MLB Capsules: Ripken's streak still 'remarkable' 15 years later
BALTIMORE (AP) — On the 15th anniversary of the day Cal Ripken Jr. tied Lou Gehrig's major league mark for consecutive games played, the Iron Man returned to Camden Yards to celebrate the occasion.
Ripken threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Baltimore Orioles faced the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He received a standing ovation as he fired a strike to backup catcher Jake Fox.
Had the event been held Monday, Ripken might have felt obligated to take a lap around the field — just as he did when he broke the seemingly unreachable record by playing in his 2,131st successive game.
Perhaps it's fortunate the Orioles left town Sunday, because the 50-year-old Ripken wanted no part in duplicating that memorable sweep around the stadium.
"Nah, you can't recreate that moment that happened," he said. "I was embarrassed to take that lap that night. I'd be extra embarrassed to it even now."
Ripken played in 2,632 straight games before ending the streak by willingly sitting out Baltimore's final home contest of the 1998 season. There are many records in baseball that will ultimately be surpassed, but it's unlikely that will be one of them.
"It's remarkable. That won't be broken. No one will even get close," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "It's a fascinating streak. It stands for so many things — more than just a number."
An unreachable number? Ripken isn't so sure.
"I guess when you look at it in its totality, a lot of right things have to happen. You have to be pretty injury free, stubborn," Ripken said. "If you add it up and you say it takes 16 years to get that many games, it seems far fetched, it seems it couldn't be done.
"But I sit inside my own shoes and say that if I can do it, somebody else can. Somebody else can come along with grit and determination and go out and play every day."
Showalter recalled how dedicated Ripken was to the game, and how the Hall of Fame infielder battled through injuries to make sure his name was in the lineup every day.
"It's surprising that anybody was able to do it, but it doesn't surprise me that Cal was the guy," Showalter said. "Don't think he didn't play through some stuff that other people wouldn't have tried to play through, and I don't think it was because he had the streak going. It was, 'I've got to play through this because the Baltimore Orioles need a guy they can count on."
When the game against the Anaheim Angels became official, huge 10-foot numbers on the warehouse beyond the right-field wall dropped down to read 2130. The next day, it was 2131.
"It was record that everyone in baseball celebrated," recalled Showalter, who was then manager of the Yankees.
Baltimore's opponent during the series was the Anaheim Angels, whose first base coach was Joe Maddon, now manager of the Rays.
"He had a great series, hit a home run every night," Maddon said. "The place was absolutely electric. The bulbs were flashing. Everytime he did something there were bulbs flashing everywhere.
"The thing I always admired about him — this is my interpretation of watching him — was that he was always playing a game. That's why he was able to do this."
American League
A-Rod back in Yankees' starting lineup
NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Rodriguez had a pair of hits and drove in a run in his return from the disabled list Sunday, but it wasn't enough to help the New York Yankees avoid a 7-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays that snapped their eight-game winning streak.
Rodriguez grounded out his first two times up before two singles, including a groundball in which he beat out the throw to first. He struck out looking to end the game.
"It felt pretty good, definitely a sigh of relief," Rodriguez said. "You always have a little hesitation. You really don't want to bust it 100 percent until you get the games under you."
Rodriguez hadn't played since Aug. 20, though his left calf was bothering him before that.
The All-Star slugger walked through the clubhouse nearly four hours before the first pitch and took batting practice in the indoor cage. Manager Joe Girardi didn't post the lineup with A-Rod's name on it until about 90 minutes before the game.
"We just felt he was ready," Girardi said. "We feel he's healed and he's ready to go."
Still missing from the starting lineup was outfielder Nick Swisher, who's been dealing with a stiff left knee since leaving Thursday's game against Oakland after one inning. He had an MRI exam before the game that came back negative, and Swisher pinch-hit in the eighth inning.
"There was a deep pocket in the knee where there's inflammation," Swisher said. "There's nothing torn or broken, so as far as we're concerned, it's let's get it on. I may not be comfortable with it, there may be pain for a few days, but there's nothing serious."
A-Rod has struggled much of the season, at least by his standards, hitting .266 with 21 home runs. But many of his hits have come with runners in scoring position and other clutch situations, and he's still second on the team with 98 RBIs in only 113 games.
Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena had been filling in at third base for A-Rod, and while neither of them provides the kind of offense that the three-time AL MVP can produce, the Yankees didn't miss a beat with them in the lineup. They went 11-3 with Rodriguez on the disabled list, and are 22-3 overall when the 13-time All-Star is out of the lineup.
"A lot of these guys have done a really, really good job," said Girardi, who toyed with the idea of giving Rodriguez another day off until his performance in a simulated game Saturday.
"The simulated game gave him a comfort level that he was ready to go."
Andy Pettitte was also in the clubhouse before the game and reported no problems after pitching to Rodriguez during the simulated game. He's hoping to have a bullpen session Monday and a minor league rehab start Wednesday, though it's unclear where that will be.
"I'm waiting to see," Pettitte said. "Our minor leagues are all over the place with road games and such. I'd like to do something Wednesday. That's the plan."
Pettitte felt a little sore after his 50-pitch outing but said it was nothing out of the ordinary. He's been out with a strained left groin since July 19, and is still holding out hope that he could rejoin the Yankees during a road trip next week to Tampa Bay and Baltimore.
"We're holding pretty firm on pitching in a (rehab) game Wednesday," he said. "I still want to be careful. I will probably feel out the first couple innings and see where I'm at."
-- Dave Skretta
Twins callup Revere comes back from broken bone
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — When Ben Revere was hit in the face with a pitch a little more than a month ago, he thought the major leagues would have to wait until 2011.
After all, doctors told the prized Twins outfield prospect that he would miss four to six weeks after a pitch broke the orbital bone on the right side of his face on Aug. 3.
But Revere walked into to the Twins' Target Field clubhouse shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday for the first time a big leaguer. His contract acquired from Class AA New Britain, the 22-year-old Revere was all smiles as he was congratulated by Twins players.
"I thought I would go back home and get ready for the (Arizona) Fall League and spring training next year," Revere said. "I never in a million years thought this would be happening."
But a little more than three weeks after being hit — Revere said his mom describes him as a fast healer — the speedster returned to action. In the eight games since his return to the Rock Cats, Revere had 13 hits in 34 at bats (.382) with a pair of triples.
Just as important, Revere again got comfortable at the plate. In one of his first games back, Revere quickly learned that he can't be timid in the box.
"We were playing Redding and we were going against a lefty he almost hit me and I thought 'Here we go again,'" Revere said. "Then he threw a slider and made me look stupid. After that, I was like if I get hit there again, it's part of the game."
That Revere came back and looked like his old self was a big part of why the Twins were comfortable making the move.
"He's playing great," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Just talked to (New Britain manager) Jeff Smith again today and even after he got hit with the pitch he came back and has shown no effects at all. Playing great defense. He's been playing fantastic baseball, defense and offense."
Gardenhire was particularly pleased to see Revere. For more than a week, Gardenhire has lobbied general manager Bill Smith to get the Twins minor league player of the year in 2008 and '09 on the big-league roster.
"He'll be able to help us do a lot of different things," Gardenhire said. "We know he can hit, we know he can run the ball down and can run the bases. He'll help us. We need that extra outfielder right now. ... He covers a lot of ground."
With Michael Cuddyer at first base for the injured Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel just returning to the lineup on Sunday after missing four straight games with a bruised left wrist, Jason Repko was the lone backup for all three outfield spots.
While Revere, a first-round pick in the 2007 draft, has played primarily center field in the outfield, he will likely see more action in left field down the stretch. The Twins already have Denard Span in center field and Revere could serve as a late-game defensive substitution for Delmon Young.
Revere spent much of spring training with the Twins and didn't look out of place. Throughout his time in the minors, Revere has been a consistent hitter. He flirted with .400 for much of the 2008 season before finishing at .379 for Class A Beloit. He followed that up by hitting .311 at Class A Fort Meyers and hit .305 this season with the Rock Cats.
"Sure, he's going to slap the ball around," Gardenhire said. "But he'll surprise you with some power. He can drive a baseball too."
While it seemed inevitable that Revere was going reach the big leagues, the timing certainly caught him off guard.
"When I got hit in the face, I thought it was over, I thought my season was done," Revere said. "It's a blessing. I just want to help the team however I can."
Ramirez pinch-hits for White Sox, is hit by pitch
BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox fans got one more chance to show their feelings toward Manny Ramirez in the series finale with the Chicago White on Sunday.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen decided to keep Ramirez out of the starting lineup after he played both games of a doubleheader sweep over Boston on Saturday.
But in the eighth inning, Ramirez came up as a pinch-hitter in a tight game. He was hit by a pitch on the right arm by closer Jonathan Papelbon and left for pinch-runner Mark Teahen, trotting off to a chorus of mostly boos.
When he stepped out of the dugout toward the on-deck circle, the noise — mostly boos — picked up considerably in Fenway Park.
Guillen talked before the game about how important it was to keep the slugger well rested for the stretch run.
"Two days in a row, him playing that many games. I want him to stay fresh, keeping him as healthy as we can," Guillen said. "Besides that, we need to give (Paul Konerko) a break and that's the only way we can find a place for him. He will play in the next one."
Konerko, the club's regular first baseman, was in the designated hitter slot. Ramirez was the DH for both games Saturday.
Just like his first trip back to Fenway Park in June when he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers each time he came to the plate.
Ramirez played 7½ seasons in Boston that were filled with antics, mood swings and production that led to two World Series titles with the Red Sox before the relationship fell apart at the trading deadline in 2008 when he was dealt him to the Dodgers.
Ramirez, acquired on waivers from the Dodgers on Tuesday, went 3 for 8 in the day-nighter on Saturday. In the first game, he had two singles that set up two runs.
In June, Ramirez went 5 for 12 with a solo homer for the Dodgers.
Kuzmanoff leaves game
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Athletics' third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff left Oakland's game against the Los Angeles Angels with an apparent lower back injury in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday.
Kouzmanoff singled sharply and grabbed his lower back as he began running toward first base. He slowed down but was able to reach first safely before Gabe Gross came in as a pinch runner.
Kouzmanoff was hitting .283 over his last 12 games, with 12 RBIs. He leads the team with 14 home runs.
National League
Busch league: Pujols calls out Cardinals CF Rasmus
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A season that is slipping away for the St. Louis Cardinals has turned personal, with star slugger Albert Pujols criticizing young outfielder Colby Rasmus.
Rasmus has admitted he wasn't always happy while playing for the Cardinals as a rookie last year and this season. The 24-year-old center fielder is denying reports, however, that he asked in July to be traded.
Pujols says Rasmus, whose 19 homers are third on the team behind Pujols and Matt Holliday, needs to spend more time in the majors before he starts complaining. The three-time NL MVP said Sunday that if Rasmus wants to play somewhere else, the Cardinals should accommodate him.
"It's a privilege to play in this organization, just behind the Yankees with 10 World Series (titles) and be able to be in the postseason almost every year," Pujols said. "I have nothing negative to say about this organization.
"For a young kid to come up and say that, that he wants to be somewhere else, I don't know why."
Pujols pointed out that he, too, was once a "young guy."
"You need to know the mistake you make and be accountable to that. I think for him to come up and ask for a trade and that you guys should know about it, I don't think that was pretty professional," Pujols told reporters.
The Cardinals trail NL Central-leading Cincinnati by seven games and dropped eight of 10 on their latest road trip. Even after taking two of three from the Reds this weekend, the defending division champions were long shots to make the postseason.
Rasmus hasn't always gotten along with manager Tony La Russa — over the years, Scott Rolen and some other St. Louis players didn't see eye-to-eye with him, either — and has appeared moody at times. Pujols said he didn't know whether Rasmus was happy.
"With Colby," Pujols said, "You never know."
After Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Reds, Rasmus said he loved playing for the Cardinals and had no beef with La Russa. Both Rasmus and general manager John Mozeliak denied that the outfielder had wanted out.
"Some things might have gotten misinterpreted," Rasmus said. "I haven't handled the pressure well some of the time and said some things that I shouldn't, but I love being here, love the fans. So moving forward I'm just trying to play hard and happy that we won today."
Mozeliak said neither Rasmus nor his agent requested a trade, but added he wasn't privy to any discussions between manager and player.
"Me and Mo are tight, we get along well," Rasmus said. "I never did that and I don't know where that's coming from. I just want to play baseball and have fun."
La Russa also said he had no problem with Rasmus. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said the source of a rift was Rasmus' participation in a hitting camp last summer run by his father, who was his high school baseball coach and hasn't been shy about giving his son pointers.
"I think he's a real good source for him and I was not annoyed," La Russa said. "If you don't trust me or don't believe me, then you don't trust me and don't believe me, but I'm telling you I have no problem with Colby.
"I think if he hangs around here long enough, he'll appreciate what it means to be a Cardinal."
Earlier in the weekend, Rasmus told The Associated Press that his relationship with La Russa was "professional." He said there have been frustrations, but maintained he has no problem playing for the manager.
"We've had our times, but it's a tough game out there, a lot of pressure involved," Rasmus said. "Some things happen in the heat of the moment, but everything's fine.
"We've got a good relationship going on right now."
Rasmus was the Cardinals' first-round draft pick out of high school in 2005 and is the top prospect to rise through the system since Pujols in 2001. He said he hasn't always handled pressure well and last year in particular felt isolated.
"Being on the big stage and being the young guy on the team, not having many guys to go through, it makes it tough," Rasmus said. "But that's just part of it and you've got to grow up and deal with it."
-- R.B. Fallstrom
Mazeroski teary-eyed at PNC Park statue unveiling
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bill Mazeroski, an elite fielder who made it to the Hall of Fame because of his many Gold Gloves and one big swing, now has a bronze statue honoring that most memorable moment.
Four of Mazeroski's 1960 Pirates teammates tugged away a protective cover Sunday to unveil a 14-foot, 2,000-pound statue depicting the second baseman, the only player to end a World Series Game 7 with a home run.
Mazeroski is portrayed during his jubilant dash around the bases after his homer off Ralph Terry decided the Pirates' 10-9 victory in Game 7 against the favored New York Yankees that season.
Mazeroski is the fourth Pirates player honored with a statue, joining Honus Wagner, Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell. Mazeroski's likeness is located near PNC Park's right field grandstands along a street known as Mazeroski Way.
The statue is rimmed by a brick wall designed to resemble that in Forbes Field and includes the actual section of wall over which Mazeroski homered at the 406-foot mark in left-center field on Oct. 13, 1960. The 50th anniversary will occur next month.
Not surprisingly, Mazeroski was teary-eyed, just as he was during the 2001 Hall of Fame ceremony in Cooperstown and a 1987 tribute at Three Rivers Stadium at which his No. 9 was retired by the team.
"It's great," Mazeroski said. "But I probably get too much credit. We would have won that game if I'd hit that home run or not, I know it in my heart."
Former Pirates pitcher Bob Friend isn't so sure. Friend said many forget Mazeroski's two-run homer carried the Pirates to a 6-4 victory in Game 1, and how nearly every one of Mazeroski's 11 regular-season home runs that year came in key situations. The Pirates won one of the strangest World Series in history despite being outscored 55-27 by the Yankees.
"Nobody gave us a chance facing the top franchise for forever," Friend said.
Both Friend and former Pirates pitcher Steve Blass, a star in the 1971 World Series, referred to Mazeroski as "the greatest second baseman of all time," reflecting the fielding records the eight-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman still holds.
"I learned that Bill Mazeroski is a man of few words, but that statue speaks volumes," Blass said.
Friend, Roy Face, Dick Groat and Bill Virdon took part in the ceremony, which began at the statue site and continued inside the ballpark. Mazeroski was driven around the warning track in a 1960 Bentley convertible.
Mazeroski also threw the ceremonial first pitch to Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, who received spring training instruction from Mazeroski on playing a position unfamiliar to Walker until this season.
The statue was sculpted by Susan Wagner, who also created the Clemente and Stargell statues. It was modeled after a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette photo by James Klingensmith that depicted Mazeroski joyously rounding second base with his batting helmet in his hand. Klingensmith, 99, attended the ceremony.
Mazeroski was voted into the Hall of Fame by a veterans committee headed by the late Joe L. Brown, the former Pirates general manager who died at age 91 last month.
-- Alan Robinson
Santana scratched from next start
CHICAGO (AP) — New York Mets ace Johan Santana will miss his next scheduled start because of a strained left pectoral muscle.
His outing Tuesday at Washington had been up in the air since he left Thursday's win over Atlanta after five innings. The Mets will call up Dillon Gee from Triple-A Buffalo to pitch in his place.
Santana says a bullpen session before Sunday's 18-5 win over Chicago went fine but realizes the Mets, who announced the decision after the game, "had to be very careful." He has a history of injuries and New York is out of contention.
Santana says he's not sure if he'll see a doctor, adding that will be determined in the next few days.
Shortstop Jose Reyes expects to play at some point during the three-game series at Washington, although probably not on Monday. He has been sidelined since Aug. 26 by a right oblique strain.
Cubs' Ramirez strains quad, listed as day to day
CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez is day to day after straining his right quadriceps during Sunday's 18-5 loss to the New York Mets.
Ramirez was pulled before the top of the ninth, with Koyie Hill taking his place at third. Ramirez homered and drove in three runs before leaving the game.
