Baseball notebook

REPLAY: Alex Rodriguez’s ninth-inning homer was upheld in baseball’s first use of instant replay. Rodriguez hit a towering two-run shot off Troy Percival that third base umpire Brian Runge immediately ruled a homer when it bounced off the catwalk behind the foul pole in left field. Rays catcher Dioner Navarro protested, bringing manager Joe Maddon out of the dugout. After convening, the umpires left the filed to review the tape, a process that took two minutes, 15 seconds to back the onfield call.

RED SOX: Boston sold out 96-year old Fenway Park for the 455th consecutive game on Wednesday afternoon, tying the Cleveland Indians’ major league record. The consecutive sellout streak started on May 15, 2003, when Pedro Martinez faced Alex Rodriguez and the Texas Rangers. The defending World Series champions will break it against AL East-leading Tampa Bay in their next home game next week. Cleveland set the mark at Jacobs Field from June 12, 1995 to April 2, 2001, winning two AL pennants during that span.

ATHLETICS: Frank Thomas’ season ended Wednesday when the Oakland Athletics transferred the designated hitter from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day one. He’s been on the DL twice this year due to an injured right thigh, most recently going back on Saturday. He also sat out from May 28-July 31 because of tendinitis in his quadriceps. The 40-year-old Thomas ended his season hitting .240 with eight home runs and 30 RBI in 71 games. In 19 seasons in the majors, Thomas has a .301 average with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI in 2,322 games. Only Ted Williams, Babe Ruth and Mel Ott finished their careers with a .300 batting average, 500 home runs, 1,000 runs and 1,500 walks. He is tied with Williams and Willie McCovey with 521 home runs, 17th on the career list.

BREWERS: Upon further review, the play stands. Major League Baseball’s scoring review committee ruled Wednesday that official scorer Bob Webb did not err when he decided that Pittsburgh’s Andy LaRoche singled against Brewers pitcher CC Sabathia in the bottom of the fifth inning of Milwaukee’s 7-0 win on Sunday. Sabathia tried to make a barehanded pickup of LaRoche’s softly hit grounder, but dropped it. Webb immediately ruled it a hit, explaining he watched LaRoche out of the batter’s box and the runner was two-thirds of the way down the line as Sabathia was picking the ball up. Webb said Wednesday night when reached at home that he was grateful for the kind words by MLB and also understood the Brewers’ efforts to advocate for a potential historic game.

BRAVES: Atlanta manager Bobby Cox extended his major league ejection record to 143 on Wednesday, getting tossed in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes during Atlanta’s game against Florida. Cox disputed a strike called against Brian McCann. Home plate umpire Mark Wegner took two steps toward the dugout trying to quiet Cox, then ejected Atlanta’s manager. Cox bolted from the dugout and screamed at McCann for about two minutes, then argued as he slowly walked to the clubhouse. The 67-year-old Cox is in his 27th season as a manager. Hall of Fame manager John McGraw is second in ejections with 131.

CUBS: Carlos Zambrano visited the Chicago Cubs’ team orthopedist Wednesday to check out his right arm but didn’t have an MRI. Zambrano left his start Tuesday night against the Houston Astros after five innings and 86 pitches, telling pitching coach Larry Rothschild he didn’t feel well and couldn’t continue, manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday.

CARDINALS: Troy Glaus hit his 300th career home run on Wednesday, connecting in the third inning of the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Glaus homered against Doug Davis with a man on, putting the Cardinals ahead 2-0. Glaus has 23 homers this year and is 24th among active players on the home run list.

Associated Press