MLB roundup: Quentin drops appeal, begins suspension
San Diego Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin dropped his appeal and began serving his eight-game suspension on Sunday when the Padres faced the Colorado Rockies.
That means Quentin will miss a three-game series in Los Angeles with the Dodgers that starts Monday, avoiding a rematch between the two teams.
Major League Baseball apparently expedited Quentin's appeal of his punishment after he charged the mound Thursday night in a brawl that left Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke with a broken collarbone. There were concerns before the start of Monday's series in Los Angeles about retaliation and an escalation of the bad blood between the teams over the incident on the field.
Greinke, who hit Quentin with a pitch in the seventh inning, had surgery on Saturday to repair his left collarbone and will miss eight weeks.
--- One day after learning Greinke would be out at least eight weeks, the Dodgers said left-hander Chris Capuano would take Greinke's spot in the rotation.
The Dodgers' other option was veteran Ted Lilly, who had shoulder surgery in September and is on a minor-league rehab assignment.
---Miami Marlins right fielder Austin Kearns, scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, was hospitalized Sunday morning with an irregular heartbeat and scratched from the lineup, the team announced.
No other details were immediately available on the cause of Kearns' elevated heart rate.
--- Conor Jackson, who was nine games into his season for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, told team officials on Sunday that he is retiring from baseball, MASN.com reported.
The 30-year-old Jackson was the final cut on the Baltimore Orioles' spring training roster. In 2008, Jackson hit .300 with 12 homers for the Arizona Diamonbacks. He was diagnosed in 2009 with Valley Fever, a fungal disease caused by spores in the soil.
---The Washington Nationals placed catcher Wilson Ramos on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring that he suffered Saturday while running on a groundout, the team announced Sunday.
Kurt Suzuki is expected to take over behind the plate while Ramos is out.
---The Chicago Cubs signed veteran reliever Kevin Gregg to a minor-league contract, the team announced Sunday.
Gregg will report to the team's complex in Mesa, Ariz. for extended spring training.
--- The Chicago Cubs claimed reliever Kameron Loe off waivers from the Mariners. Backup catcher Steve Clevenger was put on the 60-day disabled list with an oblique strain to clear a roster spot.
---Boston Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan has had soreness in his right hamstring since his second appearance of the season and he will be rested for a few days. Andrew Bailey will be the closer while Hanrahan is sidelined.
