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Major League Baseball roundup

[September 06, 2016] Sept 4 (The Sports Xchange) - Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Clayton Kershaw is expected to return to the Dodgers' rotation on Friday against the Miami Marlins.

Kershaw has been sidelined since June 26 with a herniated disc in his back.

He returned the mound on Saturday in a rehab start for the Dodgers' Class-A affiliate.

Kershaw struck out five in his three innings of work, allowing one hit and no runs on 34 pitches, including 23 strikes.

The Dodgers entered Sunday's action in first place in the National League West, two games ahead of the Giants. When Kershaw was sidelined following his June 26 loss, the Dodgers trailed the Giants by eight games.

Kershaw, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013 and 2014, is 11-2 with a 1.79 earned-run average this season.

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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton left Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinal with a strained left oblique.

After taking a called strike from Cardinals' right-hander Carlos Martinez in the third inning, Hamilton stepped out of the batter's box holding his left side. He met with trainers prior to leaving the game. Tyler Holt pinch-hit for Hamilton and took over in center field.

The injury comes at a bad time for Hamilton, who turns 26 on Friday and is having his best season both offensively and defensively.

Hamilton has 58 steals and is batting .260 with 19 doubles, three triples, three homers and 17 RBIs.

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The game between the Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners was delayed for a few minutes after Los Angles Angels starter Matt Shoemaker took a line drive off the side of his head in the second inning.

Seattle's Kyle Seager hit a hard liner up the middle, hitting Shoemaker flush on the right side of his head. He fell to his knees and stayed there while trainers came out to check on him.

The Angels announced during the third inning that Shoemaker was alert and responsive and was headed to a hospital for a CT scan. The team said that Shoemaker suffered a laceration to the right side of his head.

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The San Diego Padres released veteran shortstop Alexei Ramirez.

Ramirez was batting a career-low .240 with five homers and 41 RBIs as San Diego's starting shortstop. He was in his first season with the Padres after playing in eight campaigns with the Chicago White Sox.

Ramirez was an American League All-Star in 2014 but Padres manager Andy Green told reporters that he was no longer a capable major-league shortstop.

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The St. Louis Cardinals activated catcher Brayan Pena from the 60-day disabled list after he missed much of the season due to a left knee injury.

Pena, 34, has appeared in just four games (1-for-8) with St. Louis.

The Cardinals also recalled rookie catcher Carson Kelly from Triple-A Memphis, designated Memphis infielder Dean Anna for assignment to make room for Kelly on the team's 40-man major league roster and transferred right-handed pitcher Seth Maness (right elbow) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

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The Seattle Mariners recalled right-handed relief pitcher Drew Storen from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma and activated him from the 15-day disabled list.

Storen, 28, struck out one in one scoreless inning in his only rehab appearance with Tacoma. He was originally placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 22 with right shoulder inflammation. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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