RAYS: Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford will undergo surgery on his right hand today and will be sidelined at least until the final series of the regular season — maybe longer. Crawford, a two-time All-Star and four-time AL stolen base champion, was injured on his final at-bat Saturday in Seattle. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, and was joined there the following day by rookie All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria. Crawford has a problem with his right middle finger and will be sidelined six to eight weeks, however Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman remains hopeful that the left fielder is not done for the year. Six weeks from Thursday is Sept. 25, the day the AL East-leading Rays begin the final series of the regular season at Detroit.
RANGERS: Texas Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton left Wednesday night’s game against Boston in the sixth inning to fly home to be with his wife, who is expecting their third child.
ATHLETICS: Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez had surgery Wednesday to repair damage in his right shoulder and will be out for at least six months. Chavez has been limited to 113 games the past two years due to various injuries. The six-time Gold Glove winner will not throw a ball for about five months.
In other A’s news, outfielder Ryan Sweeney was placed on the 15-day disabled list before Wednesday night’s game against Tampa Bay with a sprained right thumb. Sweeney, among AL rookie leaders in stolen bases and batting average, injured his thumb making a diving catch in right field that helped preserve the A’s 2-1 victory over the Rays on Tuesday night.
TIGERS: Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya needs a little more time off. The hard-throwing Detroit reliever went back on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with soreness in the right shoulder that was surgically repaired during the offseason. Zumaya said his doctors believe the pain is not from a new injury, but from the tearing of scar tissue.
YANKEES: Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was not in Wednesday’s starting lineup after fouling a ball off his foot the previous night. Jeter remained in the game for three more at-bats — he had a hit each time — until leaving for a pinch-runner in the ninth. He had X-rays, which were negative, but manager Joe Girardi decided Jeter was too sore to play.
RED SOX: World Series MVP Mike Lowell was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of a strained left oblique muscle, another blow to the middle of the Boston batting order. Lowell, who led the Red Sox with 120 RBI last season, was hurt when swinging and missing a pitch during the seventh inning of Tuesday’s 19-17 win over Texas. He came out of the game at the start of the next inning. Boston traded unhappy Manny Ramirez last month to the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team trade that brought left fielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to the Red Sox. Lowell, the No. 5 hitter for most of last season, had mostly alternated between cleanup and fifth after Ramirez’s departure.
BRAVES: Braves slugger Chipper Jones was scratched from Wednesday night’s second game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs with a stomach virus. Martin Prado moved into the lineup for Jones at third base. Jones was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday after missing 14 games with a left hamstring injury, but said before Wednesday’s first game his legs are still not healthy.
DIAMONDBACKS: The Arizona Diamondbacks activated left-hander Doug Slaten from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and optioned right-hander Billy Buckner to Class AAA Tucson. Slaten was placed on the disabled list July 19 with a strained right knee. He made four rehab appearances for Tucson, allowing three runs, five hits and three walks in 32/3 innings of relief. In 36 games for the Diamondbacks this year, Slaten is 0-3 with a 4.55 ERA.
GIANTS: The San Francisco Giants designated infielder Jose Castillo for assignment Wednesday and called up three players from the minors. The team recalled first baseman Travis Ishikawa from Class AAA Fresno and purchased the contracts of catcher-first baseman Pablo Sandoval and infielder Ryan Rohlinger from Class AA Connecticut. Rohlinger was put into the starting lineup Wednesday night against Houston. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the other two probably would start today.
BREWERS: The Milwaukee Brewers placed infielder-outfielder Russell Branyan on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained muscle in his right side. Branyan is hitting .252 with 12 home runs and 20 RBI.
PADRES: The San Diego Padres claimed right-hander pitcher Brian Falkenborg off outright waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Falkenborg had a 2-2 record with a 6.17 ERA in 16 relief appearances. Falkenborg was designated for assignment on Friday.
Associated Press
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