two stints on the disabled list last season, had been the only Toronto starter to make all of his starts this season. Josh Towers pitched in Burnett's place against Washington Sunday.

Twelve Toronto players have spent time on the disabled list this season, including ace Roy Halladay, who missed 18 games following an appendectomy.

Left-hander Gustavo Chacin (sore shoulder) and right-handers John Thomson (sore shoulder) and Victor Zambrano (forearm strain) have also missed significant time.

In addition, closer B.J. Ryan is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to replace a ligament in his left shoulder in April.

``You get used to it,'' Gibbons said of the rash in injuries. ``It doesn't phase you anymore.''

Burnett signed a five-year, $55-million dollar contract with Toronto before the 2006 season, then went 10-8 with a 3.98 ERA in 21 starts. He started the 2006 season on the DL because of scar tissue in his right elbow from a previous operation and made just two starts before going back on the DL for two months, returning June 22.

Perlozzo on his way out of Baltimore
June 18th, 2007

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles have scheduled a press conference for 1:00 p.m. (et) Monday when it is expected that manager Sam Perlozzo will be fired.

The Baltimore Sun reported on its web site that the Orioles' front office met with Perlozzo Monday morning and a club source confirmed the firing.

According to the newspaper, bullpen coach Dave Trembley will take the reins on an interim basis.

Perlozzo took over as the team's interim manager in August of 2005 after Lee Mazzilli was fired, and was given the job on a full-time basis two months later.

During his tenure in Baltimore, the 56-year-old Perlozzo struggled to find success, compiling a record of 122-164. This year, the Orioles are in the AL East cellar with a 29-40 mark, 15 1/2 games behind first-place Boston entering play Monday. Baltimore is also in the midst of a season-high eight-game losing streak.

Last year, the O's finished the season in fourth place in the AL East with a 70-92 record.

Prior to managing the Orioles, Perlozzo was with the organization for 10 seasons. He spent his first five years with the club as third base coach before assuming the role of bench coach in 2001.

Trembley, who is in his first season as bullpen coach, spent four seasons as a manager in Baltimore's minor league system.

Pirates RHP Snell to miss next start
June 17, 2007

PITTSBURGH (TICKER) -- Pittsburgh Pirates righthander Ian Snell will miss Tuesday's start at the Seattle Mariners because of a burn blister on his pitching hand.

Snell, who pitched his first career complete game in an 8-1 triumph over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, will start Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Snell is 6-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 14 starts.

Yankees: Igawa to be recalled Tuesday

Kei Igawa is about to rejoin the Yankees rotation as their fifth starter. The club plans to recall him in time to start Tuesday's game, according to the New York Daily News.

Giants: Aurilia likely headed to the DL

Rich Aurilia's neck injury has flared up again. While the injury should heal with rest, that rest likely will come via a trip to the disabled list, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Boston releases hurler Romero
June 18th, 2007

Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox placed left-handed pitcher J.C. Romero on unconditional release waivers on Monday, prior to beginning a three-game interleague series against the Atlanta Braves.

In 23 appearances this season with Boston, Romero had a 1-0 record with a 3.15 earned run average in 20 innings of work. The native of Puerto Rico had been designated for assignment on June 9.

Over the course of nine seasons, which included seven with Minnesota and last season with the Angels, he has a 27-22 record with a 4.54 ERA in 415 games.

Cardinals place Edmonds, Looper on DL
June 18th, 2007

St. Louis, MO (Sports Network) - The defending world champion St. Louis Cardinals placed two key players on the shelf, as outfielder Jim Edmonds and starting pitcher Braden Looper went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 16.

Edmonds is saddled with a pinched nerve in his lower back, while Looper has a strained right shoulder.

Skip Schumaker, who was tearing up Triple-A Memphis to the tune of a .314 batting average, will replace the scuffling Edmonds on the roster. Edmonds is batting just .238 with seven homers and 24 runs batted in this season.

Southpaw Troy Cate will return to the big club after a brief stint from May 27 - June 2 of this season. Cate didn't allow a run in 2 1/3 frames with the Cardinals. Looper has a 6-6 mark with a 4.66 earned run average in 14 starts.

Marlins activate Johnson
June 18th, 2007

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - The Florida Marlins activated pitcher Josh Johnson from the 15-day disabled list and the right-hander will start Monday's game against the White Sox in Chicago.

Johnson has been sidelined since last season with arm problems. This will be his first start since September 12, 2006. He missed the remainder of last season with a right forearm strain, and he then missed the first part of this year with a biceps nerve problem.

He made three rehab starts in the minors, allowing four runs -- three earned -- on 14 hits over 15 1/3 innings. He struck out 16 and walked five.

To make room for Johnson, reliever Lee Gardner was optioned to Albuquerque.

Philadelphia's Ruiz, Smith suspended
June 18th, 2007

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz and third base coach Steve Smith have been disciplined for an incident that occurred in the top of the eighth inning of the team's game against Detroit on Sunday.

Smith has been suspended three games, beginning tonight when the Phillies play at Cleveland, while Ruiz has appealed his one-game suspension for making contact with home plate umpire Bill Welke. Both have also been fined an undisclosed amount.

The incident occurred when Ruiz was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with Welke. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel came out to defend his catcher and was ejected moments later. Smith also yelled from the dugout, leading to his ejection. He then ran from the dugout toward the umps and had to be restrained by Manuel.

Despite holding an early lead, the Phillies ended up losing the game, 7-4.

Cubs' Lee, Padres' Young suspended for fight
June 18th, 2007

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee and San Diego Padres pitcher Chris Young both received five-game suspensions and undisclosed fines for their parts in last Saturday's fight at Wrigley Field.

The altercation occurred in the fourth inning when Young hit Lee with a pitch. As Lee made his way to first, the two players met in the baseline with the Cubs' first baseman throwing the first punch that triggered a bench-clearing brawl. Young also threw a punch.

Both players were ejected from the game as were San Diego pitcher Jake Peavy and Chicago hitting coach Gerald Perry for their actions.

Peavy and Padres outfielder Brian Giles received undisclosed fines, while Perry was hit with a three-game suspension and undisclosed fine for his aggressive actions.

"I will say this. I didn't throw at him and that's as far as I'll go," said Young, whose pitch was directed at Lee's head, after the game. "I didn't try to hit him and it has nothing to do with anything in the past. I just threw a pitch and it hit him."

"We had some dialogue, but it's between us," Lee said on Saturday. "I don't get upset too often, but I don't like when the ball is thrown at my head."

Lee and Young will start their suspensions on Tuesday, when the Cubs play at Texas and the Padres host Baltimore. If appealed, the suspensions will be held in abeyance until the process is complete.

San Diego won Saturday's game 1-0 on Russell Branyan's home run in the ninth inning off Carlos Zambrano, who pitched a no-hitter through 7 1/3 innings.