MLB roundup: Cardinals activate Berkman
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Lance Berkman was activated for Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.
Outfielder Shane Robinson was optioned to create a roster spot.
Berkman avoided a minor-league rehab assignment and joined the team for Friday's game in Cincinnati. The switch-hitter worked his way back from May 25 right-knee surgery after being injured May 19.
Berkman talked his way out of going to the minors, and the team thought he was ready after seeing him work out.
"We have an urgency to put the best team out there that we can, and I think it's without question what he adds to this team with the intangibles and the tangibles," manager Mike Matheny said. "We thought there was a way to rush that process a little bit."
Injuries have limited Berkman to 13 games this season. He's batting .333 with eight runs scored and four RBIs.
---Right-handed pitcher Todd Redmond was acquired by the Reds, who sent infielder Paul Janish to the Braves.
Redmond was optioned back to Class AAA Gwinnett on June 21 to make room for right-hander Jair Jurrjens to come off the Braves' disabled list. The 27-year-old is 6-6 with a 3.58 ERA and one shutout in 18 starts for Gwinnett. He did not appear in a game in his four days with the Braves this season, and will be assigned to Class AAA Louisville.
Janish, 29, hit .237 in 49 games for Louisville this season after playing in 324 games for the Reds from 2008-11. He lost his job to Wilson Valdez, an offseason acquisition from the Phillies, and then struggled when returning from a broken left wrist suffered in April.
---The Orioles activated catcher Taylor Teagarden from the 60-day disabled list and called up right-handed pitcher Miguel Socolovich from Triple-A Norfolk.
To clear the roster spots, catcher Ronny Paulino was outrighted to Norfolk and left-handed reliever Dana Eveland was designated for assignment.
Teagarden was placed on the disabled list April 4 with a strained back.
---Chicago Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster did not allow a run in six innings of a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, extending his consecutive scoreless streak to 33.
Dempster's streak matched Ken Holtzman in 1969 for the team record. Dempster has not surrendered a run since May 30, a span of five starts. It was also his fifth straight win. The Cubs are 11-4 in their last 15 games.
