the cardinals continue to lose. there losing streak just hit 7 in a row.
the twins are still smoking, and just burried the dodgers 8-2
marlins win again, and there 22-9 since may 22 and moved within one game of philly for second place in the NL east.
the twins are still smoking, and just burried the dodgers 8-2
marlins win again, and there 22-9 since may 22 and moved within one game of philly for second place in the NL east.
Notes from Monday's games
HOUSTON: RHP Roger Clemens will make his second start of the season Tuesday against the Tigers. Clemens does not speak to the media the day before he pitches, but Astros manager Phil Garner was happy to discuss his returning ace. ``It's good to have him back, because he's a super star,'' Garner said. ``His velocity probably won't go up from the first start, but he'll finish better and his stamina will be better.'' ... Garner was managing in Detroit for the first time since being fired by the Tigers early in the 2002 season. ``I'm glad to see how well they are doing, and I'm just disappointed I couldn't have done it when I was there,'' he said. ``I said in spring training that they were going to be a real good team, and I was right.''
DETROIT: Manager Jim Leyland dismissed media reports that the Tigers are trying to trade for Philadelphia OF Bobby Abreu. Abreu, who has been reported as being willing to waive his no-trade clause, would be the left-handed hitter that Detroit has needed since losing Dmitri Young to a leg injury. ``We are not going to get Bobby Abreu,'' Leyland said three days after also flatly stating that the team would not trade rookie reliever Joel Zumaya. ... Third baseman Brandon Inge said he was looking forward to the series against Houston and Garner. Inge called Garner a good manager and he liked the way he ran the Tigers. ``I'll always have a special place for him since he was my first manager in the big leagues. But at the same time you want to beat him, and I'm sure he wants to beat us,'' Inge said.
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TAMPA BAY: If the Devil Rays finish June by playing .500 ball over their last four games, they'll have the seventh winning month in franchise history. ... 2B Jorge Cantu batted fifth for only the second time in 32 starts this season. ... Tuesday's starter, Scott Kazmir, is the only AL starter ranking among the league's top five in wins (9), ERA (3.21) and strikeouts (100). At 22 years, 5 months, Kazmir could be the youngest pitcher to reach 10 wins by June 27 since Greg Maddux - who was 22 years, 2 months when he got his 10th win in 1988. ... This is the second-best start to a season - to this point - in the Devil Rays' nine-year history. The 2004 team was 39-38 after 77 games. ... Tampa Bay has led at some point in 58 of their 77 games this year.
FLORIDA: LF Josh Willingham extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games with an RBI double in the first inning Monday. ... 2B Dan Uggla (hamstring) remained out of the lineup Monday, and manager Joe Girardi said a trip to the DL is possible. Uggla hasn't played since going 1-for-4 at Baltimore on June 20. ... Hitting coach Jim Presley coached third base in place of Bobby Meacham, who was in San Diego for his father's funeral and is expected to return Tuesday.
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PHILADELPHIA: RHP Cory Lidle allowed four runs, five hits and three walks. He struck out five in 5 1-3 innings. ... The Phillies had three players on injury rehab: RHP Jon Lieber (strained left groin) will pitch on Tuesday night, Mike Lieberthal was to catch on Monday night, and LHP Randy Wolf (left elbow ligament surgery) was to throw Monday night. ... Jimmy Rollins has five RBIs in his last two games after going without one in the previous six.
BOSTON: The Red Sox released LHP Mike Holtz. ... RHP Tim Wakefield held the Phillies scoreless through six innings before they chased him in the seventh. He allowed three runs, five hits and two walks, striking out four. ... The Red Sox improved to 11-1 against NL teams this season and 15-2 at home against the NL since the start of the 2004 World Series.
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LOS ANGELES: RHP Brett Tomko is still listed as Wednesday's probable starter against the Twins, but his status is in doubt due to a strained left oblique muscle suffered in Friday's victory. Manager Grady Little said before Monday's game it was too early to decide whether he would be able to pitch. Tomko was getting treatment all day. This would have been his day to throw on the side, but Little said ``it's not the end of the world'' if he missed a session. A decision will be made by the end of Tuesday's game. RH Jae Seo and LH Odalis Perez are the options for replacing Tomko, who could be placed on the DL. ... Former closer Eric Gagne, who is on the DL with right elbow inflammation, is not with the team on this trip and it's unlikely he'll be back before the All-Star break. Gagne threw on the side during the last homestand but still felt pain.
MINNESOTA: DH Rondell White, who is fighting tightness in his left shoulder that he and the team believes has contributed to his severe struggles, was not in Monday's lineup but was available to pinch hit. ... LHP Dennys Reyes has excelled in his role as a middle reliever facing mostly left-handed hitters, bringing a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings into this week. The veteran accepted an assignment to Triple-A in April and improved his ability to hold runners at first base. This spring, Reyes - who has had trouble with his control - also made some adjustments with his windup. ``He's done everything we asked him,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said.
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CLEVELAND: CF Grady Sizemore was the only player in the majors with 20 doubles, five triples and 10 homers. He was one of only seven players to start every game this year at the same position. He also led leadoff hitters with 40 extra-base hits. ... Closer Bob Wickman had 743 career appearances, one shy of cracking the top 50 on the career list. Willie Hernandez was one appearance ahead. ... The Indians have lost seven straight series since taking three of four from the White Sox May 29-June 1.
ST. LOUIS: LHP Mark Mulder, on the DL with a left shoulder injury since Wednesday, could begin throwing again this weekend when he'll be examined by orthopedic consultant Dr. George Paletta. There's no timetable for his return. ``If we're not satisfied, we'll hold off,'' trainer Barry Weinberg said. ``It's not set in stone.'' ... Backup C Gary Bennett, who was removed after feeling a twinge in his left side on Sunday, has a mild strain and was available for emergency duty. Bennett said he felt a similar twinge two days earlier in batting practice. ``I just tweaked it,'' Bennett said. ``It's not painful, I just feel a little discomfort. It's no big deal.'' ... OF Larry Bigbie, on the DL since June 6 after surgery for an umbilical hernia, was cleared to ride an exercise bike on Monday. ... CF Jim Edmonds got a day off against LHP Cliff Lee. Edmonds sustained a mild concussion running into a wall last week, and manager Tony La Russa wasn't happy with some of his swings on Sunday. ``I didn't want to push it today if I didn't have to, although he says he's ready to go,'' La Russa said.
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ATLANTA: LHP Chuck James got a present a day after getting his first major league win against Tampa Bay. Damon Hollins' pop-fly double that glanced off the glove of Braves SS Wilson Betemit was changed to an error, giving Betemit two errors on the play. The change took a hit and an earned run off James' line. He allowed two hits and one unearned run in eight innings against the Devil Rays in his first big league start. ... Heading into play Monday, OF Jeff Francoeur led the majors with 31 two-out RBIs. ... The Braves entered Monday's game with a 7-4 record at Yankee Stadium in interleague play in the regular season. The teams had split 16 interleague games overall. ... LHP Horacio Ramirez, Tuesday's scheduled starter, has never faced the Yankees.
NEW YORK: 2B Robinson Cano felt better Monday after leaving the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader against the Marlins on Sunday with a strained left hamstring. General manager Brian Cashman said Cano was walking normally before the game but felt tightness. He said they would monitor him over the next day or so before deciding whether to place him on the DL. ``We'll do what's best for him,'' manager Joe Torre said. ... RHP Aaron Small cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus before the game. He was designated for assignment June 17. ... SS Derek Jeter celebrated his 32nd birthday and LHP Mike Myers turned 37 on Monday.
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COLORADO: RHP Aaron Cook and SS Clint Barmes are among a handful of current Rockies who played for minor league manager Joe Mikulik at Class-A Asheville. Both were amused by the videotape of Mikulik's well-publicized base-throwing, water bottle-spiking tantrum on Sunday following an umpire's ruling at second base during a South Atlantic League game. ``Joe's a pretty intense guy and an intense manager, so it really doesn't surprise me too much,'' Barmes said. ``I've seen him get thrown out before, and he can react in different ways. That's just how he is and that just shows the passion he's got for the game. But I don't look at him any differently now because of it, and I wish him the best. He did a lot for me when I played for him, so I still believe he's a good manager and he does a good job of teaching at that level.'' ... Cook defended Mikulik's antics, adding that his former manager has always put his players first when he feels they have been shortchanged by umpires. ``He just lost it, and he kind of had to put them in their place a little bit,'' Cook said. ``He's not someone who has a quick fuse. I've seen him get thrown out of games before, but it's always been a situation where he's protecting was his players and definitely felt the umpires were in the wrong.''
LOS ANGELES: CF Darin Erstad, who is on the DL for the second time this season because of irritation in his right ankle, went back to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, to see a doctor about his condition. ... Vladimir Guerrero, who entered Monday in an 11-for-70 skid that dropped his average from .332 to .290, is the top vote-getter in fan balloting for next month's All-Star game. Guerrero, the league's MVP two years ago, batted over .300 every season from 1997 through last year. ... The Angels had failed to score more than four runs in 10 of their previous 14 games entering Monday.
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CHICAGO: RHP Kerry Wood visited Dr. Tim Kremchek in Cincinnati on Monday. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last August. Wood threw a side session while hooked up to equipment for biomechanical analysis. ``I think Kerry, in his mind, wanted him to explain it and make sure we haven't had any significant issues. When he went back to Cincinnati the last time they didn't do a scan and I think they needed to do it for Kerry just to give him some sort of peace of mind,'' trainer Mark O'Neal said. ``The MRI in Dr. Kremchek's terms, stated it was pristine, that the labia repair looked as if it was completely intact, looked like it had healed nicely and perfectly. He said his rotator cuff looks pristine, the joint looks good. So there is no significant concerns of any kind of significant issue or injury or anything like that.'' Wood is back on the disabled list after making just four starts. ... OF Freddie Bynum is slated to be released from a Minneapolis hospital on Tuesday. He was admitted after there was swelling in his arm Saturday night. Bynum had a history of problems of swelling in his arm and also dove for a ball during Saturday's game. ``This is going to be a tricky one and the main reason is what we're trying decide is if this is an acute issue of just swelling when he dove for the ball the other night or if this something that's chronic from his previous history,'' O'Neal said. ``Right now the initial studies done did not show evidence of a clot.'' Bynum could be admitted to a Chicago hospital for more tests.''
MILWAUKEE: SS J.J. Hardy, who was placed on the DL with a severe right sprained ankle on May 17 is still in the middle of his recovery process and no rehab plans have been set. Brewers manager Ned Yost doesn't want the absence to bother his team. ``He is not available. Move on,'' Yost said. ... Yost was surprised to hear that some Brewers' fans are down on the team's play this season. ``Our fans don't understand then. We're two games under .500 and we haven't even got hot yet,'' Yost said.
HOUSTON: RHP Roger Clemens will make his second start of the season Tuesday against the Tigers. Clemens does not speak to the media the day before he pitches, but Astros manager Phil Garner was happy to discuss his returning ace. ``It's good to have him back, because he's a super star,'' Garner said. ``His velocity probably won't go up from the first start, but he'll finish better and his stamina will be better.'' ... Garner was managing in Detroit for the first time since being fired by the Tigers early in the 2002 season. ``I'm glad to see how well they are doing, and I'm just disappointed I couldn't have done it when I was there,'' he said. ``I said in spring training that they were going to be a real good team, and I was right.''
DETROIT: Manager Jim Leyland dismissed media reports that the Tigers are trying to trade for Philadelphia OF Bobby Abreu. Abreu, who has been reported as being willing to waive his no-trade clause, would be the left-handed hitter that Detroit has needed since losing Dmitri Young to a leg injury. ``We are not going to get Bobby Abreu,'' Leyland said three days after also flatly stating that the team would not trade rookie reliever Joel Zumaya. ... Third baseman Brandon Inge said he was looking forward to the series against Houston and Garner. Inge called Garner a good manager and he liked the way he ran the Tigers. ``I'll always have a special place for him since he was my first manager in the big leagues. But at the same time you want to beat him, and I'm sure he wants to beat us,'' Inge said.
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TAMPA BAY: If the Devil Rays finish June by playing .500 ball over their last four games, they'll have the seventh winning month in franchise history. ... 2B Jorge Cantu batted fifth for only the second time in 32 starts this season. ... Tuesday's starter, Scott Kazmir, is the only AL starter ranking among the league's top five in wins (9), ERA (3.21) and strikeouts (100). At 22 years, 5 months, Kazmir could be the youngest pitcher to reach 10 wins by June 27 since Greg Maddux - who was 22 years, 2 months when he got his 10th win in 1988. ... This is the second-best start to a season - to this point - in the Devil Rays' nine-year history. The 2004 team was 39-38 after 77 games. ... Tampa Bay has led at some point in 58 of their 77 games this year.
FLORIDA: LF Josh Willingham extended his hitting streak to a career-high eight games with an RBI double in the first inning Monday. ... 2B Dan Uggla (hamstring) remained out of the lineup Monday, and manager Joe Girardi said a trip to the DL is possible. Uggla hasn't played since going 1-for-4 at Baltimore on June 20. ... Hitting coach Jim Presley coached third base in place of Bobby Meacham, who was in San Diego for his father's funeral and is expected to return Tuesday.
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PHILADELPHIA: RHP Cory Lidle allowed four runs, five hits and three walks. He struck out five in 5 1-3 innings. ... The Phillies had three players on injury rehab: RHP Jon Lieber (strained left groin) will pitch on Tuesday night, Mike Lieberthal was to catch on Monday night, and LHP Randy Wolf (left elbow ligament surgery) was to throw Monday night. ... Jimmy Rollins has five RBIs in his last two games after going without one in the previous six.
BOSTON: The Red Sox released LHP Mike Holtz. ... RHP Tim Wakefield held the Phillies scoreless through six innings before they chased him in the seventh. He allowed three runs, five hits and two walks, striking out four. ... The Red Sox improved to 11-1 against NL teams this season and 15-2 at home against the NL since the start of the 2004 World Series.
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LOS ANGELES: RHP Brett Tomko is still listed as Wednesday's probable starter against the Twins, but his status is in doubt due to a strained left oblique muscle suffered in Friday's victory. Manager Grady Little said before Monday's game it was too early to decide whether he would be able to pitch. Tomko was getting treatment all day. This would have been his day to throw on the side, but Little said ``it's not the end of the world'' if he missed a session. A decision will be made by the end of Tuesday's game. RH Jae Seo and LH Odalis Perez are the options for replacing Tomko, who could be placed on the DL. ... Former closer Eric Gagne, who is on the DL with right elbow inflammation, is not with the team on this trip and it's unlikely he'll be back before the All-Star break. Gagne threw on the side during the last homestand but still felt pain.
MINNESOTA: DH Rondell White, who is fighting tightness in his left shoulder that he and the team believes has contributed to his severe struggles, was not in Monday's lineup but was available to pinch hit. ... LHP Dennys Reyes has excelled in his role as a middle reliever facing mostly left-handed hitters, bringing a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings into this week. The veteran accepted an assignment to Triple-A in April and improved his ability to hold runners at first base. This spring, Reyes - who has had trouble with his control - also made some adjustments with his windup. ``He's done everything we asked him,'' manager Ron Gardenhire said.
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CLEVELAND: CF Grady Sizemore was the only player in the majors with 20 doubles, five triples and 10 homers. He was one of only seven players to start every game this year at the same position. He also led leadoff hitters with 40 extra-base hits. ... Closer Bob Wickman had 743 career appearances, one shy of cracking the top 50 on the career list. Willie Hernandez was one appearance ahead. ... The Indians have lost seven straight series since taking three of four from the White Sox May 29-June 1.
ST. LOUIS: LHP Mark Mulder, on the DL with a left shoulder injury since Wednesday, could begin throwing again this weekend when he'll be examined by orthopedic consultant Dr. George Paletta. There's no timetable for his return. ``If we're not satisfied, we'll hold off,'' trainer Barry Weinberg said. ``It's not set in stone.'' ... Backup C Gary Bennett, who was removed after feeling a twinge in his left side on Sunday, has a mild strain and was available for emergency duty. Bennett said he felt a similar twinge two days earlier in batting practice. ``I just tweaked it,'' Bennett said. ``It's not painful, I just feel a little discomfort. It's no big deal.'' ... OF Larry Bigbie, on the DL since June 6 after surgery for an umbilical hernia, was cleared to ride an exercise bike on Monday. ... CF Jim Edmonds got a day off against LHP Cliff Lee. Edmonds sustained a mild concussion running into a wall last week, and manager Tony La Russa wasn't happy with some of his swings on Sunday. ``I didn't want to push it today if I didn't have to, although he says he's ready to go,'' La Russa said.
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ATLANTA: LHP Chuck James got a present a day after getting his first major league win against Tampa Bay. Damon Hollins' pop-fly double that glanced off the glove of Braves SS Wilson Betemit was changed to an error, giving Betemit two errors on the play. The change took a hit and an earned run off James' line. He allowed two hits and one unearned run in eight innings against the Devil Rays in his first big league start. ... Heading into play Monday, OF Jeff Francoeur led the majors with 31 two-out RBIs. ... The Braves entered Monday's game with a 7-4 record at Yankee Stadium in interleague play in the regular season. The teams had split 16 interleague games overall. ... LHP Horacio Ramirez, Tuesday's scheduled starter, has never faced the Yankees.
NEW YORK: 2B Robinson Cano felt better Monday after leaving the nightcap of a day-night doubleheader against the Marlins on Sunday with a strained left hamstring. General manager Brian Cashman said Cano was walking normally before the game but felt tightness. He said they would monitor him over the next day or so before deciding whether to place him on the DL. ``We'll do what's best for him,'' manager Joe Torre said. ... RHP Aaron Small cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus before the game. He was designated for assignment June 17. ... SS Derek Jeter celebrated his 32nd birthday and LHP Mike Myers turned 37 on Monday.
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COLORADO: RHP Aaron Cook and SS Clint Barmes are among a handful of current Rockies who played for minor league manager Joe Mikulik at Class-A Asheville. Both were amused by the videotape of Mikulik's well-publicized base-throwing, water bottle-spiking tantrum on Sunday following an umpire's ruling at second base during a South Atlantic League game. ``Joe's a pretty intense guy and an intense manager, so it really doesn't surprise me too much,'' Barmes said. ``I've seen him get thrown out before, and he can react in different ways. That's just how he is and that just shows the passion he's got for the game. But I don't look at him any differently now because of it, and I wish him the best. He did a lot for me when I played for him, so I still believe he's a good manager and he does a good job of teaching at that level.'' ... Cook defended Mikulik's antics, adding that his former manager has always put his players first when he feels they have been shortchanged by umpires. ``He just lost it, and he kind of had to put them in their place a little bit,'' Cook said. ``He's not someone who has a quick fuse. I've seen him get thrown out of games before, but it's always been a situation where he's protecting was his players and definitely felt the umpires were in the wrong.''
LOS ANGELES: CF Darin Erstad, who is on the DL for the second time this season because of irritation in his right ankle, went back to his alma mater, the University of Nebraska, to see a doctor about his condition. ... Vladimir Guerrero, who entered Monday in an 11-for-70 skid that dropped his average from .332 to .290, is the top vote-getter in fan balloting for next month's All-Star game. Guerrero, the league's MVP two years ago, batted over .300 every season from 1997 through last year. ... The Angels had failed to score more than four runs in 10 of their previous 14 games entering Monday.
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CHICAGO: RHP Kerry Wood visited Dr. Tim Kremchek in Cincinnati on Monday. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last August. Wood threw a side session while hooked up to equipment for biomechanical analysis. ``I think Kerry, in his mind, wanted him to explain it and make sure we haven't had any significant issues. When he went back to Cincinnati the last time they didn't do a scan and I think they needed to do it for Kerry just to give him some sort of peace of mind,'' trainer Mark O'Neal said. ``The MRI in Dr. Kremchek's terms, stated it was pristine, that the labia repair looked as if it was completely intact, looked like it had healed nicely and perfectly. He said his rotator cuff looks pristine, the joint looks good. So there is no significant concerns of any kind of significant issue or injury or anything like that.'' Wood is back on the disabled list after making just four starts. ... OF Freddie Bynum is slated to be released from a Minneapolis hospital on Tuesday. He was admitted after there was swelling in his arm Saturday night. Bynum had a history of problems of swelling in his arm and also dove for a ball during Saturday's game. ``This is going to be a tricky one and the main reason is what we're trying decide is if this is an acute issue of just swelling when he dove for the ball the other night or if this something that's chronic from his previous history,'' O'Neal said. ``Right now the initial studies done did not show evidence of a clot.'' Bynum could be admitted to a Chicago hospital for more tests.''
MILWAUKEE: SS J.J. Hardy, who was placed on the DL with a severe right sprained ankle on May 17 is still in the middle of his recovery process and no rehab plans have been set. Brewers manager Ned Yost doesn't want the absence to bother his team. ``He is not available. Move on,'' Yost said. ... Yost was surprised to hear that some Brewers' fans are down on the team's play this season. ``Our fans don't understand then. We're two games under .500 and we haven't even got hot yet,'' Yost said.