The Kansas City Royals sent AL Rookie of the Year Angel Berroa to Double-A Wichita on Tuesday.
The struggling Berroa, who signed an $11 million, four-year contract in May, was batting just .249 with five homers and 30 RBIs. Last year the shortstop hit .287 with 17 homers and 73 RBIs in his first full season.
“Obviously, he has not played to his top of his ability. We just decided to send him back down so he can clear his head and come back and play,” manager Tony Pena said. “It was a very tough decision, but sometimes you need to make a move for the best of the player.”
Infection forces Vazquez to miss start
New York Yankees pitcher Javier Vazquez (13-6) will miss his scheduled start Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers because of an infected eye. Tanyon Sturtze will start instead.
The right-hander has been bothered by the ailment for nearly a week. He remained in New York on Tuesday and could rejoin the team for its series next week in Minnesota.
“It’s just something that hasn’t gone away,” manager Joe Torre said. “He’s feeling better, but he’s frustrated by being shut down. He wants to pitch.”
Extra innings
Mariners lefty closer Eddie Guardado has a torn rotator cuff in his pitching shoulder and probably will need season-ending surgery. . . . Tigers second baseman Fernando Vina is out for the season because of a partly torn tendon in his left knee. . . . In a pregame ceremony, former teammates Chuck Finley and Gary DiSarcina rode in from the bullpen in a souped-up golf cart–a gift to Troy Percival to help the Angels closer commemorate his 300th save.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Tampa Bay 4 at Boston 8
W: Arroyo (5-8)
L: Sosa (3-1)
Last 4 in Boston lineup–Jason Varitek, Orlando Cabrera, Bill Mueller, Kevin Youkilis–had 2 RBIs each. Manny Ramirez 3 K’s after missing 3 games (flu). Rays’ Rocco Baldelli HR shy of cycle.
Toronto 0 at Cleveland 2
W: Durbin (5-4)
L: Bush (1-3)
S: Wickman (5)
Chad Durbin struck out career-high 7 and Ronnie Belliard hit 2-run double, his AL-leading 39th, to extend hit streak to 11 games. Indians 41-29 since May 27. Toronto shut out AL-high 10th time.
N.Y. Yankees 1 at Texas 7
W: Drese (9-6)
L: Brown (9-2)
Ryan Drese pitched 7 shutout innings and ex-Yankee Alfonso Soriano doubled twice and scored 3 times as Rangers ended season-high 4-game skid. Kevin Brown lost for 1st time in 6 starts.
Minnesota 3 at Seattle 4
W: Meche (2-5)
L: Mulholland (3-6)
S: Putz (2)
Edgar Martinez hit HR in 1st game since announcing retirement and Gil Meche gave up 2 hits in 8 IP. Twins lost 3rd in row and 5th in 6 games. Seattle’s Bret Boone has 14-game hitting streak.
Detroit 4 at Oakland 5
W: Zito (8-8)
L: Johnson (8-10)
S: Dotel (10)
Eric Chavez’s 3-run HR ended A’s 5-game homerless drought. Barry Zito won 3rd in 4 starts. Eric Byrnes caught stealing for 1st time in 11 tries this year. Jason Johnson 1-7 in 12 starts vs. A’s.
Baltimore at Anaheim, late
Starters
Cabrera (8-5) vs. Sele (7-0)
O’s riding 7-game win streak, longest since winning 13 in row from Sept. 7-22, 1999. Angels pulled off 2nd straight 9th-inning rally Mon. vs. Royals for 1st 4-game sweep of K.C. in club history.
