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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   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: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 BASEBALL NOTEBOOK INDIANS: Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez, sidelined two months because of right elbow inflammation, drove in two runs in his first Class AAA rehab appearance. Before going on the disabled list June 12, the 29-year-old batted .278 without a homer in 54 games with Cleveland this season. ORIOLES: The balloons went up and the confetti came down, sparking a celebration that was 17 years in the making. Oriole Park at Camden Yards hit the 50 million mark in attendance, reaching the milestone quicker than any ballpark in baseball history. The stadium opened in 1992 as the exclusive home of the Baltimore Orioles, who moved in after residing at Memorial Stadium since 1954. Kevin Gracie, a 24-year-old student at the University of Baltimore School of Law, won $50,000, season tickets for five years and was introduced to the crowd before the Orioles played the Boston Red Sox. Orioles closer George Sherrill was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left shoulder inflammation, a disappointing setback for the All-Star pitcher who has 31 saves and has already exceeded a career high in innings pitched. Sherrill had an MRI on Tuesday, 24 hours after complaining of stiffness in his pitching arm. RANGERS: Texas Rangers All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler might be able to avoid season-ending surgery for a sports hernia after receiving an encouraging diagnosis from a specialist. Kinsler said the doctor told him there was probably no torn muscle in the left side of his groin area. Kinsler was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Monday and will be examined again in a week. If he shows progress, there's a chance he could return to the lineup at the end of his DL stint. ROYALS: Luke Hochevar of Kansas City left his start against the Cleveland Indians with tightness in his right ribcage while warming up for the sixth inning. The right-hander had allowed seven hits over five innings and the Royals were trailing 4-3 when he went to the mound to warm up. Hochevar threw a couple of pitches and assistant trainer Frank Kyte went to the mound to check on the 24-year-old. A moment later, they walked to the dugout. Kip Wells, who started on opening day for Colorado before getting demoted and later cut, signed with Kansas City. The 31-year-old free agent was designated for assignment by the Rockies on Aug. 10. He is 1-2 with a 5.27 ERA in 15 appearances -- he was 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA as a reliever, which is how the Royals expect to use him the righty. YANKEES: The New York Yankees activated outfielder Hideki Matsui off the 15-day disabled list and optioned outfielder Justin Christian to Class AAA. Matsui started as the designated hitter, batting seventh against the Toronto Blue Jays. Matsui, who is batting .323 with seven homers and 34 RBIs in 69 games, has been out since June 22. His sore left knee flared up several times during the rehab, and he decided not to have surgery last month in an attempt to rejoin the team this season. Matsui isn't likely to play the outfield again this season. MLB: Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, the last player to hit for the Triple Crown, was resting comfortably after having triple bypass heart surgery. Yastrzemski, who turns 69 on Friday, had the operation at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he underwent tests after experiencing chest pains in the morning, said his spokesman, Dick Gordon. The popular Yaz was an 18-time All-Star and spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox, taking over left field for Ted Williams in 1961 and playing through 1983. BREWERS: Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun was not in the starting lineup against the Houston Astros because of tightness in his lower back. Braun missed six games last week with the same injury, returning to the lineup as a starter Sunday in Los Angeles -- he pinch-hit Saturday. Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks was also held out of the lineup with a sprained left thumb. He did not play on Monday, either. BRAVES: Atlanta placed reserve infielder Ruben Gotay on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring and recalled left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes from Class AAA Richmond. Gotay hurt his leg running out a double Saturday against San Francisco. He is hitting .225 with two homers and six RBIs in 89 at-bats. CARDINALS: St. Louis reliever Jason Isringhausen, twice demoted from the closer role this season, is likely out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury. The 35-year-old Isringhausen had an MRI on Tuesday. He'll be placed on the disabled list for the second time today. The MRI revealed right elbow tendinitis and a partially torn tendon, although no ligament damage was found. Rest was prescribed, with no timetable for a return to throwing. DODGERS: Greg Maddux is back with Los Angeles for another stretch drive following a 120-mile trip up the California coast. The Dodgers reacquired Maddux from the San Diego Padres, getting the future Hall of Famer and cash for two minor leaguers to be named or cash. The 42-year-old right-hander first joined the Dodgers on July 31, 2006, and went 6-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts to help them win an NL wild-card berth. The Dodgers entered Tuesday night's action tied for the Arizona Diamondbacks atop the NL West, while San Diego languished in last place, 16 games off the pace. METS: Billy Wagner has more pain and swelling in his pitching elbow, and New York's All-Star closer is out indefinitely. Wagner had an MRI that revealed additional inflammation in his left elbow -- an alarming sign after he spent most of the past two weeks resting his ailing arm. Now, the NL East leaders don't know when he might be able to return to the mound, if at all, this season. Associated Press

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