Notes from Wednesday's games
August 16, 2006
DETROIT: Ivan Rodriguez was back at his usual position, catcher, and batting leadoff after playing the final two innings of Tuesday's game at second base. Rodriguez played second after Placido Polanco separated his left shoulder after falling to the ground following a lunging catch of Doug Mirabelli's shallow pop to center. ... Polanco was placed on the 15-day disabled list and Ramon Santiago was recalled from Triple-A Toledo before Wednesday's game. ... First baseman Sean Casey made a nice catch of Kevin Youkilis' second-inning foul pop before stumbling into the dugout, where he was caught by Wily Mo Pena.
BOSTON: Red Sox manager Terry Francona said that Sept. 1 was a ``realistic date'' for the return of RF Trot Nixon, who has been on the 15-day DL since July 31 with a strained right biceps. ... Francona announced that RHP Jason Johnson will start the opener of Friday's day-night doubleheader against the Yankees, and LHP Jon Lester will work the nightcap. ... RHP Keith Foulke, on the DL since June 12 with elbow tendinitis, is expected to be activated Friday. ... LHP Lenny DiNardo, on the DL since May 22 with a strained neck, made a rehab start with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, pitching 1 2-3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with three strikeouts and no walks. ... C Corky Miller, designated for assignment Monday, was sent outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.
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BALTIMORE: 3B Melvin Mora was in the starting lineup, a day after bruising his left thumb making a leaping catch on Jorge Posada's bases-loaded liner. ``He swung the bat and was OK,'' manager Sam Perlozzo. ... 2B Nick Markakis was moved up from ninth in the batting order to second. ``I just slept on it and just said, `What the heck. Let's give it a shot.' Maybe we can jump-start a little bit and give it a different look. I feel like he can handle it,'' Perlozzo said. Markakis, who began the night with a .297 batting average, had hit second five times previously in his big league career, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and he homered in the first inning off RHP Cory Lidle.
NEW YORK: OF Gary Sheffield is progressing in his rehab from left wrist surgery in June, taking 20 swings in his own swimming pool. ``It's going to give me the endurance I need, and the strength,'' he said. The Yankees were unaware Sheffield had hit in the pool. ``Once you start swinging the bat and they let him have a little resistance to go along with it, we can start maybe looking down the road and see when he's going to be possibly ready for some baseball,'' manager Joe Torre said. Still, it isn't certain Sheffield will return this season. ... OF Hideki Matsui, who broke his left wrist May 11, is due for his next checkup Monday, GM Brian Cashman said. ... RHP Jeff Karstens left Columbus' game after one inning on Tuesday night in case he's needed to start the second game of Friday's split doubleheader at Boston, which opens a five-game series. The Yankees plan to start RHP Sidney Ponson, but wanted Karstens available in case Ponson was needed in relief Wednesday or Thursday.
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TORONTO: 3B Troy Glaus, slowed by right knee soreness, was originally scheduled to DH, but started at third instead in a late lineup change. ... The Blue Jays have altered their rotation for their weekend series at Baltimore after deciding to have LHP Gustavo Chacin (sore left elbow) make an additional rehab start Saturday instead of rejoining the rotation. LHP Scott Downs will start Friday and RHP Shaun Marcum will follow on Saturday. ... Chacin is expected to rejoin the team after Saturday's minor league start, which might be with Triple-A Syracuse.
TAMPA BAY: OF Greg Norton, who strained his left hamstring in Tuesday's game, is expected to be out of the lineup for three to five days at least. He might be available to pinch hit. ... LHP Scott Kazmir (10-8) is scheduled to make his second start Thursday since being sidelined almost three weeks by left shoulder inflammation. ``We're going to be careful and not push him too hard,'' manager Joe Maddon said. ... Maddon plans to give some thought to possibly using a six-man rotation after rosters are expanded on Sept. 1.
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LOS ANGELES: Up next for the Angels is a four-game series against Seattle that begins on Thursday. The Angels have lost seven of 12 to the Mariners this season. ``They've been really tough on us,'' manager Mike Scioscia said. ``We've had a problem containing some of their offensive guys.'' ... Thursday night's starter, RHP Kelvin Escobar, is 4-6 with a 5.12 ERA for his career against Seattle.
TEXAS: Manager Buck Showalter has to plan for the possibility that RHP Vicente Padilla will be suspended soon for throwing beanballs Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels. Padilla is scheduled to start Sunday at Detroit. Showalter said LHP John Koronka will be called up from Triple-A Oklahoma to start Saturday night against the Tigers in place of RHP Kip Wells, who is out for three weeks with a foot injury. ... RHP Robinson Tejeda or LHP John Rheinecker could be called up from Oklahoma for Sunday's start if Padilla is suspended. Both have made starts for the Rangers this season.
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KANSAS CITY: 1B Mike Sweeney was given the day off to rest his chronically sore back. Sweeney, who missed three months with a bulging disc in his back, has gotten a hit in seven of eight games since his return. ``I do stuff like anybody else would for an ailing part of his body,'' said Sweeney, adding that his back was a little sore. ``It's just something that's part of my life.'' ... RHP Brandon Duckworth - on the 15-day disabled list - had bone chips removed from his right elbow Wednesday. Head trainer Nick Swartz said there is no timetable for Duckworth's return. ... 1B Doug Mientkiewicz took his first steps toward recovery with some movement drills before the game. Mientkiewicz, on the 15-day disabled list since July 31 with a lower back strain, is out indefinitely. ``It was his first day moving around and you could tell he hadn't done it in a while,'' Swartz said. ``He doesn't feel quite right, right now. It can come quickly. You have to let him develop.''
CHICAGO: RF Jermaine Dye had the night off. On Tuesday night, he had his season-high 12-game hitting streak snapped and committed a three-base error. Dye, on pace to have the best season of his career, is hitting .374 with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs in his last 41 games. ... CF Brian Anderson had the night off, but he is hitting .320 over his last 34 games. He has raised his average from .173 to a season-high .226. He currently has a six-game hitting streak and is 8-for-18 during that span.
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CLEVELAND: Injured reliever Matt Miller threw a simulated game on Tuesday and is scheduled to throw about 45 pitches in another one Saturday. Miller had surgery to repair a right flexor tendon in his elbow in April. Miller had no record and a 5.63 ERA at the time of the injury. ... Manager Eric Wedge pinch-hit for promising rookie Andy Marte late in Tuesday night's loss to Minnesota and has done the same in other late-game situations this season. ``Just like any other young player, if it's a situation where we feel like we want to try someone else, we'll try it,'' he said.
MINNESOTA: Manager Ron Gardenhire said 3B Nick Punto's bruised left knee is feeling better, but not quite good enough to be back in the starting lineup. Gardenhire hopes to have Punto back this weekend, but won't hesitate to put him on the disabled list if he can't play by then. ``We don't have many days left. We need guys that can play,'' Gardenhire said. ... Francisco Liriano still has not thrown a baseball since Aug. 7. Nobody is willing to give any predictions when he might play catch again. ``He'll throw when the doctors say he's ready,'' Gardenhire said. ... Matt Garza, the Twins' top draft choice last year, makes his second major league start Thursday.
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SEATTLE: The Mariners moved struggling fifth starter Joel Pineiro to the bullpen and promoted left-hander Jake Woods to take Pineiro's starting spot. The switch happened a day after Pineiro (7-11) - unavailable for comment before the game - allowed a career-high nine runs in an 11-2 loss to Oakland, his fifth straight defeat against the A's this season and his third loss in a row overall. He has only one victory since June 20. ``I told him we felt it was time to make that move,'' manager Mike Hargrove said. ``Things weren't getting any better. We've given him innings and starts. We have to get him back to where he thinks he should be and where we think he should be.'' ... Woods will start Sunday against the Angels. He has pitched three or more innings 10 times this season - including his last three outings after Tuesday's 3 1-3 innings of work - and should be able to go five or six innings Sunday. ... Seattle purchased the contract of LHP Eric O'Flaherty from Triple-A Tacoma to add another arm in the bullpen and optioned INF Greg Dobbs to Tacoma. ... 1B Richie Sexson is scheduled to meet the team Thursday in Anaheim and is slated to be in the starting lineup for the opener of a four-game series with Los Angeles. Sexson missed the Oakland series after returning Monday to Seattle, where his wife underwent an emergency C-section and delivered twins.
OAKLAND: RHP Rich Harden, on the DL for the second time this season with a strained ligament in his right elbow, reported no problems after playing catch for the third time Tuesday. He made 40 throws in the outfield from distances up to 100 feet. ``I feel good,'' said Harden, who is slated to play catch again Friday in Kansas City. ``It's not like I'm doing a lot. We'll know more in a week or two. I haven't thrown for a long time. It's going to take a while to get some arm strength back.'' ... The A's will wait until Friday to activate SS Bobby Crosby from the disabled list, giving him two extra days with Thursday's off day. Crosby is batting only .229 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.
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MILWAUKEE: RHP Matt Wise was held out because of nerve irritation in his right elbow. Wise felt discomfort during some light throwing before the game. Despite using six relievers in the 5-2, 13-inning victory in Pittsburgh, manager Ned Yost still had former closer Derrick Turnbow available if the game had gone longer. ... RHP Francisco Cordero hasn't allowed a run in his first eight appearances with Milwaukee, giving up five hits, striking out 12 and walking eight in 10 innings. He is 8-for-8 in save opportunities. ... The Brewers won a road series for only the fifth time in 20 series by taking two of three in Pittsburgh. They are 5-15-0 in road series, and hadn't won a road series since taking three of four against the Cubs from June 26-29.
PITTSBURGH: Manager Jim Tracy might add a sixth starter to his rotation in September, no doubt as a way to keep his four young starters fresh for the final month of the season. All four of those starters are 24 or younger: left-handers Zach Duke, Paul Maholm and Tom Gorzelanny and right-hander Ian Snell. Duke, Maholm and Snell have been in the rotation all season. ... LF Jason Bay (sore hamstring) didn't start a third consecutive game Wednesday, but hit a long flyout as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. Tracy said there is ``a strong chance'' Bay will play Friday night at Cincinnati. The Pirates are off Thursday. ... Despite losing twice in two days to Milwaukee, the Pirates are 16-15 since the All-Star break.
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CHICAGO: The top fringe benefit of rookie Ryan O'Malley's eight-inning start against Houston might've been the rest it gave the Cubs' bullpen. Manager Dusty Baker used 10 pitchers in Tuesday's 18-inning marathon. O'Malley wasn't surprised Baker kept him out there. ``By me going deep in the game, that definitely helped the club out for this next week,'' said the 26-year-old O'Malley, who threw 109 pitches. ... The Cubs lead the majors in strikeouts (879) and walks allowed (519). The 1989 Texas Rangers are the last team to lead both leagues in both categories. ... The Cubs swept the Astros at Minute Maid Park for the first time since June 2004. ... The Cubs are off Thursday after a nine-game road trip, a much-needed break after Tuesday's draining 18-inning victory and Wednesday's quick turnaround. ``We'll be fine,'' CF Juan Pierre said. ``If we didn't have an off day, then it'd be something else. But we'll catch up on it (sleep) tomorrow.''
HOUSTON: Manager Phil Garner said RHP Chad Qualls, RHP Dan Wheeler and LHP Trever Miller will get their turns as closers after Brad Lidge blew his fifth save by giving up Matt Murton's ninth-inning homer on Tuesday night. Garner said he would adopt - with skepticism - a ``closer-by-committee'' for the short term. ``Almost always, when your bullpen is pitching well, they'll say, 'Well, our roles are defined, we knew what we're going to do,''' Garner said. ``Not too many times, do you see the bullpen-by-committee work the way you'd like to see it work. But if it's not working the other way, you need to do some things.'' Lidge was one of the game's most dominant closers the past two seasons, converting 70 of 76 save chances from June 2004 to October 2005. This year, he's converted 26 of 31 chances, but has a 5.70 ERA, the highest in the bullpen. ``It's a tough call,'' Garner said, ``but at this point, we need to do something.'' ... The Astros went 0-for-27 with runners in scoring position and stranded 36 runners in the three-game sweep by the Cubs. ... Garner still has RHP Roy Oswalt ``penciled in'' for his scheduled start in Milwaukee on Saturday. Oswalt took a line drive off his right wrist in Monday's 3-0 loss. ``He feels a little better,'' Garner said. ``The swelling seemed to be down a little bit and he's moving his wrist better.''
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FLORIDA: Manager Joe Girardi was pleased with his team's 5-4 record on a nine-game road trip that wound up with two losses in Los Angeles before Wednesday's 15-4 victory over the Dodgers. ``We didn't hit the first two games. The difference is, we hit today. They're hot, and I don't think this is the kind of game that cools them off,'' Girardi said of the Dodgers, who won 17 of their previous 18 games. ... The Marlins activated C Matt Treanor from the disabled list. Treanor had been sidelined since Aug. 1 with a strained left shoulder. ... Rookie Josh Johnson won his 11th game despite not having his best stuff. ``The offense was there for us today,'' he said. ``I had to battle for six innings. I'll take it.'' ... SS Hanley Ramirez stole two bases, giving him 38 in 46 attempts. ... Florida rookie pitchers have combined for 38 wins - the most for an NL team since rookies won 39 games for the 2003 Arizona Diamondbacks.
LOS ANGELES: INF Wilson Betemit had two hits, but the Dodgers lost for the first time with the 26-year-old switch hitter in the starting lineup, falling to 14-1. The Dodgers acquired Betemit from the Atlanta Braves on July 28. ... OF Kenny Lofton stole his 22nd and 23rd bases of the season, giving him 590 in his career. He leads active major leaguers in that department and is now four shy of Dummy Hoy for 16th place on baseball's career list. ... Jeff Kent doubled twice, raising his career total to 491 and into a tie with Heinie Manush for 49th place. ... Manager Grady Little shrugged off the Dodgers' second loss in 19 games. ``We got all the humbling we needed during that two-week stretch after the All-Star break,'' he said, referring to 13 losses in 14 games before the current streak began. ``We know these things are going to happen, but we feel good about ourselves right now. We'll put this one behind us and go forward. Today it just kind of caved in on us and started snowballing.''
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ATLANTA: CF Andruw Jones was scratched from the lineup for the second consecutive game because of patellar tendinitis in his left knee. Jones took batting practice and felt OK at the plate, but running in the outfield was a problem. He was available to pinch hit. Ryan Langerhans replaced Jones in center. ... RHP Oscar Villareal will make his second major league start - and first since 2003 - on Thursday against Washington. He's 8-1 with a 4.48 ERA in 47 relief appearances this season. ... Braves manager Bobby Cox said RHP Lance Cormier would get another start Sunday. He was called up from Triple-A Richmond to start Tuesday against Washington, and he allowed five runs - three earned - on eight hits over 4 2-3 innings. ... The Braves lead the majors in road homers with 100 and road runs with 344. ... 3B Chipper Jones, who posted his first career three-homer game Monday, needs one more to reach 350 for his career. ... Entering Wednesday, Atlanta led the majors with 54 homers since the All-Star break. 1B Adam LaRoche has 10, while CF Andruw Jones and C Brian McCann both have nine.
WASHINGTON: The Nationals reportedly put LF Alfonso Soriano on waivers, something he hadn't heard about until reporters approached him before Wednesday's game. ``Oh, man. That surprised me right now,'' Soriano said. ``I don't know what to think now.'' He said neither the Nationals nor his agent had told him of the move - although that's not unusual, given that teams are supposed to keep the waiver process secret. ... SS Stephen King, a third-round pick in June's amateur draft, signed with the Nationals on Wednesday. The club now has deals with seven of its top eight selections - but none of the top three is playing right now. The team's first overall pick, high school OF Christopher Marrero, is sidelined with viral meningitis; the second, high school RHP Colton Willems, has been shut down because of shoulder fatigue; and the third, high school RHP Sean Black, is the only one of the team's first eight picks not to have signed. ``We're not really close with Sean right now,'' assistant general manager Mike Rizzo said.
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NEW YORK: RHP Pedro Martinez was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf. ``I think the main thing is that his arm feels great,'' manager Willie Randolph said. ``He'll be able to do his long toss and keep his arm strong. To me, it's more of a precaution than anything.'' RHP Heath Bell was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to take Martinez's spot on the roster. ... Former Mets OF Darryl Strawberry told the team Wednesday he'll take part in weekend festivities honoring the 1986 World Series champions. ... When SS Jose Reyes hit three homers in a game Tuesday, he became the first player since Chicago's Andre Dawson in 1987 to have a three-homer game and hit for the cycle in the same season.
PHILADELPHIA: LF Pat Burrell was back in the lineup after sitting out two straight games against a right-handed pitcher. ... RF Shane Victorino threw out Carlos Delgado at second after he tried to stretch a single into a double ... The Phillies failed to score in the first inning against the Mets after scoring a combined 10 runs in the first the last two games. The only time in team history they scored four-plus runs in the first inning in three straight games was July 20-23, 1889.
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CINCINNATI: GM Wayne Krivsky has acquired 33 players since being hired on Feb. 8, and 14 were on the active roster for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. The latest acquisition was LHP Scott Schoeneweis, acquired from the Blue Jays. Manager Jerry Narron said he wasn't certain yet how Schoeneweis, who arrived in time for Wednesday night's game against the Cardinals, would be used. ``That's one thing about bringing in all these new guys is we've got to as quickly as possible figure out how they best fit,'' Narron said. ... Schoeneweis, preparing for his first NL action, busied himself on his flight to St. Louis by studying the sports section to ``catch up.'' Schoeneweis was surprised to land with the Reds after hearing rumors he'd be heading to the Red Sox.
ST. LOUIS: Timo Perez, recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, got a start in RF after CF Jim Edmonds was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Juan Encarnacion moved to CF, making his third start there. ... 2B Ronnie Belliard was out of the lineup against RHP Bronson Arroyo, one game after going 3-for-3 and getting his 1,000th career hit on Tuesday. Belliard was 0-for-11 against Arroyo and Aaron Miles, who started in his place, was 4-for-11 vs. Arroyo. Miles shared the 2B job with Hector Luna before the Cardinals traded for Belliard on July 30.
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ARIZONA: OF Jeff DaVanon (sprained ankle) ran in the outfield without pain. ``Everything went great,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ... Melvin canceled batting practice and allowed many of the Diamondbacks to sleep in until mid-afternoon after Tuesday night's 18-inning game. ... RHP Tony Pena threw two scoreless innings Tuesday and has Melvin thinking about his role. ``Tony has closer stuff and a closer's makeup,'' Melvin said. ... INF Tony Clark (shoulder inflammation) could be sent on a rehab assignment when the team gets to San Diego.
COLORADO: RHP Ramon Ramirez received high praise for his performance Tuesday. ``That was as good as he's shown since April,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ``It was hard for me in the postgame report that he was the losing pitcher.'' ... The 2-1 loss Tuesday night reminded Hurdle that the Rockies needed to add a bat in the lineup. ``It was amplified last night by the number of guys we left in scoring position and it has been a rock in our shoe,'' he said. ``We're looking for a bat. We'll continue to look.'' ... Hurdle warned of repercussions from Tuesday night's 18-inning game. ``There will be some fatigue involved over the next few days,'' he said. ``These are times when the team that plays best tired is the team that is going to win.''
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SAN FRANCISCO: Manager Felipe Alou said Barry Bonds won't play in Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Padres. ... Asked about the Giants' chances in the wild-card race, Alou said: ``In this division, four clubs are ahead of us. In the wild card, it's what, about 24?''
SAN DIEGO: C Mike Piazza was back in the starting lineup two nights after being forced out after getting hit on the forearm by a pitch. ... Going into Wednesday night's game, the Padres had lost seven of their last eight games against the Giants.
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Notes from Wednesday's games
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