American League notebook -- May 8, 2012
Baltimore: RHP Jason Berken's latest major league stint lasted one game and one rough outing. Called up Monday, he pitched one inning that night against Texas, allowing seven runs (two earned) on six hits. He was optioned back to Norfolk (Va.), and the Orioles recalled LH reliever Zach Phillips, who had three saves and a 4.15 ERA in nine appearances for the Class AAA club. ... Norfolk LHP Dana Eveland was removed from his Monday start after five scoreless innings, and he could start for Baltimore on Friday against Tampa Bay, according to the Baltimore Sun and MASNsports.com. Eveland is 3-2 with a 2.21 ERA in six Class AAA starts this season.
Boston: 3B Will Middlebrooks notched an extra-base hit in each of his first four games, joining Enos Slaughter (1938 Cardinals), Coco Laboy (1969 Expos) and Yoenis Cespedes (2012 A's) as the only players to achieve the feat. "He's been a very impressive player so far," manager Bobby Valentine said. ... C Kelly Shoppach notched his first major league triple Monday in his 1,526th plate appearance. "It shouldn't be mathematically possible for me to run that far," said Shoppach, whose previous triple was for Class AA Portland (Maine) in 2003.
Chicago: In three starts since his perfect game, RHP Philip Humber is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA. He's allowed 21 hits and 11 walks in 13 1/3 innings. "It's definitely not a health issue or anything like that," Humber said. ... 2B Gordon Beckham is getting back to the same swing he had through the minor leagues and his rookie season, and according to hitting coach Jeff Manto, that's a very good thing. During Beckham's struggles, "The bat path was a little off, and his shoulders were steep. Right now he's square, head with the shoulders," Manto said.
Cleveland: OF Grady Sizemore, who underwent back surgery March 1, is continuing his rehab at Progressive Field. "I think I can be on the field and playing games in June, but there's a long way to go," said Sizemore, who also had arthroscopic right knee surgery Oct. 3. ... Manager Manny Acta said DH Travis Hafner was out of the starting lineup partly because the Indians are in a portion of their schedule in which they are playing 21 games in 20 days. Acta also said, "That triple took its toll," jokingly referring to the triple Hafner hit Monday, his first in five years.
Detroit: 2B/OF Ryan Raburn has the backing of his manager despite a batting average that had sunk to .127 entering Tuesday's game. "I have to get him going. This guy has a pretty good track record the last two or three years," Jim Leyland said. ... LH reliever Daniel Schlereth, placed on the minor league disabled list with left shoulder tendinitis after being optioned out by Detroit on April 21, has been transferred to the big-league disabled list. Since Schlereth never threw a pitch for Class AAA Toledo (Ohio) and the injury happened while he was pitching for the Tigers, major league rules specify he can't be sent to the minors.
Kansas City: RHP Vin Mazzaro was recalled from Class AAA Omaha (Papillion, Neb.), where he was 1-0 with a 4.37 ERA in six starts. Mazzaro will go to the bullpen as a long reliever. LH reliever Tommy Hottovy was optioned to Omaha after posting a 3.38 ERA in five appearances. ... RH reliever Greg Holland gave up an unearned run in one inning Tuesday during a rehab appearance for Class AA Northwest Arkansas (Springdale, Ark.). Holland, on the disabled list due to a left rib stress reaction, is scheduled to pitch another inning Thursday for Northwest Arkansas. If he has no setbacks, he could rejoin the Royals this weekend.
Los Angeles: RHP Jered Weaver, less than a week removed from throwing a no-hitter, read the Top Ten list Tuesday night on the "Late Show with David Letterman." White Sox RHP Philip Humber also did a Top Ten list on the Letterman show after pitching a perfect game in April. ... RH reliever Ernesto Frieri was warming up for a potential save situation Monday before the Angels scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning at Minnesota. Frieri, who had never recorded a save in the major leagues, was prepared to fill in for LH closer Scott Downs (knee).
Minnesota: CF Denard Span, who hit the wall while catching a fly ball Monday, was out of the starting lineup the next day. However, manager Ron Gardenhire said he was just resting Span. Erik Komatsu took Span's place as the center fielder and leadoff hitter. ... LF Josh Willingham was back in action after missing Monday's game due to an illness, but 2B Alexi Casilla missed a second consecutive start due to a sore right shoulder.
New York: LHP Andy Pettitte will start Sunday against the Mariners, making his return to major leagues after a 19-month retirement. Pettitte, 39, made six starts between the minor leagues and extended spring training, posting a 4.55 ERA while striking out 26 and walking three over 27 2/3 innings. ... RH closer Mariano Rivera is still waiting to have his right knee surgery scheduled. However, GM Brian Cashman said it's normal for a player with an ACL injury to wait seven to 10 days after getting hurt to have the operation so the swelling can go down. Although Rivera's agent, Fernando Cuza, told the New York Post there were "complications" after the pitcher saw two doctors Monday, Cashman said it was nothing that would impact Rivera's ability to pitch next season. ... 3B Eric Chavez was examined by a doctor Tuesday, but he'll have to pass an ImPACT test before being activated Thursday from the seven-day concussion disabled list. Chavez sustained the concussion and whiplash while trying to make a diving catch May 2.
Oakland: RHP Brandon McCarthy and RHP Jarrod Parker were flipped in the rotation, with McCarthy moved up to start Tuesday against Toronto and Parker going Wednesday. Parker will be working on seven days of rest. The team does not mind limiting Parker's innings; last year was Parker's first season back after Tommy John surgery. ... RHP Graham Godfrey, who opened the season in the A's rotation, is making a bid for a return to the majors. He's 3-0 with an 0.45 ERA in three starts for Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.), having struck out 16 and walked three in 20 innings.
Seattle: RHP Blake Beavan had a hot smash from Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera hit off his elbow in the third inning Monday. The ball deflected directly to 3B Kyle Seager, who started an inning-ending double play. Beavan sustained a bruise and left the game, ending his team-record streak of beginning a career with 20 starts of five or more innings. Beavan's status for his next start was uncertain. ... DH John Jaso's ninth-inning sacrifice fly Monday produced the first walk-off RBI of his career, and he was pummeled by his teammates. "That felt great," he said. "Usually I'm the one doing the beating."
Tampa Bay: OF Brandon Guyer was due to join the Rays in New York, the Tampa Bay Times and Tampa Tribune reported, but the team had not yet announced a corresponding roster move. Guyer, 26, was hitting .294 with a .365 on-base percentage, three homers and 13 RBI through 22 games for Class AAA Durham (N.C.). He played 15 games for Tampa Bay last season, hitting .195 with two homers in 41 at-bats. ... LF Desmond Jennings is expected to miss a few games due to a sprained left knee, but he doesn't believe he'll need to go on the disabled list. He was hurt Sunday on a head-first dive into home plate.
Texas: LHP Matt Harrison got back on track Monday after two rough starts. He said he made an adjustment to his delivery to keep his head straight and get his sinker back in the zone. Harrison held Baltimore to six hits and three runs in seven innings after he had given up 22 hits and 15 runs (14 earned) in his previous two starts, which totaled 8 1/3 innings. ... RF Nelson Cruz broke out of an 8-for-53 (.151) slump with three hits and a walk Monday. He improved to 6-for-10 in his career against Orioles LHP Brian Matusz.
Toronto: RHP Brandon Morrow, who starts Wednesday at Oakland, is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA in his past three starts, including a three-hit shutout of the Angels on Thursday. He has not allowed a run in his past two starts, covering 15 innings. ... OF Travis Snider is eligible to come off the disabled list at Class AAA Las Vegas, but he still had slight discomfort in his right wrist during batting practice Monday. He jammed the wrist while attempting a diving catch on April 26. Snider, 24, was batting .400 with four homers and 23 RBI through 19 games for Las Vegas.
