KC beat the Astros
the marlins continue winning streak
the marlins continue winning streak
Notes from Friday's games
June 16, 2006
TORONTO: Although they have an interleague history against Florida, the Blue Jays have not faced the Marlins since 2001. Pitcher Roy Halladay, who is scheduled to start in the series finale on Sunday, is the only active Blue Jays player who was part of the 2001 team which played Florida. Toronto will be seeking its first series victory against Florida. The Marlins have won the first five series. ... Friday's series opener is the first of a six-game interleague road trip against NL East opponents. Following the three-game set at Florida, the Blue Jays will travel to Atlanta and begin a three-game series on Tuesday.
FLORIDA: The Marlins announced the signing of first-round draft Brett Sinkbeil. The 21-year-old Sinkbeil, a right-handed pitcher from Missouri State University, was Florida's first-round selection and the 19th overall pick in last week's draft. Sinkbeil had a 19-14 record, including 5-1 in 2006, and struck out 356 during his three-year career at Missouri State. ... Not wanting to disrupt a productive trend, manager Joe Girardi gave Alfredo Amezaga his sixth straight start in center field Friday. The Marlins are unbeaten since Amezaga replaced Reggie Abercrombie.
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ARIZONA: Manager Bob Melvin said the six-game road trip the Diamondbacks started on Friday allows the team to step away from the investigation of former reliever Jason Grimsley that dominated the headlines during a 1-9 homestand. ``We don't use distractions as an excuse for the way we played at home, but sometimes it's nice to get off on the road and be with your group,'' Melvin said. ... RHP Juan Cruz, on the DL since June 7 due to a sore right shoulder, played catch on Friday. Melvin said there is no planned next step in Cruz's rehab until the club determines how Cruz's shoulder responds to Friday's session.
TEXAS: RHP Adam Eaton is scheduled to throw off the mound Saturday for the first time since injuring the middle finger his last spring training start. ``It's exciting for him and us,'' manager Buck Showalter said. Expected to be the team's No. 2 starter, Eaton instead had surgery April 4 to repair a tendon. He's been throwing for about 2 1/2 weeks. He will begin his session Saturday with long toss and progress to the mound. How he feels will determine how many pitches he throws, Showalter said. ... SS Michael Young likely will get his first turn as the DH on Sunday, a day game after a night game - and before an off day. Since Phil Nevin was traded, Showalter has used the DH spot to get his everyday players a break from the field while keeping them in the lineup.
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BOSTON: The Red Sox put struggling RHP Matt Clement on the 15-day DL before Friday's game. Clement (5-5) was experiencing pain in his right shoulder and biceps when he was pulled out in the fifth inning of his last start, an 8-1 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday. He returned to Boston to be examined by the team's medical staff, which diagnosed a strained right shoulder. Clement was scuffling through the worst of his eight major league seasons with an ERA of 6.61. Still, he was hoping to avoid a stint on the DL. ``I think the one thing Matt really valued was taking the ball every five days,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``That's a big deal to him.'' ... OF Gabe Kapler was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Clement. Kapler went down last September with a ruptured left Achilles' tendon and had been rehabbing at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., where he had the equivalent of about 30 spring training at-bats. ``I can tell you I'm where I need to be,'' he said. ``I'm capable of doing everything I need to do on the baseball field.''
ATLANTA: RHP Lance Cormier is back with the Braves, only this time in a different role. Cormier, who began the season in Atlanta's bullpen, will start Saturday against the Boston Red Sox as a replacement for ailing LHP Horacio Ramirez. Ramirez has experienced dizziness since he was struck in the forehead with a batted ball last Sunday. Cormier, who was acquired from Arizona during the offseason, earned a spot in the Atlanta bullpen out of spring training. But he was sent to the minors after posting a 6.10 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Cormier struggled with his control as a reliever, walking 17 in 20 20-3 innings. The Braves hope he will have better luck in his first big league start since 2004. ... To make room for Cormier, the Braves put RHP John Thomson on the 15-day DL. He left Wednesday's start with a blister on his right middle finger.
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BALTIMORE: RHP Kris Benson, traded to Baltimore by the Mets last winter, returns to Shea Stadium and gets the Saturday night start against Pedro Martinez. ... Also returning to Shea was 3B Melvin Mora, who began his big league career with Mets, ex-Mets general manager Jim Duquette, now in the Orioles' front office, and ex-Mets 3B coach Sam Perlozzo, now managing the O's. ... Going into Friday night's game, the Orioles had been successful on 62 of 73 steal attempts for an .849 percentage that led the AL.
NEW YORK: RF Xavier Nady (appendectomy) is expected back from his rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk on Monday or Tuesday and will return to the everyday lineup. ``He's my right fielder,'' manager Willie Randolph said. ``If he feels good, he'll play.'' ... OF Lastings Milledge could be headed back to Norfolk when Nady returns. ``I don't believe in young players sitting on the bench,'' Randolph said. ... LF Cliff Floyd (ankle) continues to be listed as day to day. He reported some soreness on Friday and if it persists, he could be placed on the DL.
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CLEVELAND: Casey Blake was placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to June 14) with a strained left oblique muscle. The outfielder suffered the injury during batting practice before the team's game Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Blake's place on the roster. He was inserted into the starting lineup Friday night in left field, batting seventh. ... Cleveland's platooning first basemen, Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez, have combined to hit .340 (84-247) with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 65 games.
MILWAUKEE: With LHP C.C. Sabathia pitching for Cleveland, left-handed hitters Geoff Jenkins and Prince Fielder were held out of the starting lineup Friday night. Jenkins is batting .129 (8-for-62) with one home run and four RBIs against left-handers. Fielder has fared better against left-handers, batting .282 (22-for-78) with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. ... RHP Rick Helling pitched seven innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday night, giving up one run and three hits without walking a batter.
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KANSAS CITY: The Royals optioned right fielder Shane Costa to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Kerry Robinson to be promoted to the big league club on Friday. Kansas City manager Buddy Bell said he talked to Costa about the reason behind the move. ``I told him he's got to work on some things defensively,'' Bell said. ``He's been hurt ... but I don't know if that's an issue or not.'' Bell said he brought Robinson up because he performed well in his last stint in the majors. ... Also on Friday the Royals transferred designated hitter Mike Sweeney from the 15- to the 60-day DL to make room for Robinson on the 40-man roster. Sweeney has been on the DL since May 2 with a bulging disc. ... RHP Kyle Snyder was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox on Friday. He was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11. The 28-year-old made one start for Kansas City this season and allowed nine runs and 10 hits in two innings.
HOUSTON: RHP Brandon Backe, who has been on the DL with an injured right elbow since April 13, threw for almost 15 minutes on Friday. He threw a bit of batting practice with Astros manager Phil Garner and one of his doctors looking on intently. He is scheduled to pitch two simulated games in the upcoming days and if there are no problems, he will then go on a rehab assignment. ``I felt great today,'' Backe said. ``Control with my fastball was a little iffy, but that's bound to happen. I've been out for so long.'' Garner was happy with the performance. ``I saw a pretty good breaking ball,'' Garner said. ``He was a little inconsistent at the release point a few times but still threw the ball pretty good.'' ... Friday's game is the Astros' first of 15 consecutive games against AL teams.
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DETROIT: The Tigers might have felt like they were playing at home on Friday. They had a large, vocal contingent of fans at Wrigley Field. Starting P Nate Robertson noticed it while jogging in center field before the game. ``I heard a lot of people out there get on their feet and start cheering away,'' he said after pitching seven innings in a 5-3 win. ``It was pretty awesome. Great atmosphere in this ballpark. It's fun to get a win here.'' Manager Jim Leyland said he heard C Ivan Rodriguez say before the game, ``I can't believe all the people cheering, 'Let's go Tigers.''' ... Leyland had Vance Wilson pinch-hit for Rodriguez in the ninth inning because the veteran's legs cramped. ... P Joel Zumaya saw his streak of 15 scoreless innings end with Aramis Ramirez's homer in the eighth.
CHICAGO: There was no official word on the status of C Michael Barrett and RHP Mark Prior as of Friday evening. Barrett had his appeal of a 10-game suspension for punching the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski heard before the game and did not play - because of that and a sore back. ``I felt like I was on trial today,'' Barrett said. ``It's not something I want to get used to.'' Barrett and GM Jim Hendry said they were not given a timetable for a decision on the appeal. ``Michael is well aware of the fact there's going to be a suspension; hopefully, for our save and his sake, it's less than 10,'' Hendry said. ... As for Prior, manager Dusty Baker said he hoped the right-hander would make his first start of the season on Sunday. Prior, recuperating from a shoulder strain, threw in the bullpen before the game. Hendry said a decision would be announced ``no later than (Saturday).'' ... P Jeff Samardzija realizes he might have to choose between baseball and football at some point, but for now, he's pursuing both. The Cubs' fifth-round draft pick - and Notre Dame's wide receiver - threw in the bullpen before the game. ``All I'm asking is that I have the opportunity to pursue both sports as much as I can,'' Samardzija said.
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SAN DIEGO: The Padres welcomed back Merv Rettenmund as their hitting coach a day after firing Dave Magadan. Rettenmund, 63, was previously in that role with San Diego from 1991-99 and was there when Tony Gwynn and Gary Sheffield won batting titles. He had been serving as Toronto's roving minor league hitting instructor when the Padres called him back. ``We're in a division where every team is capable of winning it, so we definitely realize that we're going to need more production from our offense. But I don't look at it as a panic move,'' infielder Eric Young said. ``The front office just felt like we needed a change.'' ... Closer Trevor Hoffman, who entered this interleague series needing 27 saves to tie Lee Smith's major league record of 478, has been waiting since 2001 to give the Angels some payback. In his previous three appearances against them during the regular season, Hoffman gave up four ninth-inning runs after coming in with a 4-1 lead; threw a wild pitch that allowed the winning run to score in the 11th inning, and forced home the winning run with a ninth-inning walk his last time out against them.
LOS ANGELES: Hank Conger, the Angels' No. 1 pick in this year's draft, signed Friday and took some batting practice four hours before game time with hitting coach Mickey Hatcher pitching to him. The switch-hitting catcher from Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School is of Korean descent and pronounces his first name ``he-YUN.'' Conger was the 25th overall pick in the draft. ... 1B Casey Kotchman, sidelined since May 9 because of mononucleosis, received clearance from a specialist to begin a spring training-type program and rigorous baseball activity beginning Monday in Arizona. He was referred by the team's medical staff to Los Angeles physician Sandra Wallace, who deals with infectious diseases and prescribed the medications Klonopin and Neurontin to help Kotchman get his normal sleep. Kotchman has undergone four blood tests that revealed a lack of antibodies caused by the virus. He expects to be ready to return to the lineup in late July.
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LOS ANGELES: OF J.D. Drew, still nursing a bruised right thigh, got another day off from manager Grady Little to work on his swing. ``He's not really back to 100 percent yet and he's not been right at the plate for a few days,'' Little said. ``We'll give him one more day to work on his stroke and get him back in there tomorrow. We want him to get it going again as quick as possible.'' ... Little has an unconventional idea about how to improve interleague play: He thinks pitchers should bat in the AL parks and have a designated hitter in NL stadiums to give the fans a change of pace. ... Closer Eric Gagne, on the 15-day disabled list since Tuesday because of stiffness in his surgically repaired pitching elbow, has been taking a new medication to calm his injury.
OAKLAND: Injured RF Milton Bradley had an MRI exam on his strained left shoulder and isn't expected to play in the weekend series against his former team. ``He says he feels a lot better today,'' manager Ken Macha said. Bradley, 3-for-25 with seven strikeouts in seven games since coming off the DL on June 6, noticed his shoulder was sore Wednesday night after the A's played the Seattle Mariners. While the injury doesn't affect the switch-hitting Bradley's throwing, the A's are going to keep him from batting for a couple of days. ... 2B Mark Ellis, sidelined with a broken right thumb, fielded groundballs for the third day this week and hopes to do more work on the field early next week at Colorado before having another X-ray Thursday. ``It's much better,'' he said. ... LHP reliever Joe Kennedy (shoulder tendinitis) played catch and made 25 throws from 60 feet, a positive step in his recovery. ``This is the start of a long process,'' said Davis, who said Kennedy could begin throwing long toss soon.
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NEW YORK: LHP Randy Johnson appealed his five-game suspension for throwing at an Indians batter, manager Joe Torre said. Torre served his one-game suspension Friday night; bench coach Lee Mazzilli ran the team. ... 2B Robinson Cano's second-inning single Friday extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games; it's the longest for a Yankees player this season. ... Torre is considering moving SS Alex Rodriguez up to second in the batting order. ``We talked about moving Alex around a little bit. I am going a couple of more days and see what happens,'' Torre said. ``Moving him is just basically rearranging furniture to me. There is no guarantee that because you move a guy to a certain spot he's not going to hit in key situations.'' Rodriguez hit .182 (6-for-33) over New York's previous nine games. ... CF Johnny Damon played Friday, a day after being taken out in the eighth inning against Cleveland with a tight right hamstring. ... The Yankees played their first game in Washington since Sept. 30, 1971, against the Senators. The Yankees were awarded a forfeit when fans stormed the field; it was the Senators' last game before moving to Texas.
WASHINGTON: Former major league catcher Randy Knorr was hired as bullpen coach, replacing John Wetteland. Knorr had been managing the Nationals' Single-A Potomac minor league club. Wetteland lost his job Thursday. Manager Frank Robinson said he asked Wetteland several times to get the team's relievers to focus more and cut down on pranks, such as lighting firecrackers. Nationals relievers have 12 saves in 21 chances, with a 7-12 record and 4.41 ERA this season, Wetteland's first as bullpen coach. ... The Nationals agreed to terms with eight draft picks on Friday, the highest being fifth-rounder Cory VanAllen, a left-hander from Baylor University. The others: RHP Zechry Zinicola, RHP Cory Anderson, RHP Desmond Jones, RHP Alberto Tavarez, OF Chris French, C Brett Logan, LHP Joseph Welsh.
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TAMPA BAY: Scott Kazmir (7-4), winless in his last four starts, takes the mound Saturday night. The left-hander allowed 14 earned runs in 13 2-3 innings before tossing five scoreless innings in a no-decision on Monday. Kazmir needs two strikeouts to become the 23rd lefty since 1900 to reach 300 strikeouts before his 23rd birthday ... The Devil Rays began a stretch of 15 games against NL teams. ... The Rays signed four draft picks on Friday, including second-rounder RHP Josh Butler. They've signed eight of their top 11 picks already, including first-round choice 3B Evan Longoria. ... SS Julio Lugo's hit his sixth homer, tying his total for last season.
PHILADELPHIA: RHP Scott Mathieson makes his major league debut Saturday night. Mathieson, who played for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was 6-2 with a 3.05 ERA at Double-A Reading. ... The Phillies began a stretch of 15 games against AL East opponents. The final nine games are on the road, where the Phillies are 17-14. ... RF Bobby Abreu drew his major league-leading 69th walk in the first inning. ... Rookie Cole Hamels had his worst outing in his brief career, giving up five earned runs in 3 2-3 innings against Tampa Bay.
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CHICAGO: RHP David Riske joined the Sox on Friday. He was surprised that Boston traded him for Javier Lopez. ``There was no talk about it,'' Riske said. ``I know Boston needed a left-hander. I guess I was expendable.'' Riske now has played for the last two World Series champions. ``It can't get better than going to the world champions,'' he said. ... Joe Crede hit his third career grand slam in the first inning, and his second of the season. He also had one on May 3 against Seattle. ... Crede's homer left him 5-for-10 with the bases loaded this season. ... RHP Jose Contreras tries to extend his 15-game winning streak in the regular season on Saturday. Contreras' streak is the longest since Minnesota's Johan Santana won 17 in a row in 2004-05.
CINCINNATI: INF Ray Olmedo was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to open a roster spot for INF Juan Castro, obtained from the Twins in a trade a day earlier. ... The Reds have homered in 15 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in team history. ... The third and final auction of Marge Schott's belongings is expected to raise $3 million to $4 million on Saturday. Up for bid: her art collection. An auction house is offering 44 pieces of Schott's Western art and Rookwood collection. The former Reds owner died in 2004, and her belongings are being auctioned to raise money for her charitable foundation. ... A concert featuring pitcher Bronson Arroyo raised more than $35,000 on Thursday night for the team's community fund. Arroyo and Raquel Aurilia, the wife of third baseman Rich Aurilia, performed songs from their CDs at a northern Kentucky theater.
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MINNESOTA: OF Ruben Sierra rejoined the Twins on Friday following a two-game minor league rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Rochester. He went on the DL April 30 with a ruptured left biceps. He was 3-for-16 before getting hurt. The Twins didn't need to make a roster move for Sierra after trading INF Juan Castro back to the Reds on Thursday. ... Going into the weekend, Twins pitchers had the best batting average of all pitching staffs - .180 - since interleague play began.
PITTSBURGH: Manager Jim Tracy arrived at the ballpark shortly before Friday night's game against the Twins after flying to Los Angeles and back to attend his youngest son's high school graduation Thursday. Tracy missed the Pirates' 6-5 loss Thursday to the Cardinals. ... Don't look for INF Jose Hernandez to start Sunday against the Twins' Johan Santana - Hernandez is 0-for-14 against him with six strikeouts. ... Three Pirates changed uniform numbers - LHP John Grabow from No. 39 to No. 34, RHP Roberto Hernandez from No. 34 to No. 39 and C Ronny Paulino from No. 56 to No. 26.
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COLORADO: The team agreed to terms with five draft picks: LHP Keith Weiser (third round), SS Helder Velazquez (fifth), INF Spencer Nagy (13th), RHP Sean Jarrett (20th) and LHP Tommy Baumgardner (28th). They've signed 11 of their top 13 picks. ... LF Matt Holliday was 7-for-12 with three homers, a triple and four RBIs in a three-game series in May in St. Louis. He's one of three players with multihomer games at new Busch Stadium along with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols and Ken Griffey of the Reds. ... CF Cory Sullivan set a major league record with seven sacrifice bunts the last two games.
ST. LOUIS: INF Scott Spiezio was diagnosed Friday with a viral infection comparable to mononucleosis. Spiezio has been used sparingly since the team returned from a West Coast trip in late May and said he's lost 14 pounds. He got dizzy after singling on Thursday, hanging on to first base coach Dave McKay until he regained his equilibrium. ``I just eat because I know I have to,'' Spiezio said. ``They said three to four weeks so it's been three weeks almost and hopefully one more and I'll be done.'' ... SS David Eckstein was out of the starting lineup with a mild concussion sustained while breaking up a double play on Thursday. INF Aaron Miles replaced him in the lineup, batting leadoff. ... St. Louis signed top draft pick RHP Adam Ottavino, who was the 30th overall selection. He was assigned to the Class A State College Spikes.
June 16, 2006
TORONTO: Although they have an interleague history against Florida, the Blue Jays have not faced the Marlins since 2001. Pitcher Roy Halladay, who is scheduled to start in the series finale on Sunday, is the only active Blue Jays player who was part of the 2001 team which played Florida. Toronto will be seeking its first series victory against Florida. The Marlins have won the first five series. ... Friday's series opener is the first of a six-game interleague road trip against NL East opponents. Following the three-game set at Florida, the Blue Jays will travel to Atlanta and begin a three-game series on Tuesday.
FLORIDA: The Marlins announced the signing of first-round draft Brett Sinkbeil. The 21-year-old Sinkbeil, a right-handed pitcher from Missouri State University, was Florida's first-round selection and the 19th overall pick in last week's draft. Sinkbeil had a 19-14 record, including 5-1 in 2006, and struck out 356 during his three-year career at Missouri State. ... Not wanting to disrupt a productive trend, manager Joe Girardi gave Alfredo Amezaga his sixth straight start in center field Friday. The Marlins are unbeaten since Amezaga replaced Reggie Abercrombie.
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ARIZONA: Manager Bob Melvin said the six-game road trip the Diamondbacks started on Friday allows the team to step away from the investigation of former reliever Jason Grimsley that dominated the headlines during a 1-9 homestand. ``We don't use distractions as an excuse for the way we played at home, but sometimes it's nice to get off on the road and be with your group,'' Melvin said. ... RHP Juan Cruz, on the DL since June 7 due to a sore right shoulder, played catch on Friday. Melvin said there is no planned next step in Cruz's rehab until the club determines how Cruz's shoulder responds to Friday's session.
TEXAS: RHP Adam Eaton is scheduled to throw off the mound Saturday for the first time since injuring the middle finger his last spring training start. ``It's exciting for him and us,'' manager Buck Showalter said. Expected to be the team's No. 2 starter, Eaton instead had surgery April 4 to repair a tendon. He's been throwing for about 2 1/2 weeks. He will begin his session Saturday with long toss and progress to the mound. How he feels will determine how many pitches he throws, Showalter said. ... SS Michael Young likely will get his first turn as the DH on Sunday, a day game after a night game - and before an off day. Since Phil Nevin was traded, Showalter has used the DH spot to get his everyday players a break from the field while keeping them in the lineup.
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BOSTON: The Red Sox put struggling RHP Matt Clement on the 15-day DL before Friday's game. Clement (5-5) was experiencing pain in his right shoulder and biceps when he was pulled out in the fifth inning of his last start, an 8-1 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday. He returned to Boston to be examined by the team's medical staff, which diagnosed a strained right shoulder. Clement was scuffling through the worst of his eight major league seasons with an ERA of 6.61. Still, he was hoping to avoid a stint on the DL. ``I think the one thing Matt really valued was taking the ball every five days,'' manager Terry Francona said. ``That's a big deal to him.'' ... OF Gabe Kapler was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to replace Clement. Kapler went down last September with a ruptured left Achilles' tendon and had been rehabbing at Boston's training complex in Fort Myers, Fla., where he had the equivalent of about 30 spring training at-bats. ``I can tell you I'm where I need to be,'' he said. ``I'm capable of doing everything I need to do on the baseball field.''
ATLANTA: RHP Lance Cormier is back with the Braves, only this time in a different role. Cormier, who began the season in Atlanta's bullpen, will start Saturday against the Boston Red Sox as a replacement for ailing LHP Horacio Ramirez. Ramirez has experienced dizziness since he was struck in the forehead with a batted ball last Sunday. Cormier, who was acquired from Arizona during the offseason, earned a spot in the Atlanta bullpen out of spring training. But he was sent to the minors after posting a 6.10 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Cormier struggled with his control as a reliever, walking 17 in 20 20-3 innings. The Braves hope he will have better luck in his first big league start since 2004. ... To make room for Cormier, the Braves put RHP John Thomson on the 15-day DL. He left Wednesday's start with a blister on his right middle finger.
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BALTIMORE: RHP Kris Benson, traded to Baltimore by the Mets last winter, returns to Shea Stadium and gets the Saturday night start against Pedro Martinez. ... Also returning to Shea was 3B Melvin Mora, who began his big league career with Mets, ex-Mets general manager Jim Duquette, now in the Orioles' front office, and ex-Mets 3B coach Sam Perlozzo, now managing the O's. ... Going into Friday night's game, the Orioles had been successful on 62 of 73 steal attempts for an .849 percentage that led the AL.
NEW YORK: RF Xavier Nady (appendectomy) is expected back from his rehab assignment in Triple-A Norfolk on Monday or Tuesday and will return to the everyday lineup. ``He's my right fielder,'' manager Willie Randolph said. ``If he feels good, he'll play.'' ... OF Lastings Milledge could be headed back to Norfolk when Nady returns. ``I don't believe in young players sitting on the bench,'' Randolph said. ... LF Cliff Floyd (ankle) continues to be listed as day to day. He reported some soreness on Friday and if it persists, he could be placed on the DL.
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CLEVELAND: Casey Blake was placed on the 15-day DL (retroactive to June 14) with a strained left oblique muscle. The outfielder suffered the injury during batting practice before the team's game Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Blake's place on the roster. He was inserted into the starting lineup Friday night in left field, batting seventh. ... Cleveland's platooning first basemen, Ben Broussard and Eduardo Perez, have combined to hit .340 (84-247) with 16 home runs and 50 RBIs in 65 games.
MILWAUKEE: With LHP C.C. Sabathia pitching for Cleveland, left-handed hitters Geoff Jenkins and Prince Fielder were held out of the starting lineup Friday night. Jenkins is batting .129 (8-for-62) with one home run and four RBIs against left-handers. Fielder has fared better against left-handers, batting .282 (22-for-78) with seven home runs and 18 RBIs. ... RHP Rick Helling pitched seven innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Thursday night, giving up one run and three hits without walking a batter.
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KANSAS CITY: The Royals optioned right fielder Shane Costa to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Kerry Robinson to be promoted to the big league club on Friday. Kansas City manager Buddy Bell said he talked to Costa about the reason behind the move. ``I told him he's got to work on some things defensively,'' Bell said. ``He's been hurt ... but I don't know if that's an issue or not.'' Bell said he brought Robinson up because he performed well in his last stint in the majors. ... Also on Friday the Royals transferred designated hitter Mike Sweeney from the 15- to the 60-day DL to make room for Robinson on the 40-man roster. Sweeney has been on the DL since May 2 with a bulging disc. ... RHP Kyle Snyder was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox on Friday. He was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11. The 28-year-old made one start for Kansas City this season and allowed nine runs and 10 hits in two innings.
HOUSTON: RHP Brandon Backe, who has been on the DL with an injured right elbow since April 13, threw for almost 15 minutes on Friday. He threw a bit of batting practice with Astros manager Phil Garner and one of his doctors looking on intently. He is scheduled to pitch two simulated games in the upcoming days and if there are no problems, he will then go on a rehab assignment. ``I felt great today,'' Backe said. ``Control with my fastball was a little iffy, but that's bound to happen. I've been out for so long.'' Garner was happy with the performance. ``I saw a pretty good breaking ball,'' Garner said. ``He was a little inconsistent at the release point a few times but still threw the ball pretty good.'' ... Friday's game is the Astros' first of 15 consecutive games against AL teams.
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DETROIT: The Tigers might have felt like they were playing at home on Friday. They had a large, vocal contingent of fans at Wrigley Field. Starting P Nate Robertson noticed it while jogging in center field before the game. ``I heard a lot of people out there get on their feet and start cheering away,'' he said after pitching seven innings in a 5-3 win. ``It was pretty awesome. Great atmosphere in this ballpark. It's fun to get a win here.'' Manager Jim Leyland said he heard C Ivan Rodriguez say before the game, ``I can't believe all the people cheering, 'Let's go Tigers.''' ... Leyland had Vance Wilson pinch-hit for Rodriguez in the ninth inning because the veteran's legs cramped. ... P Joel Zumaya saw his streak of 15 scoreless innings end with Aramis Ramirez's homer in the eighth.
CHICAGO: There was no official word on the status of C Michael Barrett and RHP Mark Prior as of Friday evening. Barrett had his appeal of a 10-game suspension for punching the White Sox's A.J. Pierzynski heard before the game and did not play - because of that and a sore back. ``I felt like I was on trial today,'' Barrett said. ``It's not something I want to get used to.'' Barrett and GM Jim Hendry said they were not given a timetable for a decision on the appeal. ``Michael is well aware of the fact there's going to be a suspension; hopefully, for our save and his sake, it's less than 10,'' Hendry said. ... As for Prior, manager Dusty Baker said he hoped the right-hander would make his first start of the season on Sunday. Prior, recuperating from a shoulder strain, threw in the bullpen before the game. Hendry said a decision would be announced ``no later than (Saturday).'' ... P Jeff Samardzija realizes he might have to choose between baseball and football at some point, but for now, he's pursuing both. The Cubs' fifth-round draft pick - and Notre Dame's wide receiver - threw in the bullpen before the game. ``All I'm asking is that I have the opportunity to pursue both sports as much as I can,'' Samardzija said.
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SAN DIEGO: The Padres welcomed back Merv Rettenmund as their hitting coach a day after firing Dave Magadan. Rettenmund, 63, was previously in that role with San Diego from 1991-99 and was there when Tony Gwynn and Gary Sheffield won batting titles. He had been serving as Toronto's roving minor league hitting instructor when the Padres called him back. ``We're in a division where every team is capable of winning it, so we definitely realize that we're going to need more production from our offense. But I don't look at it as a panic move,'' infielder Eric Young said. ``The front office just felt like we needed a change.'' ... Closer Trevor Hoffman, who entered this interleague series needing 27 saves to tie Lee Smith's major league record of 478, has been waiting since 2001 to give the Angels some payback. In his previous three appearances against them during the regular season, Hoffman gave up four ninth-inning runs after coming in with a 4-1 lead; threw a wild pitch that allowed the winning run to score in the 11th inning, and forced home the winning run with a ninth-inning walk his last time out against them.
LOS ANGELES: Hank Conger, the Angels' No. 1 pick in this year's draft, signed Friday and took some batting practice four hours before game time with hitting coach Mickey Hatcher pitching to him. The switch-hitting catcher from Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School is of Korean descent and pronounces his first name ``he-YUN.'' Conger was the 25th overall pick in the draft. ... 1B Casey Kotchman, sidelined since May 9 because of mononucleosis, received clearance from a specialist to begin a spring training-type program and rigorous baseball activity beginning Monday in Arizona. He was referred by the team's medical staff to Los Angeles physician Sandra Wallace, who deals with infectious diseases and prescribed the medications Klonopin and Neurontin to help Kotchman get his normal sleep. Kotchman has undergone four blood tests that revealed a lack of antibodies caused by the virus. He expects to be ready to return to the lineup in late July.
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LOS ANGELES: OF J.D. Drew, still nursing a bruised right thigh, got another day off from manager Grady Little to work on his swing. ``He's not really back to 100 percent yet and he's not been right at the plate for a few days,'' Little said. ``We'll give him one more day to work on his stroke and get him back in there tomorrow. We want him to get it going again as quick as possible.'' ... Little has an unconventional idea about how to improve interleague play: He thinks pitchers should bat in the AL parks and have a designated hitter in NL stadiums to give the fans a change of pace. ... Closer Eric Gagne, on the 15-day disabled list since Tuesday because of stiffness in his surgically repaired pitching elbow, has been taking a new medication to calm his injury.
OAKLAND: Injured RF Milton Bradley had an MRI exam on his strained left shoulder and isn't expected to play in the weekend series against his former team. ``He says he feels a lot better today,'' manager Ken Macha said. Bradley, 3-for-25 with seven strikeouts in seven games since coming off the DL on June 6, noticed his shoulder was sore Wednesday night after the A's played the Seattle Mariners. While the injury doesn't affect the switch-hitting Bradley's throwing, the A's are going to keep him from batting for a couple of days. ... 2B Mark Ellis, sidelined with a broken right thumb, fielded groundballs for the third day this week and hopes to do more work on the field early next week at Colorado before having another X-ray Thursday. ``It's much better,'' he said. ... LHP reliever Joe Kennedy (shoulder tendinitis) played catch and made 25 throws from 60 feet, a positive step in his recovery. ``This is the start of a long process,'' said Davis, who said Kennedy could begin throwing long toss soon.
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NEW YORK: LHP Randy Johnson appealed his five-game suspension for throwing at an Indians batter, manager Joe Torre said. Torre served his one-game suspension Friday night; bench coach Lee Mazzilli ran the team. ... 2B Robinson Cano's second-inning single Friday extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games; it's the longest for a Yankees player this season. ... Torre is considering moving SS Alex Rodriguez up to second in the batting order. ``We talked about moving Alex around a little bit. I am going a couple of more days and see what happens,'' Torre said. ``Moving him is just basically rearranging furniture to me. There is no guarantee that because you move a guy to a certain spot he's not going to hit in key situations.'' Rodriguez hit .182 (6-for-33) over New York's previous nine games. ... CF Johnny Damon played Friday, a day after being taken out in the eighth inning against Cleveland with a tight right hamstring. ... The Yankees played their first game in Washington since Sept. 30, 1971, against the Senators. The Yankees were awarded a forfeit when fans stormed the field; it was the Senators' last game before moving to Texas.
WASHINGTON: Former major league catcher Randy Knorr was hired as bullpen coach, replacing John Wetteland. Knorr had been managing the Nationals' Single-A Potomac minor league club. Wetteland lost his job Thursday. Manager Frank Robinson said he asked Wetteland several times to get the team's relievers to focus more and cut down on pranks, such as lighting firecrackers. Nationals relievers have 12 saves in 21 chances, with a 7-12 record and 4.41 ERA this season, Wetteland's first as bullpen coach. ... The Nationals agreed to terms with eight draft picks on Friday, the highest being fifth-rounder Cory VanAllen, a left-hander from Baylor University. The others: RHP Zechry Zinicola, RHP Cory Anderson, RHP Desmond Jones, RHP Alberto Tavarez, OF Chris French, C Brett Logan, LHP Joseph Welsh.
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TAMPA BAY: Scott Kazmir (7-4), winless in his last four starts, takes the mound Saturday night. The left-hander allowed 14 earned runs in 13 2-3 innings before tossing five scoreless innings in a no-decision on Monday. Kazmir needs two strikeouts to become the 23rd lefty since 1900 to reach 300 strikeouts before his 23rd birthday ... The Devil Rays began a stretch of 15 games against NL teams. ... The Rays signed four draft picks on Friday, including second-rounder RHP Josh Butler. They've signed eight of their top 11 picks already, including first-round choice 3B Evan Longoria. ... SS Julio Lugo's hit his sixth homer, tying his total for last season.
PHILADELPHIA: RHP Scott Mathieson makes his major league debut Saturday night. Mathieson, who played for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, was 6-2 with a 3.05 ERA at Double-A Reading. ... The Phillies began a stretch of 15 games against AL East opponents. The final nine games are on the road, where the Phillies are 17-14. ... RF Bobby Abreu drew his major league-leading 69th walk in the first inning. ... Rookie Cole Hamels had his worst outing in his brief career, giving up five earned runs in 3 2-3 innings against Tampa Bay.
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CHICAGO: RHP David Riske joined the Sox on Friday. He was surprised that Boston traded him for Javier Lopez. ``There was no talk about it,'' Riske said. ``I know Boston needed a left-hander. I guess I was expendable.'' Riske now has played for the last two World Series champions. ``It can't get better than going to the world champions,'' he said. ... Joe Crede hit his third career grand slam in the first inning, and his second of the season. He also had one on May 3 against Seattle. ... Crede's homer left him 5-for-10 with the bases loaded this season. ... RHP Jose Contreras tries to extend his 15-game winning streak in the regular season on Saturday. Contreras' streak is the longest since Minnesota's Johan Santana won 17 in a row in 2004-05.
CINCINNATI: INF Ray Olmedo was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to open a roster spot for INF Juan Castro, obtained from the Twins in a trade a day earlier. ... The Reds have homered in 15 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in team history. ... The third and final auction of Marge Schott's belongings is expected to raise $3 million to $4 million on Saturday. Up for bid: her art collection. An auction house is offering 44 pieces of Schott's Western art and Rookwood collection. The former Reds owner died in 2004, and her belongings are being auctioned to raise money for her charitable foundation. ... A concert featuring pitcher Bronson Arroyo raised more than $35,000 on Thursday night for the team's community fund. Arroyo and Raquel Aurilia, the wife of third baseman Rich Aurilia, performed songs from their CDs at a northern Kentucky theater.
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MINNESOTA: OF Ruben Sierra rejoined the Twins on Friday following a two-game minor league rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Rochester. He went on the DL April 30 with a ruptured left biceps. He was 3-for-16 before getting hurt. The Twins didn't need to make a roster move for Sierra after trading INF Juan Castro back to the Reds on Thursday. ... Going into the weekend, Twins pitchers had the best batting average of all pitching staffs - .180 - since interleague play began.
PITTSBURGH: Manager Jim Tracy arrived at the ballpark shortly before Friday night's game against the Twins after flying to Los Angeles and back to attend his youngest son's high school graduation Thursday. Tracy missed the Pirates' 6-5 loss Thursday to the Cardinals. ... Don't look for INF Jose Hernandez to start Sunday against the Twins' Johan Santana - Hernandez is 0-for-14 against him with six strikeouts. ... Three Pirates changed uniform numbers - LHP John Grabow from No. 39 to No. 34, RHP Roberto Hernandez from No. 34 to No. 39 and C Ronny Paulino from No. 56 to No. 26.
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COLORADO: The team agreed to terms with five draft picks: LHP Keith Weiser (third round), SS Helder Velazquez (fifth), INF Spencer Nagy (13th), RHP Sean Jarrett (20th) and LHP Tommy Baumgardner (28th). They've signed 11 of their top 13 picks. ... LF Matt Holliday was 7-for-12 with three homers, a triple and four RBIs in a three-game series in May in St. Louis. He's one of three players with multihomer games at new Busch Stadium along with the Cardinals' Albert Pujols and Ken Griffey of the Reds. ... CF Cory Sullivan set a major league record with seven sacrifice bunts the last two games.
ST. LOUIS: INF Scott Spiezio was diagnosed Friday with a viral infection comparable to mononucleosis. Spiezio has been used sparingly since the team returned from a West Coast trip in late May and said he's lost 14 pounds. He got dizzy after singling on Thursday, hanging on to first base coach Dave McKay until he regained his equilibrium. ``I just eat because I know I have to,'' Spiezio said. ``They said three to four weeks so it's been three weeks almost and hopefully one more and I'll be done.'' ... SS David Eckstein was out of the starting lineup with a mild concussion sustained while breaking up a double play on Thursday. INF Aaron Miles replaced him in the lineup, batting leadoff. ... St. Louis signed top draft pick RHP Adam Ottavino, who was the 30th overall selection. He was assigned to the Class A State College Spikes.
