The Associated Press

HOUSTON - Astros second baseman Jeff Kent was suspended for two games and fined Tuesday as a result of his argument with umpire Matt Hollowell during a game against the Chicago Cubs on July 26.

Kent appealed the penalty and was in Houston's lineup for Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets.

A date for a hearing has not been set. The suspension will not take effect until a decision is made on the appeal.

Kent is alleged to have pushed Houston manager Jimy Williams into Hollowell after being ejected while disputing a check swing call.

"We will appeal it based on the fact that I was in the right," Kent said. "The umpire made a bad call. It is an issue that I believe I should appeal, that's my right."

ORIOLES: Left fielder Melvin Mora was placed on the disabled list to give him time to recover from a strained ligament in his right hand.

"While his hand is getting better, we didn't think he would be ready anytime soon," Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove said.

Mora, fourth in the AL with a .325 average, hasn't made a plate appearance since July 27. But because he pinch-ran July 31 in Minnesota, the move is retroactive to Aug. 1.

Baltimore recalled outfielder Jack Cust from Triple-A Ottawa to replace Mora on the roster. It's his third stint with the Orioles, but he has yet to play in a game.

CARDINALS: Center fielder Jim Edmonds returned to the lineup Tuesday night after missing nine games because of a sore right shoulder that nearly landed him on the disabled list.

Edmonds started only four of the previous 17 games since the All-Star break after aggravating the condition in the home run derby, and hadn't homered since July 18.

"He's had a series of good workouts where he's felt better and better, and he had a very good workout yesterday," manager Tony La Russa said. "He's ready to go."

La Russa hoped Edmonds would be ready to play every day.

"I'm going to watch him, I just hope there's nothing to see," La Russa said. "He's had a lot of time off, a lot of treatment, and we did not push him over the weekend.

"We did everything we could do to get him ready for today, and keep him in there."

Edmonds said his problems began with a catch at the wall in Milwaukee in June. He said the last few days the shoulder has been "a lot better, big time."

Edmonds had a cortisone shot late last month that did no good. What helped most, he said, was rest.

"I went backward after having that shot, but I think that's probably the best thing for me because I took an extra couple days off," Edmonds said. "It stopped me from moving too much and keeping me from screwing around too much."

Edmonds wasn't planning on changing his playing style too much.

"I might try to stay off the wall as best I can, maybe play a step deeper," he said. "I'm just going to play the game and see what happens."

ROYALS: Kansas City called up outfielder Julius Matos and optioned reliever Nate Field to Triple-A Omaha.

Matos, who hit .300 with four RBI in seven games for the Royals earlier this season, will fill in for injured outfielder Michael Tucker. Matos was hitting .244 at Omaha.

Tucker hit a ball off his right leg in Monday's game against Chicago and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He was on crutches Tuesday and is listed as day-to-day with a bone bruise.

METS: The team purchased the contract of catcher Joe Depastino from Triple-A Norfolk. He was hitting .264 with two home runs and 18 RBI in 70 games with the Tides.

To make room for Depastino, the Mets optioned right-hander Jeremy Griffiths to Norfolk. Griffiths, who earned his first major-league win Sunday against St. Louis, was 1-1 with a 6.55 ERA in five games - two starts - for New York.