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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • mlb (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, May 22, 2008 AL NOTES: Willis returns to Tigers Associated Press TIGERS: Detroit recalled pitcher Dontrelle Willis shortly before their game against Seattle on Wednesday night and placed reliever Clay Rapada on the 15-day disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Manager Jim Leyland said Willis will pitch out of the bullpen initially, and eventually return to the rotation. Right-hander Armando Galarraga -- the man who replaced him -- will remain in the starting rotation. Willis, on the disabled list because of a hyperextended right knee since April 12, went 1-1 with 4.41 ERA in three rehab starts at Triple-A Toledo. He won his most recent start after allowing a run and five hits while striking out four in six innings Saturday at Columbus. He came to the Tigers in an offseason trade along with slugger Miguel Cabrera, but has pitched just five innings for the club. He left during the first inning of his second start at Chicago after he slipped off the mound while delivering a pitch. Leyland said he hoped the time in the bullpen would give the lefty time to "get Dontrelle Willis back to the Dontrelle Willis we know." Galarraga (3-1), who shares the team lead for wins, is scheduled to start Friday against Minnesota's Boof Bonser. Rapada (2-0) appeared in 13 games after being recalled from Toledo on April 11. He had a 4.50 ERA in 10 innings. ANGELS: Los Angeles activated infielder Chone Figgins off the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, but saw infielder Erick Aybar land on the 15-day DL with a dislocated right pinky that is expected to sideline him for the next four weeks. Figgins has not played since injuring his hamstring sliding into home in a May 3 game against Baltimore. He felt good after working out Tuesday and was back in the lineup Wednesday as Los Angeles' third baseman and leadoff hitter. "We hope Figgy brings that spark that he always brings," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He was playing very well defensively before he went down. Hopefully he'll hit the ground running and keep going." The switch-hitting Figgins was batting .306 with no homers and seven RBIs at the time of his injury and has hit safely in 27 of 32 games this season. Aybar injured his hand in the first inning of Tuesday's game when he dove for a ground ball off the bat of Alex Rios, catching his pinky on the ground and coming up clutching his fingers in pain. Aybar visited a hand specialist Wednesday, who confirmed no surgery will be required. Still, Scioscia expects Aybar to miss four weeks while the finger heals. "That's a tough break for that kid and we'll have to absorb it and move on," Scioscia said. Aybar is batting .270 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 43 games. Macier Izturis will get the bulk of the work at shortstop in Aybar's absence, with Sean Rodriguez backing him up. "We have some options," Scioscia said. "Figgy's versatility, we might have to tap into it. He's played second before. We're going to want him to get settled at third base, obviously, but he has the option of playing second and we have (Robb Quinlan) who can play third and some other looks we can give on some days." Infielder Howie Kendrick, out since April 13 with a strained left hamstring, is doing agility drills but has not been able to run yet, Scioscia said. Right-hander Kelvim Escobar (torn labrum) has been playing catch and is expected throw in the outfield when the Angels return home next Monday, while right-hander Dustin Moseley (right forearm tightness) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday. RED SOX: Boston called up Bartolo Colon from Pawtucket and sent right-hander Justin Masterson to the Class AAA team on Wednesday. Colon, the AL Cy Young award winner in 2005, started Wednesday night's game against the Kansas City Royals. The Red Sox signed Colon to a minor league contract in spring training after he became a free agent following four seasons with the Angels. He was 21-8 with a 3.48 ERA in 2005, but injuries limited him to 29 games the past two seasons. The right-hander was 6-8 with a 6.34 ERA last season in 19 games, 18 of them starts. He was on the disabled list from July 24 to Sept. 9 with irritation in his right elbow. In his last appearance in 2007, he had two strikeouts in a scoreless relief inning on Sept. 29 against Oakland. In three rehab starts for Pawtucket, Colon was 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA. Masterson was sent down after allowing one run in 6 1-3 innings of Tuesday night's 2-1 win over the Royals, his first major league decision. He had been recalled before the game because Boston needed a starter after playing a doubleheader Saturday.

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