Notes from Sunday's games
August 6, 2006
OAKLAND: CF Mark Kotsay left Sunday's game in the seventh inning with back spasms but not before extending his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the third inning. His career high is 16 games. ... DH Frank Thomas had four RBIs Sunday and moved into 40th place on the career RBIs list, passing Jeff Bagwell and Tris Speaker. He is five behind Joe DiMaggio for 39th place. ... LHP Brad Halsey entered in the seventh and walked both batters he faced. It was the first time in his 34 career relief appearances he did not record an out. ``Halsey hasn't been in in a while ... he walks two and gives them a chance to get back in the game,'' Oakland manager Ken Macha said. Halsey had not thrown since pitching one-third of an inning last Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels.
SEATTLE: The Mariners' 12-game losing streak to Oakland is the second-longest in franchise history, trailing a 15-game skid to Boston from May 1977 to June 1978. ... When Seattle went ahead 2-0 in the first inning Sunday, it was the Mariners' first lead against Oakland in 26 innings. Seattle hadn't led since the second inning on June 16. ... DH Eduardo Perez entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh and hit an RBI single off RHP Justin Duchscherer. It was Perez's third hit this season off a righty. He is hitting .316 against left-handers. ... Seattle was swept for the seventh time this season and third time at home. Detroit and the Los Angeles Angels previously swept the Mariners in Seattle.
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TEXAS: RHP Kip Wells, scheduled to start Monday night at Oakland, was sent back to Texas to see team physician Keith Meister about the soreness in his pitching shoulder that forced him out of his previous start. ... RHP Edinson Volquez will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma on Monday to make his regular-season debut, and a corresponding roster move will be made then. Volquez, 23, was 0-3 with an 11.81 ERA in his first three big league starts for the Rangers last season and also pitched three times in relief. ... 1B Mark Teixeira walked his first time up, extending his career-best streak of getting on base to 30 games.
LOS ANGELES: RHP Ervin Santana's victory on Saturday made him the fifth pitcher in franchise history with at least 12 victories in each of his first two big league seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The others were Dean Chance, Frank Tanana, Ron Romanick and Kirk McCaskill. Chance finished his career 128-115, Tanana 240-236, Romanick 31-29, and McCaskill 106-108. ... DH/RF Tim Salmon, who intends to retire at the end of this season, is getting huge ovations from the Angel Stadium crowds whenever he comes up to bat. The only active player in the majors with more continuous service with one team is the Yankees' Bernie Williams. ``I'm taking it all in a lot more and I'm very much aware of it,'' said Salmon, who has hit a club-record 297 home runs in his 13-year career. ``I'm breaking down the rest of the season and realizing that it's coming to a close pretty quick.''
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CHICAGO: DH Jim Thome has been productive since returning to the lineup on Friday after missing four games because of tendinitis in his right wrist and back spasms. Thome went 6-for-10 with five RBIs, three runs scored and four walks over the weekend. ... 3B Joe Crede missed the game with a stiff back but his injury is not considered serious and he's expected to return Monday.
TORONTO: The Blue Jays play a rare day game on a Monday because of a provincial holiday called Simcoe Day. Lord Simcoe was the Queen's representative in Ontario before Canada became a country. ... RHP A.J. Burnett has five quality outings in his 11 starts this season. ... 2B Aaron Hill is batting .325 (25-for-77) in 21 games since the All-Star break. ... RHP Justin Speier has 14 strikeouts in his last 8 2-3 innings.
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NEW YORK: 1B Jason Giambi hit his 32nd homer, matching his total for 2005. Giambi, who went 3-for-3, entered the game with four hits in his last 29 at bats. ... The Yankees improved to 11-1-1 in their last 13 series. ... New York has won 15 of the last 20 games against Baltimore and hold a 6-3 advantage this year. ... OF Bernie Williams made his first start of the series. He went 0-for-3 against Rodrigo Lopez and is 0-for-18 over his career against Lopez. ... OF Bobby Abreu had two stolen bases Sunday, his first in the AL. Abreu has gone 157 at_bats without a home run, the longest such stretch in his career.
BALTIMORE: RHP Rodrigo Lopez allowed a season-high four homers Sunday and took his 12th loss, the most in the AL. ... RHP Winston Abreu made his major league debut Sunday. Abreu retired both batters he faced, striking out Alex Rodriguez. ... The Orioles were 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. ... Baltimore is 22-40 against teams with a winning record. ... The Orioles have allowed at least four homers seven times this season. ... Jeff Conine went 3-3 Sunday and has batted .325 (27-83) since the All-Star break.
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INDIANS: C.C. Sabathia's 1-0 loss to the Tigers on Sunday made him 0-3 against Detroit this season despite a 2.45 ERA. He allowed an unearned run, thanks to his own error. ... 1B Casey Blake is day to day after spraining an ankle in Saturday night's game. ... Travis Hafner was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Sunday after homering in four consecutive games. His seven-game hitting streak was also snapped.
DETROIT: Ivan Rodriguez started at first base for the fourth time this season and in his career. ... OF-DH Craig Monroe was 2-for-4 on Sunday and is batting .412 (21-for-51) in a 13-game hitting streak, the longest of his career.
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MINNESOTA: Rookie LHP Francisco Liriano returns to the rotation on Monday at Detroit after being skipped a start with forearm inflammation. Will Liriano be on a short lease? ``I hate that word leash,'' Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. ``It sounds like a kennel. We're always concerned about all of our pitchers.'' He said pitching coach Rick Anderson checks with the pitchers after every inning to see how they are feeling. ``If he (Liriano) says he feels anything, obviously, he'd be out of the game,'' Gardenhire said. ``It's not a bad thing for a young starter to miss a start.'' ... LHP Dennys Reyes' string of stranding 15 consecutive inherited runners came to an end in the sixth inning when he allowed Mark Grudzielanek to score on an Emil Brown single. ... The Twins outscored the Royals 41-15 in sweeping the four-game series.
KANSAS CITY: RHP Luke Hochevar, the first overall pick in the draft who signed on Saturday, threw about 35 pitches in a bullpen session before the game on Sunday. Hochevar did not try to throw 100 mph to impress the Royals. ``They gave me ground rules before not to air it out, but throw nice and easy,'' Hochevar said. ``It was a mode of working on a few things.'' He said pitching coach Bob McClure made ``some real minor adjustments on my lower half.'' Hochevar flies out Monday morning for the Royals' complex in Surprise, Ariz. He is scheduled to make his first start on Aug. 16 for Class A Burlington (Iowa) in the Midwest League. ... DH Mike Sweeney, who is rehabbing with Triple-A Omaha, went 1-for-3 with a walk and a RBI double on Sunday. Sweeney, who went on the disabled list May 2 with a bulging disc, could be activated by Tuesday. ... 1B Ryan Shealy's third-inning home run was his first since Aug. 3 last year at San Francisco, while with the Rockies.
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BOSTON: 3B Mike Lowell (sore left foot) missed his third consecutive game. He might return Tuesday. ... RHP Keith Foulke (right elbow), on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket, could rejoin the Red Sox next weekend. ... C Doug Mirabelli (sprained left ankle) could be ready to play by midweek. ... Francona said Dave Wallace, who had right hip surgery, could soon be ready to resume full-time pitching coach duties. ... Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon called Red Sox DH David Ortiz and LF Manny Ramirez the best duo he has seen. ``Those guys are freaks,'' Maddon said. ``Ruth and Gehrig. Batman and Robin. Peanut butter and jelly. They're like the best combo maybe in the history of the world.''
TAMPA BAY: LHP Scott Kazmir (left shoulder inflammation) reported no problems one day after a 30-pitch bullpen session. ``Everything went good,'' Kazmir said. He is scheduled to rejoin the rotation Friday. ... CF Rocco Baldelli (right hamstring soreness) was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. Manager Joe Maddon is hopeful that Baldelli will play Monday, but admitted he will become ``concerned'' if Baldelli doesn't play soon.
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PHILADELPHIA: RHP Jon Lieber's complete game on Saturday was only the second for the Phillies this season. Since 1900, Philadelphia has never had fewer than four complete games in a season (2004 and 2005). ... Saturday's 2-hour, 11-minute game was the shortest that Philadelphia has played all season.
NEW YORK: OF Cliff Floyd still felt some tenderness in his Achilles' tendon and did not start Sunday's game. He hopes to be ready by Tuesday when the Mets open up a three-game set with the San Diego Padres. ``It will be a couple of days. The tests showed some fluid inflammation,'' Floyd said. ``Hopefully I'll be ready Tuesday.'' ... With Saturday's victory, Tom Glavine moved into a tie for 24th with 287 victories, matching Bert Blyleven.
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ATLANTA: 2B Marcus Giles' hit streak was stopped at nine games on Sunday when he lost credit for a single in the sixth inning because 3B Willy Aybar missed second base while going from first to third and was called out on an appeal play. ``I saw him miss it from the dugout,'' manager Bobby Cox said. The play was ruled a fielder's choice. ... Giles is hitting .405 (15-for-37) with eight doubles in nine starts this season as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup, including .448 (13-for-29) in the last six games after Aybar was installed at leadoff. ``I'm more comfortable there,'' Giles said. ... SS Edgar Renteria and RHP Tyler Yates both celebrate birthdays Monday. Renteria turns 31, Yates 29.
CINCINNATI: RHP Kyle Lohse, traded by Minnesota to the Reds on July 31, will get at least one more start after going five strong innings Sunday in his first start since losing 7-4 at Detroit for Minnesota on May 16. ``I sure would think he'll get back out there in five days,'' manager Jerry Narron said. ``He knows what he's doing. He's a pretty experienced guy. He's a guy who's got a chance to really help us the rest of the season.'' ... LHP Brandon Claussen, who's been on the disabled list since June 17 with tendinitis in his shoulder, allowed nine hits and six runs in 5 2-3 innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. ... SS Royce Clayton played in his 2,000th game on Sunday.
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PITTSBURGH: SS Jack Wilson returned after missing three games with tightness in his right calf. ``He's fine,'' manager Jim Tracy said. ``The fact that we do have a day off tomorrow gives us an opportunity to play Jack today and re-evaluate him come Tuesday.'' Wilson was 1-for-5. ... INF Freddy Sanchez was given the day off. Sanchez, the NL batting leader at .339, has struggled in his last nine games, batting .216 (8-for-37). ... INF/OF Jose Batista has been slumping at the plate, with only one hit in his last 11 at bats. Tracy feels Batista's struggles are mechanical. ``He's a real good hitter when he's behind the ball,'' Tracy said. ``Right now he's not behind the ball. His front side is getting out there a little too quickly. As a result he's tying himself up.'' ... The last-place Pirates have a NL Central-best 12-9 record since July 14 and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. ``Our record in the second half is very indicative of the progress that is being made with some of these people,'' Tracy said. ``There's a whole different mindset. There's an expectation (to win) in this room that I didn't feel was there during the course of the first half.'' ... The Pirates were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position Sunday.
CHICAGO: 1B Derrek Lee, on the 15-day DL with a sore right wrist, said before Sunday's game that his wrist is getting better. Lee has not started any hitting activities and Cubs manager Dusty Baker is unsure whether Lee will be back in the lineup by September. ... OF Matt Murton, in his first full season in the majors, is hitting .404 in his last 19 games. ... INF Ronny Cedeno, who made the switch to second base from shortstop when the Cubs acquired Cesar Izturis on July 31, is 12-for-28 in his last 11 games.
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HOUSTON: LHP Andy Pettitte's 12th loss on Sunday was a career high. He is 1-5 with a 5.01 ERA in six appearances against the Diamondbacks, two of them for the Yankees in the 2001 World Series. He's lost three times to Arizona this year. ... 1B Lance Berkman has 21 RBIs in his last 20 games. His two on Sunday gave him 97 for the season. With his 30th homer Sunday, Berkman became the only Astros' player to have four 30-homer seasons. ... LF Luke Scott has eight multi-hit performances in 19 games and is batting .403. ... After scoring 17 runs in the first two games of the series, Houston stranded 11 and was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position on Sunday. ... OF Willy Taveras extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is batting .400 (16-for-40) in that stretch.
ARIZONA: SS Craig Counsell is recovering from a broken right rib and could by ready to play by the end of the Diamondbacks' homestand next weekend. He might have a hard time getting back in the lineup because his replacement, Stephen Drew is playing spectacular defense and is hitting .333 since coming up from Triple-A Tucson. With a single and double Sunday, Drew has hit safely in six straight games. Of his 26 hits, 14 have been for extra bases. ... INF Alberto Callaspo made his major league debut, grounding out as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning on Sunday. ... RHP Brandon Webb, who missed a start Saturday with a sore elbow, is to play catch on Monday, then probably throw a side session on Tuesday to see if he can return to the rotation Friday night against San Francisco.
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FLORIDA: RHP Sergio Mitre (shoulder), sidelined since May 13, plans to make a rehabilitation start in the minors this week and is expected to rejoin the Marlins during their next homestand, which begins Aug. 18. ... LHP Scott Olsen has yet to allow a homer to a left-handed hitter this season. He has allowed 14 to right-handers. ... Marlins pinch-hitters are batting .286, third-highest in the NL.
LOS ANGELES: 2B Jeff Kent (side muscle) may be activated from the disabled list Monday, manager Grady Little said. Kent has been on the DL since July 18 and has been bothered by the injury for more than a month. ... LF Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games Sunday. ... The Dodgers improved to 31-30 in Miami. ... During the Dodgers' nine-game winning streak, the bullpen has an ERA of 1.38.
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WASHINGTON: Daryle Ward's pinch-single in the eighth inning on Sunday was the Nationals major league-leading 46th this season. Ward has 13 pinch hits this season, including three home runs. ... 1B Nick Johnson's fourth-inning error was the Nationals 85th of the season. The Nationals rank second-to- last in both errors and fielding percentage (.979) in the NL, ahead of only the Marlins. ... The Nationals are 4-18 against the Padres dating to August 2003.
SAN DIEGO: SS Khalil Greene, sidelined with a sprained middle finger on his left hand on Thursday, missed the three-game weekend series but plans to start Tuesday at the New York Mets. ... Padres manager Bruce Bochy plans to start RHP Chan Ho Park on Friday in Houston. Park, who has had blood transfusions and received iron supplements for his anemia, is set to come off the DL on Thursday. ... The Padres are averaging just 4.09 runs per nine innings when Jake Peavy pitches. New York's Steve Trachsel, who will pitch against the Padres on Tuesday, leads the league averaging 6.67 runs per nine innings.
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MILWAUKEE: The Brewers have totaled 15 runs in LHP Chris Capuano's last six starts, including one on Sunday. He's 1-5 in that span with a 5.16 ERA. ``Cappy pitched great, but we just couldn't get any offense going for him,'' manager Ned Yost said. ``We're not scoring enough runs for him.'' ... The Brewers are 20-36 on the road, second-worst in the majors. ... RHP Derrick Turnbow, who has lost his job as closer to Francisco Cordero, allowed three runs on four hits in the eighth on Sunday. ... Tony Graffanino had two hits Sunday and was 5-for-12 in the series.
ST. LOUIS: CF Jim Edmonds, whose tumbling catch with the bases loaded was a key to a 4-3 victory that ended the team's eight-game losing streak on Saturday, did not start on Sunday against LHP Chris Capuano. But he played the last three innings after a double-switch. ``I thought he put a lot into that game and had to be feeling something,'' manager Tony La Russa said. ... RHP Chris Carpenter threw in the bullpen Sunday and is on track to make his next start on Wednesday at Cincinnati. That outing had been in doubt after Carpenter bruised his right thumb on Friday night, when he was struck by a grounder. ``He threw pretty good today,'' trainer Barry Weinberg said. ``He's on schedule.'' ... So Taguchi drove in his first run since July 16 and only his third since June 22, with an RBI double in the second. ... The six-run margin of victory was the most for the team since an 11-3 victory over the Dodgers on July 16.
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COLORADO: C Yorvit Torrealba had an impressive weekend against his former club, going 4-for-11 with a homer, triple, double and single at the Giants' waterfront ballpark. The Giants traded him to Seattle on July 30 last season. Torrealba even stole a base Sunday, just his third of the year. ... 1B Todd Helton has hit safely in 12 of his last 14 games. ... The Rockies took two of three from the Giants to win their third straight series - despite getting just 18 hits in the three-game set.
SAN FRANCISCO: 1B Mark Sweeney, relegated to the bench since the Giants acquired Shea Hillenbrand, drove in two runs Sunday - one more than Hillenbrand has managed in two weeks. ``My job is to be ready,'' said Sweeney, who had three hits. ``I've learned to do that, so I never use it as an excuse. I know what my job is.'' ... RHP Matt Cain had a career-high 12 strikeouts, the second-highest total for a Giants pitcher this season, after Jason Schmidt's 16-strikeout game against Florida in June. San Francisco has two pitchers with 12-strikeout games in the same season for the first time since 1975. ... RHP Vinnie Chulk was praised by manager Felipe Alou after pitching two perfect innings in relief of Cain. Chulk, acquired from Toronto 16 days ago in the deal for Hillenbrand, has allowed just two earned runs in 8 2-3 innings with his new team, holding opponents scoreless in six of his seven outings.
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Notes from Sunday's games
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