INTERLEAGUE
Braves-Red Sox
ATLANTA: CF Andruw Jones was scratched from the lineup in the second game with a sore back. He went 0-for-4 in the opener and made a diving catch. … LHP Mark Redman (0-4) made his first appearance in the opener since being activated from the disabled list Friday. He relieved Oscar Villarreal to start the fourth and allowed four runs, four hits and two walks in 1 1-3 innings. The runs came on Mike Lowell’s grand slam. … 2B Kelly Johnson failed to reach base in the opener for just the third time in 38 starts. … First-game starter Anthony Lerew lasted just two innings and has pitched 5 2-3 innings in his last two starts.
of his last four games. He singled in the first game and doubled in the second.
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Yankees-Mets
NEW YORK YANKEES: Bothered by a foot injury, Jason Giambi entered as a pinch-hitter in the eighth and grounded out with a runner on and the Yankees down 8-6. He has one hit in his last 26 at-bats. With the team playing in an NL park, manager Joe Torre said Giambi probably would be limited to pinch-hitting duty in the series finale Sunday night, too. … With the Yankees struggling to score the previous few days, Torre moved LF Hideki Matsui up to the No. 3 spot in the lineup after he homered Friday. “I don’t want you guys to say I’m not trying to do anything,” Torre said in jest. Matsui went 1-for-5 with a single. … C Jorge Posada had his first four-hit game since May 5, 2004, at Seattle. Posada’s 203rd homer tied him with Roger Maris for 10th place on the club’s career list.
happy to see,” winning pitcher Tom Glavine said. “When you see what he’s capable of doing, it makes a tremendous difference in our lineup.” … LF Endy Chavez matched his career high with four hits, the seventh time he’s accomplished the feat. Chavez is hitting .391 (18-for-46) in 12 starts this season. … The Mets are 13-5 in May. … Glavine improved to 5-2 in nine starts against the Yankees. … The Mets stole five bases, giving them 19 steals in their last nine games. SS Jose Reyes swiped two bags and leads the majors with 25. … Earlier in the day, manager Willie Randolph gave the commencement address at Fordham University, where his daughter was graduating with a degree in communications. “I was a little nervous,” Randolph said. He also received an honorary doctorate of letters. “It was like playing a doubleheader in a way. It was sweet. Really the highlight of my day, my daughter graduating. You can always win ballgames,” Randolph said. Glavine said the Mets were well aware of their manager’s big day. “It was hard not to be aware of it. He went around telling everybody about it,” Glavine said with a smile. “As a parent, I know how proud he feels. It’s going to take a while to get used to calling him Dr.”
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White Sox-Cubs
CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Before the season, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen didn’t expect to have any trouble with the team’s offense. But 39 games into the season, the White Sox are only hitting .223 as a team. Before Saturday’s game against the Cubs, the White Sox ranked last in the American League in batting average, on-base percentage and runs. “The last thing to cross into my mind was that we would struggle as a group the way we’re right now,” Guillen said. “The only thing about it is to keep playing, keep fighting and don’t feel sorry for yourself.” Paul Konerko was 2-for-25 Saturday before homering and is batting .193. … RHP Jose Contreras was originally scheduled to start Sunday against the Cubs on only three days’ rest, but Guillen changed his mind after talking to Contreras on Friday. “I talked to Jose – (Friday) he said he felt great. He threw the ball real good, but he was worried about (throwing) early,” Guillen said. Guillen will turn to rookie RHP Nick Masset on Sunday in his first major league start. Masset is 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA in relief duty this season. Guillen is hoping to get four innings out of Masset. … In the last 10 games, the White Sox bullpen is 1-3 with a 10.64 ERA and three blown saves. Ex-Cub David Aardsma gave up four hits and was charged with five runs in 1-3 of an inning Saturday.
CHICAGO CUBS: Derrek Lee’s grand slam was the eighth of his career. It was also the third pinch-hit homer of his career. Michael Barrett had the Cubs’ previous pinch-hit grand slam on May, 28, 2004, in the first game of a doubleheader against Pittsburgh. … Jason Marquis hit his third career homer and first since June 4, 2005. He connected off Javier Vazquez after missing a bunt sign. “I was looking for it. It’s not like I was ignoring it,” Marquis said. “We actually wanted him to bunt, but he didn’t get the sign a couple times. I can see why,” manager Lou Piniella said. … The Cubs doubled their pleasure the last two days, beating the White Sox twice thanks to three triples. Angel Pagan tripled in the tying runs Friday before scoring the go-ahead tally on a passed ball. And Ryan Theriot and Aramis Ramirez had triples in the eighth inning Saturday to spark the six-run rally. … Angel Guzman began the season in the Cubs bullpen, was sent to the minors where he struggled as a starter and then was brought back to the rotation. Now, he’s going back to the bullpen. Piniella said the Cubs, who’ve had their problems in relief, are looking to add power to the bullpen. That means Carlos Marmol, who pitched Saturday, could get a long look. Piniella promised a shakeup in his alignment next week. Lefty Sean Marshall could be called up as the No. 5 starter.
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Rangers-Astros
TEXAS: RHP Robinson Tejeda no-hit the Astros through five innings on Friday, but manager Ron Washington laughed off the notion that Tejeda was now the “ace” of the Texas staff. Tejeda leads the Rangers with 34 strikeouts and is 4-3 with a 4.53 ERA in eight starts this season. “That’s a strong word, ‘ace,”’ Washington said. “He’s been pitching very well. I think when (Kevin) Millwood gets back out there, he’ll be the ace.” Millwood (2-4, 6.62 ERA) has been on the 15-day DL since May 15 with a strained left hamstring. … Saturday’s starter, John Koronka, was the first left-hander to start for the Rangers this season, leaving Boston as the only team in the majors without a start by a left-hander this season. … Washington said LF Frank Catalanotto is “right on schedule” to come off the DL on Monday as he recovers from tendinitis in his right biceps. Catalanotto has been rehabbing at Triple-A Oklahoma and went 1-for-4 and scored a run on Friday. Washington will use Catalanotto as his designated hitter in his first few days back with the Rangers. “After that, I’ll see what his arm looks like,” Washington said. Catalanotto was hitting .140 with two homers and eight RBIs before his injury.
ad soreness in his right elbow after throwing a simulated game last Saturday, a minor setback in his recovery from offseason ligament replacement surgery. Manager Phil Garner downplayed how much of a setback it was, adding that he was surprised it took this long for Backe to feel soreness. “I view it as part of the normal process,” Garner said. “I don’t think it’s something that’s going to be an issue. When your arm starts to get strong, you want to kind of push it to the point where you have some soreness. That way, you’re sure you’re doing enough work.”
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Twins-Brewers
MINNESOTA: One by one, Twins players were entering and leaving a room in the clubhouse after getting buzzcuts Saturday, which caused manager Ron Gardenhire to chuckle. “They had a players’ meeting and they came out with haircuts,” he said. “They’re getting to go to Texas (Sunday) and it’s going to be hot. Whatever works.” … 3B Jeff Cirillo was in the lineup for a second straight day after going 2-for-5 with a triple and a homer against his former team Friday. “When you have a good night, we’ll put you in the next night and see if you can have another good night,” Gardenhire said. … C Joe Mauer was placed on the DL on May 6 with a quadriceps injury, but Gardenhire said it’s still tight, so it’ll be a some time before he’s activated.
MILWAUKEE: SS J.J. Hardy entered Saturday leading the NL with 13 homers. The last shortstop to lead the NL in homers was Hubie Brooks, who accomplished the feat in 1986. … CF Tony Gwynn Jr. made his seventh start Saturday. In his previous six starts, he was batting .458. … After going 16-9 in April, Milwaukee entered Saturday 10-7 in May. The last time the Brewers had back-to-back winning months was 2001, when they were 13-11 in April and 15-13 in May.
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Cardinals-Tigers
ST. LOUIS: Like Detroit manager Jim Leyland, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is looking forward to the series being over because the good friends don’t like facing each other. “I don’t want him to ever be unhappy because he’s a good friend, but I don’t want us to be unhappy,” La Russa explained. “But the reality is, one of us will be unhappy.” … La Russa lamented his team’s inability to hit and pitch well in the same game this season, but said the biggest factor in the slow start has been the lack of runs. Entering Saturday’s games, St. Louis had scored a baseball-low 133 runs in 39 games. “We need to get better at-bats,” La Russa said.
the really hard part was following doctor’s orders to not do anything for a few weeks.” … Rogers and RHP Todd Jones watched the Detroit Pistons practice. “With both of those guys, we’ve got a really good last-second play to throw it full court,” Pistons coach Flip Saunders joked. … Detroit is optimistic RHP Jeremy Bonderman – on the DL with a blister – will make his next scheduled start on Thursday.
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Reds-Indians
s Sunday.
CLEVELAND: 3B Andy Marte was activated from the DL Saturday, but his role with the team has changed. Manager Eric Wedge said Marte, who started the season as the everyday third baseman, will play against left-handers while Casey Blake will start there against right-handers. Blake and Trot Nixon will platoon in right field while Ryan Garko will see the majority of time at first base. … Marte is batting .179 (7-for-39) with a homer and eight RBIs in 13 games. He has been on the DL since April 23 with a left hamstring strain. … RHP Jake Westbrook (left abdominal strain) played catch in the outfield Saturday. He will play catch again Monday and, if that goes well, will throw off the mound Wednesday. Westbrook is expected to return in mid-June.
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Blue Jays-Phillies
4.
PHILADELPHIA: Reliever Ryan Madson, out with an oblique injury, is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday in Florida after making one more rehab appearance. … Manager Charlie Manuel is concerned about overworking his starting pitchers. The starters had pitched at least six innings in 13 of the last 14 games. “If they continue with the high pitch count – 115-120 pitches – chances are, a couple of them may get tired,” Manuel said. … Injured closer Tom Gordon is recovering in Florida from an inflamed rotator cuff. There’s no timetable for his return. … NL MVP Ryan Howard, out with a quad strain, is coming along well. “He’s been hitting good, working on his timing and balance and hitting the ball to center and left field,” Manuel said.
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Orioles-Nationals
has been the primary setup man to closer Chris Ray. “He’s been used quite a bit,” Perlozzo said. “I really believe in him. We’ll keep working with him.” … RHP Steve Trachsel has allowed three earned runs or less in eight of his nine starts this season. He won on Friday at Washington, allowing two runs over 5 2-3 innings.
WASHINGTON: P Shawn Hill, placed on the disabled list earlier this week, hopes to return to the starting rotation in early June. “Everything (feels) good,” he said before Saturday’s game with the Orioles. … The Nationals’ biggest problems this season have come against teams outside the National League East. Washington is 14-14 in its own division, but 1-13 against everyone else. … Manager Manny Acta is impressed with the patience SS Cristian Guzman is showing at the plate. He came into Saturday’s game with a .310 batting average but drew a career-high three walks in Friday’s game against the Orioles. “I’ve seen guys make progress when it comes to getting walking,” Acta said.
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Marlins-Devil Rays
ngham was the DH.
TAMPA BAY: OF-DH Jonny Gomes took part in a Legends of Wrestling match after Friday night’s game. He helped local favorites, the Nasty Boys, win a match by throwing a garbage can into the ring for the tag-team to use to gain an advantage in the match. “It was fun,” Gomes said Saturday. “I can’t imagine the adrenaline those guys get. It was good times.” Gomes didn’t rule out a post-baseball career in the ring, which manager Joe Maddon said would be a good choice. “He was awesome,” Maddon said. “I was truly entertained.” … CF Rocco Baldelli (strained left hamstring) will report to the Devil Rays’ minor league complex Monday to continue this rehab. … Maddon said RHP James Shields (3-0, 3.13 ERA) could be an All-Star at some point. “I think he’s on track to do something like that,” Maddon said.
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Royals-Rockies
ce in the minors. He’s been out since the last week of spring training with an abdomen strain.
COLORADO: GM Dan O’Dowd took ownership of the Rockies’ slow start. “Everything ultimately stops at my desk so, ultimately, the record of the club is accountable to me,” O’Dowd said. … Manager Clint Hurdle was booed when he stepped out of the dugout Friday night to remove starter Jeff Francis from the game. “I said to (Garrett) Atkins (on the mound), `They’re not saying, Boo, they’re saying Hurrrr-dle,”’ Hurdle said. “I think I’ve been booed just as loud before.” … After Atkins had two hits Friday night, Hurdle said he sees signs of him coming out of his slump. “I’m as confident as anybody he’s going to get it together,” Hurdle said.
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Giants-Athletics
SAN FRANCISCO: OF Randy Winn extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a first-inning single. It’s longest streak by a San Francisco player since Robby Thompson hit in 21 straight in 1993. … The Giants led the NL with 91 runs in May entering the evening despite scoring just six runs over their previous three games. … The wives and girlfriends of the Giants’ players beat their Oakland counterparts 14-2 in a slow-pitch charity softball game before Saturday’s main event.
OAKLAND: OF Nick Swisher got a long-overdue haircut before Saturday’s game, with his father trimming more than 10 months of growth from his son’s head. Swisher donated the hair to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients in honor of his grandmother, who died of brain cancer in 2005. … The A’s already have used the disabled list 10 times this season after just 15 uses in 2006. … Oakland has scored 15 runs in three games this season after managing the feat just three times in the previous two seasons.
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Dodgers-Angels
s in black and white,” he said. “We would like to find ourselves get a little more productive when we have opportunities like that, and I’m sure that day’s going to come.”
LOS ANGELES ANGELS: CF Gary Matthews Jr. has helped fill a leadership void in the Angels’ clubhouse, following the departures of veterans Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Adam Kennedy. “I try and make myself open to some of the younger players,” said Matthews, playing for his seventh team in nine big league seasons. “I’ve never been the type of guy who goes around just shelling out advice, but I definitely want to be one of those guys who the younger players can look to if they need it. I’ve talked to a handful of them and told them that if they ever have any questions or anything they want to talk about, don’t hesitate to ask me. It’s important to build relationships with these guys. You want them to feel comfortable enough about coming to you with questions because you want them to get better.”
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Padres-Mariners
e are pitchers that do, which I think is a mistake. But I don’t see Chris changing his mechanics or altering his delivery to try to get more velocity.” Black said Young’s advantage is his 6-foot-10 frame, as he is able to deliver the pitch from a plane higher than most batters see. “That’s the advantage,” Black added. “It’s just coming from a different angle. That’s the physics.” … According to research forwarded by veteran right-hander Greg Maddux, only 17 percent of runners who steal a base end up scoring. In Friday’s win, the Padres was unfazed by four steals, the most for the Mariners since they had five on Sept. 3 last season. None of the stealers scored.
th a stiff back and was replaced by Jason Ellison, in his first start this season. “It is odd (to have three out),” Hargrove said. “(But) the plan was only to have two out.” … Jose Vidro leads all designated hitters in hits (46) despite his team having five games postponed.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Diamondbacks-Pirates
ARIZONA: Arizona’s dugout was thin Saturday night after OF Chris Young and right-handed reliever Edgar Gonzalez injured groins Friday night in Pittsburgh. Manager Bob Melvin doesn’t expect either player to be available until the team returns home Monday to play Colorado. Melvin said, “We’re encouraged where they are. It won’t be more than a couple of days, and it won’t be significant enough to go on the DL.” … LHP Randy Johnson pitches in Pittsburgh for the first time since Aug. 25, 2004, when he starts Sunday. He’s 0-2 with a 3.60 ERA in his only two career starts in PNC Park. Johnson (1-2, 4.80 ERA) won for the first time in his five starts this season on May 15, limiting the Rockies to one hit and striking out nine over six shutout innings.
PITTSBURGH: SS Jack Wilson (shoulder) remained out of the lineup for the second consecutive day Saturday, but could be ready to start Sunday against Arizona’s Randy Johnson. When the five-time Cy Young Award winner last pitched in PNC Park – on Aug. 25, 2004, also with Arizona – Johnson lost 2-1 when Wilson and Jason Bay homered in the seventh. … Adam LaRoche, apparently out of the slump in which he hit .133 in April, hit cleanup for the second time in three days Saturday. He was dropped as low as seventh during his slump, primarily batting fifth (11 times) or sixth (11 times). LaRoche had eight hits in his previous five games.
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