BRAVES: The Atlanta Braves will place utility man Omar Infante and relievers Jeff Bennett and Manny Acosta on the disabled list before their game at Los Angeles on Monday. Manager Bobby Cox said the Braves’ crowded DL would be growing after Atlanta beat Houston 7-6 in 17 innings Sunday. The Braves have already placed 13 players on the DL a total of 18 times this year.
Atlanta has six pitchers — John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Rafael Soriano, Peter Moylan and Anthony Lerew — on the DL.
DIAMONDBACKS: The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Juan Cruz on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left oblique muscle. Cruz is 2-0 with 3.23 ERA in 30 2/3 innings in 37 games for the Diamondbacks. Arizona recalled right-hander Connor Robertson from Triple-A Tucson to take Cruz’s roster spot.
ASTROS: Lance Berkman was held out of the Houston Astros’ lineup Sunday with a sore left eye. Manager Cecil Cooper said the first baseman did not notice a problem until he woke up and looked in the mirror.
Darin Erstad started for Berkman at first. Berkman was leading the majors with 210 total bases and a .669 slugging percentage entering play Sunday.
… Roy Oswalt returned from Houston on Sunday after having his strained left hip examined, but the Astros told their ace to wait at the Atlanta airport for the team’s flight to Pittsburgh. Oswalt improved to 7-8 after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers last Monday, but he had to leave the start because of pain in the hip.
MARLINS: The Florida Marlins called up right-hander Chris Volstad from Double-A Carolina before their game against the Colorado Rockies on Sunday. Volstad was 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 15 starts for Carolina. The 21-year-old was the 16th overall selection taken in the 2005 draft.
CARDINALS: Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder will make his first start since September on Wednesday at Philadelphia.
Mulder takes the rotation spot of Mitchell Boggs, who was demoted to Triple-A Memphis before St. Louis’ game against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Mulder, coming back from two shoulder operations, allowed two runs and four hits in 1 1/3 innings in the first two relief appearances of his career this season. He made three starts in September and was 0-3 with a 12.27 ERA.
PHILLIES: Brad Lidge’s perfect first half earned him a fat, new contract. Lidge signed a $37.5 million, three-year extension with the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. The hard-throwing closer is 2-0 with 19 saves in as many chances in his first season with the Phillies.
Associated Press
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