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| Saturday, July 5 Abdominal strain forcing Brown to miss start Associated Press |
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"It's impossible to try and say. I've never had it, so I don't know,'' Brown said when asked how long this injury would sideline him after Saturday's 2-0 win over Arizona.
Brown was injured Thursday night in the fourth inning of a 7-4 loss to San Diego while running from first to third on a double by Wilkin Ruan. He scored on an infield hit, then pitched one more inning before taking himself out. An MRI on Friday confirmed the diagnosis.
Dodgers manager Jim Tracy is hopeful that Brown will not have to miss more than one start. His next outing is scheduled for July 13 at Colorado, the day before the All-Star break.
"He was very sore yesterday. He's better today, but we're not taking a chance on Tuesday. So we're shooting for the 13th,'' Tracy said. Brown has been on the disabled list six times since signing a seven-year, $105 million free agent contract with the Dodgers in December 1998. But the 17-year veteran has bounced back from two injury-shortened seasons to go 10-4 with a 2.30 ERA, second in the NL entering Saturday.
He appeared to be a shoo-in to make his sixth All-Star appearance on July 15 by going 9-0 in a span of 10 starts before his current three-game losing streak.
"He's very deserving to be on that team, obviously,'' Tracy said. "As far as his availability to pitch in that game, right now I'd say 50-50 because of the schedule and when he's scheduled to pitch for this club. So it'll be tough. I'm going to wait 48 hours from now, when I know a lot more about his condition than I do today.''
Wilson Alvarez, who had been pitching out of the bullpen since his recall from Triple-A Las Vegas on June 4, will make his first NL start since 1997 with San Francisco. The 12-year veteran has made 234 career starts, including 10 last season with Tampa Bay.
"The numbers that I have are not quite to my ability. I think we have some guys up there that have better numbers than I have," Sosa said. One of those guys is Albert Pujols. The Cardinals slugger has homered in three straight games and is hitting .378 with 26 home runs and 80 RBIs. Sosa, who was suspended seven games earlier in the season for using a corked bat, is hitting .296 with 12 homers and 41 RBIs. "I remember one year I was leading the league in homers and I was so excited to (start), but they didn't take me and that hurt," Sosa said. "Pujols has played unbelievable. He is doing everything."
Johnson, a five-time Cy Young Award winner, retired all 12 batters he faced against the Fresno Grizzlies, striking out four. In the third inning he retired the side on only three pitches.
The 6-foot-10 left-hander threw 44 pitches before leaving the game. "I was very encouraged," Johnson said. "It was a big step. Obviously it's the first time I've pitched in nine weeks, and there's only so much you can do off the bullpen mound without a game situation. ... I was pleasantly surprised with my command."
Johnson, 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA in four starts this season, underwent surgery in early May after experiencing persistent swelling in his right knee. The Diamondbacks hope his return will help them in the second half of the season.
As part of the agreement, which runs through the 2005 season, Yokohama will provide information on all levels of competition throughout Japan, including high school prospects and pro players.
In return, the Devil Rays will help Yokohama acquire foreign players to play for the Bay Stars. The organizations will also share information on topics ranging from player development and baseball operations to marketing, sales and merchandising.
"He threw the ball well. The reports were excellent," manager Lou Piniella said.
Pena pulled his hamstring while running out a fly ball during a 7-2 loss to the New York Mets on Friday.
The Reds planned to wait a day before filling his spot. Left-handed reliever Gabe White is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, and he had no problems with strained groin muscles when he threw in the bullpen on Saturday.
Left-handed reliever Kent Mercker also threw in the bullpen without a problem. Mercker, sidelined by a sore back, isn't eligible to be activated until Thursday.
"Both looked good,'' manager Bob Boone said. "Both were pain-free. We're trying to see what kind of plan is suitable.''
Johnson took 25 swings. He also continued a throwing program, but is not yet catching the ball.
"It feels all right,'' Johnson said. "The more I swing, the stronger I'm going to get. It feels a little weak because I haven't swung a bat in a while.''
Johnson went on the 15-day disabled list May 17, two days after he was hurt while swinging a bat. There is no timetable for when Johnson will rejoin the Yankees, although the team has not ruled out late this month.
Also, reliever Antonio Osuna, on the disabled list with a right groin strain, is scheduled to throw batting practice Sunday. Osuna said he is on target to pitch in a minor league game Tuesday.
Stanford, who was 8-3 with a 3.18 ERA for Buffalo, will make his major league debut Sunday against Minnesota. He took the roster spot of right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez, who was optioned to Buffalo on Wednesday after posting a 5.73 ERA in 15 starts.
Santiago was 0-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 16 relief appearances during an earlier stint this year with the Indians before being sent to the International League club May 4.
Bierbrodt gave up five earned runs over eight innings in five appearances.
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