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MLB Capsules - AL: Napoli's slam helps lift Rangers over A's
ARLINGTON (AP) — C.J. Wilson has high standards. Pitching seven effective innings didn't satisfy the Texas Rangers All-Star left-hander.
Wilson allowed four runs and five hits with eight strikeouts, and got early support from Mike Napoli's first-inning grand slam off Gio Gonzalez as the Rangers stretched their winning streak to five games with an 8-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night, a night after a fan was killed in a fall while catching a foul ball.
Wilson (9-3) won his fifth straight decision to tie Alexi Ogando for the team lead in wins, but he was critical of himself for allowing three walks and hitting a batter, saying, "I should have been dominant."
Still, Wilson played a pivotal role as the Rangers matched their second-longest winning streak of the season.
"I'm disappointed in myself for the line score but I'm happy for the team for the win," said Wilson, who did think he had a live fastball. "It was like the hardest I've thrown all year," he said.
Josh Hamilton, who tossed the ball to the fan on Thursday night, hit a fan with a foul ball off his bat in the sixth inning. The teenage male fan had blood on his face and was tended to by stadium personnel before he walked away, smiling while he held a compress to his head.
Rangers officials said the fan was treated at the stadium and was OK. They didn't identify him or provide additional details.
"I saw it happen," Hamilton said. "Again."
Hamilton said the fan didn't appear to be paying attention to the field when the ball struck him.
Both teams were still dealing with the aftermath of the death of the fan from a 20-foot fall in the second inning of Thursday night's 6-0 Texas victory.
"You have a job to do," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Both sides are equal there. We both had heavy hearts. That's moot. Both teams had to deal with it."
Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone tumbled over a railing after catching a foul ball tossed into the stands by Hamilton.
Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre also homered off Gonzalez (8-6), Oakland's lone All-Star.
Hamilton was in the starting lineup despite the emotional 24 hours, going 1 for 5.
Before the game, the teams observed a moment of silence in Stone's memory. Both teams wore black ribbons on their uniform tops.
The temperature at first pitch was 105 degrees, highest in the 18-year history of Rangers Ballpark.
The A's have lost five of seven.
Gonzalez had few answers for a slugging Rangers lineup that has outscored opponents 44-16 during the five-game winning streak. He lasted a season-low four innings, giving up seven runs — only three earned — and seven hits.
Gonzalez consistently fell behind hitters, and he had to throw fastballs when he didn't want to.
"In situations where I had to go after them, I had to pitch in their count," Gonzalez said. "You have to get ahead of these guys. Got to pound that strike zone. It's a good lineup, especially in this ballpark. You've got to give credit where credit is due and these guys are a good hitting team."
Gonzalez entered the night with a 4-1 record and 2.18 ERA in nine career appearances against the Rangers. Gonzalez had good fortune on his side in his previous start at Texas on May 11 when he gave up seven runs in 2 2-3 innings, but the game was postponed by heavy rain.
The Rangers jumped on Gonzalez with a five-run first highlighted by Napoli's third career grand slam.
Texas scored the game's first run when Oakland shortstop Adam Rosales made a fielding error on Beltre's hot grounder. Michael Young reached on an infield single that rolled just inside the third base foul line to load the bases, and after Nelson Cruz struck out, Napoli ripped Gonzalez's first pitch into the left field seats for his 12th homer of the season.
Oakland's Scott Sizemore hit a solo homer in the second, the first long ball allowed by Wilson since Tampa Bay's Matt Joyce on May 31, a span of 44 1-3 innings.
The Rangers continued the power display in the second on bases-empty homers by Kinsler and Beltre for a 7-1 advantage.
Oakland's first three hitters reached in the fourth on two walks and a single, and Coco Crisp scored from third on Conor Jackson's double-play grounder to make it 7-2.
Yorvit Torrealba's RBI single in the fifth restored Texas' six-run lead.
The A's cut the deficit to 8-4 in the sixth on Crisp's RBI infield single and Josh Willingham's run-scoring double, but Wilson struck out the final three batters in the inning.
Notes: The previous record temperature at Rangers Ballpark was 103 in 2008. ... Napoli had Texas' second grand slam of the season. Beltre hit one on April 2 vs. Boston. Mitch Moreland also had a bases-loaded homer on May 11, but the stats were washed away by the rainout. ...Major League Baseball announced that Beltre will be the AL starter at 3B because Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees is out of the game.
Rangers put Blanco on DL, bring up Quintanilla
ARLINGTON (AP) — The Texas Rangers have placed utility infielder Andres Blanco on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his lower back.
Texas made the move before Friday night's game against Oakland, and purchased the contract of infielder Omar Quintanilla from Triple-A Round Rock.
To make room for Quintanilla on the 40-man roster, the Rangers transferred right-hander Scott Feldman to the 60-day disabled list. Feldman is still eligible for activation since he hasn't pitched this year while recovering from offseason right knee surgery.
Texas also announced that right-hander Dave Bush cleared unconditional release waivers and is a free agent. Blanco is hitting .223 with two homers in 24 games this season.
105 degrees: Record game temp for Rangers at home
ARLINGTON (AP) — Bring the heat has a different meaning in Texas. The game time temperature for the Rangers' game against the Oakland Athletics on Friday night was 105 degrees. The game started after 7 p.m. local time.
That was a record high for games played at Rangers Ballpark, the stadium that opened in 1994. While triple-digit temperatures are not unusual during the Texas summer, the previous record high temperature for the start of a game at Texas was 103 degrees on Aug. 3, 2008, against Toronto. That was also a night game.
Other AL Capsules
Ortiz, Red Sox power past Orioles
BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz homered in Boston's eight-run first inning, then got into a bench-clearing brawl with Baltimore reliever Kevin Gregg as the Red Sox routed the Orioles 10-3 on Friday night.
Ortiz and Gregg exchanged a flurry of punches in the eighth, but neither connected before they were separated as both benches and bullpens emptied for the second time in the inning.
Moments before the fight, Ortiz started toward the mound after taking a second straight pitch inside from Gregg. The benches and bullpens emptied, but nothing developed and Ortiz stepped back into the batter's box.
Gregg got him to pop out, then shouted something as the Boston slugger started down the first-base line. Plate umpire Mike Estabrook immediately ejected Gregg — and Ortiz quickly changed course, charging toward the mound. Gregg and Ortiz each threw a few haymakers, but the heavyweight bout was swallowed up by the mass of players rushing onto the field.
It took more than 15 minutes to restore order and sort out the ejections. Gregg and Ortiz were tossed, as well as Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Baltimore reliever Jim Johnson.
Blue Jays 11, Indians 7
CLEVELAND (AP) — Travis Snider drove in five runs and Rajai Davis knocked in four as the Blue Jays rebounded a day after a stunning loss to beat the Indians.
Jo-Jo Reyes (4-7) pitched 5 2-3 shaky innings for his first win in his last four starts. He gave up three unearned runs, eight hits and two walks without a strikeout as Cleveland left 12 men on base and couldn't build momentum off its exciting win Thursday night on Travis Hafner's walkoff grand slam.
Davis had a two-run single in the second and singled home a run in the fourth off Mitch Talbot (2-6). Snider's two-run shot off Talbot in the sixth made it 7-2. He added a two-run double off the fence in center against Vinnie Pestano for an 11-6 lead.
Tigers 6, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Magglio Ordonez's two-run home run just six pitches into the game staked Rick Porcello to an early lead and got the Tigers rolling toward a victory over Kyle Davies and the reeling Kansas City Royals.
Davies (1-8) lost his seventh straight decision and the Royals sank to 5-14 in their past 19 games.
Only one of the three runs the Royals scored off Porcello (8-6) was earned. The lanky right-hander went 5 1/3 innings and allowed six hits. He struck out five and walked just one — the 14th time in 17 outings he has allowed two or fewer walks.
Twins 8, White Sox 5
CHICAGO (AP) — Luke Hughes' three-run homer capped a six-run fourth and the Twins continued their mastery of the White Sox.
The Twins are 6-0 against the White Sox this season, have won nine straight in the series going back to last year and are 28-6 in the past 34 games between the two AL Central foes.
The White Sox scored five runs in the first, but starter Gavin Floyd couldn't hold the 5-1 lead and was driven out after 3 2-3 innings when Rene Tosoni hit a bases-loaded single to tie it.
Hughes greeted reliever Will Ohman with a long three-run homer to left, his third homer of the season, to put the Twins up 8-5.
Floyd (6-9), winless in six starts since June 1, gave up nine hits and was charged with seven runs.
Angels 4, Mariners 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mark Trumbo led off the ninth with a tiebreaking homer, and Hank Conger hit a tying homer in the seventh inning of the Angels' 12th win in 15 games, over the Mariners.
Erick Aybar hit a leadoff homer and Vernon Wells also connected for the Angels before Trumbo delivered Los Angeles' first game-ending homer of the season against David Pauley (5-2), who had just escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth.
Mike Trout went 0 for 3 in the prized Los Angeles prospect's major league debut, but the 19-year-old made a spectacular sprinting catch to end Seattle's ninth inning. The Angels promoted Trout for the final three games before the All-Star break.
Greg Halman had two hits for the Mariners, who have lost 14 of their past 16 games at Angel Stadium.
All-Star selection Jordan Walden (2-2) pitched the ninth for Los Angeles.
Other AL News
Pride of the Yankees II: Jeter's journey to 3,000
NEW YORK (AP) — Hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Derek Jeter didn't think he would get a single hit in the big leagues.
A skinny teenager in the low minors, he would spend lonesome nights calling his parents back in Michigan, crying that he was totally overmatched at the plate. His fielding was worse — fans behind first base would start ducking when balls bounced to him, afraid the scatter-armed shortstop would zing another throw into the seats.
From failure to the face of perhaps the most famous franchise in sports, the Kid from Kalamazoo and captain of the New York Yankees is two hits away from becoming only the 28th player in baseball history to get No. 3,000.
All in a blink of those cool, green eyes. At least it sometimes seems that way.
"It wasn't a goal of mine. I didn't set out for that," Jeter said as he approached the milestone. "You set out to play. You set out to get here and you try to stay as long as you can and try to be consistent."
Trying times lately. His frame a bit thicker and his hair a bit thinner, the hits are harder to come by. The Steroids Era never shadowed the Jeter Era, and at 37 it's not natural for players to get better with age.
Jeter got his 2,998th career hit Thursday night, lining a double his first time up against Tampa Bay. New York has three games left at Yankee Stadium before the All-Star break, and he definitely wants to do it at home.
What's next once he gets there? We'll see. He could be dropped in the batting order. Maybe he gets more days off, replaced by hotshot Eduardo Nunez. A position shift? That's possible.
Also hard to predict is where exactly Jeter winds up in the pinstriped pantheon.
He's a five-time World Series champion, a 12-time All-Star and has gotten more hits than anyone in team history. In an age of straying free agents, he has stayed true to the Bronx.
That said, lots of ardent Jeter fans readily admit that he's absent on the team's Mount Rushmore. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle probably are at the top.
Still, to many of this generation, Jeter represents all that is good about the game.
He called his manager "Mr. Torre" without sounding corny. He told then-President George W. Bush to throw a ceremonial first ball from the mound and "don't bounce it" without sounding cocky. He talked to young boys and girls from the on-deck circle without sounding phony.
He's remained grounded, as much as anyone could while growing into a Yankees great.
Umpire crew chief Tim Welke, raised in the same hometown, recalled a game when there was a pitching change and Jeter was on second base. As the new reliever warmed up, Jeter wanted to talk sports with Welke. Not baseball, but high school football.
"What about the new coach at Kalamazoo Central?" Jeter asked.
Relaxed, seemingly oblivious to pressure. The all-time leader in postseason hits, in fact. It's a routine that's become an October ritual: He steps into the batter's box, raises his right hand to ask the umpire for time to get set, waggles his shiny black bat, and then whacko!
"We've always tried to keep things in a positive perspective — that doesn't mean we're not realistic," said Charles Jeter, Derek's dad.
Of course, no one bats 1.000, on or off the field.
There are critics, some in Queens and Boston, who holler that he's always been the most overrated player in baseball. They are the same ones who shout that he doesn't deserve a plaque in the Hall of Fame any more than a ball boy.
Chances are, those boobirds would trade places with Jeter in a jiff.
He's dated a string of starlets — actress Minka Kelly is his steady, sitting far off the field — yet manages to stay out of the tabloids.
Jeter drew plenty of looks way back when he got cozy with Mariah Carey, but that fizzled when both stars focused on their careers. And when late owner George Steinbrenner worried that his young star was spending too much time on the town, Jeter diffused any controversy by making a playful TV commercial with the Boss.
That's part of the legacy of Derek Sanderson Jeter: Playing uptown from Broadway, his career has been relatively drama-free.
OK, there was a time years ago when he was icy toward longtime pal — and future teammate — Alex Rodriguez after a perceived verbal slight. He wasn't pleased, either, when last winter's contract negotiations with general manager Brian Cashman went public and grew contentious.
"For a while we weren't even talking about baseball around here. You can't enjoy anything when you're not talking about baseball," Jeter said.
This pursuit of history, however, put the emphasis right back on the field.
It's a climb Jeter started in 1992 in the rookie Gulf Coast League and includes 550 hits in the minors, two of them last week while recovering from a strained calf.
He made it to the majors in 1995 and started 0-for-6 before grounding a single to left field in Seattle's old Kingdome against Tim Belcher. Since then, he's added 10 hits in All-Star games and 185 more in the playoffs and World Series.
Throw in the sparkling plays, too — the backhanded flip against Oakland, the diving catch into the stands against Boston.
Quite a resume. No wonder most everyone in New York was busy buzzing about Jeter reaching 3,000. Well, most everyone except the man himself.
"No other Yankee has ever done it. That right there tells you what an accomplishment it is," longtime teammate Jorge Posada said. "I'm pretty sure he just thinks about 'Go out there and win a ball game' and everything takes care of itself."
-- Ben Walker
Rays-Yankees rained out, Jeter's pursuit delayed
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter arrived at his locker, turned on the computer touch screen and immediately checked the weather radar. The forecast? Storms, rather than hits.
Jeter's chances to get his 3,000th hit at Yankee Stadium dwindled Friday night when New York's game against Tampa Bay was rained out and the teams tangled on a makeup date. The postponement left him two hits shy of the milestone, with two games remaining on the homestand.
The Yankees said they didn't want to play a traditional doubleheader Saturday. General manager Brian Cashman gave a succinct answer on why not: "Gate," he said.
Instead, the Yankees proposed a day-night doubleheader. The Rays voted that down, and the sides finally agreed on Sept. 22, a mutual off day that followed a two-game series between the teams in New York.
"I don't think there's really a win," Rays star Evan Longoria said. "I think we all know why they'd like to get these three games in and obviously they're rooting for Derek to get his 3,000th hit here in this series. I mean, we'd like to see him do it, too. And he's got two more days to do it."
After that, Jeter gets a break. He pulled himself from next week's All-Star game to rest his injured calf.
"Unfortunately, I won't be able to go," he said.
Later, as showers, lightning and thunder hovered over the ballpark, two teams that don't really like each other too much bumped again. Most of their scrapes have come on the field. This time, a scheduling conflict.
"Whether I'm frustrated or not, it doesn't matter," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It was important to us, it was important to our fans."
The sides will play afternoon games on Saturday and Sunday, with Rays aces David Price and James Shields starting. Jeter is at 2,998 hits and those are his last tries at home before the All-Star break. The Yankees begin the second half with an eight-game road trip.
Jeter has a large throng of family and friends in town and desperately wants to make history with them in attendance. He's trying to become the 28th major leaguer to reach the mark and the first to do it with the Yankees.
In mid-afternoon, Jeter played amateur forecaster while bad weather approached the area.
"Green is not as bad as yellow," he said, looking at the map.
The colors conspired against him, however, just as the strained right calf that recently put him on the disabled list will prevent him from playing in Phoenix next Tuesday.
Teammate Alex Rodriguez also will be absent from the All-Star game because of a sore knee, and closer Mariano Rivera will miss the showcase because of a tender right triceps.
Jeter is a 12-time All-Star and was elected by fans to start at shortstop for the American League. Girardi said it was totally Jeter's decision to skip the festivities.
Jeter said he talked it over with Girardi, Cashman and trainer Gene Monahan.
"It's probably best not to push it because it's most important to be ready for the second half. That's where my focus has to be," Jeter said. "It's unfortunate because you know how much I enjoy going to All-Star games."
"I'm trying to be smart about it. I know I can be stubborn a lot of times with injuries," he said.
Jeter is in a 4-for-18 rut since coming off the DL this week. All of those at-bats came with him at the top of the batting order, and he had been set to bat second Friday night. Brett Gardner was moved to the leadoff spot and Girardi said it was meant to spread out the lineup with Rodriguez and Nick Swisher (left quadriceps) out of action.
The extra rest certainly helps the older Yankees, not that they wanted a break with their captain on the cusp of a major moment. To them, a split doubleheader was fine.
"It's fan friendly, it's Derek Jeter friendly, it's team friendly," Cashman said.
Countered Longoria: "As far as both teams go, it's not real smart for us to play a doubleheader. It stretches guys out. It doesn't give opportunity for a couple of teams to rest who are banged up and just play one game and then another one."
Rays manager Joe Maddon took a similar view.
"Where we are right now, if I had my druthers about it, we would probably choose later. At this point in the first half guys are run down," he said. "I like the idea you have expanded rosters in September."
NOTES: RHP Jeremy Hellickson was set to start Friday night for the Rays, but will be skipped because of the postponement. The rookie has a dog named Jeter — the pet Yorkie was named for the Yankees star. ... The Yankees released RHP Brian Gordon and worked out a deal to send him to Korean team SK Wyverns for cash. The 32-year-old journeyman was 5-0 and leading the International League with a 1.14 ERA in the Phillies' system when he opted out of his contract last month and joined the Yankees. He was 0-1 in two starts for New York, and attracted attention when he became the first major leaguer to wear a glove made of all-synthetic materials.
-- Ben Walker
Angels promote top prospect Trout for debut
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Mike Trout is getting a sneak preview of the majors this weekend, and the Los Angeles Angels are getting a tantalizing early look at the teenager who's considered the best prospect in baseball.
The Angels abruptly promoted their prized outfielder from Double-A Arkansas on Friday, putting him in the lineup against the Seattle Mariners for his major league debut.
Although the 19-year-old isn't expected to stay in the big leagues beyond the weekend, the Angels couldn't wait any longer to see Trout patrolling center field. When starter Peter Bourjos strained his right hamstring Thursday, Los Angeles decided to make the long-anticipated move.
"I don't know if we anticipate this being all that long, but this is a good opportunity (for Trout) to see what that monster of the big leagues is all about," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I think it will be a great experience for Mike. He wants to contribute. He wants to win. He's driven. He's ready on the defensive side, and whatever he can contribute on the offensive side, we'll take it."
Trout, a speedy outfielder from Millville, N.J., is considered the top prospect in baseball in several recent rankings. After earning the Midwest League's MVP award last season, he has excelled for Arkansas in the Texas League this season, batting .324 with 32 extra-base hits and 28 stolen bases.
Trout is the youngest player on a major league roster and the youngest player to debut with the Angels since 19-year-old Andy Hassler came up on May 30, 1971.
Trout was scheduled to play in the All-Star Futures Game in Phoenix on Sunday. Instead, he might be facing Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez in the Angels' final game before the All-Star break.
"There's always going to be pressure," Trout said at Angel Stadium on Friday, shortly after picking up his No. 27 jersey. "Once you get on the field, it's just a game. Tonight is going to be a thrill, and I can't wait."
Trout is the youngest player to debut in the majors since the 19-year-old Hernandez broke in with the Mariners in 2005.
Although Trout has torn through the low minors over the past two years, the 2009 first-round pick was shocked to get a middle-of-the-night call from Angels general manager Tony Reagins ordering him out to the West Coast.
"I got chills," Trout said with a grin.
Bourjos was injured while rounding second base on an eighth-inning RBI double against the Mariners on Thursday. He shares remarkable similarities with Trout, including superior speed and phenomenal outfield defense, but Scioscia insists the starting job in center field still belongs to Bourjos when he returns.
The Angels don't expect they'll be forced to choose between the two prospects for quite a while — although Scioscia acknowledges Trout could make it tough on them.
"This is a short sample," Scioscia said of Trout's long weekend in Anaheim. "He's only here for a finite amount of time. I don't know if we're going to find out anything on the offensive side, but what we saw on the defensive side in spring training was very exciting. We saw a guy that's ready to play center field in the major leagues, and we'll see what happens on the offensive side."
Although Bourjos isn't ruled out for the weekend, Scioscia said he'll probably rest Bourjos until the Angels return from the break next weekend. An MRI on Bourjos' leg revealed no tears or serious damage.
"It is Peter's job when he comes back," Scioscia said. "He's been playing better defensive center field than anybody in the league. We want Peter back in that lineup."
The Angels sent fifth starter Tyler Chatwood back down to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he'll start next Thursday. Los Angeles won't need a fifth starter again until July 19.
-- Greg Beacham
Yost happy with progress of young Royals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ned Yost is asking long-suffering Kansas City Royals fans to wait a little longer. In spite of their league-worst 36-52 record going into Friday night's game against Detroit, the manager feels certain better days are ahead.
"You look at our club and look where we are in terms of our defense as a whole, our base running as a whole, our bullpen, our starting pitching and our base running, and we've made a lot of progress," said Yost, who's halfway through his first full season as KC manager. "We just have to find ways to get over that hump, and experience will help that a lot."
Yost points to the development of young position players such as first baseman Eric Hosmer, shortstop Alcides Escobar and third baseman Mike Moustakas as sure signs that Kansas City's slow, painstaking program of building from the bottom up is bearing fruit.
Also encouraging is rookie left-hander Danny Duffy, who went six strong innings in a 3-1 loss to the Tigers on Thursday night in his 10th major league start.
Hosmer, who was tearing up Triple-A pitching before he was called up this year from Triple-A, is hitting .319 in Kauffman Stadium and hit .333 on the team's most recent road trip.
Moustakas, called up on June 10, drove in the Royals' lone run on Thursday night with an infield out but also failed in two key situations with runners in scoring positions. Each time, he was facing a pitcher he'd never seen before.
"A base hit there and we win the ballgame," Yost said. "But there's going to come a time when we're going to pick those base hits up and we're going to win those ballgames, those close games. We've played a lot of one-run and two-run games. We're close. Things happen fast, especially when you get close. Hopefully, we will turn the corner little bit in the second half and start making some forward progress in the win-loss record. But where we are as a team today, we're better than we were last year in my opinion and continuing to get better each week."
Yost was in Milwaukee and Atlanta when those organizations made similar transitions and became competitive. He's seen what happens when victory-starved organizations start to lose patience.
"You can't allow passion to overcome your patience. That's the biggest mistake you're going to make in this type of deal. When you start to get frustrated and start to make moves out of desperation because you're not winning games right now, it's a mistake. I told our coaches at the beginning of the year this is going to be the toughest year for us because we're going to show signs and there will be times when we struggle and it's going to be frustrating because we're going to really start to take strides forward."
The Royals have not made the postseason since winning the World Series in 1985 and the prospect of another 90-loss season has upset many fans.
"But we can't lose sight of what the big picture is and what we're going to accomplish because when we get to the point where we can compete we're going to compete for an extended time, not one season. I'm talking four, five seasons in a row. But we have to get to that point and you don't want to do anything to jeopardize the future by doing something crazy right now."
-- Doug Tucker
Indians' Chisenhall has broken nasal bone
CLEVELAND (AP) — Lonnie Chisenhall is lucky. He just doesn't look it.
Chisenhall broke a nasal bone on the right side of his face when he was struck by a 90 mph fastball Thursday night, an injury that looked horrifying but turned out not to be as serious as feared. He may only miss a few games.
As his teammates took batting practice before Friday's game against Toronto, Chisenhall wore a pair of dark sunglasses as he pressed an ice pack on his swollen face and reclined on a leather couch in Cleveland's clubhouse. He was not available for comment.
"He looks like he's gone a couple rounds with Mike Tyson," Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said. "Otherwise he feels fine, which is a good thing."
Chisenhall was drilled by Toronto's Carlos Villanueva, whose inside pitch in the second inning smashed off the right ear flap on Chisenhall's batting helmet, The ball ricocheted off and hit the rookie third baseman near his nose.
Chisenhall visited the Cleveland Clinic where an ear, nose and throat specialist, who confirmed a "non-displaced maxillary sinus fracture," Soloff said.
Chisenhall was also seen by an ophthalmologist. Chisenhall's eye was not injured and he did not sustain a concussion. He missed playing time earlier this season at Triple-A Columbus because of a concussion he sustained while sliding.
The Indians only expect Chisenhall to be sidelined for a few days.
"As soon as the inflammation around his eye resolves, he'll be ready to play again," Soloff said. "If he's not available in the next three days than he will be after All-Star break."
Soloff said the club is exploring options for Chisenhall to wear a mask or a helmet with a protective bar when he returns.
Indians manager Manny Acta was relieved that the injury was not more serious.
"When I saw blood coming out of his nose and a scratch on his cheekbone where the ball hit the flap, I was worried," Acta said. "I was thinking there was some kind of fracture and that is always dangerous. I'm very relieved there is no concussion because the kid just had one. But when I went out there, I could see that he knew what was going on and that wasn't a problem."
Chisenhall, who was recalled from the Clippers on June 22, is batting .267 with one homer and two RBIs in nine games. The 21-year-old and former first-round pick in 2008 is considered the top hitting prospect in Cleveland's organization.
-- Tom Withers
Rodriguez out of All-Star game
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez's sore right knee will keep him out of the All-Star game and the Yankees' lineup.
Rodriguez pulled out of Tuesday's game in Arizona after he was held out of the lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays before it was postponed by rain on Friday night.
He was sent for an MRI that manager Joe Girardi said was precautionary but he wasn't sure if Rodriguez will be able to play Saturday afternoon against the Rays.
Rodriguez had been reluctant to ask out of a game since being injured, especially when Derek Jeter was on the disabled list. But he has looked considerably slower on the basepaths recently.
"He's not moving well," Girardi said. "His leg has been a little sore."
Rodriguez tweaked the knee against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 19. Despite hitting .359 with 10 RBIs in his last 16 games, Rodriguez has not homered in 85 at-bats, the longest single-season drought of his career, and Girardi said the knee could be hindering A-Rod's plant leg when he swings, and thus his power.
Rodriguez has 13 homers this season and 626 for his career. He hasn't connected since June 11 though he hit a drive high off the wall in center field at Citi Field a week ago, more than 400 feet from home plate. After that game he said, "I have no pop," while walking out of the Yankees clubhouse.
"He's been banged up, he's played a lot, Girardi said.
Rodriguez was elected by the fans to a 14th All-Star appearance, most among active players. Girardi said it was the third baseman's choice because he was voted in.
"Would the rest help him? Probably," Girardi said.
Rodriguez removed himself from the All-Star game shortly after teammate Derek Jeter said he would not play so he can rest the right calf that landed him on the DL for more than two weeks. Mariano Rivera backed out on Thursday because he has a sore right triceps and hasn't pitched since Sunday, when he blew a save against the Mets.
Also, Nick Swisher was out of Friday's lineup because a sore left quadriceps. Andruw Jones was scheduled to play right field in his place.
With the Yankees' Nos. 4 and 6 hitters out, Girardi moved Brett Gardner to the top spot and bumped Jeter to second as he goes for the final two hits to become the 28th player to reach 3,000.
"Without two middle of the order guys we just thought it would be something different," Girardi said.
-- Howie Rumberg
Red Sox recalling Weiland to take Lester's start
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox are recalling right-hander Kyle Weiland from Triple-A to start in place of John Lester on Sunday and make his major league debut against the Baltimore Orioles.
Weiland will become the ninth starter used this season by Boston, which has lost Daisuke Matsuzaka for the year with Tommy John surgery and has Lester and fellow starter Clay Buchholz on the disabled list.
The 24-year-old Weiland has won his last three starts for Pawtucket and is 8-6 overall with a 3.00 ERA.
"It's his day. He's lined up for it. He's really been doing well," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before Friday night's game against the Orioles. "As much as kind of has gone wrong with some (of the team's) health, this is the flip side where it's really exciting. I'm kind of looking forward to it."
Alfredo Aceves, who pitched two quick innings of relief Thursday night, was considered, but Francona likes having him in the bullpen. Veteran Kevin Millwood, also at Pawtucket, was mentioned but Weiland got the nod.
"This kid's lined up and he's been pretty hot," the manager said. "I'd like to send him out there and see how he does."
Weiland, who was with Boston in spring training, has 99 strikeouts in 93 innings, with 18 coming in his last two outings. He has allowed four earned runs in 19 2-3 innings during his winning streak and opponents are batting just .206 against him for the season.
"He throws hard," Francona said. "He's got a live arm - he always has. He's starting to command, I think he's competing and he's just starting to mature as a pitcher."
A third-round draft pick in 2008 and the all-time saves leader at Notre Dame, Weiland was 15-21 in the minor leagues before this season.
He will have to be added to the 40-man roster, but the Red Sox have an open spot after designating outfielder Mike Cameron for assignment and then trading him to the Florida Marlins.
Judge holds hearing in Cabrera case
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — An attorney representing Miguel Cabrera is concerned the Detroit Tigers slugger will be unable to play in Canada if he is convicted of driving under the influence.
Cabrera was arrested in central Florida in February and is charged with DUI, one misdemeanor count of resisting an officer without violence and a citation for open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Defense attorney Michael Kessler received permission Friday to subpoena and take sworn statements from witnesses who reported seeing the first baseman before he was arrested. Under Florida law, depositions are not allowed in misdemeanor cases without a judge's approval, and then only in special cases.
The judge asked during Friday's hearing what made the case more important than any other DUI case and Kessler replied Cabrera "can't go into Canada with a DUI conviction without express permission from Canadian officials. And they're not going to give that permission to the Tigers' best ballplayer."
Cabrera played in all four games when Detroit visited Toronto in May, but the Tigers don't have any more scheduled road games against the Blue Jays this season.
The judge also scheduled a status hearing for Aug. 11.
Ortiz fights O's reliever Gregg
BOSTON (AP) — Boston designated hitter David Ortiz and Baltimore reliever Kevin Gregg have been ejected for fighting in the eighth inning Friday night. Neither player connected after a flurry of punches in the second confrontation between the two in the inning.
Gregg had thrown two pitches inside to Ortiz, who started toward the mound after the second. Players from both benches and bullpens trotted onto the field, but nothing developed.
Gregg then got Ortiz to pop out and shouted something to the Boston slugger, who charged and met Gregg about halfway between the mound and first base line.
Umpire Mike Estabrook, who had already ejected Gregg, couldn't quite reach Ortiz in time to stop him. The benches and bullpens cleared again and took several minutes to settle down as Boston fans cheered "Pa-pi!"
Ortiz and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia were both ejected for Boston. Gregg and reliever Jim Johnson were tossed for the Orioles.
Orioles reliever hit on shoulder
BOSTON (AP) — Baltimore reliever Brad Bergesen has left the Orioles' game at Boston after taking a line drive off his pitching arm. David Ortiz drove the pitch right back at Bergesen and the ball bounced off his right forearm and rolled quickly to the third base line.
Bergesen chased down the ball and walked back to the mound, but didn't throw another pitch and headed back to the dugout with a trainer as right-hander Chris Jakubauskas was called in from the bullpen. The Orioles said Bergesen had a contusion to his right forearm.
Bergesen entered the game in the first inning for starter Zach Britton, who allowed eight runs as the Red Sox batted around in the first.
Beckett leaves with 'mild' knee strain
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox say pitcher Josh Beckett slightly hyperextended his left knee on the wet mound at Fenway Park. The Red Sox pulled Beckett after the fifth inning against Baltimore on Friday night, calling it a precautionary move.
Boston already has three starters on the disabled list and doesn't want to take any chances with Beckett, who was selected to the American League All-Star team. It was not immediately clear whether Beckett would be available for the All-Star game Tuesday.
Beckett was having problems with the wet dirt in the fifth after steady rain fell early in the game. The Red Sox were ahead 8-3 and brought in reliever Matt Albers to start the sixth inning.
Indians recall INF Valbuena
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians have brought up infielder Luis Valbuena from Triple-A Columbus. Valbuena filled the roster spot left open when pitcher Zach McAllister was optioned to the Clippers after pitching four innings in his major league debut Thursday night.
This is Valbuena's second stint with the Indians this season. He played in 91 games for Cleveland last year, batting just .193 in 91 games. He's been swinging the bat well for Columbus, hitting .313 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs in 77 International League games.
He has played 46 games at shortstop, 11 games at both third base and left field and five games at second. He was with the Indians on May 19-20, but did not play.
Jeter pulls himself from All-Star game
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter has pulled himself from the All-Star game. The New York Yankees' shortstop says he wants to rest while coming back from a strained calf. He was elected by fans to start for the American League.
Jeter is two hits from 3,000 going into Friday night's game against Tampa Bay. Jeter has been moved down from the leadoff slot and will bat second against the Rays. He is in a 4-for-18 rut since coming off the disabled list last week.
Rookie Jeremy Hellickson was ready to pitch for the Rays. Maybe this is an omen: Hellickson's pet dog is named Jeter. Hellickson grew up rooting for Jeter, and named his Yorkie after the Yankees star.
