MLB Capsules: Strasburg vows strong return from injury
WASHINGTON (AP) — Stephen Strasburg had to get through a few hours of anger, confusion and certainly a few more volatile emotions before he was ready to accept the sobering news expressed in three disheartening words.
Tommy John surgery.
The Washington Nationals rookie sensation is done for the season — and maybe next season as well — after the team announced Friday that he has a torn ligament in his right elbow. He will travel Saturday to the West Coast for a second opinion, but the 22-year-old right-hander has accepted the fact that he will need the ligament replacement operation that requires 12 to 18 months of rehabilitation.
"It's a new challenge," Strasburg said. "I want to be the best at everything, and right now I want to be the best at rehabbing and getting back out here."
It's a blow to Strasburg, of course, and to a baseball world that has spent the summer gasping in awe at his 100 mph fastball, bending curves and wicked batter-freezing changeups, but the biggest punch to the gut is to a Nationals franchise that had made the young phenom the centerpiece in their plans to climb out of perpetual last-place irrelevancy.
"There's no words that I can put in place here that would indicate we could possibly replace Stephen," manager Jim Riggleman said. "But we have to do it a different way, different names, different staff members who will go out there and fulfill the rotation until Stephen comes back."
Strasburg grimaced, grabbed and shook his wrist after throwing a 1-1 changeup to Domonic Brown in Philadelphia on Saturday. It turned out to be his last pitch of the year. The Nationals initially called the injury a strained flexor tendon in the forearm, but an MRI taken Sunday raised enough questions for the Nationals to order a more extensive MRI in which dye was injected into the prized right arm.
Strasburg had the exam on Thursday and was informed of the diagnosis later that night, but the Nationals chose not to announce the news until Friday because it would have upstaged the introductory news conference for 2010 No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper.
Strasburg could hardly believe the bad news, especially because his arm has felt fine all week, certainly good enough to keep pitching.
"I didn't take a matter of minutes" to sink in, he said. "I took definitely a few hours. I've got great support all around me, and they reminded me of everything I should be thankful for, and they put everything in perspective for me. Bottom line, this is a game. I'm very blessed to play this game for a living. It's a minor setback, but in the grand scheme of things it's just a blip on the radar screen."
Strasburg is an intense, competitive man. He wants the ball. He was disappointed when he had to start the season in the minors and wasn't exactly thrilled with the restrictions the Nationals have placed on him. Now he faces something he's never experienced in his baseball life: surgery on his arm, and the realistic prospect of not pitching again until 2012.
"It's a new challenge," he said. "It's going to be a learning experience. I feel like I'm going to be able to grow a lot as an individual and as a baseball player."
Strasburg said that on Saturday he plans to write down on a piece of paper everything he's thinking and look at it again a year from now. He's said he's doing it he knows his mind might "get a little jumbled" as he goes through rehab and that he wants to remember everything he needs to focus on.
And as far as trying to figure out why this has happened to him? He's done with that question.
"If I keep looking for an explanation, it's just going to eat at me, and I've got to let it go," he said. "I've just got to move on, and that's what I'm doing. Everything happens for a reason, and this is obviously going to be a test for me."
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Strasburg signed a record $15.1 million contract a year ago. He struck out 14 batters in an amazing major league debut in June and was quickly drawing huge crowds everywhere. He went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 68 innings with the Nationals, who kept him on strict pitch counts and had planned to shut him down once he reached about 105 innings.
But he has had medical setbacks despite the team's best efforts to be as cautious as possible. He was placed on the disabled list a month ago because of inflammation in the back of his right shoulder. He was making his third start since returning from the DL when he had to leave the game against Philadelphia.
"The player was developed and cared for in the correct way, and things like this happen," Rizzo said. "Pitchers break down, pitchers get hurt and we certainly are not second-guessing ourselves. ... Frustrated? Yes. But second-guessing ourselves? No."
Rizzo said doctors believe Strasburg tore the ligament on a particular pitch — perhaps the changeup to Brown — as opposed to a gradual deterioration over a long period of time. When Strasburg grimaced in game at Philadelphia, he told the team he had felt something similar at San Diego State and had continued to pitch through it. Doctors have decided that what happened in college was unrelated to the ligament tear.
The injury is the last thing the woebegone Nationals needed. The franchise is on pace for its fifth last-place finish in six years since relocating from Montreal. Attendance has been disappointing at Nationals Park since it opened in 2008, but Strasburg generated rare sellouts in his first few home starts.
Coincidentally, Thursday's game marked the return of Jordan Zimmermann, another promising Washington pitching prospect who had Tommy John surgery a year ago. Strasburg and Zimmermann are supposed to form two-fifths of a rotation that will lead the team to respectability.
"It's still going to happen," Riggleman said of the Strasburg-Zimmermann combo. "It's just going to be another year before it happens."
Strasburg has already received advice from Zimmermann and can draw inspiration from the dozens of major leaguers who have successfully returned from the surgery that was first performed by Dr. Frank Jobe on Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John in 1974.
"That's the modern miracle of what doctors can do to put people back together," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said recently after a game that featured Tommy John returnees Francisco Liriano and Tim Hudson. "We all know the arm takes a beating. Goodness gracious, we saw two guys who were both throwing the ball 90-plus mph with sliders and stuff. That's because some doctors did some really good jobs."
Reds put RHP Leake on DL with tired shoulder
CINCINNATI (AP) — Rookie right-hander Mike Leake went on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a tired pitching shoulder, but the Cincinnati Reds expect him back before the end of the season.
They also might get opening day starter Aaron Harang back next week, too.
The NL Central leaders are tinkering with their staff, trying to get ready for a strong September run while protecting their young pitchers from overuse. Leake was one of their concerns, appearing to wear down while his innings piled up lately.
The 22-year-old pitcher made the jump directly from Arizona State to the majors, winning the final spot in the rotation during spring training. He was among the NL's top rookie pitchers during the first half of the season, winning five in a row while leading all NL rookies in innings pitched.
He was less effective in August, prompting the Reds to move him to the bullpen to cut down on his innings. He got hit hard in his two relief appearances — eight earned runs in 2 2-3 innings — so the Reds sent him for a shoulder exam.
"We think it's better for him," manager Dusty Baker said. "He still may be eligible for down the stretch and the playoffs. He's not throwing the ball where he wants to throw it, even though he has good velocity. He's been examined by the doctors. Since he has a little shoulder fatigue — we were going to try to do something with him anyway. We think now it's time for him to get on a strengthening program and not worry about pitching as much."
Leake went 8-4 with a 3.78 ERA in 22 starts. The Reds expect him to be back in September, giving them another option.
Harang has been sidelined by back spasms since July 6. He had no problems during a rehab stint in the minors.
"I haven't had any issue with the back at all," Harang said. "I think that's the last thing on my mind when I'm pitching now.
"The hardest part right now is just that ample amount of down time, not being able to get out there and participate. You have to go out there and be more of a cheerleader. After a little while, you want to be back out there. You don't want to be the cheerleader anymore."
Harang gave up 14 hits and 11 runs in 11 innings during two starts for Triple-A Louisville, but wasn't concerned about the results.
"I went down there and worked on building my endurance up," he said. "You want to get that feeling back and not worry about the outcome. Pitching is about feeling."
The Reds called up utility player Juan Francisco from Louisville to take Leake's spot temporarily, with outfielder Laynce Nix bothered by a sore left ankle that he twisted on Monday. Francisco is in his third stint with the Reds.
The Reds also needed an extra position player because second baseman Brandon Phillips is bothered by a sore right hand, hit by a pitch in San Francisco on Wednesday. X-rays were negative. He was out of the lineup on Friday for the opening game of a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs.
"Hopefully he'll be back in a day or two," Baker said.
-- Joe Kay
Bay says he's feeing well, ready to start rehab
NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Bay was in a hurry to get to Citi Field.
After sitting idle for a month, the New York Mets outfielder finally felt no symptoms from a concussion and was cleared to begin his rehabilitation.
He got the call from trainer Ray Ramirez Friday afternoon.
"I'm so bored," Bay said before the Mets faced the Houston Astros. "Ray called at 3:30 and I walked out the door — I left at 3:35. I couldn't get out of the house fast enough."
Returning to the field will not be nearly as quick.
The first step for Bay, who has had no headaches since Tuesday, will be getting into shape while watching for symptoms from the head injury he sustained when he ran into a wall at Dodger Stadium making a catch on July 23.
With the minor league season coming to an end the Mets will have to figure out a way for Bay to get game ready.
"It's going to be a mini-spring training process so I'm doing that and making sure my head doesn't bother me. There's a complete process and I don't even know if there is a mappable timeline for it," Bay said. "I have every intent — I want to play this year. I also understand there's time constraints."
Bay's first season in New York after signing a $66 million, four-year deal has been a major disappointment. He is hitting .259 with six homers and 47 RBIs in 95 games, a year after he hit 36 homers with Boston.
"Can't sugarcoat it, not good," Bay said. "I'm definitely a lot better than that."
And he's eager to prove it, but he is also realistic.
The 31-year-old had no expectations for his return because he has never had a concussion before, but he would like to be cleared to play in games for "peace of mind" going into the offseason.
The Mets will be extremely cautious with Bay. They were criticized for the way they handled outfielder Ryan Church in 2008 when he sustained his second concussion in less than three months.
"There's just no timetable. The first step is that he's clear," Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. "It's not like you got a pulled hamstring or you got an oblique. It's a little bit more — at least we have an idea when a hamstring guy is going to come back and these injuries, it's not like you have a history.
"The key that you learn is be patient, don't rush it," Minaya said. "When the time is right it will happen."
Bay said he watched the play "more times than I need to," and that he has spoken to many people who have had concussions, including Justin Morneau. The Minnesota Twins first baseman has been out since July 8 and his return this season is uncertain.
Also, Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was out of the Mets' lineup Friday because he aggravated the right oblique injury that forced him to miss the All-Star game in July. Manager Jerry Manuel said he was day to day.
The Mets purchased the contract of infielder Luis Hernandez from Triple-A Buffalo to provide some infield depth while Reyes sits. To make room for him New York sent outfielder Jesus Feliciano to Buffalo. The Mets have 39 players on their 40-man roster.
-- Howie Rumberg
Brewers' Gallardo robbed at gunpoint
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo and clubhouse attendant Alex Sanchez were robbed at gunpoint early Friday, hours after Milwaukee's ace pitched in a loss to the Dodgers.
"It was a scary moment for me, obviously for me and Alex, and those are tough situations," Gallardo said Friday afternoon, about 14 hours after the robbery occurred. "Things like that happen in every city, anywhere you go and it's just unfortunate that it happened to me and him."
Gallardo did not take any questions after briefly discussing the incident outside the team clubhouse before the start of the Brewers' three-game series against Pittsburgh.
"Just going out there, getting a bite to eat before heading home, trying to stay out of trouble, and unfortunately trouble finds us," he said. "Nobody was seriously hurt and we're all OK. Both of us are fine. That was the main thing."
Brewers manager Ken Macha said that players are instructed by Major League Baseball about what to do in such situations and are given a card listing who to call and what to do.
"I mentioned to him he probably should've called MLB security right away," Macha said. "I imagine other thoughts were going through his mind at the time."
WTMJ-AM said that an armed man approached the two in a supermarket parking lot demanding money and jewelry, and that Sanchez was hit in the head but not seriously injured.
Milwaukee police were investigating but didn't have a suspect. Spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz confirmed that two men were robbed at an address that corresponds with a grocery store, but wouldn't identify the men.
She said the suspect struck one victim with a gun and fled.
Gallardo signed a $30.1 million, five-year contract extension earlier this year. He's 11-6 with a 3.50 ERA in 25 starts and was chosen to his first All-Star game this season.
He's struggled recently, losing 7-1 to Los Angeles on Thursday. It was the fourth straight start in which Gallardo has allowed at least four runs.
-- Colin Fly
Rockies put Corpas on DL, recall Deduno, Morales
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have placed reliever Manuel Corpas on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.
The Rockies also said Friday that reliever Rafael Betancourt, struggling with a lower abdominal strain, is likely unavailable until Saturday. To fortify the bullpen, Colorado recalled pitchers Samuel Deduno and Franklin Morales from the minors.
Deduno had been starting at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he was 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA. He was brought up to replace Corpas in a long relief role.
Corpas relieved starter Esmil Rogers in the second inning Wednesday against Atlanta but had to leave the game in the fourth due to injury. Colorado's medical staff diagnosed Corpas with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, and he will get a second opinion Tuesday when he visits Dr. Lewis Yocum, a noted orthopedic surgeon based in Anaheim, Calif.
Colorado also placed second baseman Clint Barmes on the bereavement list so he could return home to Vincinnes, Ind., to be with his ailing father. Barmes is expected to rejoin the Rockies in San Francisco on Monday, at which time a roster move will have to be made.
Morales, a left-hander, went 3-0 with a 2.67 ERA in 24 games at Colorado Springs. When Barmes returns Monday, the Rockies will have three second basemen. They are likely to option Jonathan Herrera to Colorado Springs, at least until rosters expand Sept. 1.
Corpas, who is 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA and 10 saves in 56 games, has pitched in a variety of relief roles this year. He's been dealing with elbow soreness throughout the season and could face Tommy John surgery at some point to repair his worn ligament.
Cardinals' La Russa, Pujols to attend Beck rally
WASHINGTON (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa and slugger Albert Pujols plan to attend a controversial rally on the National Mall on Saturday morning, with La Russa presenting an award to Pujols at the event hosted by conservative pundit Glenn Beck.
The Cardinals manager says his role, as well as Pujols', will be nonpolitical.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with politics," La Russa said Friday night following the Cardinals' game against the Washington Nationals. "Otherwise, he would not be involved. For anybody to look at it differently, they're making a big mistake. ... It's got nothing to do with politics with any issue on either side."
The rally has stirred fierce emotions because it is being held at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Pujols declined comment when asked about the rally before Friday's game.
"I see that it's got some notoriety," La Russa said. "But trust me, Albert's part of it is well-earned and I'm pleased to be a part of it."
La Russa weighed in on a political matter earlier this year, when he said he supported a much-protested immigration law in Arizona that has since been put on hold by a federal judge. He said he approved of the law as a matter of states' rights.
Reds' Bruce has first 3-HR game
CINCINNATI (AP) — Reds outfielder Jay Bruce homered in three consecutive at-bats for the best offensive showing of his career.
Bruce hit a solo homer and a three-run shot off Cubs left-hander Tom Gorzelanny on Friday night. He added another solo shot off reliever Scott Maine in the seventh for a 7-1 lead and the first three-homer game of his career.
The three homers came within a five pitches to Bruce and left him with 16 for the season. His five RBIs matched his career high.
He's the 26th Reds player to hit three in a game — no one has more. Drew Stubbs also hit three against the Cubs at Wrigley field on July 4.
Bruce batted leadoff for the first time in two years, filling in while second baseman Brandon Phillips recovers from a bruised hand.
-- Joe Kay
Braves send down rookie Minor to bolster bullpen
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have optioned rookie starter Mike Minor to their minor-league club in the Gulf Coast League so they could add an extra reliever to their bullpen.
Minor won't do any pitching for the rookie-league team, and he'll rejoin the Braves for his next scheduled start Tuesday against the New York Mets.
Minor is 2-0 in his first three big league starts and coming off a 12-strikeout performance against the Cubs, which tied the franchise record for a rookie.
Because of an off day, Minor got skipped over in the five-man rotation. The Braves wanted to bolster their bullpen for a weekend series against Florida, so they called up right-hander Craig Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.
Reyes out of Mets lineup with oblique injury
NEW YORK (AP) — Mets shortstop Jose Reyes is out of the New York lineup for its game against the Houston Astros after aggravating a right oblique strain Thursday night.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel says Reyes is day to day and that he should not have to go on the disabled list. Manuel says the injury is not as bad as it was when Reyes initially hurt the abdomen muscle during batting practice before a game June 30 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Reyes was out until July 6, and the injury caused Reyes to sit out the All-Star game.
Ruben Tejada started in his place at shortstop. Tejada began the night 1 for 36 since he was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 7.
Pujols’ ankle fine and he’s in the lineup
WASHINGTON (AP) — Albert Pujols was in his accustomed place in the St. Louis Cardinals lineup for Friday night’s game against the Washington Nationals one day after hitting his 400th home run and injuring his right ankle.
The slugger hurt his ankle in the bottom of the 10th inning of Thursday’s game when he tried to plant his foot on the tarp to reach for a foul ball near the first base dugout. He stayed in the game. Pujols has missed just one game this season.
The Nationals’ won Thursday’s game 11-10 in 13 innings.
Padres' Hairston Jr. has strained elbow
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres say infielder Jerry Hairston Jr. has a strained ligament in his right elbow.
The team says Hairston won't need surgery but it will likely take two to three weeks to heal. Hairston says it hurts to throw but not to hit, so he could be used as a pinch-hitter.
Hairston was a key offseason acquisition. He's played mostly at shortstop and second base, where he filled in while Everth Cabrera and David Eckstein were hurt, but also at third base and in the outfield. He's hitting .249 with 10 home runs and 50 RBIs. The homers tie his career high.
Phillies place RHP Baez on DL, recall Bastardo
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have placed right-handed reliever Danys Baez on the 15-day disabled list with back spasms.
Taking his place on the roster is left-hander Antonio Bastardo, who was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Baez is 3-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 45 appearances. Bastardo was recalled for the fourth time this season.
American League
White Sox awarded waiver claim on Manny Ramirez
CHICAGO (AP) — The Manny Watch is on for Chicago’s South Side.
Manny Ramirez was placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the White Sox were awarded the claim that gives them exclusive bargaining rights for the slugger, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the waiver-wire process is confidential.
The White Sox and Dodgers have until 1:30 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to complete a trade, which Ramirez would have to approve. The Dodgers also could let him go — with his consent — and the White Sox would simply assume his salary. Or, Los Angeles could keep Ramirez and try to make a run at the playoffs with him. The Dodgers are fourth in the NL West and fifth in the race for the wild card.
Chicago general manager Kenny Williams refused to talk about Ramirez before the White Sox beat the New York Yankees 9-4 Friday night in the opener of a weekend series.
"I can’t," he said. "It’s against the tampering rules. It’s a large, large fine. Now, I know that a lot of others speak on such subjects and you guys may be cheated as a result of my unwillingness to go down that road. I prefer to abide by the major league rules, so I can’t talk about it."
Ramirez’s salary is $20 million in the final season of a two-year contract, but only $5 million is due this year, with the rest to be paid over the next three years. He also has a full no-trade clause that would allow him to veto a trade or waiver claim.
Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen deferred to Williams, but said Ramirez could help the team if the White Sox are able to acquire him. As long as the 12-time All-Star joins the White Sox by Tuesday, he would be eligible to play for them in the postseason.
"Believe me, if this kid comes here, this kid, (it’s) because he wants to," Guillen said. "That’s a good thing. That’s a good thing about it."
The enigmatic Ramirez, who has 554 career home runs, didn’t play in Los Angeles’ 6-2 victory at Colorado on Friday night. Dodgers manager Joe Torre left him out of the starting lineup because of his 1 for 13 career numbers against Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, but he was available to pinch hit.
Torre said before the game that he thought Ramirez would play Saturday and it didn’t appear to him that the trade talk had bothered him.
"He seems pretty comfortable to me," Torre said. "I talked to him a couple of times today, once on the phone and when he came here."
The Dodgers began the day five games back in the NL wild-card race. The White Sox were 3½ games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
"Ideally, if you are trying to get anything done, you want to add to your club as quickly as possible," Williams said before Chicago’s victory. "But these things take time and you have to go through the process. This is more so for me, I care about 7 p.m. and the New York Yankees.
"Whatever happens in the next few days, that’s the primary goal. I don’t want any of these guys certainly thinking about who may or may not be walking through the door."
The 38-year-old Ramirez likely would become the designated hitter in Chicago, especially considering his recent fragile history. Ramirez returned last Saturday from his third stint on the disabled list and has missed 59 games to injuries since last season, when he came back from a 50-game suspension following a failed drug test.
The former Indians and Red Sox outfielder joined the Dodgers in 2008 and instantly became a fan favorite, with a section of seats named in his honor at Chavez Ravine and wigs that mimicked his dreadlocks suddenly becoming fashionable. Ramirez performed so well down the stretch during his first season in Los Angeles that the Dodgers signed him to a two-year, $45 million contract.
The injuries and suspension have soured his stay, though, and Ramirez hasn’t spoken to reporters since spring training, when he said this would be his final season with the Dodgers.
Ramirez doubled twice in his last game, a 5-4 victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday. He is batting .313 with eight homers and 40 RBIs in 64 games this season.
"I really don’t care. Either way, I don’t. I don’t because I think our ballclub is good," Guillen said. "Can Manny help? Yes he can, there’s no doubt about it. But I cannot just bring him or don’t bring him because like I said, it’s not my thing."
-- Jay Cohen
Twins acquire reliever Fuentes from Angels
SEATTLE (AP) — The first-place Minnesota Twins made their revamped bullpen more versatile for the pennant race by acquiring left-handed reliever and four-time All-Star Brian Fuentes from the Los Angeles Angels Friday for a player to be named.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said before Friday’s series opener at Seattle that he will use the now-former Angels closer as a set up man for closer Matt Capps, and "probably as an occasional closer if I use the other guy too much."
Capps entered Friday with six saves in eight chances since Minnesota acquired him in a trade with Washington last month.
Before the season began, the Twins lost closer Joe Nathan to elbow surgery.
The 35-year-old Fuentes is due to fly from Southern California to join his new team for Saturday’s game against the Mariners.
"At this time of the year, you look at opportunities that can potentially make you better," Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. "As you go through the waiver process, there’s a lot of things that come into play. Minnesota happened to be the team that claimed Brian, so we had to look within their system to see if we had an opportunity to get a good player in exchange for Brian. And we feel like we’ve accomplished that."
The player the Angels will get from the Twins will be chosen by Oct. 15, Gardenhire said. Minnesota began Friday with a 3½-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central.
The manager mentioned how tough Fuentes is against left-handed batters. It also doesn’t hurt that he instantly becomes the most experienced of the three left-handers Minnesota now has in its bullpen.
The other two are Randy Flores, claimed off waivers from Colorado this week, and Glen Perkins. Minnesota recalled Perkins from Triple-A Rochester two weeks ago.
The Twins lost lefties Ron Mahay (torn rotator cuff) and Jose Mijares (right knee surgery) earlier this month.
"We knew he was out there, and as all players go through waivers we put in a claim for him along with everyone else," Gardenhire said of Fuentes, who has 542 career appearances. "We got to him first, and he got to us.
"It’s another very good arm out in the bullpen, with experience. He should help us a lot, after losing two left-handers recently. ... After we lost Mijares, we’ve been looking around."
Gardenhire said he was "hoping" Mijares could return from the disabled list in three weeks.
The 35-year-old Fuentes helped the Angels win their third straight AL West title last season, leading the majors with a career-high 48 saves after joining them as a free agent in December 2008. The AL Central-leading Twins will be his fourth team in 10 big league seasons. He began his career with Seattle in 2001, then spent seven seasons with the Colorado Rockies.
"There are a lot of relationships I’ve made here," Fuentes said just outside the Angels clubhouse. "But on the flip side, the business side takes over and there’s an opportunity to make both clubs better. So I’m looking forward to my time in Minnesota and getting back in the hunt."
Fuentes was 4-1 with a 3.52 ERA and was 23 for 27 converting saves this season for the slumping Angels, who were 9½ games out of first place in the AL West at the time of the trade.
He was 1-5 with a 3.93 ERA and 48 saves in 55 chances last season, his first for Los Angeles after signing a $17.5 million, two-year contract in December 2008.
He is likely to become a free agent again after this season. Gardenhire said after speaking to general manager Bill Smith that Fuentes has a vesting option in his contract for 2011, but that his current numbers make it unlikely those will "come into play" for Minnesota.
Fuentes allowed three runs in the ninth inning for the Angels in a loss to Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
The Angels will promote set up man Fernando Rodney to replace Fuentes. The 33-year-old right-hander had 37 saves last season with Detroit, and converted all five opportunities he had in April after Fuentes went on the disabled list with a back strain. Reagins said the club won’t need to look for a closer in the offseason.
"We feel good about Fernando and what he can bring in the ninth inning to close out games," Reagins said.
-- Gregg Bell
Girardi says focus is on Yankees, not Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he has a number in mind, and it's not 1908.
Girardi brushed aside questions about whether he's interested in the Chicago Cubs' job before New York opened a three-game series against the White Sox on Friday night, insisting he's focused on leading the Yankees to consecutive championships and their 28th World Series title overall.
"I have a responsibility to the Steinbrenners, who have treated me great, my family great, to (general manager) Brian Cashman and his staff, to the guys in that room and to the entire organization and our fan base, to do whatever I can to get No. 28," he said.
It's been 102 years since the Cubs won a World Series, a drought Girardi knows all about. He was born in Peoria, went to college at Northwestern and played six seasons for the Cubs during two stints with the club that drafted him in 1986.
Then there's his contract situation and his family ties to the area, so of course his name came up when Cubs manager Lou Piniella decided to retire. Girardi, shortstop Derek Jeter and closer Mariano Rivera are each in the final year of their deals with the Yankees.
"We're in a tight division race and my job is to prepare this team to play every day and that's what I'm focusing on," Girardi said. "My faith has always been extremely important to me and I've never worried about next year. I'm happy with my contract situation. I feel I'm fortunate to be one of 30 managers with a contract.
"There are people in this organization who have done a lot more for this organization than I have who don't have contracts. We're not worried about it for next year. I'm worried about right now."
Girardi, 45, won the NL Manager of the Year award in 2006 with the Florida Marlins and led New York to its first World Series title since 2000 in his second season in the Yankees' dugout. He had a 270-182 record with New York after Friday night's 9-4 loss.
The Yankees are tied with Tampa Bay for the AL East lead, at a baseball-best 78-50.
Girardi got some good news before the series opener when left-hander Andy Pettitte breezed through a limited bullpen session at U.S. Cellular Field. Pettitte, trying to come back from a strained left groin, threw 25 pitches at about 75 percent.
"It was a relief," Pettitte said. "There's no doubt, because unfortunately I've been stressed about it. I want to be healthy. I want to pitch. I want to do my job."
Pettitte is 11-2 with a 2.88 ERA but hasn't appeared in a game since he was injured throwing a pitch against the Rays on July 18. The three-time All-Star had a bit of a setback when he felt stiffness in his groin during a simulated game a couple weeks ago.
"It's encouraging," Girardi said. "See how he feels tomorrow and maybe another bullpen on Sunday, but he didn't have that little tug he's talked about in his throwing and that's good news."
-- Jay Cohen
Pedroia's injured foot not healing quickly
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia says his injured left foot is not healing quickly and that surgery may be required.
Pedroia will undergo additional tests when the Red Sox return home from a road trip in one week, at which time a decision on surgery will be made. The Red Sox played Tampa Bay on Friday night.
If there is not marked improvement, Pedroia said there will be "no choice" but to have the procedure to insert a screw into a bone that was broken on June 25.
"If I'm not feeling any better and it shows that it's not healing more, I've got to go have the surgery," Pedroia said.
Pedroia briefly played after spending seven weeks on the disabled list, but was placed back on the disabled list on Aug. 20 with soreness in the foot.
"It's upsetting, but I just want to get to next week and go on from there," Pedroia said. "It hasn't been healing that well this whole time."
If surgery is needed, the Red Sox expect Pedroia to be ready for spring training.
"A decision will be made, probably, pretty soon after we get home," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
Francona said right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, scratched from his start Wednesday by back stiffness, is scheduled to pitch Thursday against Baltimore.
Catcher Jason Varitek continues making progress in his workout program for a broken right foot. Varitek, sidelined since July 1, would likely need a minor league rehab assignment before returning.
"He's doing really well," Francona said. "I don't know the timetable. We'll wait and see the next couple days. He would have to be cleared before he could go on rehab."
Reliever Hideki Okajima, out with a strained right hamstring, threw 30 pitches off a bullpen mound. The left-hander could soon return from the disabled list.
Outfielder Mike Cameron underwent surgery for a lower abdominal strain. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (lower right leg infection) and infielder Eric Patterson (strained neck) were scheduled to start rehab assignment Friday night with Triple-A Pawtucket.
Orioles activate reliever Johnson from 60-day DL
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Relief pitcher Jim Johnson has been activated from the 60-day disabled list by the Baltimore Orioles.
The move was made Friday before Baltimore opened a series against the Los Angeles Angels. Johnson had been sidelined since May 28 because of inflammation in his right elbow.
Johnson was 1-1 with one save and a 6.22 ERA in 10 appearances before the injury. He fills the roster spot vacated when right-hander Armando Gabino was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday night’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.
This is Johnson’s fifth season with the Orioles. The right-hander was 4-6 with a 4.11 ERA and 10 saves in 64 relief appearances last season. He spent his first two big league seasons as a starter and was converted into a reliever in 2008, when he pitched 68 2-3 innings in 54 outings without allowing a home run.
Bonderman scratched with sore muscle in right side
TORONTO (AP) — Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman has been scratched from Saturday’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays because of a sore muscle in his right side.
He will be replaced by right-hander Alfredo Figaro.
Bonderman is 7-9 with a 5.27 ERA in 24 games this season, including 23 starts. His injury is not linked to the condition that caused a blood clot in his pitching arm in 2008, leading to surgery and limiting him to just 20 appearances in 2008 and 2009.
Figaro was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Aug. 20, his second stint with Detroit this season. He’s 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three relief appearances. He went 10-6 with a 4.14 ERA in 23 starts at Triple-A, and pitched in five games for the Tigers in 2009, making three starts.
A’s LHP Anderson leaves with right knee injury
ARLINGTON (AP) — Oakland Athletics left-hander Brett Anderson was removed from Friday night’s start against the Texas Rangers after two innings with a slightly hyperextended right knee.
His right foot landed in a hole on the mound during his follow-through on a pitch to Julio Borbon in the second. Anderson fell awkwardly, and a trainer and manager Bob Geren left the dugout to check on Anderson.
After throwing a couple of practice pitches, Anderson remained in the game, but was replaced by right-hander Boof Bonser at the start of the third.
Anderson allowed four runs and six hits.
OF Hawpe agrees to minor league deal with the Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with veteran outfielder Brad Hawpe.
Hawpe was released earlier this month by Colorado. He'll report to Class-A Charlotte of the Florida State League.
Hawpe was one of the cornerstones on the Rockies' 2007 NL championship team and a first-time All-Star last season. He hit .255 with seven homers and 37 RBIs this season with Colorado.
The move was announced before Tampa Bay's game Friday night against Boston.
Stomach virus sidelines Tampa Bay’s Crawford
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford was scratched from Tampa Bay’s starting lineup up against Boston on Friday night because of a stomach virus.
Matt Joyce started in left field for the Rays and batted ninth.
Crawford is batting .297 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs. He is second in the major leagues with 41 stolen bases.
Elsewhere
Aaron reunites with 2 fans who shared glory of 715
ATLANTA (AP) — The moment is still frozen in time: Hank Aaron rounding the bases after hitting his record 715th home run when, suddenly, two young fans ran up from behind to pat him on the shoulder.
On Friday, Aaron got a rare chance to reminisce with those who briefly shared his moment on glory on April 8, 1974.
"It's wonderful to see them," Aaron said before the Atlanta Braves opened a series against the Florida Marlins. "I often get asked, 'Whatever happened to those two guys?' It's nice to see them once again and know they're doing fine, doing well."
Britt Gaston and Cliff Courtenay were only 17 when Aaron broke Babe Ruth's career home run record at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, now the site of a parking lot across the street from Turner Field.
Jumping onto the field along the first-base line, the teenagers caught up with a startled Aaron as he rounded second base, each giving him a quick pat before they peeled off and tried to make their getaway down the third-base line. They didn't get far — Courtenay was caught by officers before he even got over the railing, while Gaston got about 10 rows up when he realized there was no escape.
"They were at each end of the aisle, in force," Gaston recalled. "I just put my hands up and said, 'OK, let's go.'"
They were bailed out of jail about 3:30 a.m. by Gaston's father, and the charges were dropped when they appeared in court the next morning.
Aaron said he's glad they didn't get in too much trouble. This was the first time he had seen the two since 1994, when they reunited for the 20th anniversary of the landmark homer.
"The older you get, the more you think about it," Aaron said. "I'm just glad things worked out the way they did. It could have been a lot worse. They were having fun with it as kids. They didn't get beat up and all that. I think they spent two or three hours in jail. Other than that, it was a happy moment."
Aaron finished his career with 755 homers, a record since broken by Barry Bonds. Of course, many fans still consider Hammerin' Hank the legitimate home run king, given that Bonds and plenty of others from his era have been accused of using performance-enhancing drugs to bolster their numbers.
Just this week, six-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens was indicted on charges he lied to Congress when he vehemently denied using anything illegal.
"I've tried to stay out of all that," Aaron said. "Let the law fall wherever it may. I just tried to play the game the way it was supposed to be played."
These days, Courtenay is an optometrist in the south Georgia town of Valdosta, while Gaston works in the real estate business in Charleston, S.C. After some initial second thoughts about what they had done, they now realize it's just a fondly remembered sidelight from one of baseball's most historic nights.
"It was more a celebration of the moment. That was such a big deal. It was nothing malicious at all," Courtenay said. "Fortunately, Hank saw it that way, too."
-- Paul Newberry
Cardinals organist Ernie Hays to retire
ST. LOUIS (AP) — He's been a fixture at Busch Stadium since the days of Bob Gibson and Lou Brock. But after this season, organist Ernie Hays is calling it quits.
Hays told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that after 40 seasons, this will be his last as a regular organist for the Cardinals, though he's willing to fill in on occasion. Hays says he wants to spend more time with his grandchildren and "the fishing pole."
Hays has long been a fixture in St. Louis sports, not just the Cardinals. At one time in the 1970s he played the organ for seven teams. He also had a full-time job as an engineering supervisor with the old Bell System.
Hays says he'll continue to teach piano and organ students and will still perform private parties and charity events.
