THT Daily: Santana Rocks

Major League News for August 20

Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
Game of the Day
Yesterday’s Home Runs
Top Minor League Performances
Player News
Stats

Yesterday’s Results

American League
TOR     9  BAL     2    (Recap and Boxscore)
NYA     8  BOS     5    (Recap and Boxscore)
CLE     9  TB      4    (Recap and Boxscore)
TEX     7  DET     6    (Recap and Boxscore)
OAK     6  KC      4    (Recap and Boxscore)
MIN     7  CHA     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAA     3  SEA     2    (Recap and Boxscore)

National League
FLA     4  ATL     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
NYN     2  COL     0    (Recap and Boxscore)
PHI    12  WAS    10    (Recap and Boxscore)
STL     5  CHN     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
CIN     5  PIT     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
HOU     3  MIL     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
SD      2  ARI     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAN     5  SF      2    (Recap and Boxscore)

Today’s Games

Visitors                            Home                              Starts
NYY - Lidle C. (1-2, 3.86)          BOS - Wells D.* (2-2, 6.06)        1:05
WAS - Traber B.* (3-1, 5.49)        FLA - Sanchez A. (4-2, 3.70)       7:05
PIT - Gorzelanny T.* (2-3, 3.74)    ATL - Smoltz J. (10-6, 3.62)       7:05
CWS - Contreras J. (11-5, 3.78)     DET - Verlander J. (14-6, 3.14)    7:05
OAK - Haren D. (11-9, 3.45)         TOR - Lilly T.* (10-11, 4.26)      7:07
HOU - Pettitte A.* (11-13, 4.65)    CIN - Arroyo B. (10-8, 3.45)       7:10
TEX - Eaton A. (3-2, 3.86)          TB - Shields J. (5-6, 4.75)        7:15
PHI - Lieber J. (5-9, 5.10)         CHC - Hill R.* (3-5, 6.90)         8:05
LAD - Billingsley C. (4-3, 3.16)    SD - Park C. (7-7, 4.68)          10:05
ARI - Hernandez L. (10-9, 5.36)     SF - Lowry N.* (5-7, 4.21)        10:15

Standings

The graphics next to each team are called “sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each “up” bar is a victory and a “down” bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. “PWins” is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.

American League East        Pwins  Diff
NYA     74  48 .607    0.0   71      3      
BOS     69  54 .561    5.5   65      4      
TOR     66  58 .532    9.0   65      1      
BAL     55  69 .444   20.0   55      0      
TB      49  75 .395   26.0   50     -1      
American League Central
DET     79  45 .637    0.0   76      3      
CHA     73  50 .593    5.5   71      2      
MIN     72  51 .585    6.5   69      3      
CLE     56  67 .455   22.5   67     -11     
KC      45  81 .357   35.0   47     -2      
American League West
OAK     70  54 .565    0.0   64      6      
LAA     66  59 .528    4.5   64      2      
TEX     65  60 .520    5.5   67     -2      
SEA     56  68 .452   14.0   59     -3      

National League East         Pwins Diff
NYN     75  48 .610    0.0   71      4      
PHI     61  62 .496   14.0   63     -2      
ATL     58  65 .472   17.0   63     -5      
FLA     57  66 .463   18.0   59     -2      
WAS     54  70 .435   21.5   54      0      
National League Central
STL     66  57 .537    0.0   63      3      
CIN     64  60 .516    2.5   60      4      
MIL     59  65 .476    7.5   54      5      
HOU     59  65 .476    7.5   61     -2      
CHN     53  70 .431   13.0   50      3      
PIT     47  77 .379   19.5   54     -7      
National League West
LAN     66  58 .532    0.0   67     -1      
SD      62  62 .500    4.0   62      0      
ARI     62  62 .500    4.0   61      1      
SF      59  65 .476    7.0   61     -2      
COL     59  65 .476    7.0   64     -5      

Wildcard Standings
American League
CHA     73  50 .593    0.0
MIN     72  51 .585    1.0
BOS     69  54 .561    4.0
TOR     66  58 .532    7.5
LAA     66  59 .528    8.0
National League
CIN     64  60 .516    0.0
SD      62  62 .500    2.0
ARI     62  62 .500    2.0
PHI     61  62 .496    2.5
MIL     59  65 .476    5.0

Game of the Day

The Yankees are one game away from sweeping a crucial five-game series from the Red Sox after last night’s 8-5 win in extra innings. This one was filled with drama, as Boston’s Curt Schilling pitched seven fine innnings and left with a 5-3 lead. But rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon gave up a game-tying single to Derek Jeter with two out in the ninth; the Red Sox loaded the bases against Mariano Rivera with one out in the ninth, but couldn’t plate a run; and then Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada hit home runs to give the Yankees their three-run advantage in the top of the tenth.

NY YANKEES (8) VS BOSTON (5) - FINAL IN 10 INNINGS 

NY YANKEES             ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
J Damon cf              5  1  1  0   0  1   1  .296
D Jeter ss              4  1  2  1   0  1   0  .337
B Abreu rf-3b           4  1  2  0   1  2   1  .397
J Giambi 1b             4  2  3  5   0  1   2  .261
 C Wilson 1b            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .259
A Rodriguez dh-3b       4  0  1  0   1  2   2  .287
R Cano 2b               5  1  1  0   0  1   5  .328
J Posada c              4  1  1  2   1  1   4  .270
M Cabrera lf            5  1  1  0   0  1   1  .290
N Green 3b              3  0  0  0   0  3   0  .179
 a-B Williams ph-rf     2  0  0  0   0  1   1  .281
 A Guiel rf             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .235

Totals                 40  8 12  8   3 14  17

a-struck out swinging for N Green in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - J Giambi (19, C Schilling); M Cabrera (18, J Papelbon); R Cano 
(24, C Hansen). HR - J Giambi 2 (36, 4th inning off C Schilling 2 on, 0 Out, 
10th inning off C Hansen 0 on, 0 Out), J Posada (16, 10th inning off C Hansen 1 
on, 1 Out). SF - J Giambi. RBI - J Giambi 5 (101), D Jeter (76), J Posada 2 
(65). 2-out RBI - D Jeter. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Posada 
3, R Cano 1. GIDP - R Cano. Team LOB - 7. 
 
FIELDING: E - J Damon (3, bobble); R Cano (8, ground ball). PB - J Posada. 
DP: 1 (N Green-R Cano-J Giambi). 
 
BOSTON                 ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
C Crisp cf              6  0  0  0   0  1   2  .271
M Loretta 2b            5  2  2  0   1  0   0  .309
D Ortiz dh              6  2  3  1   0  0   1  .286
M Ramirez lf            2  0  2  1   3  0   0  .330
K Youkilis 1b           5  1  2  2   0  0   4  .293
M Lowell 3b             4  0  2  0   1  0   2  .288
W Pena rf               4  0  0  0   0  1   6  .295
 G Kapler rf            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .226
 a-E Hinske ph-rf       1  0  0  0   0  1   3  .267
D Mirabelli c           5  0  1  1   0  2   7  .200
A Cora ss               5  0  1  0   0  1   2  .282

Totals                 43  5 13  5   5  6  27

a-struck out swinging for G Kapler in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - M Ramirez (26, M Mussina); D Ortiz (24, M Rivera). HR - D Ortiz 
(44, 5th inning off R Villone 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ramirez (100), K Youkilis 2 
(64), D Mirabelli (20), D Ortiz (117). 2-out RBI - D Mirabelli, D Ortiz. 
Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - C Crisp 1, D Mirabelli 4, A Cora 1. 
GIDP - M Lowell. Team LOB - 13. 
 
FIELDING: E - C Schilling (2, throw). DP: 1 (M Loretta-A Cora-K Youkilis). 
 
----------------------------------------------------
    NY YANKEES      - 000 300 011 3  --   8
    BOSTON          - 200 110 100 0  --   5
----------------------------------------------------

NY YANKEES                   ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
M Mussina                     4       7   3   3   0   2   0   3.61
R Villone                     2       3   1   1   1   1   1   2.84
M Myers                         1/3   0   1   1   2   0   0   2.82
S Proctor                     1 2/3   1   0   0   0   2   0   3.47
M Rivera (W, 5-5)             2       2   0   0   2   1   0   1.88

BOSTON                       ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
C Schilling                   7       6   3   3   1   7   1   3.84
M Timlin (H, 19)              0       1   1   1   0   0   0   4.05
J Lopez (H, 8)                0       0   0   0   1   0   0   4.15
J Papelbon (B, 6)             2       2   1   1   1   5   0   1.00
C Hansen (L, 1-1)             1       3   3   3   0   2   2   6.60

M Timlin pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.
J Lopez pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP - J Papelbon. IBB - M Ramirez 2 (by M Myers, M Rivera), M Lowell (by M 
Rivera). HBP - D Jeter (by M Timlin). Pitches-strikes: M Mussina 62-42; R 
Villone 40-23; M Myers 16-6; S Proctor 30-21; M Rivera 30-15; C Schilling 
109-75; M Timlin 3-2; J Lopez 6-2; J Papelbon 42-28; C Hansen 23-15. Ground 
balls-fly balls: M Mussina 5-5; R Villone 2-3; M Myers 1-0; S Proctor 1-3; M 
Rivera 3-2; C Schilling 7-7; M Timlin 0-0; J Lopez 0-0; J Papelbon 0-1; C 
Hansen 0-1. Batters faced: M Mussina 18; R Villone 10; M Myers 3; S Proctor 7; 
M Rivera 10; C Schilling 27; M Timlin 2; J Lopez 1; J Papelbon 9; C Hansen 6. 
 
UMPIRES: HP--Ed Rapuano. 1B--Tony Randazzo. 2B--James Hoye. 3B--Joe West. 

T--4:17. (Plus rain delay totaling 55 minutes in the 2nd). Att--36,155. 

Weather: 71 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, left to right.

The following graph tracks the game’s Win Probability, courtesy of Fan Graphs.

Yesterday’s Home Runs

The following stats are provided by Hit Tracker, which logs the projected distance of each home run (if it were to land uninterrupted at field level) and its “standard” distance, which is corrected for weather conditions. You can read their daily updates at the Hit Tracker Blog.

Hitter                      Pitcher                      True Dist. Std. Dist.  HR #
Hafner, Travis       CLE    Seo, Jae            TB           450        449     38
Ortiz, David         BOS    Villone, Ron        NYY          420        421     44
Hart, Corey          MIL    Clemens, Roger      HOU          415        412      4
Duncan, Chris        STL    Mateo, Juan         CHC          402        411     14
Harper, Brandon      WAS    Wolf, Randy         PHI          408        410      1
Encarnacion, Juan    STL    Mateo, Juan         CHC          391        409     17
Giambi, Jason        NYY    Hansen, Craig       BOS          395        407     36
Giambi, Jason        NYY    Schilling, Curt     BOS          403        405     35
Peralta, Jhonny      CLE    Meadows, Brian      TB           405        404     11
Garciaparra, Nomar   LAD    Morris, Matt        SF           432        399     14
Ramirez, Aramis      CHC    Isringhausen, Jason STL          377        398     30
Delgado, Carlos      NYM    Jennings, Jason     COL          426        395     29
Swisher, Nick        OAK    Wellemeyer, Todd    KC           399        395     26
Lieberthal, Mike     PHI    Astacio, Pedro      WAS          386        393      5
Johnson, Reed        TOR    Ortiz, Russ         BAL          424        392     11
Garko, Ryan          CLE    Seo, Jae            TB           394        392      3
Francoeur, Jeff      ATL    Willis, Dontrelle   FLA          389        389     23
Tejada, Miguel       BAL    Halladay, Roy       TOR          415        386     22
Molina, Bengie       TOR    Bedard, Erik        BAL          413        384     13
Sexson, Richie       SEA    Santana, Ervin      LAA          408        381     26
Bay, Jason           PIT    Harang, Aaron       CIN          402        378     27
Nunez, Abraham       PHI    Schroder, Chris     WAS          389        373      2
Willingham, Josh     FLA    Cormier, Lance      ATL          373        373     18
Glaus, Troy          TOR    Bedard, Erik        BAL          387        369     33
Harper, Brandon      WAS    Wolf, Randy         PHI          362        365      2
Sanders, Reggie      KC     Saarloos, Kirk      OAK          380        364     11
Beltran, Carlos      NYM    Jennings, Jason     COL          387        362     35
Posada, Jorge        NYY    Hansen, Craig       BOS          351        360     16
Hunter, Torii        MIN    Cotts, Neal         CWS          360        356     17
Branyan, Russell     TB     Westbrook, Jake     CLE          353        352     12
Hatteberg, Scott     CIN    Santos, Victor      PIT          376        348     12
Dunn, Adam           CIN    Santos, Victor      PIT          355        324     37
Grudzielanek, Mark   KC     Duchscherer, Justin OAK          285        276      6
Drew, J.D.           LAD    Morris, Matt        SF            NA         NA     12

Top Minor League Games

The following list, provided by First Inning, includes the top minor league batting (based on Runs Created) and pitching (based on Game Score) performances from yesterday.

ORG LVL PLAYER            POS AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO  Notes
ARI A+  Jereme Milons      RF  4  4  1  2  0  0  0  3 runs scored
CIN A+  Cody Strait        RF  5  4  1  0  0  1  0  3 runs scored
CIN A+  Jay Garthwaite     LF  3  3  1  0  1  1  0   
DET A   Jeramy Laster      RF  2  2  0  0  1  2  0   
LA  A   Lucas May          DH  3  3  0  0  2  1  0  .536 OBP during past week
LA  A+  Juan Apodaca        C  4  3  0  0  3  1  1  5 RBI
MIN A   William Luque      3B  4  4  1  0  0  0  0   
NYY A   Austin Jackson     LF  3  3  0  1  0  2  0   
NYY AAA Ben Davis           C  4  3  0  0  1  1  0   
NYY A+  Victor Hall        CF  6  4  0  0  1  0  0   
 
ORG LVL PLAYER             IP   H  R ER SO BB HR  Notes
ATL AAA Jason Shiell       7.0  3  0  0  6  4  0   
BAL AA  Beau Hale          7.0  3  0  0  8  0  0   
CHC AAA Les Walrond        7.2  4  1  1  5  0  1   
CHC AA  Sean Gallagher     7.0  3  0  0  5  4  0   
DET AA  Jair Jurrjens      7.0  4  0  0  5  0  0   
HOU AAA Ezequiel Astacio   7.0  2  0  0  6  2  0   
HOU A+  Jimmy Barthmaier   7.0  3  0  0  6  1  0   
MIN A   Alexander Smit     7.0  2  0  0  9  3  0  48 K over last 33 IP
SD  AA  Michael Ekstrom    9.0  8  0  0  5  0  0   
STL A+  Cory Meacham       7.1  4  1  1  6  1  0  

Player News

Player news items are provided by CBS SportsLine.com.

Chone Figgins singled home the winning run in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat Seattle 3-2 Sunday to send the Mariners to their 11th straight loss. “I don’t know if there’s a word to describe it,” said Seattle closer J.J. Putz, who surrendered Figgins’ hit. “There’s been games where we haven’t played very well, and games where we’ve played really well and just didn’t get the ‘W.’

Sixteen batters, 16 outs. As Roy Halladay got deeper in the game, the Baltimore Orioles began to wonder if they’d ever manage a hit off Toronto’s ace. “He had me worried there for a while that we might not get one,” Orioles manager Sam Perlozzo said, “but he kind of tired a bit.” Although rookie Brandon Fahey ended the no-hit bid with a one-out single in the sixth inning, Halladay earned his major league-leading 16th win, leading the Blue Jays to a 9-2 victory Sunday. Halladay (16-3) allowed two runs, four hits and a walk in seven innings, striking out two.

Derek Lowe wanted to talk about his hitting. There was a lot to be said for his pitching too. He allowed five hits in eight plus innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Sunday. Lowe (11-8) also had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, who improved to 19-3 over their last 22 games. “I got to a .100 there for a moment,” Lowe joked. Lowe has won four of his last five starts since ending a three-game losing streak on July 29. “I’ve always loved the end of the year when every game and every pitch matters,” Lowe said. “If anything I focus more. If I could keep that same focus and intensity over 34 starts instead of 10 I’d have better years.” Lowe retired 13 straight after giving up a third-inning single to Eliezer Alfonzo. The 32-year-old veteran won his fourth decision in the last five and recorded his 22nd win in August, his highest total of any month. “Lowe was the best I’ve seen since he was in Boston,” Giants shortstop Omar Vizquel said. “He didn’t throw above the knees. He’s like (Greg) Maddux with more speed.”

Johan Santana held the White Sox offense to one run in seven innings Sunday in Minnesota’s 7-3 victory over the White Sox on Sunday, cutting Chicago’s lead to one game in the AL wild-card race. The Venezuelan lefty wasn’t his usual overpowering self on Sunday as he pitched with a blister and split nail on the middle finger of his left hand. He allowed six hits and struck out five, but got better as the game went on. After allowing at least one runner to reach in each of the first five innings, he retired the last nine hitters he faced to help the Twins take two of three in the weekend series.

Texas’s Josh Rupe and three more relievers slowed Detroit down after they scored six runs in the second inning against the Rangers’ John Koronka on Sunday. Rupe (1-0) gave up only three hits over 2 2/3 innings after entering in the second inning. Akinori Otsuka pitched the ninth inning Sunday vs. Detroit and earned his 26th save in 29 chances.

Clay Hensley came through for the San Diego Padres one day later than expected. Hensley, scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday with an injury, pitched four strong innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday after starter Chris Young left after one inning with a strained muscle in his upper back. Hensley combined with five other relievers to hold the Diamondbacks in check, and with Mike Cameron’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and four hits from Brian Giles, helped the Padres to a 2-1 win over Arizona.

Aaron Harang allowed one run and five hits in seven innings Sunday vs. Pittsburgh with nine strikeouts. His career-high 13 wins are the most by a Reds pitcher since Jimmy Haynes went 15-10 in 2002.

Chris Duncan homered for the third consecutive game to lead the St. Louis Cardinals over the Chicago Cubs 5-3 Sunday. With one out in the first inning, Duncan hit his 14th homer of the season off Cubs starter Juan Mateo. “He’s been so relentless. One thing you admire is when a guy looks the same every day. … He’s just out there playing hard and making a lot of things happen,” Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. Chris Carpenter (12-6) allowed two runs and seven hits for St. Louis Sunday at the Chicago Cubs. He struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

The Houston Astros needed a good starting pitching performance Sunday after they used five relievers Saturday night. Luckily for them, they had Roger Clemens on the mound. Clemens struck out seven in seven innings to get his 346th career win, leading the Astros over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1. Clemens (5-4) gave up six hits and one run to improve to 3-0 with a no-decision in his last four starts. He allowed just one runner past second base, lowering his ERA to 2.58, and threw 80 of his 108 pitches for strikes. Astros manager Phil Garner was most impressed with Clemens’ decision to pitch the seventh inning and save a weary, and struggling bullpen.”

Travis Hafner homered in his third straight game to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-4 on Sunday. Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-4 and hit his first career grand slam.

In the absence of aces, Orlando Hernandez has become one of the New York Mets’ most dependable starters. Hernandez won for the fifth time in six decisions in a 2-0 victory over Colorado on Sunday that completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies. Hernandez (9-9) struck out eight in six innings, and allowed five hits and one walk.

Guillermo Mota was traded to the Mets by the Indians Sunday for a player to be named. “Our scouts have seen him, feel that the velocity is good. He’s healthy,” Mets general manager Omar Minaya said. “Hopefully a change of scenery, change of leagues can hopefully produce better results.” Mota missed more than a month of 2005 due to a sore elbow. He is expected to report Tuesday, when New York opens a three-game series against St. Louis, and the Mets will make a roster move then.

The Detroit Tigers acquired Neifi Perez from the Chicago Cubs on Sunday for a minor leaguer, adding infield depth less than a week after losing second baseman Placido Polanco because of a shoulder injury. In the trade, the Tigers gave up catcher Chris Robinson.

Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano looked “as good as can be anticipated” when evaluated by team doctors on Sunday and will begin a throwing program Tuesday. “He looks as good as he could possibly look given the way he started out,” Dr. Dan Buss said. Liriano said he’ll throw around 50 or 60 times on Tuesday and hopes that he will be able to return to the team at some point this season.

Dontrelle Willis pitched seven innings to win for only the second time in his past eight starts as the Florida Marlins averted a series sweep by beating the Atlanta Braves 4-3 Sunday. Willis (8-10) allowed only four hits and three runs, two earned. He gave up a tying two-run homer to Jeff Francoeur in the sixth. He retired 11 in a row before Andruw Jones walked with two out in the sixth. Francoeur followed with his 23rd homer to tie it at 3.

Willy Taveras extended his career-high hitting streak to 23 games with a first-inning single on Sunday at Milwaukee. He was 2-for-5, adding a bunt single, and is hitting .333 during the streak.

The Phillies optioned RHP Scott Mathieson to Triple-A Scranton to make room for LHP Jamie Moyer. Moyer, a native of Sellersville, Pa., was acquired from Seattle for two minor leaguers on Saturday.

Jeff Francoeur homered Sunday to improve to 7-for-16 (.438) against Florida’s Dontrelle Willis.

Mike Maroth wants to make his next start for the Tigers after giving up one run over six innings for Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, his third rehab start, but acknowledged he had tenderness in his surgically repaired elbow. He spent several minutes in Jim Leyland’s office before Sunday’s game, but the manager was not in the mood to discuss the plan for Maroth. “I don’t know – next question,” Leyland bristled. All five Tigers starters will go in succession, but Tuesday starter Kenny Rogers would lose his second start if Maroth is added to the rotation later in the week. Eventually, rookie Zach Miner’s rotation spot could go to Maroth.

Astros RHP Roy Oswalt, scratched from his scheduled start Saturday due to a bruised right hand, is listed as day to day and will start Wednesday against the Reds, the team said.

The Seattle Mariners placed reliever Mark Lowe on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of tendinitis in his right elbow and recalled Sean Green from Triple-A Tacoma. “We want to be cautious with this kid because he’s got a good arm, and we don’t want to him to be out for a considerable amount of time,” manager Mike Hargrove said.

Yankees right-hander Carl Pavano allowed one earned run in four innings for Double-A Trenton in a minor league rehab start Sunday.

Lyle Overbay had three hits Sunday at Baltimore and is 19-for-47 (.404) over his last 13 games.

Randy Wolf struck out a season-high eight over five-plus innings on Sunday against Washington. He has won his last seven decisions dating to 2005. He yielded six runs and nine hits with three walks.

The Red Sox recalled left-hander Javier Lopez from Triple-A on Sunday and optioned righty Jermaine Van Buren to Pawtucket. It is Lopez’s third stint with the Red Sox this season, but his first since the team acquired similarly named Javy Lopez from the Baltimore Orioles. Van Buren, who allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings Saturday, was 1-0 with a 11.77 ERA in 10 appearances with Boston in 2006.

Abraham Nunez has gone through enough hard times this season that he isn’t going to take anything for granted now. Nunez homered and tied a career high with four RBI to help the Philadelphia Phillies hold on for a 12-10 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.

The Astros designated catcher Eric Munson for assignment and recalled catcher J.R. House. House will back up Brad Ausmus, who leads all NL catchers with 852 innings caught.

The Reds reinstated RHP Matt Belisle from the 15-day DL on Sunday.

The Reds placed LHP Chris Michalak on the bereavement list Sunday and purchased the contract of Norris Hopper from Triple-A Louisville. To make room on the 40-man roster for Hopper, pitcher Mike Burns was designated for assignment.

The Angels placed OF Curtis Pride (back) on the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Greg Jones from Triple-A Salt Lake.

After placing Huston Street on the 15-day DL with a strained groin muscle the A’s brought up LHP Ron Flores from Triple-A Sacramento.

The Red Sox optioned LHP Craig Breslow to Triple-A Pawtucket of the IL. The Rangers optioned RHP Scott Feldman to Triple-A Oklahoma. Royals recalled UTL Andres Blanco from Triple-A Omaha of the PCL. Athletics sent UTL D’Angelo Jimenez outright to Triple-A Sacramento of the PCL on Friday. The Giants placed UTL Jose Vizcaino on release waivers Friday.

The Blue Jays purchased the contract of LHP Davis Romero from Triple-A Syracuse.

The San Diego Padres purchased the contract of infielder Manny Alexander from Triple-A Portland on Sunday to replace injured shortstop Khalil Greene. To make room for Alexander, the Padres optioned right-hander Mike Thompson to Portland.

San Diego pitcher Chris Young left Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning with a strained back muscle. Young faced three batters in the inning when he allowed a leadoff single to Eric Byrnes. Young, who threw 12 pitches, then picked Byrnes off first base. He retired the next two batters and did not come out for the second inning. Young, 9-5 with a 3.80 ERA, was replaced by Jon Adkins.

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