MLB News and Notes May - 28

Notes from Sunday's AL games
May 27, 2007

LOS ANGELES: John Lackey matched a career high with his fourth straight victory. ... Mike Napoli extended his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games. He has gotten a hit and scored a run in 10 straight games, the first AL catcher to do that since Johnny Romano for the White Sox in 1961, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Robb Quinlan made his first career start in RF and did fine.

NEW YORK: Reliever Scott Proctor walked three without getting an out. ``I don't know if he was trying to throw the ball too hard,'' manager Joe Torre said. Proctor has walked 13 in 24 2-3 innings this season. ... Johnny Damon, hobbled by sore legs, grounded out as a pinch-hitter. Torre said Damon may be the DH for a game in Toronto. DH Jason Giambi went 0-for-4 and is in a 4-for-24 rut. ... The Yankees fell to 2-9 in one-run decisions.

OAKLAND: 1B Nick Swisher hit his fifth homer in five games at Camden Yards this season in Sunday's loss to Baltimore. ... RHP Joe Blanton allowed a season-high eight earned runs and three homers, tying a career high. ... C Adam Melhuse, who had two hits in 13 at_bats since being recalled on May 1, had two singles Sunday. But he allowed five stolen bases. ... DH Jack Cust was 0-for-10 in the weekend series and is in an 0-for-17 slump. ... LHP Ron Flores, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on May 18, has retired 13 of the 14 hitters he has faced. On Sunday, he retired the side in order with two strikeouts.

BALTIMORE: The Orioles took two of three from Oakland over the weekend, their first series win at home against the A's since 2003. ... Miguel Tejada has three homers in his past four games after hitting only two in his first 46 games. ... Baltimore tied a season high with three homers. Melvin Mora hit his sixth of the season, the first since May 1. ... OF Nick Markakis broke an 0-for-8 slide with three hits, including a three-run homer. ... All four of RHP Daniel Cabrera's wins this year have come at home.

TAMPA BAY: RHP Jae Seo was moved to the bullpen in an adjustment of the starting rotation after Saturday's game against the White Sox was rained out. Manager Joe Maddon said Seo may rejoin the starting rotation but left open the possibility that the move to relief is permanent. ``We're going to skip Jae Seo right now,'' Maddon said. ``We're going to determine how long it's going to be. He's in the bullpen for now. He may go back into (the starting rotation) for his next start but we're not sure yet.'' ... 3B Akinori Iwamura (right oblique strain) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday and is expected to be in the starting lineup against Detroit. ... OF Carl Crawford went 3-for-4 Sunday to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. Crawford is batting .415 (17-for-45) during that stretch. ... 1B Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer Sunday and is batting .444 (16-for-36) with five home runs and 11 RBI in his past 10 starts.

CHICAGO: C A.J. Pierzynski had the day off on Sunday, but will play against Minnesota LHP Johan Santana on Monday. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said he will also rest Pierzynski on Wednesday against the Twins. ... OF Darin Erstad also had the day off for the White Sox. ... RF Jermaine Dye extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the third inning. ... 1B Paul Konerko is 10-for-26 in his past seven games, raising his average to .218. ... The White Sox demoted Andrew Sisco after Sunday's loss. After the game, the club was unsure which pitcher will replace him on the roster, but a move is expected before Monday's game at Minnesota. ... In the first inning, utilityman Pablo Ozuna fractured his right fibula after rounding first base on a double and is expected to be out two months. The White Sox did not make an immediate move, but Guillen said INF Andy Gonzalez, who is batting .240 for Triple-A Charlotte, is a possibility.

TORONTO: RF Alex Rios went 0-for-4 Sunday after reaching base in 10 of his previous 14 plate appearances, and 14-of-23. ``He usually hits good pitchers well,'' said manager John Gibbons. ``For a guy that's so big and has such long arms, that's hard to do sometimes, especially against hard throwers. He's only going to get better.'' ... 3B Troy Glaus, in an 0-for-16 slump, had the day off. ... Toronto has lost 11 of its past 15 road games. Toronto's next 10 games are at home. ... A.J. Burnett leads the majors with eight hit batters. He hit Justin Morneau on Sunday. He threw 125 pitches Sunday, and has thrown at least 113 pitches in five of 11 starts. ... Adam Lind had his first career pinch-hit home run Sunday. ... Frank Thomas, who turned 39, was 1-for-3 with a double.

MINNESOTA: Joe Mauer could be activated from the 15-day disabled list before the team's homestand concludes Wednesday. ``He threw to the bases, got behind the plate and said there was no problem. He caught a bullpen session with no problem, and he ran today and felt good,'' said manager Ron Gardenhire. Mauer has told trainers he has a tough time keeping his legs loose when he's the DH, so Gardenhire said he'll be careful using him in that role when he returns. ... Mike Redmond had Sunday off, but has filled in admirably behind the plate. In his past 15 games, all with Mauer out, Redmond is hitting .411 (23-for-56). ``He's hitting over .300, and he can't run a lick,'' Gardenhire joked. ``He's just hitting 'em where they aren't. He's a pretty good hitter.'' ... Gardenhire said he would wait a day before deciding whether to move struggling Ramon Ortiz out of the rotation. Ortiz allowed six runs in six innings Saturday, and Gardenhire said he would be in the bullpen for Monday's game to get his usual between-start throwing work in.

SEATTLE: Jarrod Washburn's career record at home is 36-41, but is 52-34 on the road. ... Suzuki's 20-game hitting streak is tied with the New York Yankees' Derek Jeter for second-longest in the AL this year, behind the 23-game streak of Torii Hunter. ... Raul Ibanez had a sacrifice fly and a single to drive in two runs and raise his career mark against the Royals, his old team, to .348. ... The Mariners hadn't swept three games on the road since winning three from the Diamondbacks June 27-29 last year.

KANSAS CITY: Tony Pena Jr. has hit in seven straight games, tying his career best. ... Since returning from the DL on May 16, Ryan Shealy is hitting .359. ... The loss Sunday sent Kansas City to its 22nd consecutive month of non-winning baseball. Not since 2003, when they were 15-11 in July, have the Royals won more games in a calendar month than they lost. That does not count a three-game, season-ending sweep in October. ... The Royals will close out a nine-game homestand with three games against Baltimore, starting Monday.

BOSTON: 1B Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to 19 games with two hits Sunday. He's hitting .440 with four home runs and 18 RBIs during that stretch. ``He's a fine young hitter on a great streak,'' Boston manager Terry Francona said. ``Youk is really maturing. He's really a professional hitter.'' ... Francona won his 313th game as Boston's manager Sunday. He moved into eighth place past Ralph Houk on the club's career victories list.

TEXAS: Manager Ron Washington wanted to use Frank Catalanotto in RF on Sunday, but Catalanotto's ability to throw is still hampered by right biceps tendinitis. Catalanotto remained the DH with Sammy Sosa in RF. Washington said Catalanotto is a possibility in RF Monday in Oakland. ... OF Brad Wilkerson will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday for Triple-A Oklahoma. Wilkerson has been on the DL since May 16 with a pulled right hamstring.

DETROIT: Tigers manager Jim Leyland gave 2B Placido Polanco and RP Jason Grilli off on Sunday after they sustained minor injuries in Saturday's loss to Cleveland. Polanco sustained a strained oblique muscle, while Grilli was hit in the leg with a line drive. ``Polanco is OK, but there's no sense taking a risk with him,'' Leyland said. ``Grilli got hit on the inside of the leg, so he's fine. If that had been on the kneecap, he would have been in big trouble.'' ... With five games left in May, Detroit is hitting .306 for the month. No Tigers team has hit .300 or better for a calendar month since Sept. 1956.

CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge isn't a huge fan of this year's schedule, which has his team playing the Tigers seven times in 10 days after not facing them in the first 46 games of the season. ``You can see things like this when you only play a team twice in a season, but you'd like to see them spread out the division games a little more,'' Wedge said. ... Jake Westbrook (abdominal strain) threw in the bullpen before Sunday night's game, and is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday in Boston. ... Wedge said that his starting pitchers will start taking batting practice next weekend in preparation for interleague games, but his relievers will only bunt. ``Some of those guys want to take swings, but in five years here, I think I've had one reliever bat, so I'm not going to worry about them.''

Notes from Sunday's NL games
May 27, 2007

NEW YORK: The Mets played Sunday's finale at Florida without right fielders Shawn Green (fractured foot) and Carlos Gomez (strained left hamstring), both of whom were injured in this series. The team hoped to activate OF Ben Johnson from Triple-A New Orleans before the game, but Johnson was unable to arrive at Dolphin Stadium by game time. ... The Mets have 29 stolen bases in their last 16 games. ... Damion Easley started in left field for the first time in his career. ``For one game, why not?'' manager Willie Randolph said. ... OF Moises Alou (strained left quad) said he will not be fully ready when he's eligible to come of the disabled list for Tuesday night's game against San Francisco. ``The idea of putting me on the disabled list was to get me 100 percent,'' Alou said.

FLORIDA: C Miguel Olivo had two hits in Sunday's loss to the Mets, his fourth multihit game in as many days. He'll get Monday off when Florida opens a series at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, meaning Matt Treanor will catch Marlins starter Byung-Hyun Kim. ... SS Hanley Ramirez, who entered Sunday as a pinch-hitter, was 0-for-10 in the series against the Mets. ... 1B Aaron Boone hit the 200th double of his career. ... Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said RHP Wes Obermueller, who allowed eight hits and seven earned runs in four-plus innings Saturday, would make his next start Thursday in Milwaukee as scheduled.

PHILADELPHIA: INF Abraham Nunez entered the game as a defensive replacement at shortstop for his first appearance since suffering a mild concussion on Thursday at Florida. ... Greg Dobbs started at third base and made his first appearance as a professional - major leagues or minor leagues - at second in a late-game switch. ... The seven-run fifth inning set a new team high for any inning this season.

ATLANTA: CF Andruw Jones, who has won nine straight Gold Gloves, made a strong defensive play even by his standards when he made a jumping catch with his glove reaching over the wall to take a homer away from Greg Dobbs. ... 3B Chipper Jones was a late scratch and missed his third straight game with a sore right thumb. ... C Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit his first career homer. ... The sweep by the Phillies was Atlanta's first series loss at home this season. The team had won five three-game series

PITTSBURGH: RHP John Wasdin, who's been on the disabled list since May 3 with a sprained right thumb, is throwing at the Pirates' Bradenton, Fla., complex, general manager Dave Littlefield said Sunday. ``He's feeling much better,'' Littlefield said, adding there was no timetable for the pitcher to start working in extended spring training games. ... Pittsburgh optioned RHP Brian Rogers to Triple-A Indianapolis before Sunday's game and recalled RHP Josh Sharpless. ... Minor league pitching coordinator Gary Ruby has resigned for personal reasons, Littlefield said.

CINCINNATI: RHP Kirk Saarloos's inability to get an out while giving up five runs in his start on Sunday didn't have manager Jerry Narron re-thinking his rotation plan - yet. ``Right now, I'm just thinking about Kyle Lohse going (Monday) and going from there,'' Narron said Sunday. ... Adam Dunn's two-homer game on Sunday was his second of the season and 18th of his major league career. The Reds left fielder has hit three homers in the Reds last four games to extend his team-leading total to 14. ... The Pirates and Reds combined for 24 runs Sunday, a Great American Ball Park record. The previous high was 23, set in Chicago's 16-7 win on Opening Day of last season.

WASHINGTON: RHP Jesus Colome's string of 10 2-3 consecutive scoreless innings ended when he allowed Scott Spiezio's home run leading off the eighth. ... Nationals pitchers had no walks for the second time this season, and first time since a 6-4 victory over the Braves on May 16. ... Rookie RHP Matt Chico had no argument with manager Manny Acta's decision to pull him after a rain delay of just over an hour. He allowed three hits in four scoreless innings and did not qualify for the victory. ``I'm fine with it,'' Chico said. ``I don't really care what my record is.'' ... The Cardinals permitted Adam Wainwright to resume after the delay, and let closer Jason Isringhausen complete a save after a delay of 1 hour and 41 minutes on Saturday. Acta said his cutoff time is about 45 minutes. ``Too bad,'' Acta said. ``We couldn't take a chance with a kid like that, sending him out there again.''

ST. LOUIS: Yadier Molina was 0-for-11 in the series after hitting in 15 straight, the longest by a Cardinals catcher since Erik Pappas' 16-game streak in 1993. ... Adam Wainwright's seven-inning outing was his longest since his first start of the season - also the first of his career - on April 6 when he also worked seven innings at Houston. ... RHP Russ Springer had a string of 14 consecutive scoreless innings dating to April 7 before allowing two runs without retiring a batter in the Nationals' five-run eighth. ... The Cardinals have hit a major league-low 11 homers this month, four fewer than the Dodgers. ... SS David Eckstein was a late scratch due to tightness in the middle of his back and wasn't feeling right after the game, either. ``There were too many things he couldn't do,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ``I think it still bothers him.''

MILWAUKEE: Manager Ned Yost is trying to stay positive despite a 4-12 skid. ``I don't think we've played as bas as the record shows,'' he said after Sunday's 3-0 loss to the San Diego Padres. ``But we definitely didn't stand out in any way, shape or form.'' ... The Brewers were swept for the first time this season.

SAN DIEGO: The Padres, tied for the NL West lead with the Los Angeles Dodgers, swept their first series of the season. ... The Padres recorded their major league-leading seventh shutout. ... Trevor Hoffman is three saves shy of becoming the first big leaguer to reach 500 for his career. He converted his 15th this season, and his 11th straight.

HOUSTON: Overlooked in the Astros' eighth consecutive loss Sunday was CF Hunter Prince's fifth straight two-hit game. ... Manager Phil Garner welcomed a day off on Monday before the Astros activate RHP Jason Jennings off the DL to face the Cincinnati Reds in Houston on Tuesday. ... With his first loss to Arizona - in eight starts - RHP Roy Oswalt saw his career ERA against the Diamondbacks jump from 1.98 to 2.57. ... 1B Mike Lamb went 0-for-5 on Sunday after carrying a .471 (8-for-17) career average into the game against Arizona starter Livan Hernandez. ... Marlon Ensberg hit his third home run in five games on Sunday. ... RHP Brad Lidge rejoined the team on Thursday but did not pitch in the Arizona series. He hasn't pitched since May 21 because of a minor bone bruise near his right knee.

ARIZONA: 3B Chad Tracy, sidelined with sore ribs, hit in the batting cage on Sunday and may take batting practice with the team in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Tracy's return will lead to some tricky decisions for manager Bob Melvin. Tracy's replacement, Mark Reynolds, is hitting .442 with 13 RBIs in his 11 games since being called up from Double-A Mobile. ... The Diamondbacks were 7-for-17 with runners in scoring position in Sunday's 8-4 victory. ... After scoring two runs in losses to Colorado, the Diamondbacks scored 35 in four games against Houston. ... CF Chris Young has hit safely in 12 of 13 games. He sat out five games during that span with a sore groin.

CHICAGO: Barring rainouts, Cubs manager Lou Piniella is scheduled to manage his 3,000th game on April 10 in Atlanta. Piniella is one of only three men in history to be named rookie of the year and manager of the year, along with Frank Robinson and Ozzie Guillen. ... RHP Wade Miller, who has missed 28 games since experiencing back spasms on April 22, was expected to join the Cubs in Chicago on Monday. ... LHP Scott Eyre, who had allowed just one earned run over 13 2-3 innings in his previous 18 career appearances against Dodgers, gave up a game-tying homer by pinch-hitter Andre Ethier during Sunday's 2-1 loss. The other one came Sept. 7, 2005, on a home run by Jose Cruz Jr. at Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES: C Russell Martin, batting a league-leading .361 in night games, is only 8-for-47 in the daytime. He was 0-for-4 in Sunday's matinee. ``I don't know if there's really a reason, but I'm really comfortable in night games and I seem to pick the ball better,'' Martin said. ``When it's dark, you get a better background. There's always a little bit of glare during the day - but other guys can hit in day games, so why couldn't I?'' ... LHP Randy Wolf pitched six scoreless innings of three-hit ball against the Cubs, despite losing track of the number of outs in the third. He grabbed Ryan Theriot's two-out comebacker and threw to second base to start a double play that wasn't necessary. The most surprised guy in the ballpark was 2B Jeff Kent, who took the throw several feet from the bag before recording the forceout.

COLORADO: RHP Taylor Buchholz became the 439th pitcher to surrender a homer to Barry Bonds. ... The Rockies won their fifth straight and swept the Giants in San Francisco for the first time. ... C Yorvit Torrealba got the day off and rookie Chris Iannetta earned the start. ... The Rockies have yet to name their Tuesday starter, though RHP Rodrigo Lopez is likely to come off the disabled list to pitch. He has been sidelined with a strained right elbow since April 19. ... RHP Josh Fogg, who left his start last Tuesday night with a left groin injury, threw off the mound for the first time. He might still need a DL stint. ... Jamey Carroll stole his third base.

SAN FRANCISCO: Barry Bonds' 746th homer also was his 2,874th hit, moving him past Babe Ruth and into sole possession of 34th place on the all-time list. ... 2B Ray Durham, injured Saturday night, had an MRI exam on his strained abdominal muscle and could be headed for the disabled list. The test showed a mild strain and the team planned to re-evaluate him Tuesday in New York. ``Still day-to-day,'' Durham said. ... CF Dave Roberts, recovering from elbow surgery May 11 to remove bone chips and spurs, played some light catch for the first time - making about 25 throws from 50 feet - and could throw at a higher intensity and from a further distance Tuesday in New York. ``You've got to be careful when you increase the distance,'' athletic trainer Dave Groeschner said. ... C Bengie Molina had hoped to play every day on the six-game homestand and got his wish. It helped the Giants had off days Thursday and Monday. ... 1B/OF Ryan Klesko got his first off day in a week. ... LHP Steve Kline made his 745th career relief appearance, tying him for 17th all-time among lefty relievers with Tom Burgmeier and Gary Lavelle.

Cardinals: Rolen may have a concussion

Scott Rolen might not be able to play on Monday. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said Rolen may have suffered a concussion during a collision with Dmitri Young on Sunday, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "He says he's better," La Russa said. "He didn't have trouble concentrating. He could drive home. I asked him about flying tonight — he was more assured than the doctors. Whether it's a temporary thing or whatever, he got pretty banged up."

Giants: Durham might go on the DL

Ray Durham underwent an MRI yesterday that revealed a mild abdominal strain. While Durham said he remained day-to-day, Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the second baseman could require a trip to the disabled list, according to the Contra Costa Times.

Cardinals 3B Scott Rolen (concussion) is questionable and SS David Eckstein (back) is doubtful.

Braves 3B Chipper Jones (thumb) is doubtful

Reds RF Ken Griffey Jr. (rest) is not expected to start today.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he might give DH Jason Giambi (foot) a day off during the Toronto series that starts tonight and use CF Johnny Damon (calves) as the DH.

Reds option Saarloos, recall Livingston
May 28, 2007

CINCINNATI (AP) -The day after Kirk Saarloos failed to retire any of the seven batters he faced in Cincinnati's 14-10 loss to Pittsburgh, the Reds optioned the right-hander to Triple-A Louisville and recalled left-hander Bobby Livingston.

``I don't feel like I'm the problem,'' Saarloos said. ``I think I've had three bad innings this year. I felt like, in the other 20 appearances, I was throwing the ball pretty (darn) good. Those three appearances are the bed I'm lying in.''

Saarloos, 0-4 with a 7.04 ERA, will work out of the Bats bullpen, Reds manager Jerry Narron said.

``He's just been up and down lately,'' Narron said. ``Hopefully, he'll be able to go down and get some consistent work.''

Livingston is making his second appearance with Cincinnati. In his previous stint, he made his first major league start on May 13 at Los Angeles, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs in 5 1-3 innings for a 6.75 ERA. He was optioned to Louisville on May 15. In his two stints with the Bats, Livingston was 0-3 with a 3.88 ERA in nine starts.

``He'll pitch in the bullpen right now, give us some length out there'' Narron said.

CINCINNATI (AP) -The day after Kirk Saarloos failed to retire any of the seven batters he faced in Cincinnati's 14-10 loss to Pittsburgh,

That was a nice effort 😀

Rockies' Fogg placed on 15-day DL
May 28th, 2007

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Colorado Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 23, with a strained left groin.

The club recalled righty Ryan Speier from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take his place on the roster.

Fogg had a solid start on the mound in Tuesday's 3-1 win against Arizona, as he was charged with just one run on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts before leaving after the sixth inning with the left groin strain. He laid down a sacrifice bunt and suffered the injury en route to first base.

Fogg is 1-5 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 games, nine of which were starts, for Colorado this season.

Speier, 27, was with the club April 21-28, and has no record with a 15.43 ERA over three major league appearances in 2007. He is 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 12 saves over 17 appearances for the Sky Sox.

Reds outfielder Freel taken to hospital after collision
May 28, 2007

CINCINNATI (AP) -Cincinnati Reds center fielder Ryan Freel was injured after colliding with right fielder Norris Hopper on Monday and placed on a stretcher before taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The frightening scene took place in the third inning of the Reds' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Freel and Hopper were chasing a fly ball hit by Humberto Cota leading off the inning. Freel caught the ball on the warning track and his left arm was run into by Hopper. Freel was twirled around to his left and fell at the base of the wall.

After being examined by Reds trainers and physicians, Freel was turned over on his back, strapped to a stretcher, loaded into an ambulance and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. Freel was on the field more than 10 minutes while he was being examined.

There was no immediate word on his injury or his condition.

Hopper remained in the game.

Freel, hitting .253 entering the game, was replaced by Ken Griffey Jr.

White Sox make roster moves
May 28, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -The Chicago White Sox placed utilityman Pablo Ozuna on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured right fibula and a torn right deltoid ligament before Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins.

Chicago also recalled infielder Andy Gonzalez from Triple-A Charlotte and right-handed reliever Dewon Day from Double-A Birmingham.

Ozuna injured himself rounding first base on a double during the first inning of Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. The 32-year-old was hitting .244 in 27 games. Gonzalez was hitting .242 in 35 games with Charlotte. The 25-year-old has appeared in two games in separate stints with the White Sox this season, going 0-for-2.

Day replaces left-hander Andrew Sisco, who was optioned to Charlotte after Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. Sisco gave up three runs in one inning and was 0-1 with an 8.36 ERA in 19 relief appearances this season.

Day has struck out 48 in 20 relief appearances with Birmingham this season. The 26-year-old has a 2-3 record and a 3.60 ERA with three saves.

Rangers bring up Wood, send down Feldman
May 28, 2007

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -The Texas Rangers on Monday recalled right-hander Mike Wood from Triple-A Oklahoma and sent down right-hander Scott Feldman.

Wood will make his fourth start for the Rangers on Tuesday in Oakland, replacing Robinson Tejeda. This will be Wood's third stint with Texas this season. He is 0-1 with a 7.02 ERA in four appearances, three of them starts when ace Kevin Millwood was injured.

Wood was 3-1 with a 2.58 ERA in six games for Oklahoma.

Feldman was sent to Oklahoma for the second time this month. He went down May 1 before coming back May 15. He is 1-2 with a 6.97 ERA in 17 relief appearances for the Rangers.