National League team-by-team notebook -- Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Arizona: RHP Trevor Bauer was returned to Class AAA Reno a day after the worst of his four major league starts, and RH reliever Jonathan Albaladejo was called up. Bauer was 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts. "He has great stuff. Not consistent enough with it," manager Kirk Gibson said. ... RHP Josh Collmenter, who threw three shutout innings behind Bauer on Tuesday, will rejoin the rotation after making two quality starts earlier this month. Collmenter has been unscored upon in his last six relief appearances, covering 14 1/3 innings.
Atlanta: 3B Chipper Jones was not in the lineup because he told manager Fredi Gonzalez that he didn't "feel too good." Gonzalez said he didn't even know whether Jones' chronic knee pain was the issue. ... RHP Jair Jurrjens tied a career high with the eight earned runs he allowed in Tuesday's 9-0 loss to the Giants. "From the first hitter," he says, "it felt like it was going to be a tough one. Sometimes you have that feeling. The first walk, I was like, whoa! It was just one of those games."
Chicago: SS Starlin Castro went 2-for-5 Tuesday after going 1-for-12 in the weekend series against Arizona. "He's a guy that's going to be as good as he wants to be, and adjustments are still part of his game as well," manager Dale Sveum said. ... RHP Randy Wells, outrighted recently to Class AAA (Des Moines) Iowa, was put on Iowa's disabled list because of a right elbow strain.
Cincinnati: OF Xavier Paul was called up from Class AAA Louisville, and RHP Todd Redmond was sent down. Paul signed with the Reds on July 7 after taking an out in his contract with Washington. He was hitting .480 (12-for-25) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI since joining Louisville. ... 2B Brandon Phillips has hit in the third spot in the order the last two games, replacing injured 1B Joey Votto, the normal No. 3 hitter. "He's the one guy who can move all over the lineup," manager Dusty Baker said.
Colorado: RHP Jhoulys Chacin could throw a three-inning simulated game Saturday at Class AAA Colorado Springs, one day earlier than originally scheduled. Manager Jim Tracy said the change would be made to help Chacin get acclimated to the Rockies' four-man rotation. ... IF Chris Nelson (irregular heartbeat) is resting at home. He was admitted to the hospital Monday, and on Tuesday doctors shocked his heart back into rhythm.
Houston: RHP Jordan Lyles on Tuesday became just the third pitcher this year to allow five earned runs to the Padres at pitcher-friendly Petco Park. "I just have to take each outing like it's a new one and put everything behind you and stay a little bit more consistent," he said. ... A group of Astros players and staffers went to the Navy SEAL training facility at Coronado, near San Diego. OF Justin Maxwell said it was his first time firing a weapon, and the players got to take in how the SEALs get in shape and train on equipment.
Los Angeles: RH reliever Javy Guerra was activated from the bereavement list, and RHP Stephen Fife was optioned to Class AAA Albuquerque one day after making his major league debut. Guerra missed four games while in Mexico after his father underwent open heart surgery. ... LHP Ted Lilly (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. It will be the second time Lilly has thrown off a mound since he last pitched on May 23.
Miami: RH reliever Ryan Webb was optioned to Class AAA New Orleans after Tuesday's game to make room on the roster for RH reliever Edward Mujica (broken right little toe) to be activated from the disabled list. ... 2B Omar Infante's two-run home run Tuesday was his first homer since June 22. Infante, who has eight homers this year, was 1 for his last 16 when he connected off Cubs LHP Travis Wood in the fourth inning.
Milwaukee: LF Ryan Braun did not play after aggravating a lingering right groin strain the previous evening and coming out of that game in the seventh inning. With a scheduled off day today, manager Ron Roenicke said he expected Braun to be back in the lineup Friday. ... RH reliever John Axford made his first appearance since being removed from the closer's role. Axford entered the game in the fifth inning with two outs and one on and struck out St. Louis 1B Lance Berkman. Axford then pitched a scoreless sixth inning and was the winning pitcher.
New York: RH reliever Jon Rauch had fluid drained from both knees Tuesday and was available to pitch Wednesday. Rauch initially had fluid drained from his knees on July 8, but the problem flared back up, making him unavailable for Tuesday's 10-inning game. ... RH closer Frank Francisco (strained muscle in left side) is scheduled to begin throwing Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with the hope of appearing in a minor league rehab game on July 27.
Philadelphia: The Phillies are prepared to offer LHP Cole Hamels a six-year contract worth about $130 million, CBSSports.com reported, citing sources. RHP Roy Halladay, for one, hopes the Phillies keep Hamels and not give up on their flickering playoff hopes. "You look at the way baseball has gone the last few years, there's definitely a chance," Halladay told the Philadelphia Daily News. ... The Phillies' victory Tuesday marked the first time this season they trailed after seven innings and won. They were 0-for-38 before that.
Pittsburgh: 2B Neil Walker's hitting streak ended at 17 when he went 0-for-4 and narrowly missed out on an infield single in his final at-bat. It was the longest streak by anyone on the Pirates since 2010, when Walker went the same distance. ... RF Garrett Jones, normally benched against a left-handed starting pitcher, is 5 for his last 8 against lefties.
St. Louis: LF Matt Holliday didn't start because of a bruised left leg sustained when he was hit by a pitch in the first inning Tuesday. He struck out as a pinch hitter in the ninth. ... 3B David Freese hit his first homer since June 14 and reached base 10 times in 13 plate appearances in the series, drawing five walks to go with his five hits.
San Diego: Micah Owings, trying to make the transition from pitcher to position player, is scheduled to have surgery to remove bone spurs and floating particles from his right elbow within the next week. He will be operated on by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. ... The Padres were averaging 4.38 runs per game this month through Tuesday after figures of 3.13 in April, 3.29 in May and 3.85 in June. "When you look at the numbers, you see improvement in the offense," manager Bud Black said. "The key is going to be to sustain it."
San Francisco: C Hector Sanchez (sprained left knee) was placed on the disabled list, and C Eli Whiteside was recalled from Class AAA Fresno. Sanchez, who was injured Tuesday while running the bases, will not need surgery and could resume baseball activities in a few days. ... RF Nate Schierholtz, who grew up in the Bay Area and has been with the Giants since they drafted him in 2003, told the San Francisco Chronicle that he would welcome a trade. He said manager Bruce Bochy told him in May that he isn't viewed as an everyday player.
Washington: RF Jayson Werth (broken left wrist) took swings in batting practice and hit several balls out of the park. "I was really pleasantly surprised. I didn't think he would be hitting for another week," manager Davey Johnson said. Werth could go on a rehab assignment soon. ... RH closer Drew Storen (elbow) will be activated from the disabled list in the next couple of days, Johnson said. Storen had a solid outing for high-A Potomac (Woodbridge, Va.) on Tuesday, striking out two in a scoreless inning.
