Garciaparra moving to third base
June 25, 2007
PHOENIX (AP) -Nomar Garciaparra is moving across the diamond.
After spending the past season and a half as the Los Angeles Dodgers' first baseman, Garciaparra will move to third base, perhaps as early as Friday.
``We're trying to get ourselves in a position where we can be the best we can be, and that option right now is there for us,'' manager Grady Little said Monday. ``Nomar's 100 percent on board. He's been over there before. It's not a strange place for him.''
It opens up a chance for streaking James Loney to play first base. Loney is hitting .429 since being recalled from the minor leagues June 10.
``This has a lot to do with the way James Loney is swinging the bat and the way he's playing, too,'' Little said. ``The primary factor is to try to help us win games. And we feel like this is a move we want to give a shot at right now.''
The Dodgers have struggled to get production from their third basemen all year. Wilson Betemit, the team's opening day third baseman, is hitting .192 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs in 61 games. The team also used rookies Adam LaRoche, who hit .211 in 38 at_bats before being sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas in early June, and Tony Abreu, who has started at third in five of the last six games. Abreu, who was at third Monday at Arizona, is hitting .269 without a home run in 93 at_bats.
Garciaparra, an 11-year veteran, has played 34 games at third - all with the Chicago Cubs in 2005. He had six errors and a .934 fielding percentage.
Garciaparra said Little approached him about the move on Sunday, and that he immediately agreed to it.
``He asked me what I thought, and I said, 'I've told you from way back when, before we even started the season, I'll play wherever you want me to play,' `` said Garciaparra, a longtime former Boston shortstop. ``My sentiment hasn't changed. Whatever he feels, I'll be there.
``I haven't played over there in a year and a half, so that's something that's going to be different,'' he said.
Garciaparra took grounders at third before the Dodgers opened a four-game series at Arizona on Monday night. Little said he's leaning toward starting Garciaparra at third base when the Dodgers open a three-game series with San Diego on Friday night in Los Angeles.
``I'm going to have to break in some gloves,'' Garciaparra said.
Little said Garciaparra would likely spend the rest of the season at third.
``I'm not going to take a player like Nomar and change him and positions like that if it's not going to be predominantly most of the time,'' Little said.
Guzman to miss rest of season following surgery
June 25, 2007
ATLANTA (AP) -Washington Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman will miss the rest of the season following surgery Monday to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb.
Guzman sprained his left thumb in the fifth inning Sunday while tagging out Cleveland's Josh Barfield at second base on a steal attempt. He did not leave the game.
``He came in and right away he showed me his thumb,'' Nationals manager Manny Acta said Monday. ``It didn't look right. I was going to take him out of the game; he refused. He said 'No! No! No! I can play. I'm fine.'''
Guzman, who hit .329 with 31 runs in 43 games, went on the disabled list Sunday and was operated on by Dr. Richard Barth at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington.
After signing a $16.8 million, four-year contract with the Nationals, Guzman batted just .219 in 2005 and frequently was booed. He missed 2006 because of a shoulder injury.
Guzman was sidelined for more than a month this season after straining his left hamstring on opening day. Acta said Guzman didn't want to give in to the latest injury.
``It's not right. His thumb can go all the way back,'' Acta said. ``It's a freaky thing. (Surgery) was the right decision. The kid was torn emotionally. He was destroyed, basically. Because he had two rough seasons over here and finally he's playing great and being a big part of this team. That was the first thing out of his mouth: 'I want to play through this.'''
Acta moved center fielder Brandon Watson into the leadoff spot for Monday night's game against the Atlanta Braves. Felipe Lopez moved from second base to shortstop and Ronnie Belliard moved into the lineup at second.
``We just didn't want to disturb too many things in the lineup,'' Acta said.
Washington purchased the contract of infielder D'Angelo Jimenez from Triple-A Columbus on Monday to fill Guzman's roster spot.
Starting pitcher Shawn Hill had a cortisone shot in his right elbow during a visit to Dr. James Andrews on Monday. Acta said no structural damage was found, and Hill is expected to be cleared to throw in about 10 days.
A's place another player on DL
June 25, 2007
CLEVELAND (AP) -Oakland right-hander Kiko Calero was placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday with an inflamed shoulder, the latest Athletics player to get hurt.
The club also optioned infielder Kevin Melillo to Triple-A Sacramento and recalled left-hander Dallas Braden and right-hander Ruddy Lugo from the Bees.
Calero still is with the A's and will be examined by team doctors when the club returns home on July 2. He joins a crowd on Oakland's disabled list as nine players are currently sidelined by injuries.
The A's have used the DL 15 times this season, equaling last year's total and the most by the team since 1997 (21 times).
Braden is back with the A's for the third time in 2007. He is 1-3 with a 6.41 ERA in four starts. Manager Bob Geren will use the 23-year-old in long relief.
Lugo was claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on June 14. In his second appearance with the A's, he gave up seven runs in two-thirds of an inning in a 15-6 loss to St. Louis.
In 11 games with the Devil Rays, he was 2-0 with a 9.28 ERA in 11 games.
Cardinals add Maroth, put another pitcher on DL
June 25, 2007
NEW YORK (AP) -The St. Louis Cardinals added lefty Mike Maroth to their roster Monday and made room by putting yet another pitcher on the 15-day disabled list, sidelining reliever Tyler Johnson.
The Cardinals got Maroth from Detroit last Friday in a trade for a player to be named. Maroth started Monday night against the Mets.
Johnson has been bothered by tendinitis in his left biceps. The move with the left-hander was made retroactive to June 19.
Johnson was 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA in 37 relief appearances. He joins pitchers Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder, Braden Looper and Josh Kinney on the Cardinals' DL.
Rangers put Padilla on DL, recall Feldman
June 25, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Texas Rangers put right-hander Vicente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list and recalled Scott Feldman from Triple-A Oklahoma on Monday.
Padilla told pitching coach Mark Connor on Sunday that he was still bothered by a right triceps problem that forced him to miss a start three weeks ago. Padilla had an MRI exam that showed inflammation but no serious problems, and the Rangers believe that is still the case.
In the first year of a $33.75 million, three-year contract, Padilla is 3-8 with a 6.69 ERA. In his last four starts, he has allowed 42 hits and 19 earned runs over 16 2-3 innings for an ERA of 10.26. The Rangers don't expect him back until after the All-Star break, which is two weeks away.
Feldman is 1-2 with a 6.66 ERA in 19 relief appearances for the Rangers. He has been demoted to Oklahoma and recalled three times since May 1.
Notes from Monday's games
June 25, 2007
TEXAS: RHP Eric Gagne was scheduled for a day off Monday after pitching in three of the previous four games. Manager Ron Washington, who said that Akinori Otsuka would close against Detroit on Monday, said it was the first time he had considered a healthy Gagne unavailable all season. ... With CF Kenny Lofton and DH Sammy Sosa, the Rangers are the first team in major league history to have a player with 600 homers and a player with 600 stolen bases. Lofton was playing for San Francisco when Barry Bonds hit his 600th homer, but only had 507 steals when he left the Giants. ... Lofton and Sosa entered with a combined .217 lifetime average against Detroit in 632 at_bats.
DETROIT: The Tigers went 8-1 on a three-city road trip to Philadelphia, Washington and Atlanta - their first eight-win trip since they went 8-4 on a 12-game trip in September 1997. The trip, which ended with a weekend sweep of Atlanta, will now be followed by Detroit's longest homestand of the season, 13 games against Texas, Minnesota, Cleveland and Boston. ... RHP Zach Miner, who has been out since June 6 with an elbow injury, has pitched two innings on a rehab assignment for Double-A Erie, allowing one run. ... RHP Jeremy Bonderman entered Monday's start with a chance to tie Bobo Newsom's club record of 18 starts without a loss. Bonderman has not lost since Sept. 10, 2006, at Minnesota.
OAKLAND: Manager Bob Geren said RHP Justin Duchscherer, one of nine Athletics on the disabled list, played long toss from 150 feet and reported no pain. The setup man has been out since May 15 with a strained right hip. ... OF Bobby Kielty, out since April 29 with a strained left calf, is due to start a rehab assignment on Wednesday in the minors. ... LHP Dallas Braden, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, will be used in long relief. ``We're a little short in the bullpen,'' Geren said. ``(RHP Rich) Harden is on a schedule and can't be counted as a reliever. Harden, activated Friday, is being used in relief as the A's slowly bring him back from two months on the DL with a strained right shoulder.
CLEVELAND: RHP Adam Miller pitched one hitless inning for Triple-A Buffalo, his first outing since May 12 because of a ligament injury in his middle finger. Miller could join Cleveland's bullpen in the next few weeks as a setup man - a crucial need for the Indians' playoff chances. ... RHP Matt Miller has been placed on the DL by the Bisons with a right forearm injury, the latest setback for the sidearmer who missed most of last season after elbow surgery. He's 0-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 15 appearances. ... The Indians are finally going to unpack their bags and settle in for a while. Starting with their four-game series with Oakland, they'll play 24 of their next 34 at Jacobs Field, where they're off to a 24-11 start. ``It's something that the guys have been looking forward to, something we need and something they've earned,'' manager Eric Wedge said.
CHICAGO: Manager Ozzie Guillen said LHP Mark Buehrle has pitched consistently this season and despite a 4-4 record (3.39 ERA) should be given consideration to represent the White Sox in the All-Star game. Closer Bobby Jenks will likely also get consideration. ... C Toby Hall, who spent parts of seven seasons with Tampa Bay, returned to Tropicana Field. He was able to spend Sunday night at his Tampa area home. ``I have nothing but good memories. This is where I grew up,'' Hall said. ``To wear this (Chicago) uniform with the tradition, it's a good feeling.'' ... The White Sox signed Miami of Ohio RHP John Ely, their third-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft. He attended Homewood Flossmoor High School in suburban Chicago.
TAMPA BAY: 2B B.J. Upton (strained left quadriceps) is set to start a rehab assignment Wednesday with Class-A Vero Beach and could be activated from the disabled list within the next week or so. ... Pitching coach Jim Hickey underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye. He is scheduled to rejoin the team July 3 in Boston. Minor league pitching coordinator Dick Bosman is serving as interim pitching coach. ... The Devil Rays signed University of Mississippi RHP William Kline, their second-round pick in this year's amateur draft. He will throw off a bullpen mound Tuesday at Tropicana Field.
TORONTO: Frank Thomas has always liked hitting in the Metrodome. He entered the four-game series with 15 home runs in his career here, tied for third-most in a ballpark that wasn't his home field, giving him a good chance to hit career homer No. 500. ``I'm tired of talking about it, I can tell you that much,'' he said before taking batting practice. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has seen all 15 of those homers in the Dome. ``If we can get through four games with him at 499, we've done an awful lot,'' Gardenhire said. ... RHP A.J. Burnett (sore shoulder) will come off the 15-day disabled list and start Thursday at Minnesota. ... Toronto was one of the few teams to have success against the Twins at the Dome last season. Minnesota had the best record in the majors at home, but the Blue Jays went 3-1 here.
MINNESOTA: Jeff Cirillo filled in for injured 1B Justin Morneau (bruised lung) again despite battling some sore legs. Gardenhire praised Cirillo's willingness to play hurt and said he has to check with him ``day by day, and sometimes inning by inning'' to make sure Cirillo can go. ``He's a professional hitter,'' Gardenhire said. ``We'll see how long he can go out there and keep playing.'' ... With Morneau out of the lineup, Joe Mauer has moved back to the No. 3 spot in the order. Gardenhire put Jason Bartlett at No. 2 and dropped Nick Punto from second to last.
KANSAS CITY: The Royals came to Angel Stadium with Mike Sweeney on the disabled list - again. Last June it was a bulging disk in his back, this time it's inflammation in his right knee. The Southern California native, who has a .304 lifetime average in Anaheim, hasn't played there since May 28, 2005. ``This is my second year in a row not having a chance to play here, so it's a bummer,'' said Sweeney, who was born nearby in Orange, Calif., and lives in Rancho Santa Fe during the offseason. ``I grew up close to here and was a fan of the Angels, so coming to the `Big A' is always a thrill for me. My heart always beats a couple of ticks quicker playing in Anaheim. Down deep, I'm still a Southern Californian - and even though I've played my whole career in Kansas City, I still root for the West Coast teams. I'll never forget sitting up in the stands here in 2002 with my dad and my two brothers when the Angels played the clinching games against the Twins, and Giants, cheering for the Halo.''
LOS ANGELES: 1B Casey Kotchman was back in the lineup after missing seven games with a concussion. He was injured diving back to second base when a one-hop throw by Dodgers catcher Russell Martin struck him on the helmet. ... CF Gary Matthews Jr. did not start for the second straight game because of a tight left hamstring, which occurred when he ran out an infield single on Saturday. Manager Mike Scioscia said Matthews most likely will sit out Tuesday night as well. ... Utility INF Erick Aybar, who had the game-winning hit Sunday against Pittsburgh, started in the outfield for the first time in the major leagues. He played left field while Reggie Willits shifted to center in Matthews' absence. ``Erick has played in the outfield a little bit in winter ball here and there,'' Scioscia said. ``He's got terrific skills and he looks very comfortable out there. He's got the speed to maybe make up for some inexperience, so hopefully he'll be able to make the routine plays we need.''
BOSTON: SS Julio Lugo entered in an 0-for-26 slump, the longest of his career. When manager Terry Francona was asked if he saw signs Lugo might be breaking out of his skid, Francona scoffed and said, ``I hope. I thought he was coming out of it in Atlanta (early last week).'' Instead of keeping his distance from Lugo since his last hit on June 14, Francona has been constantly talking to him. ``When a guy's struggling, that's when you need to support him,'' he said. Lugo started in the leadoff spot 56 times before his slump. J.D. Drew led off Monday, while Lugo batted ninth. ... When RHP Josh Beckett won his 11th game on Sunday in Boston's 74th game, it was the earliest date and game number than a Red Sox pitcher had won 11 since 2002. Derek Lowe won his 11th on June 16 in the 66th game. Beckett is the seventh Boston pitcher in the last 51 years to win at least 11 of his first 12 decisions.
SEATTLE: LHP Horacio Ramirez threw a 50-pitch simulated game and was pleased with the results. ``I threw everything. Felt good, felt strong,'' he said. Ramirez has been on the DL since May 25 with tendinitis in his left shoulder. He's expected to go out on a rehab assignment soon. ... RHP Mark Lowe might join Ramirez on a rehab stint. Lowe, out all season after elbow surgery, will throw simulated games on Wednesday and Sunday and then go on assignment. He said the plan is for him to start and throw an inning or two in a couple of rehab starts and then rejoin the team sometime around the All-Star break. ... RF Jose Guillen didn't start for the third straight game. Manager Mike Hargrove said Guillen is still day-to-day with a sore right arm. ... LF Raul Ibanez was out again with a strained right hamstring sustained in Saturday's win over Cincinnati. He is expected to be out at least until Wednesday.
WASHINGTON: SS Cristian Guzman will miss the rest of the season following surgery in Washington to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Guzman sprained his left thumb in the fifth inning Sunday. Guzman, who hit .329 with 31 runs in 43 games, was operated on at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington. ... CF Brandon Watson moved into the leadoff spot. Felipe Lopez moved from second base to shortstop and Ronnie Belliard moved into the lineup at second. ... The team purchased the contract of IF D'Angelo Jimenez from Triple-A Columbus to fill Guzman's roster spot. ... RHP Shawn Hill had a cortisone shot in his right elbow during a visit to Dr. James Andrews. Hill is expected to be cleared to throw in about 10 days.
ATLANTA: CF Andruw Jones moved back into the cleanup spot and former leadoff hitter Kelly Johnson moved down into the No. 7 spot as manager Bobby Cox kept LF Willie Harris, hitting .379, in the leadoff position. ``Maybe Kelly can get into some RBI situations,'' Cox said. ``He doesn't deserve to be moved, period. I couldn't ask for a better job. But we gotta do something.'' Harris has 13 multi-hit games since he was called up on April 30.
ST. LOUIS: 3B Scott Rolen was out of the starting lineup, a day after he fouled a ball off his left foot and left early. He was listed as day-to-day. ... RHP Todd Wellemeyer was set to start Tuesday night. He hurt his wrist in his last outing. ... C Yadier Molina (wrist) accompanied the team to New York and hopes to come off the disabled list soon. This was the Cardinals' first visit to Shea Stadium since Molina's ninth-inning homer won Game 7 of the NLCS last October. ``That was a great game and it felt good to come to the ballpark and look around and remember what happened here,'' Molina said.
NEW YORK: 1B Carlos Delgado was back in the lineup on his 35th birthday. He was given a day off Sunday against Oakland. ``Got a little break,'' he said. ... RHP Aaron Sele turned 37. ... The opener of this four-game set marked the Mets' sixth straight series against a team that made the playoffs last season. Before the Cardinals came to visit, the Mets played Detroit, the Dodgers, the Yankees, Minnesota and Oakland.
COLORADO: OF Matt Holliday came into Monday's game against the Cubs in a 2-for-14 slump. He is batting .355 for the season. ... Left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt has only been scored on once in his last 12 games. He has not allowed any of his last 10 inherited runners to score and has not allowed a homer in 35 games this season. ... The Rockies streak of 10 consecutive games with at least one home run was snapped in Sunday's one-hitter. ... The Rockies are scheduled to play multiple night games at Wrigley Field. It will be just the second time that the Rockies have played more than one night game at Wrigley Field. The last time Colorado play multiple night games at Wrigley was in 1993.
CHICAGO: Closer Ryan Dempster may be headed to the disabled list with a strained oblique. Dempster missed the last two games and wasn't available Tuesday night. Dempster will throw off the mound on Tuesday to see if he can avoid the disabled list. ``He felt better today, he threw off flat ground. He's better than he was. (Tuesday) probably will throw him off the mound and that will probably be a determining factor in what we do,'' Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. ... With Dempster out, the Cubs are short in the bullpen. Piniella expects the Cubs to make a move with their roster so they can bring up reliever. ``We do need a pitcher,'' said Piniella. ... OF Felix Pie, who has been struggling offensively, didn't start for the second straight day. He is 6-for-43 in his last six games, but the Cubs have no intentions of sending him back to Triple-A Iowa. ``We're not going to send him back. I'm just giving him a day or two to catch his breath a little bit,'' Piniella said. Piniella plans to start Pie in center on Tuesday.
HOUSTON: Craig Biggio wants to get his 3,000th hit at home. Biggio is just four hits from the magic mark going into a three-game series that began Monday night in Milwaukee. The only game he will start befrore returning home is Tuesday night. He will be available as a pinch hitter for Monday and Wednesday if it does not put him in jeopardy of becoming the 27th player with 3,000 hits. ``Obviously I'd love for it to happen in Houston,``Biggio admitted before Monday night's game. ... Manager Phil Garner is retrieving balls from the last 10 hits Biggio has leading up to 3,000 so Biggio can have the historic mementos. Garner did the same thing for Robin Yount when he was Brewers manager in 1992. ... LHP Wandy Rodriguez (4-6) pitches Tuesday night against Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE: The Brewers Monday signed 1B/LF Matt LaPorta, their No. 1 choice in the recent amateur draft. LaPorta, the seventh selection, got a signing bonus of about $2 million. The University of Florida senior was the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in 2005 and this season, when he hit .402 with 20 homers, 52 RBIs and 55 walks. ... RHP Claudio Vargas (6-1) pitches Tuesday night against Houston. ... The Brewers have occuped first place in the Central Division for almost the entire season. Monday night began a 10-game string of games agaisnt division foes.
LOS ANGELES: RHP Chin-hui Tsao, out since May 20 because of a right shoulder strain, threw 45 pitches on the side Monday afternoon. ``Looked really good,'' manager Grady Little said. ``We feel certain that he'll recover from this fine.'' The club will decide Tuesday if Tsao is ready for a rehabilitation assignment. ... 2B Ramon Martinez could be close to starting a rehab assignment. Martinez, out since June 4 with a back injury, has been swinging a bat and taking ground balls. ... RHP Chad Billingsley starts against the Diamondbacks Tuesday night in Phoenix. He's 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA against Arizona in four games, including two starts. He went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in two starts at Chase Field last season.
ARIZONA: OF Jeff DaVanon, who has missed the entire season with a shoulder injury, took some swings against LHP Randy Johnson in a simulated game Monday. DaVanon reported no pain. He'll swing again Tuesday, and if it goes well he could begin a rehabilitation assignment by the weekend. ... The Diamondbacks opened a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night. Ten of their next 16 games are against NL West rivals. ... RHP Edgar Gonzalez (3-2, 4.35 ERA) starts in Johnson's place Tuesday night. Gonzalez looked good in his first fill-in assignment, allowing one run on two hits in five innings against Baltimore June 16.
SAN DIEGO: The Padres sent INF Luis Cruz outright to Double-A San Antonio, opening a spot on the 40-man roster. ... GM Kevin Towers called his club's defense during Sunday's series finale with the Red Sox ``fair,'' but for the most part has been pleased with San Diego's steady play in the first half. What did he think of the atmosphere with Boston in town? ``You couldn't tell if they were cheering for us or the Red Sox,'' Towers said. ... Manager Bud Black plans to use both newly acquired C Michael Barrett and Josh Bard, yet perhaps not evenly. Barrett started Monday night, Bard was set to start Tuesday and Barrett again Wednesday. ``It's not going to be 50-50,'' Black said. ``We want to get Mike out there a lot early so he gets comfortable and learns the pitchers. He is a good fit.''
SAN FRANCISCO: CF Dave Roberts was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day as he recovered from a bout of food poisoning that began early Sunday and lasted most of the day. He lost four pounds and the Giants wanted to make sure he regained his strength before he gets back on the field, probably Tuesday night. ... RHP Russ Ortiz, on the DL for the second time this year since June 7 with a strained right forearm, rested after throwing the three previous days. While he is still ``a ways away,'' according to manager Bruce Bochy, Ortiz said he is encouraged. ... A moment of silence and a tribute was held for former Giants and Padres pitcher Rod Beck, who was found dead in his home Saturday at age 38.
Baseball Today - June 26
By Associated Press
SCOREBOARD Tuesday, June 26
Texas at Detroit (7:05 p.m. EDT). Nate Robertson returns from the DL for the Tigers.
STARS Monday
-C.C. Sabathia, Indians, struck out eight, allowed nine hits and earned his 11th victory with his second complete game this month, a 5-2 victory over Oakland.
-Brian McCann, Braves, hit a three-run homer and an RBI single to lift Atlanta to a 4-1 win over Washington.
-Shawn Green, Mets, hit a leadoff homer in the 11th inning to help beat St. Louis 2-1.
-Vernon Wells, Blue Jays, had three hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer, in an 8-5 victory over Minnesota.
BEATEN BONDERMAN
Jeremy Bonderman's unbeaten streak was snapped at 17 starts in Detroit's 8-3 loss to Texas on Monday night. Bonderman, trying to match Bobo Newsom's Tigers record of 18 starts without a loss, gave up four runs - two earned - and seven hits in six innings. His last loss came in Minnesota on Sept. 10.
UNFRIENDLY FAN
A fan charged at Bob Howry during the Cubs' 10-9 win over Colorado on Monday night, after the reliever helped blow an 8-3 lead in the ninth inning. Howry gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe and a three-run homer to Troy Tulowitzki. The fan then jumped onto the field from the roof of the Rockies' dugout and made it a few feet from the mound before security guards tackled him. Howry earned the victory when Alfonso Soriano hit a game-ending two-run single in the bottom of the inning.
MCCANN CAN
Atlanta ended a streak of 48 innings without holding a lead in its 4-1 win over Washington on Monday night. Brian McCann's fourth-inning single drove in Edgar Renteria for a 1-0 lead. McCann later hit a three-run homer for the Braves, who had not led a game since beating Boston 9-4 last Monday.
PITCHING PROS
Brad Penny earned his 10th win and lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.04 in the Dodgers' 8-1 victory over Arizona on Monday night. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits in eight innings and improved to 7-2 against the Diamondbacks. His only loss this season came against the Angels on May 18. ... Ben Sheets won his fifth consecutive decision in Milwaukee's 6-1 win over Houston. Sheets (9-3) allowed five hits and three walks in six innings. He's allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last 13 starts and has won five straight decisions for the first time since 2001, his rookie year.
SPEAKING
''Oh, God, I got so many text messages. And they were all from A's fans saying, 'You're a good pitcher, but the A's are going to beat you.' That's the kind of texts I get from my friends.'' - Indians starter C.C. Sabathia, after pitching his second complete game this month Monday night, a 5-2 win over Oakland. The left-hander struck out eight, allowed nine hits and didn't walk a batter to join Boston's Josh Beckett as the majors' only other 11-game winner. He had been 0-4 vs. the A's since last beating them on July 30, 2003,
Tigers place Rodney on disabled list, activate Robertson
June 26, 2007
DETROIT (AP) -The Tigers placed right-hander Fernando Rodney on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and activated lefty Nate Robertson.
Robertson was scheduled to start Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers. He was 4-6 with a 5.07 ERA in 12 starts when he went on the 15-day disabled June 6 with what manager Jim Leyland called a ``tired arm.''
Robertson went on the DL the day after he faced six batters in a start against Texas, allowing two walks, two singles, a triple and a grand slam before Leyland pulled him.
Rodney was placed on the DL retroactive to Sunday with tendinitis in his right shoulder. He is 1-5 with one save and a 5.40 ERA in 27 games this season.
Cards purchase Percival's contract
June 26th, 2007
Flushing, NY (Sports Network) - The Cardinals purchased the contract of relief pitcher Troy Percival from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday and the left- hander is expected to be available for St. Louis' game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
The Cardinals signed Percival to a minor league contract back on June 8. In six games with the Red Birds, he posted a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings pitched.
Percival spent the majority of his career with the Angels before signing with Detroit in 2005. He suffered an injury to his right forearm with the Tigers in July of 2005 and then retired after an aborted comeback with the squad at the start of the 2006 season. He has been out of the game ever since.
The 37-year-old was working as a special pitching instructor for the Angels until asking for a release from his coaching contract on May 23.
With 324 saves, Percival is 12th on the all-time Major League saves list and ranks fifth among active major leaguers. He holds a 30-41 record with a 3.10 earned run average in 586.2 career innings. He enjoyed his best season in 2002 with a 4-1 mark, 40 saves, 68 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA.
A four-time All-Star, Percival went nine straight seasons with 20 or more saves from 1996-2004. He was also a member of the Angels' World Championship team in 2002, when he collected seven saves and held a 2.79 ERA in the postseason.