Everett, Wash.
Published: Sunday, June 22, 2008

Baseball notes: Cubs' Zambrano goes on DL

 CUBS: Carlos Zambrano could not avoid the disabled list, even though he dodged a major injury. Chicago placed its star pitcher on the 15-day disabled list with a minor right shoulder strain Saturday and expect him to miss two starts.

"There's nothing wrong," Zambrano said. "We just have to be careful, take some time, give it a rest, come back stronger."

Big Z gave the Cubs a big scare when he left Wednesday night's game at Tampa Bay because of discomfort in his right shoulder. He was examined Thursday in Chicago and underwent an MRI arthrogram on Friday. The test, in which dye is injected into the troubled area to provide a more detailed look, revealed no major structural damage.

RED SOX: Daisuke Matsuzaka lasted one inning against St. Louis -- the shortest outing of his brief career -- in his return from the disabled list on Saturday.

The Red Sox starter, who was placed on the DL on May 30 because of a mild rotator cuff strain, was charged with seven runs in one-plus inning.

Matsuzaka, who left his start May 27 in Seattle with the injury, gave up four runs in the first inning, allowing five hits -- including Aaron Miles' first homer of the season.

He loaded the bases in the second with two walks and a single without retiring a batter and was relieved by right-hander Chris Smith, who was making his major league debut. Smith gave up a grand slam to Troy Glaus. Matsuzaka was 8-0 with a 2.53 ERA coming into the game.

Red Sox reliever Mike Timlin was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of tendinitis in his left knee, the fifth time in the past three seasons the 42-year-old Timlin has been on the disabled list. The move allowed Boston to activate Matsuzaka.

REDS: Cincinnati placed infielder Jolbert Cabrera on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. Cabrera suffered a compound dislocation of his left index finger sliding into second base in Cincinnati's 4-2 win over the New York Yankees on Friday night. He became the fourth Reds shortstop on the DL.

METS: Longtime baseball executive Wayne Krivsky was hired by New York as special assistant to general manager Omar Minaya. Krivsky was fired as GM of the Cincinnati Reds in late April.

BLUE JAYS: A day after being hit in the head with a line drive, Toronto's Roy Halladay said Saturday that he was "fine" and would not miss his next start. The news wasn't as good for fellow Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right elbow. Marcum, second in the American League with a 2.65 ERA, was to fly to Florida on Saturday to be examined by Dr. Steve Mirabello. Marcum will also see noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

ROYALS: Kansas City placed veteran pitcher Brett Tomko on unconditional waivers. Tomko had been designated for assignment on June 12, meaning the Royals had 10 days to trade, release, or waive Tomko if he didn't accept a minor league assignment.

Associated Press
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