the cubs beat the cardinals again today
perdro gets roughed up early, and still manages to pull it out for him.
Houston continues to free fall
Francisco Liriano pitches a gem, and the tigers still beats the twins in extra innings.
perdro gets roughed up early, and still manages to pull it out for him.
Houston continues to free fall
Francisco Liriano pitches a gem, and the tigers still beats the twins in extra innings.
notes from Friday's games
July 28, 2006
LOS ANGELES: INF Chone Figgins was not in the starting lineup. Maicer Izturis batted leadoff. ... Orlando Cabrera, the SS on the Red Sox 2004 World Series team, was cheered when the starting lineups were announced.
BOSTON: LHP David Wells will return to the rotation on Monday against the Cleveland Indians. Wells has not pitched since sustaining a bruise below his right knee when he was hit by a line drive on May 26 against Tampa Bay. ... Recalled LHP Javier Lopez from Triple-A Pawtucket.
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SEATTLE: Manager Mike Hargrove likes the acquisition of 1B/DH Ben Broussard from the Indians. Broussard and Eduardo Perez will platoon at DH and could see some action at first if Richie Sexson is used as the DH or needs a day off. Ironically, Broussard and Perez began the season as the Indians' first base platoon. Perez was acquired in a June 30 trade. ``If they do the rest of the season what they've done up until now, we'll be very happy,'' Hargrove said. ... RHP Rafael Soriano hasn't pitched since July 19 (shoulder fatigue) and could be headed for the disabled list. ``It's day-to-day with him, but we're fast approaching the point where we're going to have to make a decision,'' Hargrove said. ... OF Chris Snelling, called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, is on the DL with a sore left shoulder. ... OF Ichiro Suzuki has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts since April 19, tying Julio Cruz's club record set in 1981.
CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge altered his coaching staff, putting Joel Skinner back at third base and returning Jeff Datz to his role on the bench. ``It's something I've been thinking about for a while and it's just to bring a different dynamic to the club,'' Wedge said. ``I was satisfied with what both did this year.'' ... 3B Andy Marte was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and INF Ramon Vazquez sent to the Bisons. ``It feels great to be here,'' said Marte, who was in the starting lineup Friday against Seattle. Marte was the key player in a seven-player deal in January that sent OF Coco Crisp to Boston. ... 2B Ronnie Belliard, sidelined since July 20 with a strained left hamstring, ran the bases during pregame practice. ``I think you'll see him in the starting lineup Saturday,'' said Wedge. ... OF Shin-Soo Choo, acquired Wednesday from Seattle, knows only a little about his new team. ``I loved them in the movies,'' he joked, referring to the fictional 1989 film ``Major League.'' ... Cleveland signed two more of its June draft picks, RHP Paolo Espino (10th round) and LHP John Gaub (21st round).
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TAMPA BAY: Manager Joe Maddon said LHP Scott Kazmir could be bumped back again from his scheduled start on Tuesday. He was slated to start Friday's game against the Yankees but was pushed back because of shoulder soreness. ... Maddon was upset before the game about a USA Today article in which three of the Devil Rays' top prospects complained about the conditions at Triple-A Durham and wondered why they hadn't been called up to the major league club. ``I didn't like it and I don't think it's good for us,'' Maddon said, ``and it's something that we have to address.'' Maddon said he wants to talk to general manager Andrew Friedman and other members of the Devil Rays' front office about what to do about the comments made by OFs Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, and INF B.J. Upton. Young served a 50-game suspension earlier this season for flinging a bat that hit an umpire in the chest. Upton was charged with drunken driving last month and Dukes has been suspended by the organization before for disciplinary reasons. ``This isn't a right, this is a privilege to play here,'' Maddon said.
NEW YORK: RHP Kyle Farnsworth said he was available to pitch against the Devil Rays. His back stiffened while he was warming up Wednesday night at Texas. ``It feels better than it did the other day,'' Farnsworth said. ... RF Gary Sheffield is scheduled to see the doctor on Monday about his injured left wrist. He had his cast removed last week and could find out when he's allowed to swing a bat again when he speaks with the doctor. Sheffield is still pointing to Sept. 1 as a possible return date. ``That's what I'm shooting for,'' he said. ``The way I'm feeling right now I don't see why not.'' ... 2B Robinson Cano said his injured left hamstring felt good after running the bases. He plans to do it again Sunday and could start a minor league rehab assignment soon after. ... LF Hideki Matsui (left wrist) had a planned day off. He is scheduled to resume working out Saturday and return to New York next week to have his wrist re-examined. ... RHP Octavio Dotel (elbow surgery) had a bullpen session. He will throw off the mound again Sunday.
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CHICAGO: The White Sox entered the weekend with a major league-leading 153 home runs, and their opposition was a Baltimore staff that had yielded a big league-high 138 homers. ... Friday's starter, Freddy Garcia, leads all Venezuelan pitchers with 109 major league wins. Ex-White Sox pitcher Wilson Alvarez is second with 102. ... All-Star C A.J. Pierzynski was 6-for-38 (.158) in the second half entering Friday's game.
BALTIMORE: RHP Jim Johnson will make his major league debut against the White Sox on Saturday. Johnson, the Orioles' fifth-round selection in the 2001 amateur draft, was 9-5 at Double-A Bowie. He will have his contract purchased the day of the game. ... LHP Bruce Chen will start Sunday, replacing RHP Kris Benson, who will miss at least one start with tendinitis in his right elbow. ... Baltimore C Ramon Hernandez began the nine-game homestand hitting .357 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs at Camden Yards this year. ... Friday's starter, Erik Bedard, made his first appearance after a Baltimore victory since June 11 against Minnesota.
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DETROIT: All-Star C Ivan Rodriguez was out of the lineup for the second straight game because of a bruised thumb on his throwing hand, an injury that occurred before Tuesday's game - though he played that night and went 0-for-4. Rodriguez is a .322 career hitter in 68 games at the Metrodome. ... OF Alexis Gomez, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday to make room for an extra reliever, right-hander Colby Lewis, cleared waivers and had his contract outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
MINNESOTA: Backup C Mike Redmond, who signed a two-year contract extension worth $2 million with a club option for the 2009 season, was elated about his new deal. Redmond, a popular presence in the clubhouse and an active member of the organization in the community, has been a solid veteran support for Joe Mauer. ``I think this team's got a great future,'' Redmond said. ``How could I pass up an opportunity to catch these pitchers and play behind Joe and go out there and try to win a World Series?'' Redmond, who has two sons, owns a World Series ring from the 2003 season with Florida. He wants one more ring for the other son. ... OF Lew Ford, who has a strained muscle on his right side, is feeling better, manager Ron Gardenhire said, but still not ready for batting practice. He'll need a minor league rehabilitation assignment before returning to the active roster.
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KANSAS CITY: C Paul Bako, on the DL since July 7 due to a partially torn right oblique, begins a rehab assignment with Double-A Wichita on Saturday. ... LHP Jorge De La Rosa will be making his Royals debut on Saturday against Texas in his fourth major league start of the season. De La Rosa was acquired from Milwaukee on July 25. He was 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in his three starts for the Brewers.
TEXAS: RHP Rick Bauer's role in the Rangers bullpen is likely to expand after setup reliever Francisco Cordero was traded Friday. ``Obviously, Rick has had a big year for us so far. We'll push him back a little bit,'' manager Buck Showalter said when asked who would fill Cordero's eighth-inning role. Bauer went into Friday night's game 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 35 appearances. ... Showalter plans to start Nelson Cruz in right field Saturday night. Cruz was a minor league OF who came in the trade from Milwaukee with OF Carlos Lee. Showalter said the Rangers are confident the 26-year-old Cruz will become an everyday player. ``We didn't bring him in here to strictly platoon against left-handed pitchers. But that's where we'll start out and see where it takes us,'' Showalter said.
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TORONTO: OF Alex Rios was activated from the DL and rejoined the team in Oakland. He was penciled into the starting lineup despite getting rained out of his final rehab game against Ottawa on Thursday night. ``The plan was to get him here by tonight,'' manager John Gibbons said. ``We'll throw him out there and let him do his thing.'' Rios went 3-for-10 with a double, RBI, one walk and three strikeouts in three games - two as DH, one in RF - for the Sky Chiefs. ``The bottom line, he was healthy,'' Gibbons said. Rios missed 26 games with a staph infection in his leg. ... The Blue Jays are hitting .309 against left-handers, with Rios and OF Vernon Wells leading the way, each at .350. ... RHP Casey Janssen, who makes his 18th start on Saturday, has lost seven of his last eight decisions and owns a 6.33 road ERA, compared to 4.20 at home.
OAKLAND: LHP Barry Zito's name keeps appearing in trade rumors as Monday's deadline approaches. Manager Ken Macha said Zito has handled the distractions well and gone about his business. ``I've enjoyed Barry while he's been here,'' Macha said. ``If he's here two more months, great. If not, we'll deal with it.'' Macha and pitching coach Curt Young have mapped out a tentative rotation to season's end and Zito is slated to pitch the next-to-last day of the season. ... RHP Shane Komine was recalled from Sacramento of the PCL and will make his major league debut in Sunday's series finale. ``We wanted him up here sitting on the bench for a couple of days so he could observe and get familiar with the surroundings,'' Macha said. ``Right now he's doing the best down there. We'll give him a shot at this. He's got an opportunity to make a spot for himself.'' Komine has an 0.42 ERA over his last 42 2-3 innings with the River Cats. LHP Randy Keisler was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Komine.
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ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals have had some bad blood in the past with the Chicago Cubs and events in Friday's game could spill over into the weekend. Cubs slugger Aramis Ramirez had to be restrained by St. Louis catcher Gary Bennett after he was hit in the backside by a Braden Looper pitch in the bottom of the seventh. Earlier in the inning Cubs pitcher Roberto Novoa hit Scott Rolen in his right shoulder blade. ``He got me pretty good,'' Rolen said. ``It was scary more than anything else.'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said it wasn't intentional, words echoed by St. Louis' Tony LaRussa. Looper then hit Ronny Cedeno in the right wrist in the eighth as Cedeno was trying to bunt. Home plate umpire Ed Montague said Cedeno was swinging and Baker was ejected for arguing the call. ``That's a case where I knew he was bunting and I was just trying to bury it in,'' Looper said. ... The Cardinals are 0-for-8 in Chicago so far this season after dropping the first two of this four-game series. They were swept in April by the Cubs and in June by the White Sox.
CHICAGO: Cubs manager Dusty Baker knows Greg Maddux could be gone by Monday, the non-waiver trade deadline but he said he's not into wistful memories just yet. ``That's kind of like getting sentimental in advance,'' Baker said before Maddux makes what could be his last start in a Cubs uniform Saturday. ``You know how sometimes your wife gets sad a week before you leave. It's like, let me leave first. You know what I'm saying?'' ... Baker, who got affirmation that he will manage the Cubs the rest of the season, wouldn't say for sure that Derrek Lee, currently on the 15-day disabled list for post-traumatic inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist, would play again this season. ``I don't know,'' Baker said. Lee missed 59 games earlier in the year after fracturing his wrist. ... Rich Hill continued his struggles going from Triple-A All-Star to serviceable major league starter Thursday. Hill (0-4, 9.53 ERA) will get at least another start, if not more on the injury-plagued rotation. ``You have to graduate sometime,'' Baker said of Hill, who went 7-1 with a 1.80 ERA with the Iowa Cubs.
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SAN FRANCISCO: OF Barry Bonds (strained hamstring), OF Moises Alou (strained hamstring) and SS Omar Vizquel (foot contusion) each returned to the lineup Friday after missing Thursday's game in Washington. ... One-third of the Giants starting lineup Friday night in Pittsburgh was ex-Pirates. Bonds won two MVP awards with Pittsburgh in 1990 and '92, RHP Jason Schmidt won 44 games with the team from 1996-2001 and Alou appeared in two games with the Pirates before being traded late in the 1990 season. ... After Thursday's loss in Washington, San Francisco had a .500 record for the 18th time this season. The Giants have not been higher than four games over .500 or lower than three games under .500 all season.
PITTSBURGH: LHP John Grabow went eight consecutive appearances covering 11 2-3 innings without allowing a run and has now allowed a home run in 23 outings (25 2-3 innings) ``Grabow is really on his game right now,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ``He has been absolutely terrific for about the last month to both right- and left-handed hitters.'' ... Tracy flipped the lineup spots of C Ronny Paulino and 2B Jose Castillo for Friday night's game against San Francisco, a move Tracy said better serves the lineup and he hopes will jumpstart Castillo. Paulino had hit safely in seven of last eight games (10-for-29), while Castillo was hitless in his last nine at_bats. Castillo has batted eighth only 18 times this season (compared to 69 in the No. 7 spot), while 56 of Paulino's 71 starts were while batting eighth.
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FLORIDA: All-Star 2B Dan Uggla has a hit in seven straight games. ... Dontrelle Willis (6-7, 3.79) tries to even his record Saturday night. Willis has lost three straight starts against the Phillies, allowing eight runs in two of those three outings. ... The Marlins haven't decided on a pitcher for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. ...
PHILADELPHIA: SS Jimmy Rollins was out of the lineup for the second straight game with a strained right hamstring. He had played every game this season until Thursday. ... RF Bobby Abreu drew his 947th walk with the Phillies, moving ahead of Richie Ashburn and Roy Thomas for second place on the team's all-time list. ... Cole Hamels (2-5, 5.98) takes the mound Saturday. He had 12 strikeouts, but allowed seven runs in his previous start. ... LF Pat Burrell again was out of the lineup against a right-handed pitcher.
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NEW YORK: Will Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux become teammates again before the year is out? Glavine's Mets, who hold a comfortable lead in the NL East, would like to beef up their rotation for the playoff run. Maddux, who pitches for the out-of-contention Chicago Cubs, could probably be acquired for a relatively cheap price if he'd be willing leave the Windy City. ``Based on the conversations I've had with him, he's kind of in the mind-set of whatever they want to do,'' Glavine said. ``If it's best for the team that they trade him, I think he's open to it, depending on what it is. I don't think he has a desire to get traded. But if it's something that's best for the team, it's hard not to be open to it.'' Glavine and Maddux spent a decade as teammates in Atlanta, playing a major role in the Braves' streak of division championships. Glavine signed with the Mets after the 2002 season, while Maddux pitched one more season with the Braves before joining the Cubs.
ATLANTA: RHP Kyle Davies is optimistic about returning to the Braves pitching staff in the next few weeks. Davies, who's been on the disabled list since May 16 recovering from a torn right groin, threw 40 pitches in two simulated innings before batting practice. Scott Thorman, Pete Orr and Matt Diaz stood in the box during the session. ``Every time I go out there it gets better and better,'' Davies said. The next step is likely to be a rehab start in the minors. The right-hander hopes to return to the Braves around Aug. 20, though GM John Schuerholz thinks it will be a little longer before Davies is recovered enough to pitch in the majors. ... With the trade deadline approaching, there's plenty of speculation that the Braves might pull off a deal to bolster their bullpen. IF Wilson Betemit appears to be the most attractive player Atlanta can offer up to land a setup man for new closer Bob Wickman. ``If we are able to make the right move, more can be done,'' Schuerholz said. ``There's always a way to make improvements, even if it's only by degrees. If that's possible, we'll try to do it. If not, we'll go with these guys.''
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ARIZONA: RHP Miguel Batista rejoined the team in Houston on Friday after attending his grandmother's funeral. Batista left the team after allowing four runs and striking out six in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies. Manager Bob Melvin said Batista threw a strong bullpen session on Friday and will start Sunday's series finale against the Astros and Roger Clemens. ... Right-handed reliever Luiz Vizcaino threw in the bullpen on Friday, but Melvin was holding him out until Saturday as Vizcaino recovers from a sore right elbow. Vizcaino suffered the injury playing catch before Tuesday's game and hasn't pitched since. ...Melvin said a quick hello to Houston Astros manager Phil Garner before the game, but was going to try to avoid eye contact once it started. Melvin was Garner's bench coach when Garner managed Milwaukee in 1999 and Detroit in 2000. ``He's a heck of a manager and I try not to put myself up against him,'' Melvin said.
HOUSTON: NL RBI leader Lance Berkman was out of Friday's lineup after re-aggravating his strained left groin. Berkman initially suffered the injury running the bases against the New York Mets last Sunday, then hurt it again after hitting an RBI single in Thursday's loss to Cincinnati. ``I'll be in there as soon as I can,'' said Berkman, who has 93 RBIs and 28 homers. ``I just can't run. If I could run, I'd be out there.'' Manager Phil Garner said the injury wasn't ``full-blown'' and said Berkman was available to pinch hit. ... Brad Ausmus caught his 1,000th game for the Astros on Friday, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach the plateau at that position. ...Garner said he still hasn't lost confidence in Brad Lidge. The Astros closer gave up two runs in Thursday's 8-4 loss and has yielded 30 earned runs in 47 innings. ``We expect a higher standard from him,'' said Garner, ``but we're going to continue to work with him. Brad's still my closer.''
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MILWAUKEE: OF Corey Hart started in left field Friday in place of OF Carlos Lee, who was traded earlier in the day to the Texas Rangers. The Brewers received OF Kevin Mench in the trade and manager Ned Yost said Mench will replace Lee in left field on a semi-regular basis. Yost also said that he would consider using both RHP Francisco Cordero and RHP Derrick Turnbow as the team's closer. ``Production will decide who closes games,'' Yost said. ... 2B Rickie Weeks did not start for the third straight game with irritation in his right wrist. IF Tony Graffanino, acquired by the Brewers from Kansas City on Tuesday, started his second straight game. ... Prior to Friday's game, the Brewers placed RHP Jose Capellan on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 25, with a right shoulder strain. ... Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said 3B Corey Koskie will be out at least another three to four weeks. Koskie suffered a slight concussion July 5 when he hit the ground hard chasing a foul ball.
CINCINNATI: RHP Justin Germano is scheduled to start against the Brewers on Saturday. Germano, who is 8-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 19 games for Triple A Louisville, pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the Reds on May 30 during his previous call up. The start will be Germano's first with the Reds and sixth Major League start. ... RHP Elizardo Ramirez struck out seven consecutive players during the Reds game Thursday against the Astros. No major leaguer had done that since the Cubs' Kerry Wood on April 11, 2004. No one on the Reds had done it since John Smiley on Aug. 27, 1996 at Colorado. ... The Reds 8-4 win over the Houston Astros Thursday was manager Jerry Narron's 100th victory as the team's manager.
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SAN DIEGO: RHP Chan Ho Park was sent home with a digestive tract ailment and will miss his scheduled start on Sunday. ``All I'll say is that he's still on our roster and that he won't pitch on Sunday,'' said manager Bruce Bochy, who didn't name a replacement starter. ... OF Mike Cameron got the night off and Bochy said it wasn't because of his four strikeouts in Thursday's game. ``Mike bruised a knee the other day and needed a day off,'' Bochy said. ... Bochy still would not dispute the call Ted Barrett made in the 10th inning Thursday where Barrett ruled C Rob Bowen missed the tag on Choo Freeman that allowed the winning run to score. ``I couldn't see the play,'' Bochy said.
COLORADO: RHP Sun-Woo Kim (shin contusion) threw a bullpen session Friday. He pitched batting practice before Tuesday's game. ... RHP Ryan Speier (shoulder surgery) threw off a slope on Tuesday. ``There's no timetable for either of them,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. . ... C Yorvit Torrealba remained in the No. 6 spot in the batting order after hitting a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning off RHP Trevor Hoffman. ``The guy wears his emotions on his sleeve and pumps other people,'' Hurdle said.
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WASHINGTON: Friday marked exactly three years since Nationals general manager Jim Bowden was fired as GM of the Cincinnati Reds by chief operating officer John Allen. Bowden held the job for more than 10 1-2 seasons. His successor, Dan O'Brien, was fired last January - after just two seasons on the job - because of a change in ownership. ... Friday also was the 15th anniversary of the only perfect game in the 38-year history of the Washington/Montreal franchise, when Dennis Martinez pitched the Expos to a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers at Los Angeles. Two nights earlier, Mark Gardner no-hit the Dodgers through nine innings before the Expos lost 1-0 in the 10th.
LOS ANGELES: 1B Nomar Garciaparra, who sat out his third straight game because of a sprained ligament in his right knee, is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series at Cincinnati. ... 2B Jeff Kent, sidelined since July 18 because of a strained oblique muscle on his left side, will miss at least another 10 days to two weeks. ... The Dodgers entered this three game series against with 13 losses in 14 games, their worst stretch since 1944, and a deficit of seven games in the NL West. Yet they led the league in total attendance, thanks to a steady stream of promotional giveaways - and a new smaller ballpark in St. Louis, where the Central Division-leading Cardinals trailed then at the gate by more than 200,000 entering Friday.
July 28, 2006
LOS ANGELES: INF Chone Figgins was not in the starting lineup. Maicer Izturis batted leadoff. ... Orlando Cabrera, the SS on the Red Sox 2004 World Series team, was cheered when the starting lineups were announced.
BOSTON: LHP David Wells will return to the rotation on Monday against the Cleveland Indians. Wells has not pitched since sustaining a bruise below his right knee when he was hit by a line drive on May 26 against Tampa Bay. ... Recalled LHP Javier Lopez from Triple-A Pawtucket.
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SEATTLE: Manager Mike Hargrove likes the acquisition of 1B/DH Ben Broussard from the Indians. Broussard and Eduardo Perez will platoon at DH and could see some action at first if Richie Sexson is used as the DH or needs a day off. Ironically, Broussard and Perez began the season as the Indians' first base platoon. Perez was acquired in a June 30 trade. ``If they do the rest of the season what they've done up until now, we'll be very happy,'' Hargrove said. ... RHP Rafael Soriano hasn't pitched since July 19 (shoulder fatigue) and could be headed for the disabled list. ``It's day-to-day with him, but we're fast approaching the point where we're going to have to make a decision,'' Hargrove said. ... OF Chris Snelling, called up from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, is on the DL with a sore left shoulder. ... OF Ichiro Suzuki has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts since April 19, tying Julio Cruz's club record set in 1981.
CLEVELAND: Manager Eric Wedge altered his coaching staff, putting Joel Skinner back at third base and returning Jeff Datz to his role on the bench. ``It's something I've been thinking about for a while and it's just to bring a different dynamic to the club,'' Wedge said. ``I was satisfied with what both did this year.'' ... 3B Andy Marte was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and INF Ramon Vazquez sent to the Bisons. ``It feels great to be here,'' said Marte, who was in the starting lineup Friday against Seattle. Marte was the key player in a seven-player deal in January that sent OF Coco Crisp to Boston. ... 2B Ronnie Belliard, sidelined since July 20 with a strained left hamstring, ran the bases during pregame practice. ``I think you'll see him in the starting lineup Saturday,'' said Wedge. ... OF Shin-Soo Choo, acquired Wednesday from Seattle, knows only a little about his new team. ``I loved them in the movies,'' he joked, referring to the fictional 1989 film ``Major League.'' ... Cleveland signed two more of its June draft picks, RHP Paolo Espino (10th round) and LHP John Gaub (21st round).
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TAMPA BAY: Manager Joe Maddon said LHP Scott Kazmir could be bumped back again from his scheduled start on Tuesday. He was slated to start Friday's game against the Yankees but was pushed back because of shoulder soreness. ... Maddon was upset before the game about a USA Today article in which three of the Devil Rays' top prospects complained about the conditions at Triple-A Durham and wondered why they hadn't been called up to the major league club. ``I didn't like it and I don't think it's good for us,'' Maddon said, ``and it's something that we have to address.'' Maddon said he wants to talk to general manager Andrew Friedman and other members of the Devil Rays' front office about what to do about the comments made by OFs Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes, and INF B.J. Upton. Young served a 50-game suspension earlier this season for flinging a bat that hit an umpire in the chest. Upton was charged with drunken driving last month and Dukes has been suspended by the organization before for disciplinary reasons. ``This isn't a right, this is a privilege to play here,'' Maddon said.
NEW YORK: RHP Kyle Farnsworth said he was available to pitch against the Devil Rays. His back stiffened while he was warming up Wednesday night at Texas. ``It feels better than it did the other day,'' Farnsworth said. ... RF Gary Sheffield is scheduled to see the doctor on Monday about his injured left wrist. He had his cast removed last week and could find out when he's allowed to swing a bat again when he speaks with the doctor. Sheffield is still pointing to Sept. 1 as a possible return date. ``That's what I'm shooting for,'' he said. ``The way I'm feeling right now I don't see why not.'' ... 2B Robinson Cano said his injured left hamstring felt good after running the bases. He plans to do it again Sunday and could start a minor league rehab assignment soon after. ... LF Hideki Matsui (left wrist) had a planned day off. He is scheduled to resume working out Saturday and return to New York next week to have his wrist re-examined. ... RHP Octavio Dotel (elbow surgery) had a bullpen session. He will throw off the mound again Sunday.
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CHICAGO: The White Sox entered the weekend with a major league-leading 153 home runs, and their opposition was a Baltimore staff that had yielded a big league-high 138 homers. ... Friday's starter, Freddy Garcia, leads all Venezuelan pitchers with 109 major league wins. Ex-White Sox pitcher Wilson Alvarez is second with 102. ... All-Star C A.J. Pierzynski was 6-for-38 (.158) in the second half entering Friday's game.
BALTIMORE: RHP Jim Johnson will make his major league debut against the White Sox on Saturday. Johnson, the Orioles' fifth-round selection in the 2001 amateur draft, was 9-5 at Double-A Bowie. He will have his contract purchased the day of the game. ... LHP Bruce Chen will start Sunday, replacing RHP Kris Benson, who will miss at least one start with tendinitis in his right elbow. ... Baltimore C Ramon Hernandez began the nine-game homestand hitting .357 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs at Camden Yards this year. ... Friday's starter, Erik Bedard, made his first appearance after a Baltimore victory since June 11 against Minnesota.
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DETROIT: All-Star C Ivan Rodriguez was out of the lineup for the second straight game because of a bruised thumb on his throwing hand, an injury that occurred before Tuesday's game - though he played that night and went 0-for-4. Rodriguez is a .322 career hitter in 68 games at the Metrodome. ... OF Alexis Gomez, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday to make room for an extra reliever, right-hander Colby Lewis, cleared waivers and had his contract outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
MINNESOTA: Backup C Mike Redmond, who signed a two-year contract extension worth $2 million with a club option for the 2009 season, was elated about his new deal. Redmond, a popular presence in the clubhouse and an active member of the organization in the community, has been a solid veteran support for Joe Mauer. ``I think this team's got a great future,'' Redmond said. ``How could I pass up an opportunity to catch these pitchers and play behind Joe and go out there and try to win a World Series?'' Redmond, who has two sons, owns a World Series ring from the 2003 season with Florida. He wants one more ring for the other son. ... OF Lew Ford, who has a strained muscle on his right side, is feeling better, manager Ron Gardenhire said, but still not ready for batting practice. He'll need a minor league rehabilitation assignment before returning to the active roster.
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KANSAS CITY: C Paul Bako, on the DL since July 7 due to a partially torn right oblique, begins a rehab assignment with Double-A Wichita on Saturday. ... LHP Jorge De La Rosa will be making his Royals debut on Saturday against Texas in his fourth major league start of the season. De La Rosa was acquired from Milwaukee on July 25. He was 0-2 with an 11.57 ERA in his three starts for the Brewers.
TEXAS: RHP Rick Bauer's role in the Rangers bullpen is likely to expand after setup reliever Francisco Cordero was traded Friday. ``Obviously, Rick has had a big year for us so far. We'll push him back a little bit,'' manager Buck Showalter said when asked who would fill Cordero's eighth-inning role. Bauer went into Friday night's game 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA in 35 appearances. ... Showalter plans to start Nelson Cruz in right field Saturday night. Cruz was a minor league OF who came in the trade from Milwaukee with OF Carlos Lee. Showalter said the Rangers are confident the 26-year-old Cruz will become an everyday player. ``We didn't bring him in here to strictly platoon against left-handed pitchers. But that's where we'll start out and see where it takes us,'' Showalter said.
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TORONTO: OF Alex Rios was activated from the DL and rejoined the team in Oakland. He was penciled into the starting lineup despite getting rained out of his final rehab game against Ottawa on Thursday night. ``The plan was to get him here by tonight,'' manager John Gibbons said. ``We'll throw him out there and let him do his thing.'' Rios went 3-for-10 with a double, RBI, one walk and three strikeouts in three games - two as DH, one in RF - for the Sky Chiefs. ``The bottom line, he was healthy,'' Gibbons said. Rios missed 26 games with a staph infection in his leg. ... The Blue Jays are hitting .309 against left-handers, with Rios and OF Vernon Wells leading the way, each at .350. ... RHP Casey Janssen, who makes his 18th start on Saturday, has lost seven of his last eight decisions and owns a 6.33 road ERA, compared to 4.20 at home.
OAKLAND: LHP Barry Zito's name keeps appearing in trade rumors as Monday's deadline approaches. Manager Ken Macha said Zito has handled the distractions well and gone about his business. ``I've enjoyed Barry while he's been here,'' Macha said. ``If he's here two more months, great. If not, we'll deal with it.'' Macha and pitching coach Curt Young have mapped out a tentative rotation to season's end and Zito is slated to pitch the next-to-last day of the season. ... RHP Shane Komine was recalled from Sacramento of the PCL and will make his major league debut in Sunday's series finale. ``We wanted him up here sitting on the bench for a couple of days so he could observe and get familiar with the surroundings,'' Macha said. ``Right now he's doing the best down there. We'll give him a shot at this. He's got an opportunity to make a spot for himself.'' Komine has an 0.42 ERA over his last 42 2-3 innings with the River Cats. LHP Randy Keisler was optioned to Sacramento to make room for Komine.
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ST. LOUIS: The Cardinals have had some bad blood in the past with the Chicago Cubs and events in Friday's game could spill over into the weekend. Cubs slugger Aramis Ramirez had to be restrained by St. Louis catcher Gary Bennett after he was hit in the backside by a Braden Looper pitch in the bottom of the seventh. Earlier in the inning Cubs pitcher Roberto Novoa hit Scott Rolen in his right shoulder blade. ``He got me pretty good,'' Rolen said. ``It was scary more than anything else.'' Cubs manager Dusty Baker said it wasn't intentional, words echoed by St. Louis' Tony LaRussa. Looper then hit Ronny Cedeno in the right wrist in the eighth as Cedeno was trying to bunt. Home plate umpire Ed Montague said Cedeno was swinging and Baker was ejected for arguing the call. ``That's a case where I knew he was bunting and I was just trying to bury it in,'' Looper said. ... The Cardinals are 0-for-8 in Chicago so far this season after dropping the first two of this four-game series. They were swept in April by the Cubs and in June by the White Sox.
CHICAGO: Cubs manager Dusty Baker knows Greg Maddux could be gone by Monday, the non-waiver trade deadline but he said he's not into wistful memories just yet. ``That's kind of like getting sentimental in advance,'' Baker said before Maddux makes what could be his last start in a Cubs uniform Saturday. ``You know how sometimes your wife gets sad a week before you leave. It's like, let me leave first. You know what I'm saying?'' ... Baker, who got affirmation that he will manage the Cubs the rest of the season, wouldn't say for sure that Derrek Lee, currently on the 15-day disabled list for post-traumatic inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist, would play again this season. ``I don't know,'' Baker said. Lee missed 59 games earlier in the year after fracturing his wrist. ... Rich Hill continued his struggles going from Triple-A All-Star to serviceable major league starter Thursday. Hill (0-4, 9.53 ERA) will get at least another start, if not more on the injury-plagued rotation. ``You have to graduate sometime,'' Baker said of Hill, who went 7-1 with a 1.80 ERA with the Iowa Cubs.
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SAN FRANCISCO: OF Barry Bonds (strained hamstring), OF Moises Alou (strained hamstring) and SS Omar Vizquel (foot contusion) each returned to the lineup Friday after missing Thursday's game in Washington. ... One-third of the Giants starting lineup Friday night in Pittsburgh was ex-Pirates. Bonds won two MVP awards with Pittsburgh in 1990 and '92, RHP Jason Schmidt won 44 games with the team from 1996-2001 and Alou appeared in two games with the Pirates before being traded late in the 1990 season. ... After Thursday's loss in Washington, San Francisco had a .500 record for the 18th time this season. The Giants have not been higher than four games over .500 or lower than three games under .500 all season.
PITTSBURGH: LHP John Grabow went eight consecutive appearances covering 11 2-3 innings without allowing a run and has now allowed a home run in 23 outings (25 2-3 innings) ``Grabow is really on his game right now,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ``He has been absolutely terrific for about the last month to both right- and left-handed hitters.'' ... Tracy flipped the lineup spots of C Ronny Paulino and 2B Jose Castillo for Friday night's game against San Francisco, a move Tracy said better serves the lineup and he hopes will jumpstart Castillo. Paulino had hit safely in seven of last eight games (10-for-29), while Castillo was hitless in his last nine at_bats. Castillo has batted eighth only 18 times this season (compared to 69 in the No. 7 spot), while 56 of Paulino's 71 starts were while batting eighth.
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FLORIDA: All-Star 2B Dan Uggla has a hit in seven straight games. ... Dontrelle Willis (6-7, 3.79) tries to even his record Saturday night. Willis has lost three straight starts against the Phillies, allowing eight runs in two of those three outings. ... The Marlins haven't decided on a pitcher for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader. ...
PHILADELPHIA: SS Jimmy Rollins was out of the lineup for the second straight game with a strained right hamstring. He had played every game this season until Thursday. ... RF Bobby Abreu drew his 947th walk with the Phillies, moving ahead of Richie Ashburn and Roy Thomas for second place on the team's all-time list. ... Cole Hamels (2-5, 5.98) takes the mound Saturday. He had 12 strikeouts, but allowed seven runs in his previous start. ... LF Pat Burrell again was out of the lineup against a right-handed pitcher.
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NEW YORK: Will Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux become teammates again before the year is out? Glavine's Mets, who hold a comfortable lead in the NL East, would like to beef up their rotation for the playoff run. Maddux, who pitches for the out-of-contention Chicago Cubs, could probably be acquired for a relatively cheap price if he'd be willing leave the Windy City. ``Based on the conversations I've had with him, he's kind of in the mind-set of whatever they want to do,'' Glavine said. ``If it's best for the team that they trade him, I think he's open to it, depending on what it is. I don't think he has a desire to get traded. But if it's something that's best for the team, it's hard not to be open to it.'' Glavine and Maddux spent a decade as teammates in Atlanta, playing a major role in the Braves' streak of division championships. Glavine signed with the Mets after the 2002 season, while Maddux pitched one more season with the Braves before joining the Cubs.
ATLANTA: RHP Kyle Davies is optimistic about returning to the Braves pitching staff in the next few weeks. Davies, who's been on the disabled list since May 16 recovering from a torn right groin, threw 40 pitches in two simulated innings before batting practice. Scott Thorman, Pete Orr and Matt Diaz stood in the box during the session. ``Every time I go out there it gets better and better,'' Davies said. The next step is likely to be a rehab start in the minors. The right-hander hopes to return to the Braves around Aug. 20, though GM John Schuerholz thinks it will be a little longer before Davies is recovered enough to pitch in the majors. ... With the trade deadline approaching, there's plenty of speculation that the Braves might pull off a deal to bolster their bullpen. IF Wilson Betemit appears to be the most attractive player Atlanta can offer up to land a setup man for new closer Bob Wickman. ``If we are able to make the right move, more can be done,'' Schuerholz said. ``There's always a way to make improvements, even if it's only by degrees. If that's possible, we'll try to do it. If not, we'll go with these guys.''
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ARIZONA: RHP Miguel Batista rejoined the team in Houston on Friday after attending his grandmother's funeral. Batista left the team after allowing four runs and striking out six in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies. Manager Bob Melvin said Batista threw a strong bullpen session on Friday and will start Sunday's series finale against the Astros and Roger Clemens. ... Right-handed reliever Luiz Vizcaino threw in the bullpen on Friday, but Melvin was holding him out until Saturday as Vizcaino recovers from a sore right elbow. Vizcaino suffered the injury playing catch before Tuesday's game and hasn't pitched since. ...Melvin said a quick hello to Houston Astros manager Phil Garner before the game, but was going to try to avoid eye contact once it started. Melvin was Garner's bench coach when Garner managed Milwaukee in 1999 and Detroit in 2000. ``He's a heck of a manager and I try not to put myself up against him,'' Melvin said.
HOUSTON: NL RBI leader Lance Berkman was out of Friday's lineup after re-aggravating his strained left groin. Berkman initially suffered the injury running the bases against the New York Mets last Sunday, then hurt it again after hitting an RBI single in Thursday's loss to Cincinnati. ``I'll be in there as soon as I can,'' said Berkman, who has 93 RBIs and 28 homers. ``I just can't run. If I could run, I'd be out there.'' Manager Phil Garner said the injury wasn't ``full-blown'' and said Berkman was available to pinch hit. ... Brad Ausmus caught his 1,000th game for the Astros on Friday, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach the plateau at that position. ...Garner said he still hasn't lost confidence in Brad Lidge. The Astros closer gave up two runs in Thursday's 8-4 loss and has yielded 30 earned runs in 47 innings. ``We expect a higher standard from him,'' said Garner, ``but we're going to continue to work with him. Brad's still my closer.''
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MILWAUKEE: OF Corey Hart started in left field Friday in place of OF Carlos Lee, who was traded earlier in the day to the Texas Rangers. The Brewers received OF Kevin Mench in the trade and manager Ned Yost said Mench will replace Lee in left field on a semi-regular basis. Yost also said that he would consider using both RHP Francisco Cordero and RHP Derrick Turnbow as the team's closer. ``Production will decide who closes games,'' Yost said. ... 2B Rickie Weeks did not start for the third straight game with irritation in his right wrist. IF Tony Graffanino, acquired by the Brewers from Kansas City on Tuesday, started his second straight game. ... Prior to Friday's game, the Brewers placed RHP Jose Capellan on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 25, with a right shoulder strain. ... Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said 3B Corey Koskie will be out at least another three to four weeks. Koskie suffered a slight concussion July 5 when he hit the ground hard chasing a foul ball.
CINCINNATI: RHP Justin Germano is scheduled to start against the Brewers on Saturday. Germano, who is 8-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 19 games for Triple A Louisville, pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the Reds on May 30 during his previous call up. The start will be Germano's first with the Reds and sixth Major League start. ... RHP Elizardo Ramirez struck out seven consecutive players during the Reds game Thursday against the Astros. No major leaguer had done that since the Cubs' Kerry Wood on April 11, 2004. No one on the Reds had done it since John Smiley on Aug. 27, 1996 at Colorado. ... The Reds 8-4 win over the Houston Astros Thursday was manager Jerry Narron's 100th victory as the team's manager.
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SAN DIEGO: RHP Chan Ho Park was sent home with a digestive tract ailment and will miss his scheduled start on Sunday. ``All I'll say is that he's still on our roster and that he won't pitch on Sunday,'' said manager Bruce Bochy, who didn't name a replacement starter. ... OF Mike Cameron got the night off and Bochy said it wasn't because of his four strikeouts in Thursday's game. ``Mike bruised a knee the other day and needed a day off,'' Bochy said. ... Bochy still would not dispute the call Ted Barrett made in the 10th inning Thursday where Barrett ruled C Rob Bowen missed the tag on Choo Freeman that allowed the winning run to score. ``I couldn't see the play,'' Bochy said.
COLORADO: RHP Sun-Woo Kim (shin contusion) threw a bullpen session Friday. He pitched batting practice before Tuesday's game. ... RHP Ryan Speier (shoulder surgery) threw off a slope on Tuesday. ``There's no timetable for either of them,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. . ... C Yorvit Torrealba remained in the No. 6 spot in the batting order after hitting a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning off RHP Trevor Hoffman. ``The guy wears his emotions on his sleeve and pumps other people,'' Hurdle said.
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WASHINGTON: Friday marked exactly three years since Nationals general manager Jim Bowden was fired as GM of the Cincinnati Reds by chief operating officer John Allen. Bowden held the job for more than 10 1-2 seasons. His successor, Dan O'Brien, was fired last January - after just two seasons on the job - because of a change in ownership. ... Friday also was the 15th anniversary of the only perfect game in the 38-year history of the Washington/Montreal franchise, when Dennis Martinez pitched the Expos to a 2-0 victory over the Dodgers at Los Angeles. Two nights earlier, Mark Gardner no-hit the Dodgers through nine innings before the Expos lost 1-0 in the 10th.
LOS ANGELES: 1B Nomar Garciaparra, who sat out his third straight game because of a sprained ligament in his right knee, is expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series at Cincinnati. ... 2B Jeff Kent, sidelined since July 18 because of a strained oblique muscle on his left side, will miss at least another 10 days to two weeks. ... The Dodgers entered this three game series against with 13 losses in 14 games, their worst stretch since 1944, and a deficit of seven games in the NL West. Yet they led the league in total attendance, thanks to a steady stream of promotional giveaways - and a new smaller ballpark in St. Louis, where the Central Division-leading Cardinals trailed then at the gate by more than 200,000 entering Friday.
