Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets found help for their struggling bullpen, acquiring durable right-hander Luis Ayala from the Washington Nationals on Sunday for a player to be named.
Missing injured closer Billy Wagner, the NL East-leading Mets are having trouble nailing down games.
A reliable reliever for the first four years of his career, Ayala has dipped to 1-8 with a 5.77 ERA this season. He’s appeared in 62 games, which ranks among the major league leaders.
“I’m surprised. It’s a little bit late for a trade,” Ayala said in Washington. “But for me, I passed my best times in this organization.”
The 30-year-old Ayala was the longest-tenured Nationals player, having joined the club in 2003 when it was located in Montreal.
In return, New York is expected to send minor leaguer Anderson Hernandez to Washington once he clears waivers.
RED SOX: Red Sox right fielder J.D. Drew left the game against the Toronto Blue Jays after three innings Sunday due to tightness in his lower back.
Drew, who walked in his only at-bat and was doubled off second on Alex Cora’s line drive to center field, has been slumping. He entered the game with just six hits in his last 31 at-bats.
ORIOLES: Oriole Park at Camden Yards will greet its 50 millionth fan on Monday or Tuesday night. No other stadium in the history of baseball has reached the milestone so quickly.
The $106.5 million ballpark was built 17 years ago in downtown Baltimore, a departure from the popular notion of placing stadiums in the suburbs. Instead of being constructed primarily with concrete, it was held together by brick and steel. Camden Yards turned out to be a wildly successful venture that would soon be duplicated around the country, in places such as Cleveland, Texas, Houston and Philadelphia.
Since arriving from St. Louis in 1954, the Orioles have played at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards. Their total attendance in Baltimore is expected to reach 100 million during the upcoming weekend series against the New York Yankees.
RANGERS: Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla reported no problems with an inflamed joint in his neck following a bullpen session on Sunday as is expected to start Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers.
The right-hander was originally scheduled to start Sunday night against Tampa Bay, but the neck problems forced the Rangers to use right-handed reliever Dustin Nippert in a spot start and push Padilla back to Tuesday.
TIGERS: The Detroit Tigers placed reliever Todd Jones on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder Sunday, two days after he came off the DL and gave up five unearned runs.
The right-hander missed the first half of August with the sore shoulder before returning Friday. He walked three and the Tigers committed two errors during Baltimore’s six-run ninth inning in an 11-2 Orioles win. Jones is 4-1 with a 4.97 ERA and 18 saves in 21 chances. He started the season as Detroit’s closer, but was removed from that role July 26. The latest DL move is retroactive to Saturday.
TWINS: The Minnesota Twins will send second baseman Alexi Casilla on a rehab assignment Monday, and he could be back with the team for the beginning of a 14-game road trip later in the week.
Casilla has been out since he tore a ligament in his right thumb on July 28, and he was initially resigned to having season-ending surgery. He has recovered quickly, however. After playing two games with Class A Beloit, he will rejoin the Twins if all goes well.
YANKEES: Injured slugger Hideki Matsui is back with the Yankees and is likely to be activated Tuesday, when the club begins a six-game trip at Toronto.
Matsui had 15 at-bats during a simulated game at the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, facing left- and right-handed pitching. Manager Joe Girardi said the balky left knee that has derailed the rehab process several times seems to be holding up.
Out since June 27, Matsui homered Friday night for his only hit in a doubleheader for Class A Tampa. He went 1-for-3, including a line drive single to right, and a walk in his third rehab game for Tampa on Saturday night.
ASTROS: The Houston Astros retired Craig Biggio’s No. 7 jersey before Sunday’s game against Arizona, and the seven-time All-Star waved to fans and touched his heart during a lively ceremony.
Biggio retired in 2007 after becoming the 27th player to reach 3,000 hits. He is Houston’s career leader in seasons played (20), at-bats (10,876), hits (3,060), extra-base hits (1,014), doubles (668) and runs (1,844).
Biggio was named a special assistant to general manager Ed Wade on Feb. 11. On May 19, Biggio was named the head baseball coach at St. Thomas High School in Houston, where his 15-year-old son, Conor, attends and plays for the team.
PIRATES: Pirates left fielder Brandon Moss left the game against the New York Mets on Sunday after spraining his left ankle while batting against Johan Santana.
Moss fell in the batter’s box after hitting a ground ball to first baseman Carlos Delgado in the seventh inning. He could not apply pressure to his left foot and was helped off the field by Pirates trainers. Tests on the ankle were negative, and Pittsburgh manager John Russell said Moss will be further evaluated Monday.
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