Ortiz heads back to disabled list with arm injury
June 7, 2007
PHOENIX (AP) -Russ Ortiz landed back on the disabled list Thursday, the second stint already this year for the San Francisco right-hander.
Ortiz went on 15-day DL with a strained right forearm that is believed to be unrelated to the nerve irritation he had in his throwing elbow that shelved him for the first time. The Giants recalled left-hander Jonathan Sanchez from Triple-A Fresno to take Ortiz's roster spot.
Ortiz, who came off the mound Monday at Philadelphia in the eighth inning, had an MRI exam Thursday and the Giants knew he might need another DL stint after he felt discomfort in his forearm while playing catch Wednesday. He is scheduled to see team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki on Friday back in San Francisco.
``It's very discouraging,'' Ortiz said. ``To have to go in for another MRI when I feel like I just had one is very frustrating. I was feeling really good. ... This is the second time I've had an issue this year when everything seems to be going the right way. I had to be on the DL twice, that's the frustrating part.''
Manager Bruce Bochy said the club couldn't wait any longer to add another pitcher to the roster. Ortiz arrived at the ballpark Tuesday saying he felt much better than a night earlier in Philadelphia, so he was surprised to have problems when he played catch.
``Hopefully in two weeks this thing will clear up,'' Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. ``I was looking forward to having him help out in the bullpen. This is a set back.''
It is a disappointing development for Ortiz, who rediscovered his form in winter ball in Puerto Rico and began the season as San Francisco's fifth starter before being relegated to the bullpen after coming off the DL for the first time May 21.
Ortiz earned another chance to be a starter after an awful 2006 when he signed on for a second stint with the Giants in January.
He left the Giants after the 2002 season, when he walked off the mound eight outs away from a World Series title only to see the bullpen blow a five-run lead in Game 6 and the wild-card Angels go on to win the seventh game, too.
He was traded to Atlanta in December 2002, followed by 36 wins and a pair of division titles in two seasons. After parlaying that into a $33 million, four-year contract with Arizona, little went right.
He went 5-11 in his first season with the Diamondbacks before everything fell apart last year in an 0-8 campaign, a release from Arizona and recommendations that he should call it a career.
He was winless in 26 outings, including 11 starts, overall last year for the Diamondbacks and Baltimore Orioles, who dropped him out of their rotation in July.
Sanchez, who started the season with the Giants, pitched three times at Triple-A and threw six scoreless innings.
``I was ready (to return) since I got sent down,'' Sanchez said. ``I was doing the same things as here, just getting innings.''
Tigers RHP Miner goes on DL
June 7, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Detroit Tigers placed right-hander Zach Miner on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained tendon in his right elbow.
The team announced the move after the game against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night. The Tigers recalled right-handers Yorman Bazardo and Aquilino Lopez from Triple-A Toledo.
The Tigers called up two pitchers because left-hander Nate Robertson was also placed on the disabled list Wednesday night with what manager Jim Leyland called a ``tired arm.''
Leyland announced Wednesday night that left-hander Andrew Miller will be called up from Double-A Erie to replace Robertson for Sunday's start against the New York Mets.
Bazardo was 4-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts for Toledo. Lopez, with his fourth major league team, is in his third relief stint with the Tigers this season. He has a 5.06 ERA in 10 2-3 innings.
Rangers recall RHP Feldman
June 7, 2007
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Texas Rangers recalled right-hander Scott Feldman from Triple-A Oklahoma and demoted left-hander John Rheinecker before Thursday night's game against the Detroit Tigers.
Rheinecker got a no-decision Tuesday night, allowing four runs and seven hits in three innings against Detroit in his first major league start of the season. He was replacing Vicente Padilla, who was scratched from the start because of right triceps irritation. Padilla is expected to return to the rotation Sunday night against Milwaukee.
Feldman gave up two runs in four innings over two relief appearances for Oklahoma since he was demoted on May 28.
Clemens should be ready Saturday
June 7, 2007
CHICAGO (AP) -New York Yankees manager Joe Torre said the team's improved play recently should make it easier on Roger Clemens in his season debut Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
``I think it will probably help him, although he'll probably be sky high Saturday anyway,'' Torre said Thursday.
``But the fact that, right now, he can fall in line and be one of the guys, as opposed to being the one guy to maybe change things and turn things around. I don't care how long you've been playing, it's still a lot to put on any one guy.''
The 44-year-old right-hander originally planned to start Monday night against the White Sox. He scratched himself from the outing last Saturday because of what the Yankees said then was a ``fatigued'' groin, an injury he first felt during a minor league outing May 28. An MRI exam Monday showed Clemens had a scar tissue injury in the right groin.
Clemens threw 55 pitches during batting practice at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday and then worked out there again Thursday.
Notes from Thursday's AL games
June 7, 2007
KANSAS CITY: RHP Joakim Soria was activated from the 15-day DL on Thursday and optioned RHP Ryan Braun to Triple-A Omaha. Soria was placed on the DL on May 26 with shoulder inflammation. The move was retroactive to May 23. He is 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA and is 10-for-13 in save opportunities. Soria has appeared in 21 games. Braun had no record and a 7.24 ERA in 10 appearances. ... OF Joey Gathright had five hits in two games since being recalled from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday, including three on Thursday. Gathright and 1B Alex Gordon, who had four hits, combined for seven of Kansas City's nine hits in Thursday's 8-3 loss. ... DH Mike Sweeney was given the day off Thursday. ... RHP David Riske has pitched 15 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings since May 1. ... The Royals completed their seven game road trip to Tampa Bay and Cleveland with a 3-4 record. ... Kansas City returns to interleague play Friday by hosting Philadelphia in a three game series.
CLEVELAND: RHP Jake Westbrook (strained left abdominal) will make his second rehabittation start for Double-A Akron on Friday. He is scheduled to throw about 75 pitches. It's expected Westbrook will make a third rehab start being being activated. ... The Indians play six of their next seven games in National League parks. Cleveland plays at Cincinnati in a three game series that begins Friday. After returning home Monday for a makeup game against Seattle, they open a three game series at Florida on Tuesday. ... Manager Eric Wedge said DH Travis Hafner would see some action at first base in games in NL parks. Hafner has started four games at first this season. ... Indians pitchers have been taking batting practice to get ready for the interleague games. ... OF Jason Michaels is batting .341 (14-for-41) in his last 16 games.... OF Trot Nixon is batting .200 (4-for-20) in his last six games.
TAMPA BAY: Delmon Young's two-run single in the ninth inning gave the Devil Rays a 5-3 victory over Toronto on Thursday, giving the Devil Rays consecutive road wins since June 16 and 17, 2006 at Philadelphia. ... Al Reyes recorded his 15th straight save, extending his team record for consecutive saves to start the season. ... OF Carl Crawford went 3-for-5 Thursday and was 8-for-16 with seven RBIs in the three-game series. He also scored six runs and stole two bases.
TORONTO: The Blue Jays designated RHP Tomo Ohka for assignment and inserted RHP Josh Towers back into the starting rotation. Towers, who went 1-3 in three April starts before being demoted to the bullpen, will start Monday in San Francisco. ... RHP A.J. Burnett struck out a season-high 13 batters in Thursday's 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay. It's his highest strikeout total since April 22, 2005, when he struck out 13 Cincinnati batters while pitching for Florida. ... Alex Rios hit his 14th home run of the season Thursday, a two-run shot off Edwin Jackson. No other Blue Jays batter has hit more than eight homers this season.
BOSTON: The last time a Boston pitcher lost a no-hit bid with two outs in the ninth inning came July 2, 1975, when Rick Wise did it against Milwaukee. Wise gave up a two-run homer to George Scott to break up the no-hitter before finishing off a 6-3 victory. ... The Red Sox selected University of Washington LHP Nick Hagadone with the 55th overall pick and high school shortstop Ryan Dent of Long Beach, Calif., with the 62nd overall pick in the baseball draft. Hagadone went 6-1 with 11 saves and a 2.77 ERA this season. Dent - no relation to Red Sox nemesis Bucky Dent - batted .468 with 29 RBIs and 28 SBs for Wilson HS this season. ... Manager Terry Francona disagreed with DH David Ortiz's assessment after Wednesday's loss that the team lacked intensity. ``I chalk that up to a guy giving a quote on the way to the shower,'' Francona said before Thursday's game. ``I think our intensity has been good. There's been some frustration.'' ...
OAKLAND: Oakland used its first-round draft pick on RHP James Simmons from UC Riverside. Simmons was 11-3 with a 2.40 ERA this season, striking out 116 batters and walking only 15. ... The A's were one-hit for the first time since July 7, 2006, against John Lackey of the Angels. ... OF Milton Bradley missed his fifth straight game with soreness in his right calf. Manager Bob Geren hopes Bradley will be able to play in Friday's series opener at San Francisco. ... Injured pitchers Rich Harden and Huston Street both felt good a day after throwing on the side. ``That's positive news for our pitching staff,'' Geren said.
NEW YORK: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman phoned Joe Torre at the behest of owner George Steinbrenner to voice displeasure when the manager failed to support Alex Rodriguez last week, according to SI.com. Rodriguez yelled something while he was running from second to third last week, causing Blue Jays third baseman Howie Clark to let Jorge Posada's popup drop because he thought he'd been called off the ball. Torre called A-Rod's tactic ``probably inappropriate'' and ``probably something he shouldn't have done.'' Torre declined comment on the SI.com report before Thursday night's game against the Chicago White Sox. ... SS Derek Jeter and C Jorge Posada were both given the day off Thursday. ...RHP Andrew Brackman was the Yankees first round selection, 30th overall, in Thursdays draft. Alex Rodriguez saw Brackman pitch for North Carolina last year and was very excited to see the selection of the 6-foot-10 junior. ``Im pumped about this guy,'' Rodriguez said. ``A guy like that usually isn't around after the 10th pick.'' ...Venezuelan C Jesus Montero, who was signed a $2 million deal last July as a 16-year-old, sprained his right ankle during an extended spring training game this week. Montero has the ankle in a boot and is expected to start a rehab program for a two to three weeks.
CHICAGO: Jermaine Dye, in a 2-for-22 slump, was out of the starting lineup Thursday as the White Sox' season-long hitting woes continue. Dye said his swing is pretty much the same as it was in little league and that slumps are more mental. Dye was batting just .224. As a team the White so were batting only .233 and had just one player in their starting lineup Thursday batting over .250. ``You look the scoreboard and it's June 6 and you look over there and see .210 and you're used to hitting .300,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. ``I worry about guys looking at the scoreboard and say 'wow, start doing the math, what do I have to do? I have to get 3 hits today, 3 hits tomorrow' and then all of a sudden those hits don't come, you go negative.'' ... The White Sox used their first-round pick in the draft Thursday - No. 25 overall - to select left-hander Aaron Poreda of the University of San Francisco. Poreda, 20, is 6-foot-6 and weighs 240 pounds. ``We expect him to move through out minor league system at an accelerated pace,'' said director of amateur scouting Duane Shaffer. The White Sox have now taken a pitcher with their first pick for three straight years, grabbing Kyle McCulloch last season and Lance Broadway in 2005.
DETROIT: Manager Jim Leyland has been briefed by baseball officials on his duties as the American League All-Star manager. ``It's pretty complicated,'' he said. Leyland says it's a game he wants to win, what with home field advantage in the World Series for the victorious league at stake, but he also recognizes that it's an opportunity to display the skills of the game's stars. ``I'm definitely going to play that game to win, but I don't want to lose sight of the fact that it's a showcase for the greatest players,'' he said. ``It's their show.''. ...The Tigers have drawn NL powers like the Mets, Braves and Brewers on their interleague schedule, but Leyland won't complain even though his team's AL Central rival, the Cleveland Indians, have drawn an easier set of NL opponents. ``I don't care,'' he said. The Tigers host the Mets in a three-game series over the weekend.
TEXAS: 1B Mark Teixeira was back in the lineup after being pulled in the fifth inning on Wednesday night due to a stiff neck. Teixeira extended his club-record consecutive games streak to 506 on Thursday night. ...Jerry Hairston Jr. made his first start of the season at 3B on Thursday night, his fourth different starting position this year. ``He can play anywhere,'' manager Ron Washington said. ``If they hit it down there, he'll catch it.''. ... DH Sammy Sosa entered Thursday night without a homer in 12 games, leaving him stalled at 598 career homers. But Washington says he's not concerned that Sosa might be pressing to reach 600. ``He's gonna get it,'' Washington said. ``When and where, I don't know. I don't think it's wearing on him. I just think some of the pitching we've been facing lately, they're not allowing it. They're not making mistakes.''
Notes from Thursday's NL games
June 7, 2007
PITTSBURGH: OF Xavier Nady did not play in Thursday's 3-2 win over Washington after injuring his left hamstring Wednesday. He was available to pinch hit, though, and manager Jim Tracy said he will consider using Nady as the designated hitter during the interleague series this weekend against the New York Yankees. ... Tracy, who is in his 7th season managing in the majors, has been to Yankee Stadium but has never managed a game there. ``It's something that you should look forward to,'' he said. ``I don't think we have anything to be afraid of.'' ... Freddy Sanchez homered Thursday for the first time in 354 at_bats dating from Aug. 23.
WASHINGTON: Nook Logan is giving up switch-hitting for now. Logan is batting .314 this season as a right-hander and .231 as a lefty and lately has been platooned in center field with Ryan Langerhans. Manager Manny Acta said the platoon will continue, although Logan might get the occasional righty-vs.-righty at-bat if it's not a crucial point in the game. ``If it comes down to crunch time, there's no time for experiment,'' Acta said. ``Then I can pinch-hit for him.'' ... Acta said he will use a rotation of Ryan Zimmerman, Dmitri Young and Austin Kearns at designated hitter during the Nationals' nine-game road stretch against American League teams, starting Friday at Minnesota.
HOUSTON: When asked if he'd heard from the league office about a possible fine or suspension relating to 1B Lance Berkman's ejection on Tuesday, manager Phil Garner said, ``Why? It was nice he came back on the field to pick up his stuff.'' 2B Craig Biggio took a scheduled day off from the starting lineup, but pinch hit leading off the eighth inning. ... Carlos Lee and Biggio are among the players Garner is considering for DH duty. ... Biggio is a career .386 hitter 50 games at Coors Field. ... The Astros are 3-7-1 in 11 road series this year. ... RHP Roy Oswalt is 0-2 and has three no decisions in his last five starts. ... Closer RHP Dan Wheeler had converted 10 straight saves before Thursday.
COLORADO: Manager Clint Hurdle said he looks forward to interleague play, especially the team's trip to Boston. ``You feel like you're playing in a museum when you're at Fenway Park,'' Hurdle said. ... Hurdle hasn't set in stone who he'll use as a DH in interleague games. ``I've got a bunch of different lineups drawn up,'' Hurdle said. ``It could be Jeff Baker or Willy Taveras and I have one where Todd Helton is DH and Baker plays first.'' ... Colorado is 4-0-1 in the last four series and finished 6-4 on the 10-game homestand. ... OF Matt Holliday leads the majors with 88 hits and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games.
PHILLIES: RF Shane Victorino threw out Mets 1B Carlos Delgado trying to score on a flyball Wednesday night, upping Philadelphia's major league-leading total of outfield assists to 23. ... Slumping LF Pat Burrell was bak in the starting lineup. Burrell, batting .223, pinch-hit in Wednesday night's game and struck out before SS Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Burrell, who has batted fifth behind 1B Ryan Howard for most of the season, was in the six hole. CF Aaron Rowand was batting fifth. ... With the 19th overall pick in the major league draft, the Phillies selected LHP Joe Savery from Rice. ... Before taking the first two games of the three-game set, the Phillies had lost three straight series to New York.
METS: OF Endy Chavez was placed on the disabled list with a pulled left hamstring and the team activated second baseman Jose Valentin, who had been out since April with a knee injury. Chavez had an MRI exam and said doctors told him he could miss four to six weeks while resting and rehabilitating the injury. Chavez was injured Wednesday night running to first trying to beat out a double-play grounder in the seventh inning of New York's 4-2 loss to the Phillies. The Mets now have three outfielders on the DL, with Chavez joining regular starters Moises Alou (left quad) and Shawn Green (right foot). Green expects to be ready to play when he's eligible to come off the DL Sunday against Detroit. The Mets hoped Alou could play this week, but he's still bothered by his injury. ... The Mets didn't have a first-round draft pick because of their free agent signing of Alou. New York selected RHP Eddie Kunz of Oregon State with its first pick, No. 42 overall.
CHICAGO: RHP Angel Guzman had an MRI exam on his right elbow and will not throw for at least two weeks. Guzman was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday because of a strained elbow. ... 3B Aramis Ramirez was still in Chicago after having an MRI on his strained left knee, leaving the team one man short. Manager Lou Piniella, who returned from his suspension, said Ramirez is expected to join the team in Atlanta on Friday and would have made the trip on Thursday if not for weather problems. Piniella said the MRI showed patella tendinitis, and it is hoped Ramirez can avoid the disabled list. ``We're going to see how he responds with treatment and with rest over the weekend, and then try to make a decision, probably Monday,'' Piniella said. ``But if we can ride this thing out, I think that's our preference.''
ATLANTA: RHP John Smoltz was encouraged that his sore right shoulder felt better, but said it's too early to know if he'll be able to make Sunday's scheduled start. Smoltz said if he does experience more discomfort in the shoulder before Sunday, he may have his next start pushed back to Tuesday at Minnesota. ``This is one of those situations where you just wait it out,'' he said. ... The team's first-round pick, OF Jason Heyward of nearby Henry County High in McDonough, Ga., visited the team during batting practice.
CINCINNATI: RHP Homer Bailey, the team's No. 1 pick in 2004 and the seventh overall selection that year, makes his major league debut on Friday when he starts against the Indians in Cincinnati. ``There's going to be a lot of adrenaline pumping, and it'll be an exciting time for him and his family. Us, too,'' manager Jerry Narron said. ``A lot of us have been waiting for him to show up and pitch.'' Narron said Bailey, 6-1 with a 2.31 ERA at Triple-A Louisville, will get more than one start no matter what happens on Friday. ... The Reds are 3-8 in their last 11 road series, including this one against the Cardinals. ... RHP Marcus McBeth made his major league debut Wednesday, working a perfect eighth against the Cardinals. ``I just felt good about being in control of my emotions,'' McBeth said. ``It was a great opportunity.'' ... The Reds and Cardinals entered the game tied for the major league lead with 25 pinch hits. ... SS Alex Gonzalez (hamstring) was not in the lineup for the third straight game.
ST. LOUIS: C Gary Bennett, beaned by Aaron Harang on Tuesday, was back in the lineup after sitting out one game as a precaution. ``I figured it would be a day or two,'' Bennett said. ``But yes, it's a relief.'' ... Scott Rolen had two hits and played well defensively in his return to the lineup after missing three games because of a strained right hamstring. He also stole third after doubling in the second, noting that Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo was ignoring him. ``That wasn't really baserunning, just pitcher's indifference I think,'' Rolen said. ``I didn't even have to run hard on that one.'' ... Closer Jason Isringhausen said he just reacted when making a bare-handed stop on pinch-hitter Jeff Conine's comebacker in the ninth. ``I hope I never get hurt doing it,'' Isringhausen said. ``It's just a reflex. I don't think about it, I just do it.''
Twins' Mauer will be activated Friday
Thu, Jun 7, 2007
By Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer is headed back to the Minnesota Twins this weekend.
The Twins said Thursday that they plan to activate their catcher from the 15-day disabled list before Friday's game against the Washington Nationals. Mauer, last year's AL batting champion, missed 29 games because of a strained left quadriceps muscle. He was hitting .353 when the injury occurred.
Mauer played in a simulated game with minor leaguers on Tuesday and went 0-for-3 with a walk on Wednesday in a Florida State League game with Class-A Fort Myers, catching the whole game until being removed for a pinch runner in the ninth.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has said he'll consider moving Mauer to the second spot in the lineup. Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Torii Hunter have hit well in the third, fourth and fifth spots during Mauer's absence.
To make room on the roster, left-handed reliever Jason Miller will be optioned to Triple-A Rochester. After three scoreless appearances, Miller allowed eight runs while only getting one out against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.
Astros' Berkman suspended for two games after ejection
Fri, Jun 8, 2007
By Associated Press
HOUSTON -- Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday after being ejected in a game against Colorado.
Berkman was ejected Tuesday night in the eighth inning after arguing a third strike. He then threw his batting glove and an equipment bag onto the field from the dugout.
He violated rules by returning in the ninth inning when the benches emptied after the Rockies' Manny Corpas hit Houston's Carlos Lee with a pitch. The Astros won 4-1.
Berkman's suspension, unless appealed, is scheduled to begin Friday night when the Astros play the Chicago White Sox.
Astros' Berkman suspended for two games after ejection
Fri, Jun 8, 2007
Astros' Berkman appeals 2-game suspension
June 8, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -Astros first baseman Lance Berkman was suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed sum Friday, three days after he was ejected against Colorado and tossed his batting glove and equipment bag onto the field.
The suspension by Major League Baseball was to have begun Friday night against the Chicago White Sox. Berkman, however, is appealing the decision and was to play Friday.