NEW YORK — The New York Yankees filed an official protest with the commissioner’s office after a disputed loss to the Florida Marlins.
New York manager Joe Girardi protested Sunday’s 6-5 defeat at Florida because of a Marlins substitution mix-up in the eighth inning. Teams have 24 hours after a game to submit a protest, and Major League Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney confirmed Monday that the Yankees met the deadline.
Courtney said Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, will rule on the protest. A decision is expected this week.
Generally, the commissioner’s office tries to rule on protests within two days.
The Yankees were off Monday before opening a series in Atlanta on Tuesday night.
In an odd mix-up Sunday, Chris Coghlan started the top of the eighth in left field after Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez had removed him in a double switch. Alejandro De Aza batted for pitcher Renyel Pinto in the seventh and was supposed to take over in left, but never ran on the field.
Leo Nunez threw a pitch, then Girardi came out to protest. After about a 5-minute delay, Coghlan was removed, Jeremy Hermida went to left field and the Yankees played the rest of the game under protest. They were trailing 6-3 at the time.
Girardi thought Nunez should have been ruled out of the game once the mistake was recognized.
“But I’d like to keep the two runs I got in the ninth,” the manager joked.
Indians’ Cabrera headed set for rehab assignment
CLEVELAND — Indians infielder Asdrubal Cabrera will begin a 20-day rehabilitation assignment on Tuesday after being sidelined nearly three weeks with a sprained shoulder.
Cabrera injured his left shoulder while sliding into second base against Minnesota on June 3. The club said he will report to Double-A Akron.
The 23-year-old sprained the AC joint in his shoulder while trying to break up a double play. Cabrera was batting .316 with a team-high 38 runs, 13 doubles, 27 RBIs and seven steals when he was injured.
Also, All-Star Grady Sizemore might be activated from the DL on Tuesday when the Indians open a three-game series in Pittsburgh. Sizemore has been out since May 31 with an inflamed left elbow.
Iwamura knee injury not as severe as suspected
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s Akinori Iwamura could be back a lot sooner than expected after undergoing surgery for a knee injury that was not as severe as the Rays initially suspected.
The second baseman only had a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and had an arthroscopic procedure performed Monday instead of reconstructive surgery that would have sidelined him the rest of the season.
Instead, Iwamura could return in six to eight weeks.
The former star in Japan’s Central League was injured in a collision at second base with Florida’s Chris Coghlan on May 24. Team orthopedist Dr. Koco Eaton also repaired the torn medial meniscus in the knee.
Iwamura, injured while trying to turn a double play, was batting .310 with no homers and 16 RBIs in 44 games. He is in the final season of a $7.7 million, three-year contract he signed in December 2006. The Rays hold an option for 2010.
Last month, the 30-year-old called the injury “the most painful moment” in his career, but added the knee seemed to be getting better “little by little each day” while the Rays waited on the swelling to subside so he could have surgery.
“My first intention is to get back on the field as soon as possible,” he said through a translator on May 29.
The Rays, who were off Monday, originally thought Iwamura would face six months of rehab following surgery. The club has used several players at second base in his absence, although Ben Zobrist has settled into the starting role lately.
Twins calling up Keppel from Triple-A Rochester
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins will call up right-hander Bobby Keppel from Triple-A Rochester in time for Tuesday night’s game in Milwaukee.
The Twins said Monday that Keppel would take the roster spot of right-hander Luis Ayala.
Ayala is being designated for assignment. In 28 games this season he has a 1-2 record and 4.18 ERA.
Ailing Mets put Carlos Beltran on disabled list
NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran is going on the disabled list, an enormous blow to a struggling New York Mets team already decimated by key injuries.
The All-Star center fielder was placed on the 15-day DL on Monday because of a bone bruise on his right knee — the same injury that sidelined him for a couple of games in late May. An MRI exam Monday showed the bruise has gotten worse.
Beltran could be out longer than 15 days, too. Asked if the Mets might wait until after the All-Star break to activate him, general manager Omar Minaya said that was something the team would have to consider.
The Mets already are missing star shortstop Jose Reyes (hamstring) and slugging first baseman Carlos Delgado (hip). Neither is expected back soon.
Howard could return to Phillies’ lineup today
PHILADELPHIA — Phillies slugger Ryan Howard could return to the lineup today (Tuesday) at Tampa Bay after being hospitalized over the weekend with flu symptoms.
The team said on Monday that he has acute sinusitis.
Philadelphia general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement that Howard was resting at home and would rejoin the team for the three-game series if he felt well enough.
Howard missed Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Baltimore, ending his consecutive games streak at 343. It was the longest active streak in the majors.
The 2006 NL MVP went to the hospital hours after Friday’s game. He wasn’t expected to play Saturday, but delivered a pinch-hit, three-run homer in Philadelphia’s 6-5 loss to the Orioles.
Howard was hospitalized again Saturday and wasn’t at the ballpark on Sunday.
Reds’ Gonzalez has elbow surgery
CINCINNATI — Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez has had surgery to remove four bone chips in his right elbow.
Gonzalez is expected to miss four to five weeks.
Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, a day after he felt pain on a swing during batting practice.
Gonzalez signed a three-year, $14 million contract before the 2007 season. He played in only 110 games in his first year with Cincinnati, going on the bereavement list three times to deal with a child’s illness. He missed all last season with a compression fracture in his left knee.
Pulled muscles in his left side forced him to miss nine games in May. He was batting .214 with two homers and 20 RBIs.
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