INTERLEAGUE
Marlins-Devil Rays
FLORIDA: RHP Henry Owens (right rotator cuff tendinitis) had a bullpen session. He might throw to hitters Tuesday and could rejoin the team soon after that. … Manager Fredi Gonzalez said RHP Anibal Sanchez, on the DL with Triple-A Albuquerque with right shoulder tendinitis, could start a throwing program in the next few days. … 3B Miguel Cabrera was the DH in the Marlins’ first interleague game of the season. … INF-OF Alfredo Amezaga (sore heel) was available off the bench.
in postgame matches. “I’ll sit and watch,” he said.
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Braves-Red Sox
ATLANTA: The Braves will be playing the Red Sox for the 10th season in the 11 years of interleague competition. … An MRI on lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez showed no structural damage to his elbow. Gonzalez, who went on the disabled list Wednesday with an elbow strain, can be activated on May 31. … 1B Scott Thorman is batting .273 with five homers and 21 RBIs. He’s played in 35 of Atlanta’s 41 games, but should get a chance to play nearly every day after Craig Wilson was released on Thursday after batting .172 in 24 games.
BOSTON: Friday night’s rainout was the fourth of the year for the Red Sox, all at Fenway Park. … LF Manny Ramirez was not in the starting lineup posted for the game after playing both games of Thursday’s day-night doubleheader against Detroit. Manager Terry Francona said he had planned to rest Ramirez in Thursday’s night game but used him in place of DH David Ortiz, who wasn’t feeling well. … Boston is 5-2 on the homestand which ends with the three-game series against Atlanta. … Reliever Hideki Okajima’s two innings Thursday extended his streak of scoreless innings to 19 2-3, the longest by a Red Sox lefty since Bruce Hurst’s 21 2-3 innings in May 1987.
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Cardinals-Tigers
ST. LOUIS: Manager Tony La Russa jokingly pulled his hand away from Jim Leyland when the Tigers’ manager reached out to shake hands at home plate during the pregame meeting. La Russa wasn’t joking earlier in the day as he talked about Leyland’s friendship during a season in which the Cardinals lost Josh Hancock in a fatal auto accident and ace Chris Carpenter to elbow surgery. “He’s the definition of a true friend,” La Russa said. “When you’re struggling personally or professionally, he calls with concern. When you’re doing OK, he calls, too.” … St. Louis activated RHP Todd Wellemeyer, claimed off waivers Tuesday from Kansas City. “We’ve targeted him since he pitched for the Cubs earlier in his career,” La Russa said. RHP Brian Falkenborg was sent outright to Triple-A Memphis.
bout it, either.
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Reds-Indians
CINCINNATI: With RHPs Aaron Harang and Marcus McBeth on the bereavement list, the Reds recalled RHP Brad Salmon and INF Jeff Keppinger from Triple-A Louisville. Harang remained in San Diego, where the Reds just completed a series, to be with his ill grandfather. It remains uncertain if Harang will make his scheduled start Sunday in Cleveland. McBeth, called up from Louisville on Wednesday, left the team for an undisclosed reason. A player can be on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven. … 2B Brandon Phillips came in batting .349 (30-for-86) with six doubles, two triples, two homers and 10 RBIs during a 19-game hitting streak. Phillips was traded from Cleveland to Cincinnati last season for minor league RHP Jeff Stevens. … Phillips’ hitting streak is the longest by a Reds player since Sean Casey hit in 21 straight games in 2000.
s’ top prospect at Triple-A Buffalo, missed his scheduled start Thursday with soreness in his right middle finger, but is expected to take his regular turn next week. The 22-year-old, whose fastball has been clocked at 100 mph, is 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA in seven starts.
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Blue Jays-Phillies
TORONTO: C Sal Fasano made his first start in Philadelphia since the Phillies traded him to the New York Yankees last June 16. Though he was just a backup, Fasano was very popular among fans. … DH Frank Thomas was held out of the lineup in the first game of interleague play, and isn’t expected to start the entire series. … RHP Dustin McGowan changed his number from 40 to 29 before taking the mound.
ected to rejoin the team Monday. He’s been away for personal reasons.
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Orioles-Nationals
BALTIMORE: Because of scheduled off days, the Orioles won’t need a fifth starter until May 26, when the plan is to have LHP Brian Burres on the mound. Manager Sam Perlozzo said Burres will be available out of the bullpen until then. … The Orioles entered their three-game series at the Nationals with a 73-102 record in interleague play – the second-worst mark in the majors. … The Orioles are not viewing their games against the nearby Nationals as a rivalry, just yet. “I would say it has a chance, but right now, it’s just like an interleague game for us,” Perlozzo said. The teams split six games last season in their first head-to-head matchups since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington in 2005. This will be the final trip to RFK Stadium for the Orioles, because the Nationals are opening a new stadium next season. “I don’t feel it yet,” OF Jay Gibbons said. “Maybe a new ballpark will get a little more atmosphere, but this isn’t the nicest park in the world.” … Entering Friday’s game, the Orioles led the AL with a .989 fielding percentage and their 17 errors were the fewest in the league.
WASHINGTON: 1B Dmitri Young was back in the starting lineup for the first time since May 7; he was limited to pinch-hitting duties because of a left Achilles’ tendon injury. … RHP Jason Bergmann went on the 15-day DL with a swollen pitching elbow, meaning four-fifths of the team’s opening-day rotation is sidelined by injury. Bergmann (1-3, 2.76 ERA) complained of a sore elbow on Tuesday, a day after he threw a career-high 110 pitches while taking a no-hit bid into the eighth inning against Atlanta. Both he and manager Manny Acta said they don’t expect Bergmann to be out longer than the minimum 15 days. … The Nationals plan to call up LHP Mike Bacsik from Triple-A Columbus on Saturday so he can start against Baltimore, taking Bergmann’s spot in the rotation. Bacsik hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2004. … To make room on the 40-man roster, the club moved RHP Luis Ayala from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. … RHP John Patterson (on the DL) took about 25 tosses from 75 feet and 25 from 90 feet Friday. “I don’t have any pain, so that’s good. That’s the first step,” Patterson said. “The next step is getting some arm strength going.”
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Padres-Mariners
coming of sorts for a few Padres. Black grew up in Longview, Wash., about two hours south of Seattle, and was drafted by the Mariners in 1981. CF Mike Cameron played four seasons in Seattle and LF Jose Cruz Jr. was Seattle’s first-round pick in 1995 before being traded to Toronto in 1997.
SEATTLE: OF Ben Broussard made his first start in left field since the 2002 season on Thursday night. Broussard looked awkward at times, making the unplanned start in place of Raul Ibanez, who had a sore back. Broussard has started three games in RF this year. “I didn’t feel super uncomfortable. I just haven’t been out there a lot,” he said. Ibanez was back in the lineup Friday. … CF Ichiro Suzuki’s AL-record streak of 45 consecutive stolen bases ended Thursday night. Suzuki was thrown out on a botched hit-and-run in the seventh inning with DH Jose Vidro at the plate. Hargrove said he called the hit-and-run trying to stay out of a double play. Vidro has hit into a team-high seven double plays. Suzuki’s streak was five short of Vince Coleman’s major league record. … Suzuki also got his 1,400th hit Thursday.
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Yankees-Mets
NEW YORK YANKEES: Manager Joe Torre said that RHP Tyler Clippard would be the Yankees’ starting pitcher for Sunday night’s series finale. Clippard, who would be making his major league debut, would become the fifth starter used by the Yankees this season in his major league debut and the seventh rookie to start. He would be the 11th starter overall used by the Yankees. … The Yankees hope to announce next week whether RHP Carl Pavano, who hasn’t pitched since April 9, will have a reconstructive elbow operation. Surgery would sideline him for the remainder of this season and most, if not all, of next year.
NEW YORK METS: Rookie OF Carlos Gomez was excited about his first Subway Series matchup with the Yankees. “I’ve waited for this moment for a long time, for the Yankees and the Mets in New York,” he said. “(Lots) of Dominicans watching the game.” … RHP Pedro Martinez, recovering from shoulder surgery, was expected at Shea Stadium. … Former Mets and Yankees star Darryl Strawberry was at the game.
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Rangers-Astros
inched nerve in his shoulder. He received a shot to help with the pain and was not with the team Friday in Houston. “It didn’t make any sense to have him come here so he’s just going to meet us back in Arlington,” manager Ron Washington said. “He got the shot and he’s doing good.” Sammy Sosa will likely play Friday and Saturday against Houston but could be rested Sunday. “Sammy does need some time off now and then,” Washington said. “When I see it in his swing, I give him a day off. He always comes back stronger the day after that. He’ll play tonight and Saturday and we’ll see about Sunday.”
o. It turned out to be good for both sides.” Garner is not a fan of interleague play. “It’s OK,” he said. “There’s a side of it that’s all right but we’d like to see teams like the Yankees and Red Sox come in here. And I’d like to see the DH eliminated. But it’s interesting for the fans who get to see players they wouldn’t see otherwise.”
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Twins-Brewers
MINNESOTA: The Twins have yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s game at Milwaukee. The team will make a roster move following the game and is expected to bring up right-hander Scott Baker from Triple-A Rochester to make the start. The move was made necessary after the Twins released pitcher Sidney Ponson last week. With the Red Wings, Baker was 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA. The Twins were 16-2 in interleague play last season, including a 5-1 mark against Milwaukee. The Twins held the Brewers to a .262 batting average in the six games. The Twins have stolen 30 bases in 34 attempts this season for a major league-best 88.7% rate.
neup Friday in the leadoff spot. It was the first time in his career that he had hit two home runs in a game….The Brewers’ starters have 20 quality starts this season, and are 17-3 in those games. The team also leads the major leagues with 55 home runs with shortstop J.J. Hardy leading the National League with 13.
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White Sox-Cubs
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: The White Sox committed a season-high four errors, two on catcher Toby Hall in his first start of the season and two more on Pablo Ozuna, who was switched from left field to third base before the first pitch after Joe Crede took a ground ball to the mouth in batting practice. Manager Ozzie Guillen said he didn’t blame Hall, who just came off the disabled list Thursday after dislocating his shoulder in spring training while playing first base. Hall also had a costly passed ball that allowed the go-ahead run to score. “He couldn’t have blocked that ball from (Mike) MacDougal’s throw. That was 3-4-5 feet away from the plate,” Guillen said. Hall also made a bad throw on a pickoff attempt to second, allowing two runners to move up, setting up a two-run eighth for the Cubs. “He’s going to be back there (again). Was it the injury? No, he’s still ready to play. It was one bad throw,” Guillen said. A.J. Pierzynski is slated to catch the final two games of the series … General manager Ken Williams said there’s still no timetable for the return of left fielder Scott Podsednik, who’s been on the disabled list since April 17 with a pulled groin muscle. … The White Sox are 29-26 against the Cubs in interleague play, including 13-15 at Wrigley Field. They are 100-76 overall in interleague play.
sday when he took the loss by giving up five earned runs in the ninth, the most he’s allowed since going to the bullpen two years ago. Dempster pitched a perfect ninth Friday with two strikeouts.
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Royals-Rockies
KANSAS CITY: There aren’t many Rockies players left from when Buddy Bell managed Colorado. Bell, who was in charge from 2000-02 and went 161-185, still keeps tabs of the career of 1B Todd Helton. … Bell doesn’t see many similarities between coaching the Rockies and the Royals, even though both have small payrolls. “I don’t really think about that much,” Bell said. “It’s not my money. I do know this: you have to spend quite a bit of money to be a winner consistently.” … The Royals were 0-10 against lefties until beating Oakland’s Dallas Braden on Thursday.
tion and called up right-hander Darren Clarke from Double-A Tulsa.
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Dodgers-Angels
LOS ANGELES DODGERS: The Dodgers-Angels weekend series matches division leaders for the first time. The Angels have been in first place three times when they met, and the Dodgers atop the NL West once before this year. In 1999, the teams were both in last place when the met for the second time that season. … The Dodgers won four of six against the Angels, with both of their losses coming in Anaheim. The Dodgers hadn’t beaten the Angels in the season series since 1999. … Andre Ethier went 12-for-25 (.480) with eight RBIs against the Angels last year, and Nomar Garciaparra went 11-for-25 (.440).
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: Heading into the series, the Angels had won 11 of the past 14 matchups in Anaheim. … Vladimir Guerrero went into the opener with a .389 (14-for-36) average against Dodgers starter Brad Penny, who was trying to improve to 6-0 this year. Guerrero also hit a solo home run against him in last year’s All-Star Game.
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Giants-Athletics
go through. If (the knee injury) was serious, he wouldn’t be playing. He’ll be fine.” … RHP Russ Ortiz returned to the Giants after pitching 5 2-3 innings of three-hit ball in a rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Fresno. Bochy didn’t announce the next step in Ortiz’s return from neuritis in his right elbow after going 2-2 earlier this season. … Bochy wasn’t surprised to hear OF Todd Linden was picked up by Florida on Friday. The Giants put Linden on waivers after he hit .182 and had three RBIs in 30 games this season. “I talked to Todd at the ballpark a few hours ago,” Bochy said. “He seemed very upbeat about the opportunity. It’s part of the game, and I think he understands that. Sometimes a change of scenery is good.”
day.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Diamondbacks-Pirates
ARIZONA: While every other team in the majors was scheduled to play an interleague game Friday, the Diamondbacks and Pirates met for the first of their six games in Pittsburgh this season. The other three are during the final week of the season, normally a time for intradivision play. Generally, NL teams travel to other league cities outside their division only once per season. Manager Bob Melvin said of the curious schedule: “And we come back again, right? So they are our natural rival” – a reference to the interleague rivalry games this weekend. … RHP Micah Owings (2-1, 3.30 ERA), skipped over in the Arizona rotation the last time, goes Saturday night in Pittsburgh – his first start since May 8. He limited the Phillies to two runs and five hits in seven innings, but hasn’t pitched since except for a May 13 relief outing against Houston that lasted 1 1-3 innings. Melvin said, “Somebody had to get skipped one start, and he’s the youngest of the five. We did give him the one relief appearance, and hopefully that keeps him sharp, keeps him ready.”
PITTSBURGH: SS Jack Wilson (sprained shoulder) sat out Friday night, with Jose Castillo starting at shortstop. Castillo started all four games of the Marlins series this week at third base with Jose Bautista (ankle) out, but Bautista returned Friday. Castillo had played SS in the majors only twice, both in 2004. … Manager Jim Tracy hasn’t chosen a starter for the Pirates’ May 26 game at Cincinnati, but it won’t be RHP Tony Armas (0-3, 8.46 ERA), who was sent to the bullpen. Shawn Chacon (1-0, 2.84 ERA in 15 games) is a possibility, but the Pirates may be inclined to bring up one of two former first-round draft picks, RHP John Van Benschoten or RHP Bryan Bullington from Triple-A.
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