MLB News and Notes September 19

Starters to get extra rest as Red Sox set up rotation with eye on playoffs
September 18, 2007

TORONTO (AP) -Boston manager Terry Francona wants his starting staff to be well-rested by the time the playoffs begin.

The Red Sox will pitch Tim Wakefield in the finale of the three-game series at Tampa Bay on Sunday, giving right-hander Curt Schilling four extra days of rest before his next start. Schilling will pitch against Oakland on Tuesday, Sept. 25.

Boston is also giving rookie right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka three extra days of rest before his next scheduled start, Saturday at Tampa Bay.

``We're really trying to line up that last week and beyond,'' manager Francona said.

The Red Sox entered play Tuesday with a 3 1/2 game lead over the New York Yankees in the American League East, their smallest division margin since before play on May 2.

Schilling, 8-8 with a 3.97 ERA in 23 starts, last worked Sunday against New York, allowing four runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings to fall to 0-3 in his past four starts.

Matsuzaka's last outing was Friday against New York, when he allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2-3 innings. He is 14-12 with a 4.41 ERA in 30 games this season but just 1-4 in his past seven starts.

``At some point, there was going to be a three-day extra rest period,'' Francona said. ``We elected to do it now, as opposed to before a playoff game. It just didn't seem to make a ton of sense. Rest is great, but if there's any rust you'd rather have it now.''

Wakefield (16-11) took the loss against Toronto on Monday, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings. He is 0-1 in three starts since missing a turn on Aug. 31 because of a sore lower back.

Rookie Clay Buchholz will start against Toronto on Wednesday, the right-hander's first start since throwing a no-hitter against Baltimore on Sept. 1.

Johnny Vander Meer is the only pitcher in major league history to throw no-hitters in consecutive starts, doing it for Cincinnati in 1938.

Buchholz is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in three games this season. He threw the no-hitter in his second career start.

Boston is off Thursday before starting its final road series Friday night in Tampa Bay. Right-hander Josh Beckett, working on five days rest, will pitch Friday. The Red Sox are off again Monday before finishing the season with six home games, two against Oakland and four against Minnesota.

``We'll set up the rotation how we think serves us completely, now and in the future,'' Francona said. ``We're certainly aware of what has transpired this year, what guys have gone through and what we hope they will go through. We continue to make decisions based on all the factors.''

Most of all, Francona wants to avoid a repeat of 2005 when, with their rotation uncertain, Boston was swept by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the playoffs.

``We went down to the last day not knowing, went into the playoffs and got knocked around a little bit,'' Francona said.

Padilla, Swisher suspended 7 games
September 18, 2007

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla was suspended Tuesday for seven games and Athletics outfielder Nick Swisher was given three games for an incident that occurred in the first inning of Sunday's game in Oakland.

Padilla was suspended for intentionally throwing at Swisher, who charged the mound. Both players also received undisclosed fines, a decision made by baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson.

Swisher began his suspension Tuesday, when the A's hosted the Seattle Mariners in the middle game of their three-game series. Padilla appealed his suspension. The Rangers played at Minnesota on Tuesday.

Swisher was on crutches Tuesday after fouling a ball off his right foot Monday night, though he stayed in the game. A's manager Bob Geren said it made little sense for Swisher to appeal his penalty, because that process takes time and that could have meant him missing time at the start of the 2008 season.

``It sounds pretty fair to me, pretty normal,'' Geren said. ``Obviously I wish the whole thing never happened.''

Jeff DaVanon replaced Swisher in center field Tuesday and Geren said Dee Brown also could earn a start in the next few days.

Swisher, who is batting .264 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs, had homered in each of the first three games of the series with the Rangers before getting hit for the third straight day. He rushed to the mound and tackled Padilla. Oakland second baseman Jack Hannahan dived into the pile and A's manager Bob Geren got into a heated argument with the umpires.

Second base umpire Tim Timmons was bumped to the ground during the fray, and plate umpire Chuck Meriwether wasted little time in tossing Padilla and Swisher, who had to be restrained by catcher Kurt Suzuki and several teammates. Nobody else was ejected.

Swisher was hit by Bill White in the seventh inning on Saturday and glared out at the mound as the umpires issued a warning to both teams.

Notes from Tuesday's games
September 18, 2007

DETROIT: Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he ``slept like a baby'' after a 6-5 loss in 11 innings Monday night that dropped his team 5 1/2 games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central. ``I've been through this a lot and am able to turn the page,'' Leyland said. ``All teams go through it. You don't look back, you come back the next day and try to win.'' ... Leyland might give C Ivan Rodriguez a rest Wednesday. ``He wants to play them all, but I'll see,'' Leyland said, adding that a scheduled off day Thursday would give the 35-year-old All-Star consecutive days off heading into the stretch run. ... INF Carlos Guillen doesn't like hearing talk of the Tigers possibly signing a free-agent shortstop in the offseason. ``They do that, he better be one of the best,'' said Guillen, adding that he doesn't mind moving over to first base on occasion, but still considers himself one of the best in the game at shortstop. ``I play everywhere, but I'm a shortstop.'' ... OF Magglio Ordonez was inundated with media requests from his native Venezuela after becoming the first player from his country to get 200 hits in a season since the late Cesar Tovar had 205 in 1971. Ordonez was pleased to reach the milestone and marveled at Seattle OF Ichiro Suzuki's record of 262 hits in 2004. ``I can't imagine that,'' Ordonez said.

CLEVELAND: 3B Casey Blake's only plan was to touch all the bases, everything else was unscripted. For the second time in four days, Blake hit a game-winning home run Monday night, this one a one-out shot in the 11th inning that gave the Indians a 6-5 win over Detroit and a firmer grip on the AL Central. Blake's shot, and the one he hit leading off the ninth inning to beat Kansas City on Friday night, could go down as two of the most memorable moments in a 2007 season full of big moments. ``I hope so,'' Blake said. ``They were two big wins for us. It (Monday's win) was the biggest game of the year - so far.'' During an interview following the game, Blake voiced some regret about his celebration as he rounded the bases. ``I was excited,'' he said. ``I think anybody would have been.'' Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez was told by a reporter that Blake felt the need to apologize for his celebration. ``I'd do the same thing,'' Pudge said. ``I'd probably jump around the bases. There's no apology needed.'' ... Cleveland's 3.58 ERA in the second half is baseball's second-best, trailing only Toronto's 3.46. ... At this point last season, the Indians had made 115 errors. They entered Tuesday with 87.

BALTIMORE: RHP Daniel Cabrera dropped his appeal and started serving his six-game suspension for throwing at Boston's Dustin Pedroia this month. Manager Dave Trembley said Cabrera's next start will be Monday against Kansas City. ... Trembley said RHPs Victor Zambrano and Victor Santos will likely start the first two of Baltimore's four-game series at Texas, and the club is leaning toward giving RHP Radhames Liz another start Saturday against the Rangers. RHP Jon Leicester would start Sunday's game. ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie (strained left oblique) had a long-toss session Tuesday. ``If he can't pitch and throw a full sideline by next Sunday, I'm going to shut him down,'' Trembley said. ... OF Corey Patterson had an MRI exam on his sprained left ankle in Baltimore. It came up negative, and he was expected to rejoin the team and continue treatment.

NEW YORK: If the Yankees lock up the wild card before the final weekend of the regular season, manager Joe Torre indicated he's leaning toward lining up his playoff rotation - even if New York has a chance to catch AL East-leading Boston. ``I haven't really thought that far ahead, but to me the postseason is the most thing,'' Torre said. ... LF Hideki Matsui said he hasn't had X-rays or an MRI exam on his ailing knee, but he will at the end of the season. Matsui has no idea whether he will need surgery. ... 1B Jason Giambi was going to start, but Torre said his foot was bruised from when he was hit by a pitch Monday night. Doug Mientkiewicz got his third straight start at 1B. ... RHPs Chien-Ming Wang, Ian Kennedy, Roger Clemens and Phil Hughes are scheduled to start in the four-game series against Toronto that begins Friday at Yankee Stadium.

BOSTON: INF Kevin Youkilis (sore right wrist) played catch but is not ready to return. ``We're doing everything we can but I don't know how you can go faster than the healing will allow,'' manager Terry Francona said. Youkilis was hit by a pitch from New York's Chien-Ming Wang on Saturday and has not started since. ... OF Coco Crisp (sore back) was held out of the starting lineup. Jacoby Ellsbury moved to center and Brandon Moss started in left. ``(Crisp) got real stiff as the game went on last night,'' Francona said. ``It's been hurting him for a while.'' ... RHP Tim Wakefield will start Sunday at Tampa Bay, pushing RHP Curt Schilling back to Tuesday against Oakland. The move gives Schilling eight days off between starts as Boston seeks to set up its rotation for a potential playoff series.

TORONTO: LHP Scott Downs, who has a suspected case of gout in his right foot, was feeling better and threw in the bullpen before the game. ``I'm not sure that he can pitch yet,'' manager John Gibbons said. Downs then closed out a 4-3 victory for his first save of the season. ... SS John McDonald was scratched from the starting lineup about an hour before game time after straining an abdominal muscle. He was replaced by Ray Olmedo. ... Entering play, Toronto pitchers had held their opponents to a major league-low .245 batting average since the All-Star break.

TEXAS: MLB suspended RHP Vicente Padilla for seven games for his role in Sunday's bench-clearing brawl with the A's. Padilla was ejected in the first inning of Sunday's game after beaning Nick Swisher, who then charged the mound. Padilla will appeal the suspension and is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Twins. ... Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Hank Blalock were in the lineup. They missed Monday's game with neck injuries stemming from Sunday's skirmish. Saltalamacchia said he was ``fine'' and ``ready to go'' after taking batting practice. ... Texas pitchers have enjoyed success recently at the Metrodome, yielding only seven earned runs in the last six games. However, the team has only won three of those games.

MINNESOTA: With three more quality starts to finish the season, RHP Carlos Silva should reach 200 innings. Silva is a free agent this offseason and will likely draw interest from teams looking for a middle of the rotation innings eater. ``It's probably every starting pitcher's goal to reach 200 innings,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said. The Twins have several young starters that could step up next season, making it unlikely they would break the bank to keep Silva. ... Gardenhire said 3B Brian Buscher will likely play in an instructional league this offseason. The 26-year-old might also play winter ball.

CHICAGO: White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen is sad that Buddy Bell has announced he is stepping down as Royals manager after this season for personal and family reasons. ``It's a shame when people like that step down,'' Guillen said. ``I don't care what the reason is. I think baseball needs people like Buddy Bell. I think he is one of the most respected guys in the game. When someone like that steps down, hopefully, whoever comes in can fill the shoes and do the same thing he does. We're going to miss him.'' Bell was the White Sox director of minor league instruction from 1991-93. ... The White Sox have lost 47 games this year when they have had a lead. ... RHP Jose Contreras, who starts on Wednesday, is 9-16 and second in the AL in losses behind the Orioles' Daniel Cabrera, 17. ... RHP Mike MacDougal has 18 holds, tied for ninth in the league.

KANSAS CITY: Rookie 3B Alex Gordon was held out of the lineup with a bruised right knee, where he fouled off a pitch Monday. ``It's a little stiff and sore,'' Gordon said. ``It's hard to bend. I'll give it a day to rest it. Hopefully tomorrow, I'll play.'' Jason Smith replaced Gordon, making his first start of the season at third base. ... RHP Luke Hochevar, the first player picked in the 2006 draft, has pitched 6 1-3 scoreless innings and allowed six hits in his first two major league appearances, both in relief. ... Rookie RHP Brian Bannister, who starts Wednesday, is 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA in his past 11 starts. His 3.39 ERA leads AL rookies and ranks eighth in the league.

TAMPA BAY: LHP J.P. Howell will pitch Wednesday's matinee against the Angels instead of the scheduled starter, RHP James Shields, who is being shut down for the final two weeks of the season as a precaution. Shields has thrown 215 innings, going 12-8 with a 3.85 ERA in 31 starts. Last year as a rookie, he worked 124 2-3 innings in 21 starts and was 6-8 with a 4.84 ERA. ``He's fine. He's healthy, and we want to keep him that way,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ``He could pitch tomorrow. He could pitch Game 1 of the World Series. But we just think the workload he's had this season has exceeded what he's done in the past by a lot. So we just think that for this part of his development, the prudent thing to do is not to push him beyond the point he's at right now. I think we've done a pretty good job of maintaining integrity through this whole (pennant race) situation, but there also comes a point where you have to do what's right for yourself.''

LOS ANGELES: RHP Ervin Santana will start Wednesday instead of RHP Bartolo Colon, who developed back stiffness following his 4 2-3 innings last Friday against the White Sox - his first outing since July 23. The 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner, who was on the disabled list because of irritation in his elbow, is 0-5 in his last seven starts and has not won since beating Cincinnati on June 14. ``Yesterday he threw on flat ground and it felt a little looser, but it just hasn't recovered to a point where we would want him to go out there,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``So we'll give him a little extra time and see how he comes out of the treatment these next three or four days and let this thing run its course. Hopefully he'll get a chance to start next week.''

SEATTLE: Manager John McLaren said he'll know who will pitch one of the games of the doubleheader against Cleveland on Sept. 26 by Wednesday. ``We went through the scenarios,'' he said. ``We'll have it wrapped up.'' ... LHP Ryan Feierabend will make two starts over the final 10 days of the season. He was already penciled in as Thursday's starter at the Los Angeles Angels. McLaren announced Feierabend will also pitch against the Indians, most likely in the doubleheader. ... There's no timetable for 1B Richie Sexson's return to the lineup. The slugger had missed 14 of the last 17 games with tendinitis in his left leg and McLaren doesn't want to rush him back. ``If he goes out there on one leg it won't do anybody any good,'' McLaren said. ``We want to get that tendinitis out of there before he plays. The trainers say this isn't a serious injury, but we want to make sure he's healthy. He wants to play, but he's lost some timing since he hasn't been able to take batting practice.''

OAKLAND: RHP Rich Harden threw 77 pitches in a five-inning simulated game, his final tuneup as part of his recovery from a strained throwing shoulder before returning to the mound to start Sunday at Cleveland. Harden also is slated to start Sept. 29 at home against the Angels - and knows how much it would mean to him to head into the winter on a positive note. ``It would be good to go out there and know everything's working and the velocity's there,'' Harden said. ``It'd be nice to go into the offseason and know everything's right. I'm pretty confident it is.'' ... OF Nick Swisher was suspended for three games and Texas pitcher Vicente Padilla received seven games after they brawled during the first inning of Sunday's game in Oakland after Padilla plunked Swisher. Swisher began his suspension Tuesday, while Padilla appealed his suspension. Swisher was on crutches Tuesday after fouling a ball off his right foot Monday night, though he stayed in the game. A's manager Bob Geren said it made little sense for Swisher to appeal his penalty because that process takes time and that could have meant him missing time at the start of the 2008 season. ``It sounds pretty fair to me, pretty normal,'' Geren said. ``Obviously, I wish the whole thing never happened.'' ... Wednesday will be the final start for LHP Dan Meyer, who will then be available out of the bullpen along with LHP Lenny DiNardo.

LOS ANGELES: SS Rafael Furcal left the first game of a doubleheader after the sixth inning. ``Furcal was forced to leave the game when his lower back tightened up,'' manager Grady Little said. ``He will be day-to-day.'' ... Despite control trouble in his three starts with the Dodgers, Little is sticking with RHP Esteban Loaiza to start Friday at Arizona. ``He's going through an adjustment period,'' Little said. ``It's like going back to spring training for him.'' ... Little predicted at least 10 wins would be needed to get the Dodgers into the playoffs. ... Little is not a fan of doubleheaders. ``They keep players from playing in games they otherwise would play,'' he said.

COLORADO: 2B Omar Quintanilla drew the start in the first game of a doubleheader over 2B Jamey Carroll. ``Omar is hitting better against right-handers,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ... There is no indication when 2B Kaz Matsui (sore right hamstring) will return to the lineup. He hasn't faced live pitching since coming out of the game on Sept. 8. ... LHP Jeff Francis has the club record for wins in a season by a left-hander with 16. The overall club record is 17, held by RHP Kevin Ritz (1996) and RHP Pedro Astacio (1999). ... OF Matt Holliday added to his season high with his 123rd RBI. ``Matt is having an MVP year,'' Hurdle said. ... INF Joe Koshansky had his first major league hit, a double, in the opener of the doubleheader.

NEW YORK: LF Moises Alou singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 22 games. That's one game shy of his career high. He left during the fifth inning with tightness in his left quadriceps muscle. ... The Mets purchased the contract of LHP Dave Williams from Triple-A New Orleans and designated RHP Brian Lawrence for assignment. ... RHP Orlando Hernandez will wear a protective boot on his right foot for 7-10 days. He has a bunion that kept him from making his Tuesday start. ... Players decided to have a team meeting before Tuesday's game. ``If we have a meeting, it doesn't mean we're going to go out and win the next 12 games,'' LHP Tom Glavine said. ``Sometimes, during the course of a season, it doesn't hurt to get guys together and remind them of some things.''

WASHINGTON: 1B Dmitri Young was not in the starting lineup for the third straight game. He was hit by a hard shot by Atlanta's Mark Teixeira on Saturday night and had an MRI on Tuesday that revealed no significant damage. ... SS Cristian Guzman, who's been on the disabled list with a sprained ligament in his left thumb since June 25, took fielding practice on Tuesday. If he isn't sore on Wednesday, the Nationals will consider setting up a simulated game so that he can get some batting practice. They hope he can play again before the end of the season. ... Manager Manny Acta said that he sees no urgency for LHP Ross Detwiler to pitch again. The team's first-round draft choice, pitched one inning against Atlanta on Sept. 7.

FLORIDA: Manager Fredi Gonzalez favors keeping RHP Daniel Barone in the rotation when the Marlins return home Thursday to face the Mets. After allowing Andruw Jones' 25th homer in relief on Monday, Barone was hit in the leg by John Smoltz's single and left after pitching the fifth. Barone is 1-2 with a 5.01 ERA in 13 games, including four starts. If Barone is unable to pitch, Gonzalez said he didn't have another immediate option in mind. ... After going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs on Monday, CF Cody Ross improved to .415 in September (17-for-41). His .357 average since the All-Star break leads the Marlins and ranks sixth in the NL behind Cincinnati's Norris Hopper. ... LF Josh Willingham returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore back.

ATLANTA: Not that it's anything manager Bobby Cox would consider in the regular season, but RHP John Smoltz would prefer to pitch on three days' rest for the remainder of 2007 - and next year, too. The 1996 NL Cy Young winner, who turned 40 in May and has undergone multiple arm injuries in his career, said doing so would keep him fresh between starts and not tax the bullpen. ``You just can't go as long,'' Smoltz said. ``You can't go nine innings. I guarantee I could do it over the course of the season. Six and seven (innings).'' Replied Cox: ``Of course I'm not going to let him do it, but that's what he wants to do. He's in great shape. He's had a marvelous year this year and not a lot of run support. We look for forward to John next year winning his 20 (games).'' ... RF Jeff Francoeur drove in his 43rd two-out run in the first inning. He began Tuesday's game tied for fourth in the NL in that category. ... After opponents hit .277 off him in July, RHP Rafael Soriano held other teams to a .219 average in August and .089 so far in September. He has pitched 13 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings, a span of 11 games, allowing just six hits and three walks with 16 strikeouts. ... 1B Mark Teixeira has 24 RBIs in 43 games since the Braves traded for him on July 31. ... With a single in the second, C Brian McCann improved his average to .295 (44-for-149) since Aug. 2. McCann has hit safely in 32 of 41 games during that span.

CINCINNATI: The Reds were waiting word Tuesday night on the status of their protest of Monday night's 7-6 loss, when they claimed Chicago manager Lou Piniella made an illegal double switch in the sixth inning. ``We filed it last night with the umpires and it's in the hands of the commissioner's office,'' general manager Wayne Krivsky said Tuesday night. Interim manager Pete Mackanin said Piniella crossed the foul line instead of going directly to plate umpire Rick Reed. After the game, Reed pulled out an umpire's manual and said a manager has the option when to make a double switch on his first trip of the inning, as long as he hasn't already removed the pitcher. ``Why don't they put that in our manual instead of just their manual?'' Mackanin said before Tuesday night's game. ``I'm sure if that's what it says in his interpretation.'' Mackanin said the appeal was Krivsky's call. ... Brandon Phillips is one homer shy of becoming the second 2B in major league history to have a 30-homer, 30-steal season. The other is Alfonso Soriano, now the Cubs' left fielder, who did it in 2002-03 and 2005.

CHICAGO: Mark DeRosa is the third Cubs player in the last 50 years to have a pair of five-plus hit games against the same team in the same season. DeRosa was 5-for-5 Monday night, including the game-winning single in the ninth, and also was 5-for-5 against the Reds on Aug. 16. Bob Dernier did it twice in 1984 against Atlanta and Sammy Sosa did the same against Colorado in 1993. ... Manager Lou Piniella isn't sure how many wins it till take to capture the NL Central. When it was suggested that 86 might do it - the Cubs would have to go 7-4 in their final 11 games - Piniella called that a ``reasonable number.'' Entering play Tuesday night, the Cubs had two more wins than the second-place Brewers, although the teams were tied in the loss column. ``I would think that the team that has two posted wins right now has an advantage,'' Piniella said. ``I'd rather have the wins already in the column than having to play them.''

MILWAUKEE: The Brewers have 13 players on their active roster who are 27 years old or younger, and manager Ned Yost thinks the tight fight for the NL Central will help them, even if they can't catch the Chicago Cubs. ``This is valuable experience for them,'' Yost said. Young pitchers Carlos Villanueva and Yovani Gallardo have stood out in the last two games. The 23-year-old Villanueva threw seven scoreless innings in a 5-2 win over Cincinnati on Sunday and the 21-year-old Gallardo shut out the Astros for eight innings in a 6-0 victory on Monday. Gallardo has thrown 21 consecutive innings without allowing a run. ``They're able to get into a big game and pitch successfully,'' Yost said. ... The Brewers came into Monday's game seven home runs shy of the single-season franchise record (216). Yost isn't surprised. ``I knew we had some power,'' he said. ... 1B Prince Fielder is one of five NL finalists for the Hank Aaron Award, given to the season's top offensive player. Fielder has already set the single-season franchise record for homers (46) and is only the fifth player in team history to reach 100 RBIs and 100 runs in the same season.

HOUSTON: OF Hunter Pence was out of the starting lineup for the first time since Aug. 22, when he returned from a sprained wrist. ``Once in a while, you just need a day off from baseball,'' said manager Cecil Cooper. The 23-year-old Pence is hitting .302 in September, but went 0-for-4 in Monday's 6-0 loss to Milwaukee. ... RHP Brad Lidge underwent an MRI exam on his right knee on Monday. Cooper didn't know when Lidge would return, but promised he would pitch again this season. ``He's going to be available,'' Cooper said. Lidge pitched a scoreless inning on Sept. 15 to earn the save in Houston's 9-7 win over Pittsburgh. Lidge strained an oblique muscle in June and hurt his knee during his recovery. Cooper said Lidge will have minor surgery on the knee in the offseason to remove loose cartilage. ... RHP Roy Oswalt will start on Sunday in St. Louis after his wife, Nicole, gave birth to their second child on Tuesday. Oswalt skipped his scheduled start on Tuesday to witness the birth at a Houston hospital. The Oswalts also have a 4-year-old daughter.

PHILADELPHIA: The 13-11 victory Monday was the franchise's first when allowing 11 runs since a 12-11, 12-inning win June 5, 1991, at Atlanta. The Phillies hit five homers, one more than their total from six previous games at year-old Busch Stadium. ... LHP Jamie Moyer, who starts on Wednesday against the Cardinals, is 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA for his career against St. Louis. Moyer, 44, was released by the Cardinals in 1991 after starting 0-5 with a 5.75 ERA. ... Jimmy Rollins had two hits Monday and led the NL with 59 multihit games. ... Francisco Rosario is the eighth Phillies pitcher to earn a save this season, tying a franchise record. They're the only team in the majors that has eight players with a save, although the Braves, Tigers, Royals and Rangers all have seven pitchers with at least one.

ST. LOUIS: LHP Mark Mulder underwent an MRI exam and nerve condition study Tuesday after complaining of discomfort in his surgically repaired shoulder, but results were not expected until Wednesday. Dr. George Paletta, the team physician, was to examine the test results later in the day. The studies were forwarded to Dr. David Altchek, the Mets' team physician, who did Mulder's surgery last September. ... CF Jim Edmonds was out of the lineup with a sore groin he said was caused by slipping on the Busch Stadium outfield grass. He likely would not have started against LHP Cole Hamels. ... Rookie INF Brian Barden got his first career start, playing 2B. He had been 2-for-24 for his career before getting two hits on Monday after entering in a double switch. ... The Phillies' 13-11 victory on Monday tied the record for total runs at year-old Busch Stadium also held by the same two teams in a 16-8 Phillies win on Aug. 2, 2006.

SAN FRANCISCO: LF Barry Bonds may have his sprained right big toe re-examined when the club goes home on Thursday, manager Bruce Bochy said. ``There's a chance, if he doesn't feel better when we get back, we may have to get it looked at,'' Bochy said. Bonds missed a third straight game on Tuesday at Arizona and isn't expected to play in the series finale on Wednesday. ... Bochy gave SS Omar Vizquel a day off Tuesday. Rich Aurilia replaced him and batted second. ... LHP Barry Zito, who starts on Wednesday night, has pitched well down the stretch, with a 1.98 ERA in his last 6 starts. He's won only once during that span. ... OF Dan Ortmeier's two singles off Brandon Webb on Monday left him 4-for-7 against Arizona's ace.

ARIZONA: 3B Chad Tracy will undergo season-ending surgery on his right knee on Thursday. Manager Bob Melvin said he hopes Tracy's rehabilitation will be over by spring training. ``Hopefully it's no longer than than that,'' Melvin said. ... SS Stephen Drew rested Tuesday. Melvin said Drew has a sore back but that he'll be back in the line-up on Wednesday night. ... After allowing no runs in his first seven September outings, RHP Tony Pena gave up a career-worst five runs in two-thirds of an inning in an 8-5 loss to San Francisco on Monday night. Melvin said he won't hesitate to use Pena again in a tight spot. ... It's no surprise the last-place Giants have been giving the first-place Diamondbacks fits. San Francisco has won the season series between the clubs seven times in nine years.

PITTSBURGH: LHP Zach Duke is scheduled to start for the Pirates at Chicago, meaning Pittsburgh will throw three lefties against the Cubs. The others are Paul Maholm on Friday and Tom Gorzelanny on Sunday. ... Gorzelanny started Tuesday night against the Padres. ... Going into Tuesday night's game, the Pirates have won 31 road games this year, up from 24 last year.

SAN DIEGO: Facing LHP Tom Gorzelanny, manager Bud Black fielded an interesting lineup. Lefty-hitting Brian Giles, the leadoff hitter, got the night off and LF Scott Hairston batted leadoff. Kevin Kouzmanoff was back in the No. 3 spot. Marcus Giles started at 2B and batted seventh. ... Black said LF Milton Bradley could be back as soon as Friday from the oblique injury that's kept him out since Sept. 7. Bradley continues to feel better swinging from the right side but still a little sore swinging lefty, Black said.

Baseball Today - September 19
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wednesday, Sept. 19

Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies (8:35 p.m. EDT). The Rockies, winners of three straight, look to beat Penny for the first time in two years.

STARS Tuesday

-Todd Helton, Rockies, hit a game-winning homer in the ninth inning to help Colorado complete a doubleheader sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8.

-Micah Owings, Diamondbacks, threw a two-hit complete game to lead Arizona to a 5-0 victory over San Francisco.

-Russ Adams, Blue Jays, drove in the go-ahead run with a two-run double in the eighth inning to help Toronto rally past Boston 4-3.

-Doug Mientkiewicz, Yankees, homered and drove in four runs as New York pounded Baltimore 12-0.

-Rod Barajas, Phillies, singled home the tiebreaking run in the 14th inning of Philadelphia's 7-4 win over St. Louis.

STIFLING MOOSE

Mike Mussina limited Baltimore to three singles over seven innings to help the Yankees beat the Orioles 12-0 on Tuesday. New York, which has won 11 of 13, closed within 2 1/2 games of the Red Sox in the AL East, their smallest deficit since before play on April 21. Boston fell 4-3 in Toronto. The Yankees also opened a 4 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the wild-card race.

STRUGGLING

Eric Gagne allowed three eighth-inning runs and Toronto rallied to beat Boston 4-3 on Tuesday. Gagne, who holds the major league record with 84 consecutive saves, has blown four saves since joining Boston from Texas in a July 31 trade. All four games have ended as Red Sox losses.

NO SUPPORT

Gil Meche allowed four hits over seven innings to lead Kansas City over the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Tuesday. Meche has a 2.90 ERA over his past eight starts, and has not allowed more than three runs in any of them. But he has had some of the worst run-support in baseball, and is just 2-3 over that stretch.

HISTORY FOR MADDUX

Greg Maddux's streak of not walking a batter ended at 59 2-3 innings when he walked Pittsburgh's Jason Bay in the third inning of San Diego's 5-3 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Maddux (13-10) pitched five innings to reach 13 wins for the 20th consecutive season, passing Cy Young for the major league record.

TWO-OUT SINGLES

Atlanta scored all its runs on two-out singles and the Braves used seven pitchers to beat Florida 4-3 on Tuesday. Jeff Francoeur, Edgar Renteria, Yunel Escobar and Brian McCann had the run-scoring singles for the Braves, who have won four of their past five games.

STREAKING

Moises Alou extended his hitting streak to 22 games with a first-inning single in the New York Mets' 9-8 loss to Washington on Tuesday. The streak is the longest by a player in his 40s and is one off Alou's career best.

SPEAKING

''Everyone did their job but me. I didn't hold my end up.'' - Mets starter John Maine, after he gave back two four-run leads in a 9-8 loss to Washington on Tuesday, New York's fifth straight defeat.

Padres' Hensley to have season-ending surgery
September 19th, 2007

San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - San Diego Padres right-hander Clay Hensley will have season-ending shoulder surgery Friday morning to repair a tear in his right shoulder.

The recovery time is estimated at two to six months, though Hensley can begin re

Hensley told the Padres' official web site that he been feeling pain in his right shoulder since last September. He had an MRI in July that revealed the tear, then was finally shut down two weeks ago.

The 27-year-old went back and forth between the Padres and Triple-A Portland this season as a starter and reliever. He made 13 appearances -- including nine starts -- in the majors and held a 2-3 record with a 6.84 ERA.

Hensley surrendered Barry Bonds' 755th career home run on August 4, tying Hank Aaron for the most in MLB history, in the second inning of San Diego's 3-2, 12-inning win over the Giants.

Hensley owns a career record of 14-16 with a 3.92 ERA in part of three seasons, all with San Diego.