LDN - Sports

MLB notebook: Stumbling Mets bat out of order

[May 10, 2018] The struggling New York Mets found an unusual way to record an out in the first inning Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati, when Asdrubal Cabrera's two-out double against the Reds was erased because the Mets batted out of order. New York ended up losing 2-1 in 10 innings and has lost 16 of its last 23.

Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman visited the umpires immediately after Cabrera, the third Met to bat in the first inning, hit his ground-rule double into the left field stands.

After a short conference, it was determined the Mets and rookie manager Mickey Callaway were using a different lineup than the one submitted to the Reds and the umpire crew. That lineup had Cabrera batting second and Wilmer Flores, who actually batted second, batting third.

Per Rule 6.03, Cabrera's double was nullified and the out was credited to Jay Bruce, the fourth-place batter, because he was the next "proper batter." The catcher received the putout for Bruce's out. Cabrera did not record an official plate appearance.

--Struggling Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price has been diagnosed with a mild case of carpal tunnel syndrome, manager Alex Cora said during his appearance on WEEI radio.

Price was scratched from his scheduled Wednesday night start against the New York Yankees on Tuesday due to numbness in his pitching fingers. The 32-year-old experienced numbness during Sunday's throwing session.

Numbness is one of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist.

--Apparently we haven't seen the last of Rafael Palmeiro in a baseball uniform.

Palmeiro, 53, said in a text message to the Dallas Morning News he will join his 28-year-old son Patrick on the roster of the independent Cleburne (Texas) Railroaders, a team in its second year in the American Association.

A four-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner at first base during his major league career, Palmeiro is one of only six major-leaguers to hit 500 home runs and register 3,000 hits. He played for the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs over a 20-year career that ended abruptly in 2005 after he became the first major league player suspended for steroid use.

--The Oakland Athletics placed right-hander Trevor Cahill on the 10-day disabled list due to an elbow impingement and recalled outfield prospect Dustin Fowler in a corresponding move.

Cahill underwent an MRI exam, and there were no structural issues spotted. He said he played catch on Tuesday and only experienced minor soreness. Cahill is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts this season.

Fowler, 23, was acquired from the New York Yankees in part of last summer's deal involving right-hander Sonny Gray. Fowler, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in his major league debut with the Yankees last season, was batting .310 with three homers and eight steals for Triple-A Nashville.

--The Milwaukee Brewers activated closer Corey Knebel from the disabled list prior to their game against the Cleveland Indians. Knebel, who had a 10.13 ERA in three appearances this season before being injured, allowed a solo home run in an inning of relief work against the Indians.

Knebel had been sidelined since injuring his left hamstring in a game against the Chicago Cubs on April 5. The right-hander had 39 saves and a 1.78 ERA last season when he made the National League All-Star team.

Milwaukee also placed left-hander Wade Miley (oblique) and utility man Nick Franklin (quadriceps) on the disabled list and recalled infielder Tyler Saladino from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Miley is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts for the Brewers, while Franklin went 0-for-2 in one game for Milwaukee.

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--The Baltimore Orioles placed right-hander Darren O'Day on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to May 6 with a hyperextended right elbow. Left-hander Tanner Scott was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to fill O'Day's roster spot.

O'Day last pitched Friday, throwing a season-high 31 pitches in 1 2/3 innings against the Oakland Athletics. He allowed a run on two hits during the outing.

O'Day has seen four save opportunities, converting two chances, this season while star closer Zach Britton continues to recover from a torn Achilles sustained in the offseason. The 35-year-old O'Day has a 3.77 ERA in 13 appearances.

--The Toronto Blue Jays acquired third baseman Gio Urshela from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named.

Urshela had been designated for assignment by the Indians last Friday upon completion of a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus. A right hamstring injury had sent him to the disabled list to open the season.

During his 11-game rehab stint with Columbus, Urshela hit .324 with seven RBIs. The 26-year-old hit .224 with one home run and 15 RBIs for the Indians last season. Known for his strong defense, Urshela has a career .225 average with seven home runs and 36 RBIs in two major league seasons (2015, 2017).

--The Tigers placed outfielder Leonys Martin on the disabled list because of a left hamstring strain. Detroit called up Mikie Mahtook from Triple-A Toledo to fill his roster spot and is expected to use JaCoby Jones to replace Martin in the lineup.

"It's a situation where, if you try to let him play through it, he can definitely pop that thing," manager Ron Gardenhire told reporters Tuesday night. "It's tender and it's got some swelling in it and he knows this time, he understands he's gotta go on the DL."

Martin has been dealing with the injury for the past two weeks and was spotted with an ice pack on his leg during Monday's game against the Texas Rangers. He joined the Tigers on a one-year, $1.75 million deal in the offseason. He is hitting .294 with five home runs, 15 RBIs and 23 runs this season.

--Chicago White Sox third base prospect Jake Burger, the No. 11 pick in last year's draft, will undergo a second surgery after tearing his left Achilles tendon for the second time in three months.

Burger sustained the original injury running out a ground ball against the Athletics in February. He had season-ending surgery just a few days later.

The latest setback occurred while he was walking in his backyard and essentially resets his timetable for returning. Burger is the club's eighth-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com, and was No. 7 on Baseball America's list entering the season.

--The Boston Red Sox announced that top pitching prospect Jay Groome will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery next week.

The operation will be performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache next Tuesday.

Groome, 19, was the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 draft. The prized left-hander hasn't pitched this season after being shut down late last year with a forearm strain. He began this year on the disabled list with Class-A Greenville because of a mild flexor strain.

--Field Level Media

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