MLB News and Notes May - 29

Devil Rays activate Iwamura, option Gomes
May 28, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Tampa Bay rookie third baseman Akinori Iwamura was activated from the 15-day disabled list before Monday night's game against the Detroit Tigers. To make room on the roster, the Devil Rays optioned outfielder Jonny Gomes to Triple-A Durham.

Iwamura, a former star in Japan, was the club's biggest offseason acquisition and was batting .339 with one homer and five RBIs through 17 games when he strained a muscle in his right side swinging the bat on April 23.

Gomes, who disagreed with the decision to send him to the minors, was batting .184 with one homer and five RBIs in 49 at_bats, primarily as a designated hitter.

``I'm pretty bummed out. ... They wanted for me to go down and get at_bats. I thought I could get at_bats here,'' Gomes said.

``It's tough. It's tough for me. It's tough for him. It's tough for everybody,'' Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon said after meeting with Gomes. ``But it was a consensus opinion that it was the right thing to do.''

Demoting Gomes leaves the team with just three full-time outfielders on the active roster - Carl Crawford, Elijah Dukes and Delmon Young. Second baseman B.J. Upton has made three starts in center field and likely will move there on days that Maddon wants to rest Crawford, Dukes or Young.

Rockies to activate Lopez
May 28th, 2007

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - The Colorado Rockies plan to activated pitcher Rodrigo Lopez off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday in time to start against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Lopez has been on the disabled list since April 19, one day after leaving his start against the Dodgers after just four innings with right elbow inflammation.

Lopez is 1-0 with a 1.59 earned run average in three starts this season.

In preparation of the move, the Rockies optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Speier to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Red Sox send Delcarmen back to Triple-A
May 28, 2007

BOSTON (AP) -The Boston Red Sox optioned reliever Manny Delcarmen to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday night to make room on the roster for Josh Beckett, who's scheduled to start Tuesday night's game against Cleveland.

Beckett was put on the 15-day disabled list after a piece of skin tore loose on the middle finger of his right hand during his May 13 start.

Delcarmen was called up on May 21 and pitched a perfect inning against the New York Yankees that night.

Blue Jays option Roberts to Triple-A, call up Wolfe
May 28, 2007

TORONTO (AP)-The Toronto Blue Jays optioned infielder Ryan Roberts to Triple-A Syracuse after Monday's victory over the New York Yankees and purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Brian Wolfe.

The 26-year-old Wolfe was acquired from Milwaukee in the January 2006 trade that sent Corey Koskie to the Brewers.

A sixth-round draft pick by Minnesota in 1999, Wolfe was 2-0 with an 0.84 ERA in 14 games at Syracuse. He struck out 20 and walked just four in 21 2-3 innings, allowing 12 hits.

``He's pitching great down there and he's been on the radar for a while,'' manager John Gibbons. ``An extra arm definitely helps.''

Roberts has had two stints with Toronto this season, going 1-13 in eight games. He was called up for the second time on May 12 when Troy Glaus' troublesome left heel flared up for a second time.

Rangers sign Redman
May 28th, 2007

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers signed pitcher Mark Redman to a minor league contract on Monday.

Signed by Atlanta in the offseason, Redman struggled mightily with the Braves, going 0-4 with a robust 11.63 ERA in six appearances, including five starts. Texas assigned the left-hander to Triple-A Oklahoma and he will start for the Redhawks on Tuesday.

The Rangers also recalled pitcher Mike Wood from Oklahoma and optioned pitcher Scott Feldman to the same club.

It will be Wood's third stint with the club this season. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.02 ERA in four games for Texas, three of which were starts. Wood will start Tuesday against the Athletics.

Beckett set to return from DL
May 28th, 2007

Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett will be taken off the 15-day disabled list and is expected to start Tuesday's game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park.

Following Boston's 5-3 win over the Tribe on Monday, the Sox sent pitcher Manny Delcarmen to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room on the roster for Beckett, who had missed his last two starts due to a torn flap of skin on his right middle finger.

The right-hander is 7-0 with a 2.66 ERA in eight starts this season.

Baseball Today - May 29
Tue, May 29, 2007
By Associated Press

SCOREBOARD

Tuesday, May 29

Florida at Chicago (8:05 p.m. EDT). Dontrelle Willis squares off against Jason Marquis.

STARS

Monday

-Kyle Lohse, Reds, threw a complete-game six-hitter and Cincinnati topped Pittsburgh 4-0.

-Byung-Hyun Kim, Marlins, pitched six scoreless innings in Florida's 5-3 win over Chicago.

-Curt Schilling, Red Sox, gave up one run and struck out 10 in Boston's 5-3 defeat of Cleveland.

-Elijah Dukes, Devil Rays, hit a game-winning, two-run single to push Tampa Bay past Detroit 6-5.

-Adrian Beltre, Mariners, tied a franchise record with four extra-base hits, including two homers, and Seattle pounded the Los Angeles Angels 12-5.

ROCKET RELAUNCH

Roger Clemens appears ready to rejoin the New York Yankees' starting rotation. Clemens pitched six shutout innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a 2-0 victory over Toledo on Monday. He struck out six and gave up two hits and two walks and is on track to pitch for the Yankees this weekend at Boston or next week at Chicago.

HOT SOX

At 35-15, Boston leads the AL East by 11 1/2 games over second-place Baltimore. The Red Sox have never had a bigger lead through 50 games. A 5-3 win over AL Central-leading Cleveland on Monday stretched their lead over the rival New York Yankees to 13 1/2-games. The Yankees were defeated 7-2 by Toronto.

HR THE HARD WAY

Kevin Youkilis hit a stand-up inside-the-park homer to help Boston defeat Cleveland 5-3 on Monday. Youkilis hit a high fly ball to the deepest part of Fenway Park that hit the side of the Red Sox bullpen before center fielder Grady Sizemore could get to it. The ball kicked toward left field, where right fielder Trot Nixon ran it down. Nixon - who happened to hit the last inside-the-park homer for the Red Sox, on July 15, 2005, against the Yankees - made a throw to the cutoff man but Youkilis was already coasting across the plate.

STREAKS

Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 21 games in Seattle's 12-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. ... Kevin Youkilis extended his hitting streak to 20 games in Boston's 5-3 win over Cleveland. ... The Rockies beat St. Louis 6-2 Monday to win their sixth straight game for the first time since May 2002.

SNAPPED

Robinson Cano's hitting streak was stopped at 11 games in the Yankee's 7-2 loss to Toronto on Monday. ... Justin Morneau had his 10-game hitting streak snapped in Minnesota's 10-4 win over the White Sox. ... Cincinnati snapped a six-game losing streak with a 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. Reds starter Kyle Lohse stopped a personal six-game skid with the victory.

SPEAKING

''In the end, all the guys in here believe that we can make the playoffs. When we start walking around with our heads down, that's when we need to start worrying. We know we have an uphill climb, there's no question about it, but there's no quit. We're going to battle. Hopefully, in the end, there's going to be a nice prize.'' - Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon, on his team falling 13 1/2 games back of AL East-leading Boston after a 7-2 loss to Toronto on Monday. New York is also 7 1/2 games back of Detroit, the AL wild-card leader.

Notes from Monday's AL games
May 28, 2007

CHICAGO: The White Sox optioned struggling reliever Andrew Sisco to Triple-A Charlotte after Sunday's game against Tampa Bay and called up Dewon Day, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander. Day has posted 48 strikeouts in 20 appearances with Double-A Birmingham this season. ``Our bullpen needs a shot in the arm right now,'' manager Ozzie Guillen said. Day struggled in his major league debut, giving up two runs and four hits in one inning Monday against the Twins. ... Chicago is 19-14 at the Metrodome since 2004, the highest winning percentage by an AL opponent during that span. ... The White Sox are last in the AL with a .235 team batting average, but have collected at least 10 hits in six of their last eight games. ... After Monday's loss to Johan Santana, Chicago is 4-8 against lefties this year.

MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire officially demoted RHP Ramon Ortiz to the bullpen before Monday's game. After a strong start to the season, Ortiz posted a 10.97 ERA during May and gave up six runs in six innings in his last start on Saturday. ``He's ready to help the team any way he can,'' Gardenhire said. ``He gives everything he has all the time. He took the news well, just like we knew he would.'' The Twins have yet to name a replacement for Ortiz, but Gardenhire said the team will call somebody up from Triple-A Rochester to start Friday's game in Oakland. Kevin Slowey, a 23-year old right-hander with a 1.54 ERA in nine starts, is the leading candidate. ... Gardenhire also said that Friday is the target date for C Joe Mauer to return to the lineup. Mauer has been out since May 5 with a strained left quadriceps.

CLEVELAND: OF Trot Nixon and his wife, Kathryn, were given the 2007 Jimmy Fund Award in honor of their charitable work while he was in Boston. Nixon received a standing ovation when receiving the award from Red Sox owner John Henry, and a video tribute was shown on the scoreboard. He received another standing ovation when he came to the plate in the second inning, and pitcher Curt Schilling stood behind the mound until Nixon tipped his cap. Nixon played eight years in Boston, including the 2004 World Series champion team.

BOSTON: The Red Sox just missed a triple play in the third, when Casey Blake hit a chopper to Boston's Mike Lowell, who stepped on third and threw to second. Dustin Pedroia's throw to first was too late. ... 1B Kevin Youkilis doubled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. ... LHP Jon Lester will throw 80-85 pitches in a rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday night. RHP Mike Timlin also will rehab at Pawtucket, with scheduled appearances on Tuesday and Thursday.

NEW YORK: The struggling Yankees met for an hour before Monday's game in Toronto. New York has lost 11 of its past 16. ... Johnny Damon (calf cramps) started in center field Monday. Manager Joe Torre said Damon will play all three games in Toronto, but could get at least one start at designated hitter. ... Jason Giambi (sore heel) did not start Monday. ``He doesn't seem as comfortable as I'd like to see him,'' Torre said. ... Torre said RHP Scott Proctor is battling a stomach ailment and was not expected to pitch Monday.

TORONTO: C Gregg Zaun (broken thumb) will begin a rehab stint Wednesday at extended spring training in Florida. Zaun will DH at first but hopes to be catching again by the weekend. ... With RHP Roy Halladay (acute appendicitis) set to return Thursday, the Blue Jays have yet to decide who will be dropped from the starting rotation. ... The Blue Jays have not won back-to-back games since May 15 and 16, the final two contests in a three-game sweep of Baltimore.

DETROIT: LHP Kenny Rogers, who had surgery March 30 to remove a blood clot from his left shoulder, had a long toss session. ... DH Gary Sheffield said his uncle, former major league pitcher Dwight ``Doc'' Gooden is doing well. Gooden was released from prison last November after finishing a sentence for violating his probation by using cocaine. ... 2B Placido Polanco (strained oblique) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. ``I feel good about tomorrow,'' Polanco said. ``It's more in front, which is good according to the trainer.'' ... RHP Fernando Rodney (right biceps) is scheduled to throw Tuesday.

TAMPA BAY: Tigers DH Gary Sheffield has been in contact with Devil Rays OF Elijah Dukes, who was out of the lineup two days last week after a published report that he made threats against his estranged wife. Sheffield said one thing Dukes needs to do is to get out in the community to show that he is really good guy. Sheffield and Dukes both attended Hillsborough High School in Tampa. ... OF Carl Crawford joined the Yankees' Johnny Damon has the only active players to have tripled in every current AL park after his three-base hit Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

BALTIMORE: LHP Jamie Walker flew back to Baltimore on Monday morning to be with his wife, who gave birth to a son. Manager Sam Perlozzo said mother and baby were both doing fine and he expected Walker to rejoin the team on Wednesday. ... Kansas City is the first stop on a 10-game trip, the longest of the year for the Orioles. They head for the West Coast after three games against the Royals. ... The Orioles will host KC on Sept. 24 to make up their rainout on April 15. Baltimore won the first three games of that scheduled four-game set. ... Five stolen bases against Oakland on Sunday boosted the Orioles into a tie for the AL lead with 41.

KANSAS CITY: Since he lost a family member in Iraq, Memorial Day has taken on special meaning for manager Buddy Bell. Lance Cpl. Tim Bell Jr., 22, was among 14 Marines killed by a roadside bomb in August 2005. ``I'm embarrassed by having to lose a member of your family to really understand the importance of this day,'' Bell said. ``But without question, this is a very important day in the year. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families that have kids and fathers and brothers and sisters in Afghanistan and Iraq.'' Another nephew, Tim Koesters, is serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Army's Special Forces. ``There's not a day that goes by that I don't appreciate what these people do for us,'' Bell said. ``We should all remember it.''

SEATTLE: The Mariners entered on a roll, having hit .324 in their previous 11 games and .369 with 21 extra-base hits in their most recent four, raising their team batting average to an AL-leading .279. ``We've always thought we have a good offensive club,'' OF Raul Ibanez said. ``More guys are starting to hit at the same time. We haven't had that all year.'' ... The Mariners have struck out a major league-low 210 times and drawn an AL-low 111 walks this season. ... The Mariners haven't been three games over .500 since the end of the 2003 season. They entered Monday night's game against the Angels with a 24-22 record. ... 2B Jose Lopez committed his first error of the season Sunday at Kansas City. ... RHP Jeff Weaver, 0-6 with a 14.32 ERA, is scheduled to pitch a simulated game Tuesday. Weaver is on the DL for the first time in his career due to tendinitis in his right shoulder.

LOS ANGELES: The Angels optioned OF Tommy Murphy to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday and purchased the contract of OF Nathan Haynes from Salt Lake. To make room for Haynes on their 40-man roster, the team put LHP Phil Seibel on waivers. ... C Mike Napoli entered Monday night's game with a career-best 13-game hitting streak. He had gotten at least one hit and scored one run in 10 straight games - the first AL catcher to do so since Johnny Romano of the Chicago White Sox in 1961. ``Wow, that's pretty crazy,'' he said. ``I had no idea. I guess that's pretty cool.'' ... Manager Mike Scioscia returned to the team after missing weekend games at Yankee Stadium to attend the high school graduation of his son, Matt. The Angels won both games. ``I'm dragging the club down,'' Scioscia said with a smile. More seriously, he added: ``It's tough to relax because you're somewhere you're not supposed to be. Ron and Butch did a terrific job - they put the guys in the position they needed to be.'' Scioscia was referring to coach Ron Roenicke, who managed in his absence, and pitching coach Mike Butcher.

Notes from Monday's AL games
May 28, 2007

PITTSBURGH: C Ryan Doumit was available to pinch hit Monday, three days after he was accidentally hit in the side of the head by Ryan Freel's bat and forced out of Friday's game. Doumit probably won't start at least until Wednesday against San Diego in Pittsburgh, manager Jim Tracy said. ... Tracy is intrigued by the success of 3B Jose Bautista in the leadoff role. Bautista has been the Pirates' leadoff hitter in each of the last seven games, and he's gotten at least one hit in six of them. ``He knows what a strike looks like,'' Tracy said. ... The Pirates signed RHP David Copley, a 43rd-round pick in last year's amateur draft.

CINCINNATI: The day after RHP Kirk Saarloos failed to retire any of the seven batters he faced in Cincinnati's 14-10 loss to Pittsburgh, the Reds optioned him to Triple-A Louisville and recalled LHP Bobby Livingston. ``I don't feel like I'm the problem,'' said Saarloos, 0-4 with a 7.04 ERA. ``He's just been up and down lately,'' manager Jerry Narron said. ... OF Josh Hamilton's rehab debut in Charlotte with Triple-A Louisville will be Tuesday. Hamilton is on the disabled list until at least June 8 after a bout with an inflamed digestive tract. ... LHP Eddie Guardado allowed one hit and threw 13 pitches in one inning for Single-A Dayton during his first rehab assignment on Monday. Guardado is trying to come back from ligament reconstruction surgery on his left elbow.

ATLANTA: Andruw Jones hit his second home run in two days Monday to help Atlanta beat Milwaukee 2-1. The homer was the 350th of his career and eighth this season. ``I'm feeling good right now at the plate,'' said Jones, who has worked to improve his balance. ... 3B Chipper Jones missed his fifth straight game because of a sore right hand and could be headed to the DL.

MILWAUKEE: The Brewers have lost a season-high six straight and 13 of 17. ``We're still in first place, so there's no reason for panicking,'' CF Bill Hall said. ... With 16 homers, Prince Fielder moved ahead of teammate J.J. Hardy for the NL lead.

FLORIDA: RHP Josh Johnson (right elbow) is scheduled to start an extended spring training game Tuesday in Jupiter, Fla. RHP Henry Owens (right shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis) and RHP Carlos Martinez (elbow surgery) are also scheduled to pitch in the same game. ... RHP Logan Kensing, (elbow surgery) will throw live batting practice on Tuesday. ... 1B Mike Jacobs (broken right thumb) will be inactive for the next five to seven days, according to a team spokesman. ... OF Cody Ross (left hamstring strain) has begun light jogging and general baseball activities. ... RHP Ricky Nolasco (right elbow inflammation) will not throw for at least two weeks. ... RHP Matt Lindstrom cut the top of his right thumb in the eighth inning of the Marlins' 5-3 win over the Cubs. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said that the injury was a common one for his setup man. ``Lindstrom, he cuts himself on the top of the thumb,'' Gonzalez said. ``When he releases the pitch he cuts it somehow.'' Lindstrom pitched a scoreless inning, allowing only a single to Aramis Ramirez.

CHICAGO: LHP Scott Eyre allowed a home run in the eighth inning Sunday to the Dodgers' Andre Ethier in a game the Cubs lost 2-1 in 11 innings. On Monday, Eyre allowed two runs and four hits in two innings against the Marlins. His ERA is up to 8.27. He finished the 2006 season with a 3.38 ERA. ... The Cubs have lost five in a row against the Marlins dating to last season.

ST. LOUIS: 3B Scott Rolen (slight concussion) and SS David Eckstein (back) were given Monday off to recover from injuries. Manager Tony La Russa said both are day to day. ... La Russa hasn't given any thought to putting RHP Ryan Franklin in the starting rotation, not the way he's throwing in middle relief. ``When you consider alternatives, his name comes up,'' La Russa said. ``But we quickly go by it. He's an important part of how we win the games late.'' ... RHP Kip Wells lost his major league-leading ninth game Monday, allowing a season-high 11 hits. ... OF So Taguchi hit his first homer of the season in the eighth inning Monday. He'd gone 221 at_bats without a homer.

COLORADO: The Rockies are trying to find ways to get utility player Jeff Baker more playing time. He filled in for 1B Todd Helton on Monday, going 0-for-3. ... The Rockies will activate RHP Rodrigo Lopez on Tuesday from the disabled list. He's been out since April 19 with a strained right elbow. Lopez will start the game Tuesday night. ... The Rockies have won six straight games for the first time since May 21-26, 2002. ... OF Matt Holliday has nine of the Rockies' 30 homers this season. ... The Rockies are 10-5 on Memorial Day.

ARIZONA: LHP Randy Johnson threw about 50 pitches in a bullpen session and is expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday. ... OF Chris Young was out of the starting lineup as he continues to recover from a groin injury. ``After you come back from something like that, there's usually a little soreness after a day or two until you can play every day for nine innings,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ... Reigning NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb is doing well after being hit in the left forearm Saturday against Houston. ``He looks better than I thought he'd look. I thought that thing had a chance to be really ugly,'' Melvin said. ... 3B Chad Tracy, sidelined with sore ribs, is expected to take batting practice on Tuesday and throughout the six-game road trip and begin playing catch when the team returns home June 5.

PHILADELPHIA: Injured closer Tom Gordon, out with a right rotator cuff strain since early May, will begin a tossing program on Tuesday. ... The Phillies are 13-2 in games utility man Greg Dobbs has started. Dobbs wasn't in the starting lineup Monday. ... LF Pat Burrell was on the bench for the second straight game. He was hitless in his last 17 at_bats. ``He's got slow feet and quick hands,'' manager Charlie Manuel said. ... 3B Abraham Nunez started his first game since suffering a mild concussion against the Marlins last Thursday.

Tigers: Polanco could play Tuesday

Placido Polanco has made progress in his recovery from an abdominal strain and could be back in the lineup on Tuesday. "If I make as much improvement in the next 24 hours as I did the last 24, I should be ready to go. But I've never had this kind of thing, so I don't know," Polanco told the Detroit News.

Bonds not expected to play tonight at Shea
By JOHN DELCOS
THE JOURNAL NEWS

NEW YORK - San Francisco outfielder Barry Bonds is not expected to play in tonight's Mets-Giants game at Shea Stadium.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said by coupling Monday's travel off day with today and tomorrow's night game, baseball's No. 2 career home run hitter would essentially get two-and-a-half days off.

Bonds hit his 746th homer Sunday and is nine away from tying Hank Aaron's record.

Theoretically, if Bonds were to rest it would make sense to sit him against a hard throwing lefthander such as tonight's starter, Oliver Perez.

However, Bochy told San Francisco reporters things with Bonds are always subject to change and didn't discount the possibility of him appearing as a pinch-hitter.

Tonight is the start of a three-game series with the Giants, and the Mets say there is ticket availability for all three games.

Red Sox SP Josh Beckett (finger) has been cleared to start tonight and is expected to be on a 90-100 pitch limit.

Giants 2B Ray Durham (abdominal) is doubtful.

Braves 3B Chipper Jones (thumb) is doubtful.

Tigers 2B Placido Polanco is hoping to play Tuesday after missing a second start Monday with an oblique strain.

Mets put Green on 15-day DL
May 29, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -Mets outfielder Shawn Green went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday because of a broken right foot, the first time he's been on the DL in his major league career.

New York recalled outfielder Ben Johnson from Triple-A New Orleans before Tuesday night's game against San Francisco.

Green fouled a ball off his foot on Friday, and the move was made retroactive to Saturday. The Mets expect Green will be able to begin running in about 10 days.

The 34-year-old Green started his big league career in 1993. He is hitting .314 with five home runs and 22 RBIs this season.

Johnson was hitting .282 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 21 games at New Orleans.

Along with Green, outfielders Carlos Gomez and Moises Alou and infielder Jose Valentin were examined by team physician Dr. Straun Coleman.

Gomez has a slight strain in his left hamstring and was in the starting lineup against the Giants.

Alou, who is eligible to come off the disabled list, is day to day because of a strained left quadriceps. Valentin, sidelined since April 29 because of a partially torn ligament in his right knee, was cleared to start playing in a brace.

Reds call up Wise to replace injured Freel
May 29, 2007

HOUSTON (AP) -The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder Ryan Freel on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and called up Dewayne Wise from Triple-A Louisville.

Freel suffered contusions to his head and neck in a frightening collision with RF Norris Hopper in the third inning of Monday's 4-0 win over Pittsburgh. Freel lay motionless for several minutes before he was taken off the field on a stretcher.

The 31-year-old Freel was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, where CT scans and MRIs on his neck and head were normal. He was scheduled to be released from the hospital Tuesday.

Freel will see head and spine specialist Dr. John Brannan on Wednesday.

Wise, 29, was hitting .256 with seven home runs and 19 RBIs in 44 games with Louisville this season.