Major League Baseball roundup

[July 26, 2014]  July 25 (The Sports Xchange) - Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, who left Thursday's game in the ninth inning with back spasms, was in the lineup on Friday to face Tampa Bay Rays left-hander David Price.

Ortiz was hitting in his regular number three spot against Price and the Rays at Tropicana Field.

"He received some treatment earlier today, swung the bat in the cage, he's fit and ready to go tonight," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Ortiz, who has four home runs in his past four games, said he first experienced discomfort Wednesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and aggravated it on a check swing in the ninth inning Thursday. Ortiz stepped out of the batter's box and reached for his lower back, then left the game.

"I made like a rough move on that pitch, like tried to go and stop," Ortiz said after the game.

Ortiz said he felt a "pop or something" in his upper back on his final at-bat Wednesday.

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The New York Yankees signed left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano to a major league contract and selected him to the 25-man roster.

To make room for Capuano on the roster, the club designated right-hander Chris Leroux for assignment.

The Yankees acquired Capuano from the Colorado Rockies for cash considerations on Thursday night.

Capuano, 35, was 1-1 with a 4.55 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings over 28 relief appearances with the Boston Red Sox. With the Rockies, Capuano was 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA in three starts with Triple-A Colorado Springs.

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Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said he believed injured designated hitter Adam Lind and first baseman Edwin Encarnacion would return before July 31.

The Blue Jays also traded right-hander Deck McGuire, their first-round pick in 2010, to Oakland for cash.

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Washington Nationals manager Matt Williams said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, on the disabled list with a strained right hamstring, will remain shut down for two weeks.

"His plan right now is to just rest," Williams said. "For the next week or so, there's really going to be nothing. ... It's too early. He pulled his hammy pretty good. It's pretty sore." (Editing by Gene Cherry)

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