MLB Capsules: Judge in Clemens case issues gag order
WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge assigned to Roger Clemens' perjury case issued a gag order Monday prohibiting public comments by the principles in the case that could affect the jury pool for a possible trial.
Clemens was indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for allegedly lying to Congress. The six-count indictment accuses the seven-time Cy Young Award winner of obstructing a congressional inquiry with 15 different statements made under oath, including denials that he had ever used steroids or human growth hormone.
Clemens has denied any wrongdoing.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said in the gag order that interested participants will refrain from making public comments that could have a material effect on the case.
"Further action in violation of this admonition will be confronted of the full authority of the Court," Walton wrote in the order that covers "the parties, any potential witnesses, and counsel for those parties and witnesses."
Walton has some experience with high-profile cases, presiding over the perjury and obstruction trial of Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.
No date has been set for Clemens' initial court appearance. The former pitcher faces a combined maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted on all charges. However, under U.S. sentencing guidelines, he probably would face no more than 15 to 21 months in prison.
American League
Damon claimed by Red Sox, deciding whether to go
DETROIT (AP) — It's all up to Johnny Damon now: Play out the season in Detroit, or rejoin the Boston Red Sox for another playoff chase.
The Red Sox have claimed the 36-year-old outfielder on waivers from the Tigers, and Damon was deciding Monday whether to go. Once a fan favorite at Fenway Park, he's been booed there ever since he defected to the rival Yankees.
Damon had a little time to make up his mind — teams have 48 hours to work out a deal — and the other Tigers were trying to help with the decision.
"My teammates are making this decision easier by saying they want me to stay," he said after Monday's 12-3 win over Kansas City. "My gut and everything else tells me that Detroit's the place for me."
Damon, though, said he wants to talk to Tigers president Dave Dombrowski before making his final decision.
His contract includes a clause that gives him veto power over trades to all but eight teams. Because the Red Sox aren't one of those clubs, he can block any move.
Detroit could work out a trade with Boston to complete the deal if Damon gives the OK, and that might bring the Tigers a prospect in return.
"I understand if it could help the Tigers in the future, I have to look at it that way, but my teammates are making it much easier on me," he said. "If they want me to stay, teammates normally win out."
Dombrowski declined comment on any moves.
Damon has hit .270 with seven home runs and 40 RBIs during his first season in Detroit.
Damon was a hero in Boston in 2004 when he helped the Red Sox win their first World Series championship. But he was no longer so popular two years later when he became a free agent and went to New York.
Boston began the day 6½ games behind the Yankees in the AL East and 5½ games behind Tampa Bay for the wild-card lead. Detroit was 11 games behind Minnesota in the AL Central and far from wild-card consideration.
"I had a great time playing there, and I did everything I could to go back," he said. "I told the team what it would take, in terms of dollars and years — but it got ugly when it became apparent that re-signing me wasn't a priority."
Damon said that the broken relationship with the Boston fans has "absolutely" left a scar on his psyche, and he knows accepting a move back to the Red Sox could fix that, especially if he could help them make a late playoff run.
"If I do this, and we pulled everything together and I could help them get into the postseason, it would change everything again," he said.
Damon's old teammates in Boston seemed eager to have him back.
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz asked whether Damon got to choose his team. Told yes, Ortiz brightened.
"Really. Let me call him right now," he kidded. "I can say one thing and he'd be back. I guarantee you just one thing."
"It would be great. You know Johnny Damon's always been a great person to be around," he said. "Let's wait to see what's going to happen."
Normally fairly stoic, Red Sox captain Jason Varitek smiled when talking about Damon.
"Johnny knows how I fell about him today and always have. It's wishful thinking right now," he said.
"He's pushing Hall of Fame type numbers and you add what he's done in the clubhouse and on the field. I never wanted to see him leave here. It would be a nice opportunity," he said. "Bedsides being a great player, he's an example with how he plays hurt and he plays the game right. He pushes energy. He's an exciting player."
Damon has consistently said that he wants to stay with the Tigers, and he repeated that stance Monday.
"I like playing here and I love the fans," he said. "I'm enjoying playing with these kids and for this coaching staff."
About 90 minutes after getting the word of a possible move, Damon had obviously begun his research. He knew Boston's exact position in the wild-card race and precisely how many games they have left with the Yankees and Rays.
"Johnny is a good player. I'm not sure what Johnny is going to do," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said in Toronto. "Johnny was part of a world championship there. He seemed to be really appreciated by the fans there. I guess he has an option not to go, right? So you just kind of wait and see."
Still, he was glad that he'd have days, not hours, before having to give the Tigers and Red Sox a final decision.
"This is probably as tough of a decision for me as it was to leave Boston for New York," he said. "Fortunately, there is some time to think about it."
Showalter tries new approach with downtrodden O's
BALTIMORE (AP) — Corey Patterson had just been doubled off first base on a short fly to center. When he reached the top step of the Baltimore Orioles dugout, manager Buck Showalter was waiting for him.
Given Showalter's reputation, a scowl and a scolding were surely upcoming.
Instead, Showalter asked Patterson to detail his thought process on the hit-and-run play. The manager nodded, then suggested that next time Patterson should keep running to third instead of hesitating at second.
Showalter left it at that.
The man currently managing the Orioles is clearly not as tightly wound as the one who sternly guided the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1990s. Although his track record made an immediate impression on the lowly Orioles when he walked into the clubhouse on Aug. 3, the 54-year-old Showalter has saved his outbursts for umpires.
"The day is gone when the manager says, 'This is what you're going to do.' We play 200 games counting spring training. There's a relationship there that has to be," Showalter said. "It's very liberating when you have a pure heart about things. I'm just trying to present an atmosphere, a culture where guys can be as good as they can be."
The Orioles have been very bad for a long time. Although they're 12-8 under Showalter, their 32-73 record before his arrival doomed Baltimore to its 13th consecutive losing season.
The resurgence under Showalter can be attributed in part to the 894-840 ledger he compiled with the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers.
"The thing that sticks out is his reputation," third baseman Ty Wigginton said. "You look at win-loss record, and everyone in here knows he's been manager of the year. That kind of stuff. Obviously that's going to grab your attention."
Much more so than Baltimore's other two managers this season. Dave Trembley never played or managed in the majors before his stint with the Orioles, and Juan Samuel's first experience came when he stepped in for the fired Trembley on an interim basis.
"I think the difference is, ever since I was here there were rumblings about Dave Trembley. You could say we blocked them out but they were out there," Wigginton said. "And then Juan had the interim tag. Now we've got Buck, and he's the guy."
President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail hired Showalter in August to give the newcomer time to assess his players and coaching staff before heading into next year. To aid the process, a wall in Showalter's office lists most of the players in Baltimore's minor league system.
But he's not a general manager, and he's not going to wait until 2011 to put his stamp on an organization that has become accustomed to losing.
"The last thing I want is the players to think is that I'm some kind of traveling instructor or something," Showalter said. "Once the game starts, my priority is to manage that game and trying to put them in position to be successful."
Success has been elusive for the Orioles. This season, they opened by losing 16 of 18 and carried the worst record in the major leagues until this month.
"I realize how tough a challenge this year has been for a lot of them — emotionally and mentally," Showalter said.
During a recent game, Showalter walked over to starter Brad Bergesen and shared some knowledge about pitching. The funny thing is, Bergesen wasn't even in the game.
"He's the first manager that's really come up to me during the game and pointed out situations when I'm not pitching," Bergesen said. "He just told me what he thinks and explained different things. It's very small things, but he's trying to get us to learn the game and open our eyes to make us better ballplayers."
Which is precisely what Showalter had in mind when he pulled aside Patterson after that double play.
"You present an atmosphere not of confrontation, but, 'OK, talk to me. What are you thinking there?'" Showalter said. "Instead of going, 'You got to do this, you've got to that.'"
Patterson isn't surprised.
"We all heard things about him being a taskmaster or what not. Me, I don't believe what I hear. I've got to see it and witness it," Patterson said. "Since he's been here, I haven't seen him get in a guy's face and chew him out. Not to say he won't. A player might deserve it. He's not here to be nice and baby us."
Showalter chuckles when asked if his style has changed from drill sergeant to nurturer.
"You've got to be yourself," he said. "I'm not as complicated as everyone makes me out to be. I have a belly laugh out here every single day. It's a great gig. I love baseball players. I don't take myself near as seriously as everyone thinks I do."
-- David Ginsburg
A-Rod confident he'll come back strong from DL
TORONTO (AP) — Alex Rodriguez is confident he'll be completely ready to return from the disabled list next week.
Then again, he kidded, maybe his New York Yankees aren't in such a rush for his strained left calf to heal — the AL East leaders are 12-0 without the slugger in the lineup.
"I'm not concerned that I'm going to come back and come back strong," a smiling Rodriguez said before Monday night's game at Toronto. "My only concern the way things are going right now ... (general manager Brian Cashman) and Joe are going to bring me into the office and upgrade it to a 50-day DL."
The third baseman is eligible to return Sept. 5 and manager Joe Girardi said Rodriguez will go right back into his regular spot, batting fourth.
"He's the cleanup hitter and he's done a tremendous job," Girardi said. "You look at the production he's given us in that spot. Before he got hurt he was leading the majors in RBIs."
A-Rod has struggled much of the season, at least by his standards, hitting just .265 with 21 home runs, including the 600th homer of his career. But many of his hits have come with runners in scoring position or other clutch situations, and he leads the team with 97 RBIs in only 112 games.
"Hopefully when the dust settles in September and late October we can look back at this as a blessing in disguise because I know I'm going to come back strong," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he'll do upper body work while he waits to test his injured calf again in "four or five days."
Rodriguez was placed on the 15-day DL Saturday, one day after aggravating his calf during his first at-bat of Friday night's home loss to Seattle. He also missed three games last week because of the injury.
Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena will split time at third for the Yankees, who won Saturday and Sunday without Rodriguez.
"They're going to kick me in the calf here pretty soon and take me out of my misery," Rodriguez said.
Girardi wasn't sure how the Yankees, who have the best record in the majors, have managed to go undefeated without Rodriguez.
"I hope we can ask the question again tomorrow," Girardi said. "When we're through this DL stint I would hope we can still ask the question."
Both Nunez and Pena were in the lineup Monday as Girardi gave shortstop Derek Jeter a night off.
"Seventeen days in a row he's played," Girardi said. "The man needs a day off. You hate to give him a day off but we can't have him physically break down."
Second baseman Robinson Cano, who's batting cleanup while A-Rod is out, will likely get a day off during the three games on Toronto's artificial turf, Girardi said.
Left-hander Andy Pettitte, out since July 19 with a strained left groin, is set to throw Friday in Chicago, Girardi said. Pettitte will start on flat ground and work up to a bullpen session.
"It's a situation where we need him to be right," Girardi said. "You can't really afford too many more setbacks."
Twins LHP Mahay out; Slowey expected back soon
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Minnesota Twins left-handed reliever Ron Mahay is out for the rest of the season with a torn right rotator cuff.
The Twins got better news on right-handed starter Kevin Slowey, out with a mild muscle strain in his right triceps.
An MRI revealed no significant damage, and manager Ron Gardenhire said Slowey would be back in the rotation in a couple of weeks.
Both pitchers were injured during Saturday's 9-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels and were placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game.
Mahay was trying to field a ground ball in the sixth inning, but stumbled and fell awkwardly on his right shoulder.
The AL Central-leading Twins opened a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on Monday.
Twins announce 2011 season tix prices
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins are raising prices for most season tickets next season from 3 to 9 percent.
The Twins announced the new prices on Monday. Fans have flocked to Target Field in its inaugural season and the Twins have played in front of sellout crowds in 58 straight games.
Forty percent of season ticket packages next year will increase by $1 per game. Those are generally the cheapest seats in the ballpark.
Seats in the lower level will increase $2-3 per game, depending upon location.
The team says that 12 percent of season tickets either will not be increased or will be reduced for next year. The team says that 39 percent of season tickets will be available for $22 per game or less.
Toronto's Escobar, Gaston ejected
TORONTO (AP) — Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar and manager Cito Gaston were ejected in Monday's game against the New York Yankees.
Escobar was ejected by plate umpire Jerry Meals after taking the field in the top of the sixth, moments after flying out to left to end the fifth. He was standing behind the mound when Meals threw him out.
Gaston came out of the dugout and argued with both Meals and crew chief Dale Scott, the third base umpire, before he was ejected for the second time this season.
John McDonald replaced Escobar at shortstop.
Tigers recall outfielder Casper Wells
DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have recalled outfielder Casper Wells from their Toledo Triple A affiliate.
The Tigers designated the contract of right-handed pitcher Enrique Gonzalez for assignment to make room for Wells on the roster. The moves were announced Monday before a home game against Kansas City.
Wells batted .233 with 22 doubles, six triples, 21 home runs and 46 RBIs in 103 games in Toledo. Gonzalez posted a 0-1 record and 3.81 ERA in 26 innings over 18 games.
National League
Nats' Strasburg going back on DL, to have 2nd exam
WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg is headed back to the disabled list, and his prized right arm will undergo yet another examination that will largely determine whether he pitches again this season.
The Washington Nationals rookie will have a second MRI exam to see if anything more than a strained tendon in his forearm caused him to grimace after throwing a changeup in Saturday's game at Philadelphia. Strasburg was removed from the game and underwent an MRI on Sunday.
The MRI "showed some things on there that led us to set up another MRI," general manager Mike Rizzo said Monday. The GM said the upcoming test will be done in the "next day or two" and will use an injection of dye that should render "a full view of what's going on in there."
For now, the Nationals are still calling Strasburg's injury a flexor strain in his throwing arm. He had been scheduled to start again Thursday, but instead will find himself on the disabled list for the second time in less than a month. The Nationals are expected to soon make the move official.
"He's anxious to find out what's going on," Rizzo said. "He felt good today. His elbow felt good. ... To say he's little anxious, a little emotional would be fair to say."
Strasburg, who is 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings, was hurt while making his third start since returning from the disabled list because of inflammation in the back of his right shoulder.
Rizzo said Strasburg arrived at Nationals Park on Monday hoping do some throwing. The Nationals, who have been extremely cautious with Strasburg's development, told him no. Strasburg has told the team he had a similar problem in college at San Diego State and pitched through it. He was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft.
"It's discouraging for Stephen," manager Jim Riggleman said.
The Nationals clarified remarks Rizzo made Sunday, when the general manager said Strasburg went through a normal post-start workout that including some light throwing. The Nationals said Rizzo misspoke and that Strasburg did not throw on Sunday.
Rizzo wouldn't speculate on whether Strasburg could be shelved for the season, saying the team will wait for the results on the next test and take a "prudent course of action after that." Fellow Nationals starter John Lannan also had swelling around his flexor tendon earlier this season and missed one start.
The Nationals have been careful to limit the innings and take every other precaution with their 22-year-old phenom — he was taken out of a game recently because of a protest in the outfield that delayed the game for a few minutes.
Riggleman is familiar with promising pitchers who flame out early, having managed a young Kerry Wood with the Chicago Cubs. Riggleman said it's important to properly deal with the "red flags" that arise early.
"It just seems like pitchers get to a point where they're past all the issues, guys like Livan (Hernandez) and Miguel (Batista)," Riggleman said. "It just seems like it's the way it goes with these young pitchers."
-- Joseph White
Statements show Marlins made $49M in 2008-09
MIAMI (AP) — The Florida Marlins made big profits with baseball's smallest player payroll in 2008-09, and team president David Samson says the income was needed to ensure being able to borrow money for a new ballpark.
Team financial statements acquired by Deadspin.com show the Marlins netted $49 million during the two seasons, with operating income of $37.8 million in 2008 and $11.1 million in 2009. Samson didn't dispute the figures during a conference call Monday.
"It was critical for us as a team to make sure we had enough money to put into the ballpark," he said.
The Marlins had the lowest player payroll in the major leagues both seasons — $22 million in 2008 and $37 million in 2009. Last winter they reached an agreement with the players' union to increase spending in the wake of complaints team payroll had been so small as to violate baseball's revenue sharing provisions.
Under owner Jeffrey Loria, the franchise has always claimed payroll matches revenue. In explaining the 2008-09 profits, Samson said there was another part of the equation: the need to borrow money for ballpark financing.
"We had to show that we were a healthy company that was not overleveraged, having too much debt," he said.
"The information that is now public basically confirms everything that we have said over the years in terms of how we have operated the team with an eye toward one thing, and that was making sure that baseball would be secure in South Florida, and we would be able to contribute what was required in order to consummate a stadium transaction."
The Marlins' profits in 2008 came after they traded All-Star slugger Miguel Cabrera following the 2007 season, one of many cost-cutting moves under Loria.
"We could have had Cabrera and no ballpark," Samson said.
Florida's new home is expected to open in 2012. Total cost of the project is estimated at $609 million, with the Marlins paying more than $120 million.
While Samson said the financial statements support what he has said in the past, he said he was disappointed the numbers had been made public. When asked why, he said: "It's just that we're a private company. ... 'Disappointed' is the exact word. Not angry. Not putting our head in the sand. Not denying it. Not kicking and screaming like petulant children. Disappointed."
Samson said the leaking of the documents was a crime.
"It will be followed up intensely by Major League Baseball and its member clubs," he said.
The Marlins' financial statements became public one day after The Associated Press reported that the cellar-dwelling Pittsburgh Pirates made nearly $29.4 million in 2007 and 2008, according to team documents.
-- Steven Wine
Baker taking his time deciding future
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dusty Baker is prepared to take his time weighing an offer to manage the Cincinnati Reds again next season.
The Reds recently offered Baker a one-year contract extension for the 2011 campaign, but he has yet to give the club an answer and certainly wants to weigh his options.
"We just started talking," Baker said.
Cincinnati opened its three-game series against Baker's former team in San Francisco on Monday night with a 72-52 record, making a push at the franchise's first playoff berth since 1995. Being that Baker is in a pennant race in the NL Central, he might create other opportunities for himself. There could be managerial openings on a third of the clubs this offseason, with 14 skippers in the final year of their contracts.
Reds general manager Walt Jocketty didn't want to discuss Baker's situation.
"It's internal," he said at AT&T Park. "I don't talk about players' contracts, and this is the same."
Lou Piniella retired from the Cubs on Sunday, and Atlanta's Bobby Cox and Cito Gaston of the Blue Jays plan to do the same after the season. A couple of other big names who might move on: Tony La Russa in St. Louis and the Dodgers' Joe Torre. Both of their contracts are due to expire.
Texas already has said manager Ron Washington will return next year and Oakland general manager Billy Beane has given a vote of confidence to Bob Geren.
Baker's offseason home is in Sacramento, and he is a West Coast guy to the core, so getting back closer to home would be appealing if an opportunity arises.
Could Baker end up in Dodger Blue again at age 61? He played in Los Angeles from 1976-1983 — then spent a year with the Giants before finishing his 19-year big league career with two years across San Francisco Bay with the Oakland Athletics.
"I like the Dodgers and the Giants. I'm from Southern Cal and Northern Cal. I don't find it weird," Baker said. "I pull for the Giants, too, except when we play them. This is still my son's team, the team he grew up with. ... I hope we both make it, us and the Giants. It's hard to pull against friends."
Former Giants managing partner Peter Magowan stopped by Baker's office in the visitor's clubhouse Monday and the two shook hands, apparently past the rift that led to Baker leaving to manage the Cubs following San Francisco's runner-up World Series season of 2002.
"You can only carry stuff around for so long," said Baker, who appreciated the goodwill gesture.
The two hadn't seen each other in more than two years, though they exchanged letters. Magowan retired from his ownership duties in September 2008 and said Baker wrote him a thoughtful letter at the time.
"I was shocked to see him. I'm glad to see him," Baker said.
-- Janie McCauley
Interim Cubs manager Quade starts his 'audition'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Quade has 37 games to make an impression as the interim manager of the Chicago Cubs, and he knows the spotlight will be on him.
"It's absolutely an audition," Quade said before Monday's game against the Washington Nationals, the first for the Cubs since the abrupt retirement of Lou Piniella on Sunday. "I have to do it my way, and whatever happens, happens."
Quade got off to a good start. The Cubs beat the Nationals 9-1, and Quade was given two game balls as a souvenir.
"I just want to go to sleep now, but those guys made it easy for me," he said. "It was a stress-free night and fun to watch."
Quade, who had been the team's third base coach, understands that leading the Cubs will be a challenge unlike any other. It's helped that most of the attention has been on Piniella's departure — not Quade's promotion.
"All the craziness around me made it easier, because you have stuff to do," Quade said. "I've been here for four or five hours preparing for something I hope, in a few days, will become routine for me."
Quade held a meeting with the players before the game and told them he wanted to see consistent effort and intelligent play.
"You guys know who I am, but my voice is going to be a little louder," Quade said. "I would prefer not to have a mystery, and to let them know what differences they're going to see."
Quade takes over a Chicago team that was 23 games under .500 entering Monday's game and has a roster of underperforming players despite a healthy payroll and playoff aspirations.
"The game doesn't stop," outfielder Marlon Byrd said. "Lou left his mark, so he'll always be remembered. Now we have to play hard for Quade and do this organization proud."
Being a fixture on Piniella's staff since 2007 and the manager of the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate for the four previous seasons gives Quade an inside track with the Cubs' young players as they begin to remake their roster.
"We're comfortable with him," outfielder Tyler Colvin said. "A lot of us young guys have dealt with him in the past in the minors, so we're just going to keep going along and playing the game like we should."
There remains rampant speculation that the Cubs will look to current Triple-A manager Ryne Sandberg to take over the job, while others were surprised that current bench coach Alan Trammell was passed over in favor of Quade.
"I'm fine," Trammell said. "It's not even an issue. I'm pulling for him."
Quade understands the unique situation in which he's been placed, but plans to make the best of his appointment as the Cubs' 51st manager in team history.
"It's a special thing to me," Quade said. "It's something that you always hoped you'd get an opportunity to do."
With Quade talking over the top spot, former Cubs outfielder Bob Dernier was promoted to first base coach, while Ivan DeJesus will move from first base coach to third base coach.
Dernier worked for three-plus seasons as Chicago's minor league outfield and baserunning coordinator and has worked with the Cubs' minor leaguers during spring training since 2004.
Sammy Sosa says Cubs don't care about him
CHICAGO (AP) — Retired slugger Sammy Sosa is upset with the Chicago Cubs for not retiring his No. 21 jersey, telling a magazine that the organization doesn't care about him.
Sosa hit 545 homers over 13 seasons with the Cubs while becoming one of baseball's biggest stars. But he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 after a sour end to his time in Chicago.
Sosa tells Chicago Magazine for a story in its September issue that his "number should be untouchable because of the things that I did for that organization."
Rookie outfielder Tyler Colvin is wearing No. 21 for the Cubs this season.
Sosa finished with 609 homers in 18 years in the majors. He hasn't appeared in a game since 2007.
Giants clear roster room to add new OF Cody Ross
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants cleared roster room for new outfielder Cody Ross' arrival by designating infielder Matt Downs for assignment and placing righty reliever Guillermo Mota on the 15-day disabled list.
Ross joined the Giants on Monday, a day after he was awarded to San Francisco on a waiver claim from the Florida Marlins. Ross was available off the bench for the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Ross is batting. 265 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs this season.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Mota has been bothered the past few days by IT band syndrome along the outside of his left leg.
Downs has spent most of this season with Triple-A Fresno, where he was hitting .254 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 56 games.
Pirates' Ohlendorf lifted in 1st inning vs. Cards
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pirates right-hander Ross Ohlendorf was lifted due to soreness and tightness in his right shoulder after throwing only eight pitches in his start against the Cardinals on Monday night.
After walking Skip Schumaker and allowing Jon Jay's single, Ohlendorf pointed to the back of his right shoulder. Following a brief consultation with trainers, manager John Russell lifted him.
Ohlendorf was pulled in the first inning for the second time in six starts due to medical reasons. He was struck on the right side of his face by Troy Tulowitzki's line drive on July 28 at Colorado, but rejoined the team the same night after being checked by doctors and did not miss any starts.
Ohlendorf is 1-10 despite having a 2.35 ERA in his last 10 starts.
Brewers release RHP David Riske
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have released right-handed relief pitcher David Riske, who has struggled since returning from last season's elbow surgery.
Riske signed a three-year, $13 million contract before the 2008 season but has been limited to 69 games in three seasons because of injuries. He pitched only one game last season before undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery. He returned to the Brewers this June and has a 5.01 ERA in 23 outings this season.
Elsewhere
Longtime NL umpire Satch Davidson dead at 75
Satch Davidson, the home plate umpire when Hank Aaron and Carlton Fisk hit two of baseball's most famous home runs, has died. He was 75.
Davidson's family said he died Saturday at his home in Houston. The family did not give a cause of death.
Davidson spent only three years in the minors before getting hired as a National League umpire in 1969. A bad back forced him to retire after the 1984 season.
His career was full of big games — his first month in the majors, he worked no-hitters that Jim Maloney and Don Wilson pitched on back-to-back days at old Crosley Field in Cincinnati.
Davidson was behind the plate for Wilson's gem and was on the field for five no-hitters overall, plus a pair of World Series, three NL championship series and the 1976 All-Star game.
Yet there were two at-bats that topped them all, moments where Davidson still appears on the highlight reels.
The clip from April 8, 1974, shows Davidson coming out of his crouch as Aaron launched his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth's record. While Aaron's teammates on the Atlanta Braves waited to greet him, Davidson stood a few feet in front of the plate, mask in hand, making sure the Hammer touched home.
The next year, Davidson was down on his right knee in the 12th inning, ready to call the pitch that Fisk hit at Fenway Park in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. As Fisk frantically tried to wave the ball fair, Davidson lined it up.
The drive hit the foul pole in left and Davidson signaled it was a fair ball. He always said he a better look at it than the umpires at third base and left field.
Current Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker was on deck when Aaron hit his historic homer, not that he noticed the man in blue. "I don't remember the umpire, I was in the moment," Baker said.
But Baker did recall a distinctive Davidson touch.
"He used to roll his sleeves up, he was like a drill sergeant," Baker said before the Reds played at San Francisco. "You could tell he was former military or a police officer or something, but a great guy."
Davidson indeed served as an offseason policeman in London, Ohio, where he was born. He also worked the winter months as a college basketball official, sometimes doing Big Ten games. He was inducted into the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Davidson got his nickname at an early age. He was Dave as a boy and really enjoyed watching the "Bowery Boys" films in the 1940s, particularly a character known as "Sach" — it was pronounced as Satch, even though it was spelled differently.
The nickname stuck with Davidson. Years later, in fact, he became good friends with Huntz Hall, the actor who portrayed Sach.
-- Ben Walker
