Saturday, April 20, 2002
AP's gameday notes
By The Associated Press
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Blue Jays-Yankees
TORONTO: RHP Chris Carpenter (tendinitis in right shoulder) is expected to come off the DL and start Sunday. “He threw great Wednesday and felt fine after,” manager Buck Martinez said. The Blue Jays need their opening day starter back as their starters entered the game with an 8.32 ERA. “Obviously, we can't continue to go like this,” Martinez said. ... Martinez led a contingent of about 30 members of the Blue Jays organization to ground zero Friday to talk with rescue workers. “It was uplifting for the people and important for our guys to go down and say thank you,” he said. ... Raul Mondesi played DH for the 12th straight game because of a sore right shoulder.
NEW YORK: CF Bernie Williams was back in the lineup after missing three games with soreness in both shoulders. Williams entered the game in an 0-for-19 slump, the longest hitless streak of his career. “We're not saying he's going to be 100 percent today, but he's not as uncomfortable as he was,” manager Joe Torre said. “It's just a matter of trying to find his groove.” ... OF Shane Spencer, told by Torre earlier this week that he would be platooned, has played his way back into the lineup with homers the past two days. The right-handed Spencer will start at least the next two days against righty pitchers, Torre said. “I've seen some good things from him the last couple of days,” Torre said. ... LHP Andy Pettitte (tender elbow) will play catch Sunday and long toss Monday. The Yankees will decide after that whether Pettitte will start late next week or go on the DL. “The last thing we want to do is have him go out and pitch and have problems again,” Torre said.,
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Orioles-Devil Rays
BALTIMORE: 1B David Segui, who aggravated a right knee injury Thursday night, was out of the starting lineup. “We'll see about tomorrow (Saturday),” manager Mike Hargrove said. “It's a day-to-day thing.” ... C Fernando Lunar cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester. ... RHP Jason Johnson, who has gone through a dead arm period, will make his scheduled start Saturday.
TAMPA BAY: LF Jason Tyner was dropped from the leadoff spot to second in the lineup. Tyner had just one hit in 22 at-bats entering Friday's game. Manager Hal McRae said 2B Brent Abernathy will replace Tyner for at least the next few days. ... 1B Steve Cox (groin) will likely be limited to pinch-hitting for at least a few days. “It's not too bad,” Cox said. “It's just going to be a couple days I believe.” ... The Devil Rays are making changes to the infield dirt at Tropicana Field, which was redone this spring. “We've had some funny hops,” McRae said. “The players have made suggestions. They're working in it.” ... LHP Wilson Alvarez (rib strain) could resume throwing early next week.
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Indians-Twins
CLEVELAND: RF Matt Lawton, who played his entire career in the Twins organization until last summer, made his first trip to the Metrodome since being traded to the New York Mets last July. It hasn't even been a year, so fans still remember him. One boy asked for Lawton's autograph before the game, and Lawton agreed. With a caveat. “You're not going to boo me, are you?” The boy, and his father, assured him they wouldn't. ... SS Omar Vizquel sat out Friday's game with soreness and swelling in his knee. He's day-to-day after fouling a ball off the knee in Thursday's game against Chicago. ... The Indians entered this weekend's series against the Twins with 18 wins against Minnesota in their last 23 games.
MINNESOTA: RF Brian Buchanan was activated from the disabled list before the game and catcher Matthew LeCroy was optioned to Triple-A Edmonton. Buchanan missed the last 11 games with a lower back strain. ... RHP Joe Mays, placed on the disabled list Thursday with inflammation in his right elbow, was disappointed not to be able to pitch in the series against the Indians. “It shot my competitiveness down a little bit,” Mays said. “It's been four days, and it's killing me.” Mays can come off the DL April 30, and he's expected to be fully recovered then. ... C Joe Mauer, the first overall pick in the draft last June, leads the Class A Quad City River Bandits with two homers in 13 games.
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Tigers-White Sox
DETROIT: Rather than relying only on the “Inside Edge” scouting reports available to all teams, manager Luis Pujols has coach Rafael Landestoy keep a detailed chart of how opposing hitters do against Tigers pitchers. It's a tactic not used by every club — at least not by the Tigers, before Pujols took over for Phil Garner 10 days ago. “Keeping track of the at-bats against our pitchers is more important to me than the information we get from the outside,” Pujols said. “Batters don't change their approach, at least most don't.” ... Pujols said 1B Dmitri Young pulled his groin slightly Thursday, and will be day-to-day until further notice. ... Trainers found some blood in the leg of OF Andres Torres, which will delay for at least a day his return from a muscle pull. ... 3B Dean Palmer has missed five games with a sore right shoulder, and could be put on the disabled list Saturday to make way from RHP Nate Cornejo, who will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo before the game.
CHICAGO: By sweeping Cleveland, the White Sox became 6-1 at home, their best start at Comiskey Park in 30 years, when they began 7-0. ... CF Kenny Lofton tied the team record by scoring at least a run in 14 straight games, but going into Friday he was still a few runs from the AL record of 18 straight, which he tied in 2000 while playing for with the Indians. Frank Thomas also scored in 14 straight games for the White Sox in 1994. ... Veteran public address announcer Gene Honda will be very busy Sunday, as he'll work both the White Sox game at Comiskey and the Blackhawks-Blues NHL playoff game at the United Center. Honda, who has been with the White Sox since 1990, hopes for a quick game with the Tigers so he can be at the United Center 90 minutes before the faceoff of Game 3. ... Entering their three-game series with Detroit, White Sox starters were 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA, while Tigers starters were 1-9 with a 4.97.
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Red Sox-Royals
BOSTON: RHP John Burkett will come off the disabled list and make his Red Sox debut Saturday in a start at Kansas City. Burkett was placed on the disabled list on March 26 with inflammation in his shoulder. He allowed just one run and five hits in 10 innings in spring training. ... Shea Hillenbrand had his career-high 12-game hitting streak snapped Wednesday. He hit .413 with five home runs and .413 during the streak. ... Left-hander Darren Oliver had a cat-scan of his right hand on the off-day Thursday. He is not expected to miss a start. ... The Red Sox have not lost a season series at Kansas City since 1997. They are 9-4 at Kauffman Stadium the past three years.
KANSAS CITY: Third baseman Joe Randa, tight left hamstring and lower back stiffness, and left fielder Chuck Knoblauch, sore legs, were held out of the lineup Friday. Luis Alicea started at third, and Donnie Sadler in left. ... The Royals plan on purchasing the contract of right-hander Bryan Rekar and starting him Saturday against Boston. In three starts with Class-AAA Omaha, Rekar was 0-0 with a 4.40 earned run average, allowing 21 hits in 16 2/3 innings. Rekar is 2-4 with a 4.30 ERA in eight career games against the Red Sox. The Royals will have to make space for Rekar on the 40-man big league roster, as well as the 25-man roster. ... On the Royals' just-concluded 3-5 trip to Boston, Cleveland and Minnesota, they hit .257 and had a 5.35 ERA. Right-hander Paul Byrd won two of the games.
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Rangers-Mariners
TEXAS: C Ivan Rodriguez, who did not make the current road trip because of lower back problems, underwent an MRI test in Dallas Friday. The results were not immediately known. Rodriguez was scratched from the lineup last Monday because of a sore back. Backup Bill Haselman is catching in Rodriguez's place. Rodriguez is hitting .222 (10-for-45) in 12 games this season. ... The Rangers Friday recalled RHP Francisco Cordero from Triple-A Oklahoma of the Pacific Coast League to take the place of LHP John Rocker, who was optioned to Oklahoma Wednesday. Cordero was in uniform for Friday night's game. Rocker, who was 0-1 with a 9.53 ERA and one save in six relief appearances, has not decided if he will report to Oklahoma.
SEATTLE: CF Mike Cameron was scratched from the lineup Friday night because of the flu. Manager Lou Piniella inserted Charles Gipson, who was going to start the game in LF, in CF in Cameron's place. Piniella added Desi Relaford to the lineup in LF. “We're hoping he can play tomorrow,” Piniella said of Cameron. ... 3B Jeff Cirillo entered Friday night's game one game shy of matching the major league record for consecutive games played at 3B without an error. The record is 99 games set by John Wehner from Aug. 2, 1992, to Sept. 29, 2000. Cirillo closed out the 2001 season with Colorado with 85 consecutive errorless games at 3B. He made his last error June 19, 2001, in Houston.
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Angels-Athletics
ANAHIEM: RF Tim Salmon was back in the lineup Friday after getting a day off. He was hitting .143 with three RBIs. ”(Manager Mike) Scioscia is a big believer in giving guys a break,” Salmon said. “I don't know what the answer is right now. We're all looking for answers.” ... The Angels started the season 5-10 for just the fourth time in team history, joining the 1961, '68 and '76 clubs. ... On Friday 35 years ago, the Angels played their first regular season game at Anaheim Stadium, and lost to the Chicago White Sox. ... Friday night's game was just the fourth game on the road for the Angels. ... LHP Jarrod Washburn, making his fourth start of the season, hasn't won since Aug. 19 of last year when he outdueled Bartolo Colon and Cleveland, 4-1.
OAKLAND: 3B Eric Chavez was sitting out a second game with a strained right hip flexor. He was injured on Wednesday, making a throw from his backside. “Chavvy doesn't complain, he just plays,” trainer Larry Davis said. ... LHP Mark Mulder, on the disabled list with tightness in his left forearm, has been playing catch before the game and was expected to return when he is eligible. ... RHP Mike Fyhrie, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to replace Mulder on the roster, was making his first start of the season Friday night. Fyhrie opened the season with 17 scoreless innings for the River Cats. ... Jermaine Dye, on the disabled list with a broken left leg suffered in Game 4 of last season's playoffs against the New York Yankees, was expected to return to the lineup on Saturday as a designated hitter.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Reds-Cubs
CINCINNATI: Sean Casey went two-for-four with two RBIs in his first start since getting hit in the head by a pitch last weekend. Casey suffered a concussion and an ear injury, and missed three games. “It feels good to get back out there,” he said. ... With Scott Williamson and Luis Pineda combining for two scoreless innings against the Cubs, the Reds bullpen has allowed just five earned runs in the last 38 2-3 innings. ... Joey Hamilton's last loss was also against the Cubs, on Sept. 19, 2001. ... The Reds are 1-7 in their last eight games at Wrigley Field.
CHICAGO: Cubs starter Matt Clement has 30 strikeouts in his first three outings, which puts him among the league leaders. “I've always thought I had the potential to be a strikeout pitcher,” he said. ... Roosevelt Brown's two-run homer in the first was only the Cubs' third with runners on base. Sammy Sosa and Todd Hundley each hit two-run shots on April 3. ... Hundley, who is day-to-day with a bruised left thumb, didn't try catching Friday. “It's like getting smoked by a hammer,” Hundley said. “I didn't want to have a hammer come down on it today.” ... Sammy Sosa and Fred McGriff went hitless Friday, snapping their seven-game hitting streaks.
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Mets-Expos
NEW YORK: CF Timo Perez made his third straight start Friday as Jay Payton was out of the starting lineup for the third game in a row. Perez doubled for the fourth time in his last six games in Thursday's 1-0 win. He also made a diving catch to rob Javier Vazquez of a hit. ... Payton is hitting .204 (10-for-49) with one homer and four RBIs. ... C Mike Piazza was rested as Vance Wilson made his third start of the season. ... LF Tony Tarasco batted second in his first major league start since 1999, when he made nine starts in left for the New York Yankees. Tarasco, who spent last season in the Mets' organization after playing in Japan in 2000, set career highs with 18 doubles, 14 homers and 40 RBIs with Montreal in 1995.
MONTREAL: 1B Andres Galarraga will rest his sore lower back for the next few days before returning to the lineup. Galarraga pulled himself from the lineup prior to Thursday's game when he felt back pain after taking batting practice. ... Although he failed to reach base for the first time in 16 games on Thursday, CF Peter Bergeron entered the game tied with St. Louis' Jim Edmonds for the NL lead with 16 runs scored. Bergeron, who has a .393 on-base percentage despite hitting just .207, was also tied with Edmonds for third in the league in walks with 17. ... RF Vladimir Guerrero had 19 RBIs through Thursday, second only to Houston's Lance Berkman who led the NL with 20. Guerrero tied Henry Rodriguez's 1996 team record of 27 RBIs in the month of April in 2000. ... 2B Jose Vidro is 20-for-48 (.417) with five doubles, one homer and nine RBIs in his last 12 games.
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Phillies-Pirates
PHILLIES: RHP Terry Adams, scheduled to start Saturday in Pittsburgh, was 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA against the Pirates last season. He was 1-0 with a 7.30 ERA in his first two Phillies starts. Adams was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday at Florida with an inflamed bone in his chest. ... Manager Larry Bowa may give RHP Jose Santiago a few games off. Santiago allowed six runs in two innings in his last two appearances, elevating his ERA to 11.74. The Phillies' bullpen went into the weekend with a 4-4 record and an NL-high 5.70 ERA. ... Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt was unable to work with the Phillies as scheduled during their series at Florida this week. Schmidt was hospitalized for several days in Jupiter, Fla., where he lives, because of an infection apparently caused by an insect bite. Schmidt worked as a special hitting instructor during spring training.
PIRATES: Manager Lloyd McClendon anticipates 3B Aramis Ramirez drawing a significant suspension for charging the mound Wednesday in Milwaukee. Asked if Ramirez might get away with a three- to four-game suspension, McClendon said, “I'm sure it will be a lot more than that.” Ramirez was out of the lineup Friday with a sore right ankle, which he apparently injured while charging Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets. ... RHP Kris Benson, recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery, is scheduled to make his third rehabilitation start for Triple-A Nashville on Saturday. Benson was scratched Monday with discomfort in his right arm. Trainer Kent Biggerstaff said the soreness was in Benson's forearm, not his elbow. ... RHP Josias Manzanillo, unable to rejoin the Pirates until May 1 after rejecting salary arbitration, is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in six games at Nashville. He has struck out five in 7 2-3 innings. ... OF Adam Hyzdu, the Pirates' final spring training cut, is hitting .148 with 17 strikeouts in 54 at-bats for the Sounds.
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Marlins-Braves
FLORIDA: Manager Jeff Torborg expects RHP Josh Beckett to make his scheduled start Tuesday when the Marlins begin a three-game series with Houston. Though he's pitched at least five innings in his last two starts, Beckett (0-1) had to leave both games early because of a blister on his middle finger. ... SS Alex Gonzalez returned to the lineup after sitting out Thursday with swelling between his right thumb and index finger. ... C Charles Johnson doubled in the third to end an 0-for-8 skid. Though he returned to the lineup for the first time in five games, Johnson continues to have problems with his thumb, which he reaggravated against Atlanta last Friday and left in the second inning. ... The Marlins hit .342 with runners in scoring position in their four previous games. ... RHP A.J. Burnett will make his seventh career start against Atlanta. Burnett is 3-3 with a 3.32 ERA against the Braves, but 1-2 with a 6.19 ERA at Turner Field.
ATLANTA: With Gary Sheffield out of the lineup for the third straight game, 1B Julio Franco hit in the cleanup spot. Franco grounded into a double play to end the first, giving him an .083 average (1-for-12) with runners in scoring position. ... B.J. Surhoff, who started in right field, has made 10 starts at first and 43-year-old Franco seven. Wes Helms, 25, has made just two starts, both at third. ... 2B Marcus Giles hit .333 with one homer and two RBIs in 33 at-bats on the recent 10-game road trip. ... Beginning last June 13 at Toronto, RHP Kerry Ligtenberg has a 1.50 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. ... RHP Greg Maddux, who plans to take his turn in the rotation Saturday a sore back forced him to leave after one inning Wednesday, is 13-5 with a 1.91 ERA in 25 career starts against the Marlins.
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Cardinals-Brewers
CARDINALS: Pitching coach Dave Duncan is understandably disappointed by having three of his starting pitchers — Woody Williams (side), Andy Benes (knee) and Garrett Stephenson (back) — on the DL. “None of them are arm-related, so that's a little frustrating,” Duncan said, “so you do what you can with what you can.” ... RHP Mike Timlin, an 11-year veteran, madehis first-ever start with the Cardinals and first in the majors since June 1991 on Friday night in Milwaukee. ... RHP Josh Pearce, who was 0-3 at Triple A Memphis, makes his major league debut Saturday afternoon against Milwaukee. “He's an up-and-comning prospect,” Duncan said, “but is he ready to pitch in the big leagues? We'll find out.” ... OF Jim Edmonds, wholeft Thursday's game after hitting two doubles, didn't start Friday due to discomfort in the hip and groin area. He's day-to-day. ... C Mike Matheny entered Friday's game with five RBI, all against his former team, the Brewers.
BREWERS: After a successful debut Thursday, interim manager Jerry Royster had a late dinner at the home of Davey Lopes, who was fired from the position earlier in the day. The two are best friends and Lopes gave Royster a congratulatory hug. ... 1B Richie Sexson wasn't in the NL's top 10 in RBI until knocking in seven in Thursday's come-from-behind 7-5 victory over the Cardinals. That tied the franchise record for a single game and moved him into a tie for third with Barry Bonds with 17. ... LHP Ray Kingwas reinstated from a 20-day rehab assignment and was available for Friday'sgame. To make room for King, the Brewers optioned pitcher Brian Mallette to Triple A Indianapolis. ... GM Dean Taylor celebrated his 51st birthday Friday. ... One of the main concerns for Royster is third base, where neither Tyler Houston nor Ronnie Belliard has played well enough to win the starting job. 'I'm going to make sure they all get the same opportunity,just see if somebody can get hot and go with it,” Royster said. ... One reason for the 3-12 start by the Brewers was the inability of lead-offhitter Eric Young to reach base. He was batting .093 before collecting two hits Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Pittsburgh and hitting a double Thursday.That raised his average to .140.
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Giants-Astros
SAN FRANCISCO: Barry Bonds admits he got caught up in trying to make the fans happy in spring training. “I'd swing and the people would go "oooh,”' Bonds said. “You get caught up in trying to please them. You can't go play the game like that.” Bonds says he's back on track now but he's not counting out someone breaking his record 73 homers. “I'll never say it's not possible,” Bonds said. “It will take a person with a lot of patience. He'll have to accept getting walks and accept what happens.”
HOUSTON:The Astros will retire the No. 49 worn by former star pitcher and manager Larry Dierker in ceremonies May 19 at Astros Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dierker pitched a no-hitter during his 18-year playing career and led the Astros to four division titles in five seasons as manager before he was dismissed after last season. Astros president Tal Smith recalled calling Dierker into his office after his no-hitter and offered to tear up his contract and give him a modest raise. “He refused the raise,” Smith said. “I can't think of any player in my experience who turned down a raise. He said he was just doing his job. I was so impressed I quickly traded him to St. Louis.”
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Rockies-Diamondacks
COLORADO: RF Larry Walker missed his second straight start. Manager Buddy Bell said he would use Walker, who sprained a ligament and strained the flexor tendon in his right elbow swinging at a pitch Tuesday, only in an emergency. But Bell thought Walker might return during the series in Arizona. ... 3B Todd Zeile also missed his second game. Zeile's pregnant wife, former Olympic gymnast Julianne McNamara, was recovering from surgery after breaking her ankle at Coors Field on Tuesday night. ... The Rockies' 5-11 record marks the worst 16-game start in their 10-year history. ... Ben Petrick moved past Brent Mayne into fourth place for most starts by a Rockies catcher (136). ... LHP Denny Neagle was 4-for-6 at the plate in his first three starts this year. ... Bell saw no special incentive to beat Arizona in this series because the Diamondbacks became the first team to sweep a four-game series in Coors Field from April 11-14. “It doesn't matter if you have a winning streak or a losing streak,” he said. “Every game you play might be the one that determines the outcome of your season. That's how we look at it.”
ARIZONA: RHP Todd Stottlemyre made his first start at home since Sept. 16, 2000. He had elbow surgery after that season and was out for 18 months, then caught the flu after his first start this year, April 9 at San Diego. ... The Diamondbacks have won seven straight over Colorado. ... C Damian Miller made his 14th start of the year and third straight despite bruising his left foot when he fouled off a pitch in his last at-bat Monday. ... Manager Bob Brenly fell asleep on a raft in his swimming pool Thursday and arrived at the ballpark with a severe sunburn. “I'd have to fine a player if he came in like this after an off-day,” Brenly said. ... LF Luis Gonzalez has hit .400 (14-for-35) in nine games to raise his average from .111 to .274.
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Padres-Dodgers
SAN DIEGO: The Padres' 5-2 loss at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night ended their seven-game winning streak in Los Angeles. San Diego's longest victory string at Dodger Stadium was eight in a row from July 16, 1996, to June 28, 1997. ... Phil Nevin went into Friday night's game needing just one home run to become the fifth player to hit 100 for the Padres. Nate Colbert's 163 were the most. ... The Padres had won six straight games started by opposing right-handers — Todd Stottlemyre, Rick Helling, Kevin Brown, Hideo Nomo, Ryan Jensen and Kurt Ainsworth.
LOS ANGELES: A decision will probably be made Saturday on whether to place RHP Kevin Brown on the DL. Brown, who had surgery on his right elbow during the offseason, tore scar tissue in the elbow on April 13 while pitching in San Diego and had to miss his scheduled start on Thursday. “We'll have a good idea tomorrow when he comes in and we evaluate him,” manager Jim Tracy said. “We will err on the side of caution. It's April, not August.” Team doctor Frank Jobe said there was still swelling in Brown's elbow, and “There's no way he can pitch until the swelling goes down.” Jobe added, “I hope this is not serious, and I don't think it is.” ... After completing their four-game series against the Padres, the Dodgers leave on a six-game trip to Pittsburgh and Chicago. Since the Dodgers reported to spring training on Feb. 19, when they return home on April 28, they will have spent 54 of the last 68 days away from home. ... Heading into Friday's game against the Padres, Los Angeles starting pitchers had held opposing hitters to a .214 batting average, lowest in the NL.
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AP's gameday notes
