MLB Capsules - NL: Karstens pitches gem as Pirates beat Astros 4-0
HOUSTON (AP) — Jeff Karstens pitched a five-hitter and Andrew McCutchen tripled and drove in two runs as the surging Pittsburgh Pirates opened the second half of the season with a 4-0 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
Karstens (8-4) needed just 83 pitches to become the first Pirate to win five straight decisions in a season since Matt Capps in 2006. He has an ERA of 2.34 this year, but has been particularly dominant in his three starts against Houston, going 3-0 with an 0.41 ERA.
It was the second career complete game and shutout for Karstens, who last did it in 2008, at Arizona.
Houston starter Brett Myers (3-10) allowed five hits and three runs while striking out a season-high 11 in six innings in his fourth consecutive loss.
Alex Presley opened the game with a single and stole second base. He scored on a single by Neil Walker to give Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead.
McCutchen’s two-run triple to center field came in the third inning and scored Presley and Chase d’Arnaud to make it 3-0. McCutchen picked up where he left off before the All-Star break and has 10 RBIs in his last five games.
Karstens sailed through the first five innings, facing the minimum thanks to a double play in the second inning after Hunter Pence led off with a single.
Pinch-hitter Chris Johnson singled with two outs in the sixth inning on a grounder to right. Michael Bourn followed with a single on an infield dribbler that Karstens couldn’t corral, but Matt Downs grounded into a forceout to allow Karstens to escape the jam.
Jeff Keppinger singled in the seventh inning, but was out at second when Pence grounded into a forceout. Pence stole second base and Carlos Lee singled. Karstens was able to get out of the inning when Brett Wallace grounded into a double play.
The struggling Astros tried to spark their offense with a lineup shuffle on Friday. They moved Lee out of the cleanup spot for just the second time this season and batted Pence fourth with Lee hitting behind him. It didn’t help as the Astros, who have the worst record in the majors, dropped their fifth straight and were shut out for the fifth time this season.
Garrett Jones walked in the eighth inning and was replaced by pinch-runner Xavier Paul, who advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring when Lyle Overbay reached on an error by Keppinger to make it 4-0.
NOTES: The Pirates recalled LHP Joe Beimel (left elbow inflammation) from the 15-day DL on Friday. Pittsburgh optioned LHP Daniel Moskos to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday to clear a spot on the roster. ... Friday was the 15th time in his career that Myers finished with double-digit strikeouts. ... Houston OF Jason Bourgeois (right quadriceps strain) went 0 for 3 on Friday in his rehabilitation assignment with the Gulf Coast League Astros. He is scheduled to join Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday.
Marlins owner Loria not giving up on team
CHICAGO (AP) — Florida Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria isn’t counting out his team.
Loria said "anything can happen" and he’s not ruling out playoff contention even if the Marlins entered Friday’s game against the Chicago Cubs last in the NL East at 44-48, 131/2 games out in the division and 10 back in the wild card.
They’ve improved with a season-high six straight wins after a miserable June that included a 1-19 stretch in which Edwin Rodriguez resigned and 80-year-old Jack McKeon replaced him on an interim basis as manager.
"I haven’t counted us out yet," Loria said. "I hope you guys haven’t. I know it looks tough, but what are we now — four under? Jack says as soon as we get (to.500), you never know what can happen."
He added: "I would never bet against Jack McKeon."
Loria said there’s a chance McKeon could be brought back as manager next season, adding that experience will be a requirement for the job.
"There’ll be a number of candidates, but right now, Jack’s the manager," Loria said. "We’ll see where it goes at the end of the year. There is a chance. I’m not ruling anything out, but it will have to be somebody with experience. I’m not going to allow a repeat of what happened."
The Marlins flirted with the idea of hiring a big-name manager last season, stirring speculation about courtships with Ozzie Guillen and Bobby Valentine.
Instead, they decided to retain Rodriguez after he took over on an interim basis last June 23 and led them to a 46-46 record the rest of the way. He got a one-year contract in the offseason but resigned on June 19, with the Marlins in a full-fledged free fall.
Even so, Loria insisted the resignation caught him off guard.
"I didn’t have any discussions about him leaving," he said. "I was out of the country. I was as surprised as everybody was, but you know what they say, sometimes things work out for the best.
Loria spoke to Rodriguez while he was away.
"I don’t want to say any more," he said. "I thanked him for his effort. Obviously, he wasn’t feeling good about what he was doing."
Loria feels good about the direction the organization is headed.
The Marlins have a new ballpark opening in 2012, and he’d like to create some momentum before the move. He said he "couldn’t be happier" with the front office, although he thinks the minor league system needs to be replenished.
"I’m going to address the minor league system at the end of the season," he said.
How?
"Wait and see," Loria said. "When we needed some players (in June), we didn’t have them."
A big reason for that was their top young players were on the major league roster. Loria understands that. He also thinks the team could use a few more veterans like Mike Cameron, whom they acquired from Boston on July 5, and a pitcher or two to go with another bat.
Loria also said he sees no reason to change the rules governing collisions at the plate, because they happen just about every day. He said the season-ending leg and ankle injuries San Francisco’s Buster Posey suffered when the Marlins’ Scott Cousins ran into him was simply "one of those bad moments."
That play led to backlash against Cousins, and Loria told his team to stay out of it.
"I can understand people being upset," he said. "That’s one of their stars. Responding never does anything."
Possible realignment also came up during Loria’s session with reporters.
"I don’t have an opinion about it," he said. "I really don’t. I’m happy where we are."
-- Andrew Seligman
Dodgers owner seeks lower spousal support payments
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Embattled Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt on Friday asked a judge to reduce the amount of spousal support he’s paying to his ex-wife in their divorce battle over ownership of the team.
McCourt has paid more than $5 million to cover the mortgages of six homes and a condominium over the last year as well as $2.7 million in temporary spousal support to Jamie McCourt, according to court documents.
McCourt said the payments should be more in line with the $5 million he receives annually and either Jamie McCourt should be ordered to pay the mortgages herself or the properties should be sold.
"I simply cannot afford to support petitioner’s lifestyle any longer," McCourt said in a declaration.
Matthew Hiltzik, a spokesman for Jamie McCourt, said Frank McCourt has "single-handedly destroyed the value of the Dodgers" since his client was fired as the team’s CEO in late 2009.
"If Frank’s personal financial situation is really so dire, why doesn’t he just sell his half of the Dodgers assets?" asked Hiltzik.
Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon last May ordered McCourt to pay $225,000 a month in spousal support and more than $400,000 a month to maintain the homes, which include a pair in tony Holmby Hills near the Playboy Mansion and another two in Malibu. Jamie McCourt had been seeking nearly $1 million a month.
A hearing has been set for Aug. 10.
The Dodgers filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware last month, blaming a cash-flow crisis on Major League Baseball’s refusal to approve a multibillion-dollar TV deal McCourt was counting on to keep the franchise afloat.
MLB assumed control of the club’s day-to-day operations in mid-April.
Gordon ruled in December that a postnuptial marital agreement that gave Frank McCourt sole ownership of the Dodgers was invalid. That cleared the way for Jamie McCourt, who served as the team’s CEO and was fired by her ex-husband two years ago, to seek half the team under California’s community property law.
The McCourts reached a settlement last month that was contingent on MLB’s approval of the TV deal with Fox worth up to $3 billion. However, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig rejected the deal, saying it wasn’t in the best interests of baseball and the money would be used for McCourt’s "personal needs."
Court documents show McCourt has about $350,000 in his personal bank account as of Tuesday. He said he’s spent about $600,000 over the past year on his own expenses and lodging, compared to $7.7 million he’s paid Jamie McCourt in spousal support.
The filing also shows he’s paid nearly $6 million in attorneys’ fees, but still owes $3.4 million.
McCourt also maintains he doesn’t receive a salary from the Dodgers, but gets his $5 million allocation through Blue Land Co., a division that is paid $14 million per year in rent by the team.
-- Greg Risling
Busch Stadium preps for U2 concert
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tony La Russa is a big rock fan, having hosted members of the Eagles and Journey among others in his office as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.
He’s a bit lukewarm on U2, though.
"I think they’re all right," La Russa said. "They’re not top 10, but they’re good. They put on a good show."
La Russa and his team will be in Cincinnati this weekend, meaning he won’t have a chance to catch Sunday’s U2 concert at Busch Stadium. Organizers anticipate a crowd of 52,000, which would be a record for the 6-year-old stadium.
Crews began tearing out sod hours after the Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks last Sunday, clearing the way for a massive revolving stage that features claw-like legs and a huge video screen behind the band.
The home and visitor’s dugouts will serve as first-aid stations. The visitor’s clubhouse will be the dressing room for U2; the Cardinals’ clubhouse will be the only area off-limits to the band.
Vicki Bryant, vice president of event services and merchandising at the stadium, said workers began hauling in 110 semi-truck loads of equipment on Tuesday. It will take two days to clear the stadium after the show, giving the grounds crew a week to lay new sod in preparation for the Cardinals’ next home game on July 25.
"It’s a tremendous undertaking," Martin said. "Everything’s magnified by the sheer size of the event."
Last year, the Eagles and Dixie Chicks drew a crowd of about 36,000 at Busch and crews had to re-plant sod only in the outfield, working 40 consecutive hours to ready the stadium.
U2’s 360 Tour stop in St. Louis includes opening act Interpol. The bands next plays in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 20.
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Giants hire Riggleman as special assignment scout
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have hired former Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman as a special assignment scout.
The move came less than a month after Riggleman abruptly resigned as Nationals manager. On June 23, he told the Nationals he wanted his contract option picked up for next season, or he would quit.
Riggleman met Thursday night with Giants general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy. He says he’ll watch the defending World Series champion Giants during their four-game series against the San Diego Padres this weekend, then get his first assignment from Sabean.
"Boch and Brian looking out for me a little bit, I really appreciate it," Riggleman said before Friday night’s game.
"As we get moving toward the trading deadline, maybe they’ll have some players they’ll want me to go see, maybe some minor league players, maybe some of our own payers in the system," said Riggleman, who also will spend some time with one of the team’s advance scouts.
"It’s going to be a little bit of an educational process for me," Riggleman said.
"He’s a good baseball man," said Bochy, who was Riggleman’s third base coach with the Padres from 1993-94. Bochy was promoted to manager after Riggleman left to become manager of the Chicago Cubs.
"I’m really lucky to be here and we’ll see where it takes me," Riggleman said. "I didn’t really want to be home and not working. At the same time, you don’t want to make phone calls and make requests of people, put them in position where they have to say no. Boch really reached out to me and that was a testament to the friendship we’ve had over the years. Hopefully I can help him."
Riggleman said he’s looking forward to spending time in minor league ballparks scouting players.
He dodged a question about whether he still wanted to manage.
"I really kind of want to stay away from that question because it just leaves me too open to people saying, ‘Well, why did you resign? "‘ Riggleman said. "I think everybody who knows me, they’ll read between the lines and know that I love managing, but I’m fortunate to be doing this right here, right now, and I just want to do a good job of this."
-- Bernie Wilson
Prado returns from DL, starts at 3B
ATLANTA (AP) — Martin Prado returned from the disabled list Friday and started at third base for the Atlanta Braves against Washington on Friday night.
Prado played eight games in his minor league rehabilitation and missed five weeks with a staph infection in his right calf.
Prado, a fill-in All-Star starter at second base last season before moving to third base, opened this season as the starting left fielder. He is expected to fill in at third base for at least two weeks as Chipper Jones recovers from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee.
Prado, who hit second against the Nationals, said he wasn’t expecting to immediately return to top form.
"It’s probably going to take a couple games, but I’m happy I can do everything and start playing," Prado said.
Jones said he had "that heavy leg feeling" on Friday after a workout that included 10 40-yard sprints. He said he hopes to be ready the first day he is eligible to come off the disabled list on July 24.
Jones said his workout was a stiff test so soon after his surgery.
"I’m feeling it now," he said. "But I want to know what I can do. ... I was pleasantly surprised with all but about my first two or three 40s."
Prado is hitting .277 with eight homers and 33 RBIs.
Meanwhile, right-hander Peter Moylan played catch Thursday for the first time since having surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back in May. Moylan said he hopes to return in 4 to 6 weeks.
The Braves optioned infielder Brandon Hicks to Triple-A Gwinnett.
-- Charles Odum
Reds put RH Jose Arredondo on DL with sore arm
CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds put right-handed reliever Jose Arredondo on the 15-day disabled list on Friday because of a stiff forearm, shuffling their bullpen before the start of their weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Arredondo missed last season following reconstructive elbow surgery. He made 24 appearances for Cincinnati this season, going 1-3 with a 3.04 earned run average. His right forearm began bothering him before the All-Star break, and tests detected a strain.
Reds manager Dusty Baker said Arredondo’s injury isn’t related to his elbow surgery. It began bothering him during a series in Milwaukee last weekend, leaving him unavailable to pitch.
"He’s been kind of available/unavailable for a while," Baker said. "He wasn’t available in Milwaukee. When a guy’s had Tommy John (surgery), you want to be careful, even though it’s not in the same area. He just didn’t feel 100 percent.
"Even though he says he’s fine today, we can’t afford to be short tomorrow or the next day if he doesn’t feel right. We need him available on an everyday basis."
The defending NL Central champions resumed play Friday in fourth place, four games behind Milwaukee and St. Louis.
Left-hander Jeremy Horst was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to take Arredondo’s spot. It’s his second stint with Cincinnati. Horst made five appearances between May 28 and June 22, giving up nine hits and three earned runs in 8 1-3 innings.
-- Joe Kay
Brewers and Rodriguez rework contract option
DENVER (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers and newly acquired reliever Francisco Rodriguez have reworked his contract to alter the terms of a $17.5 million option for next year.
The Brewers said Friday the sides agreed to change an option for next season from one that would have vested once Rodriguez finished 55 games to a straight mutual option. If both sides don’t agree to exercise the option then Rodriguez will get a $4 million buyout, an increase from $3.5 million.
Rodriguez was acquired from the New York Mets following Tuesday’s All-Star game in exchange for cash and two players to be named. He already had finished 34 games with the Mets, leaving him 21 games shy of fulfilling the vesting requirement when he was dealt to Milwaukee.
With the contract revision, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said before Friday’s game at Colorado that he feels no limitations in how he can bring Rodriguez out of the bullpen.
"From my point of view and that of the staff, it will be nicer on us," he said. "These things, these contracts, most of the time a manager doesn’t know about them so you don’t have to worry about anything. But when it’s so public and I knew exactly all the numbers, it’s just not comfortable."
Also, Rodriguez, who wore No. 75 in his first game with Milwaukee on Thursday, switched his jersey number Friday to 57, which he wore as a member of the Angels.
US trustee objects to Dodgers financing plan
DOVER, Del. (AP) — A U.S. bankruptcy trustee objects to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ proposed bankruptcy financing, saying the team has not disclosed enough information about its loan arrangement with a hedge fund.
The trustee argued in court papers Friday that a Delaware judge who will hold a hearing Wednesday should deny the club’s $150 million bankruptcy financing plan with Highbridge Principal Strategies.
The trustee argues that the plan includes a $4.5 million deferred commitment fee to Highbridge that was not properly disclosed. It also says there is a lack of information about any additional fees and obligations that might be required of the Dodgers or team owner Frank McCourt.
The Dodgers’ financing plan also is being challenged by Major League Baseball, which says it can offer the team a better deal.
-- Randall Chase
Cubs sign Bush to minor-league deal
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran pitcher Dave Bush.
The right-hander was designated for assignment by Texas earlier this month and cleared unconditional release waivers last week, making him a free agent.
He made three starts and 17 appearances for the Rangers, going 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA. He is 56-69 with a 4.70 ERA over eight seasons in a career that includes stops in Toronto and Milwaukee.
The Cubs announced the move on Friday.
Phillies put 3B Polanco on DL, add Madson, Worley
NEW YORK (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have put All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco on the 15-day disabled list and added right-handed pitchers Vance Worley and Ryan Madson.
Polanco has not played since July 4 because of inflammation in his lower back. He is 0 for 15 this month and missed Tuesday’s All-Star game.
Polanco is hitting .274 with four homers and 39 RBIs. His move is retroactive to July 5. Wilson Valdez and Michael Martinez will likely fill in for the NL East leaders.
Worley was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Friday night against the Mets. The rookie is 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA for Philadelphia.
Madson had been on the DL since June 28, a month after a liner hit him in the right hand and caused a bruise. He is 3-1 with 15 saves and a 2.03 ERA.
Rockies recall OF Fowler
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies recalled outfielder Dexter Fowler from Triple A on Friday and inserted him at the top of the lineup playing centerfield against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 25-year-old Fowler began the 2011 season as Colorado’s leadoff hitter and centerfielder but hit just .238 in 57 games. He was optioned to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on June 20 where he hit .237 in 24 games.
The Rockies also purchased the contract of Eliezer Alfonzo from Colorado Springs. Alfonzo hit .319 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs for the Sky Sox.
Colorado optioned catcher Matt Pagnozzi and outfielder Cole Garner to club’s top farm club and transferred outfielder Charlie Blackmon to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Alfonzo on the 40-man roster.
Mets add Igarashi from Triple-A after K-Rod deal
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets have promoted right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi from Triple-A to fill the roster spot left by the trade of closer Francisco Rodriguez.
The Mets made the move before Friday night’s game against Philadelphia. Rodriguez was sent to the Brewers right after the All-Star game Tuesday night.
Igarashi was 2-1 with a 4.65 ERA in 15 games for the Mets earlier this season. He was recalled from Buffalo, where he was 0-1 with five saves and an 0.87 ERA.
Igarashi had not allowed a run in Triple-A during his last 13 appearances, covering 19 1-3 innings. Mets manager Terry Collins said Igarashi had gotten a better feel for his splitter over the last two months in the minors.
Braves sign 1st-round pick P Gilmartin
ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves have signed left-hander Sean Gilmartin, the team’s first-round pick from Florida State, for a bonus of $1,134,000.
Braves director of scouting Tony DeMacio said Friday Gilmartin is expected to "move fast through our system" after reporting to the team’s minor league complex in Orlando.
Gilmartin was 12-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 2011. He had 122 strikeouts and was ranked by Baseball America as the 16th-best college pitcher in the draft.
Gilmartin, from Moorpark, Calif, was drafted by San Diego in the 31st round of the 2008 draft before launching his college career.
