Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay is expected to return to the mound next Sunday, less than a month after breaking a bone in his left leg.
After doing some mobility drills this weekend, it was decided that Halladay isn’t ready to pitch early next week. He had hoped to pitch Tuesday against the White Sox but is now scheduled to return next Sunday against the Yankees.
“Tuesday was lofty,” Halladay said. “The running has been a little slow. It’s been getting better, but I’d like to be able to get close to full strength.”
The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner was struck in the left shin by a line drive off the bat of Texas’ Kevin Mench on July 8. He is 12-4 with a 2.41 ERA and was expected to be the American League’s starter in the All-Star Game before he was injured.
The original prognosis had him missing four to six weeks.
“We just want to make sure he can move around on the field,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said.
Extra innings
The Rangers recalled left-hander C.J. Wilson from Double-A Frisco to start Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays and optioned first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who hit .229 in 13 games, to Triple-A Oklahoma. Wilson allowed four runs on eight hits in eight innings in Texas’ 5-1 loss. . . . Orlando Cabrera stole a career-best three bases Sunday, becoming the first Angel to have three steals in a game since Rickey Henderson on Sept. 7, 1997. . . . Indians DH Travis Hafner, who sustained a concussion July 16 after being beaned by White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Akron this week.
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SUNDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Los Angeles 7 at New York 8
W: Gordon (4-4)
L: Gregg (1-2)
Jason Giambi hit 2 HRs to reach 300 for career and Tony Womack had 11th-inning single through 5-man infield as Yankees rallied from 4-run deficit again to hand Angels 6th loss in 7 games.
Texas 1 at Toronto 5
W: Chacin (11-5)
L: Wilson (0-3)
Gustavo Chacin won 5th straight start, Vernon Wells hit HR in 4-run 3rd inning and Blue Jays avoided 3-game sweep. Phil Nevin 0-for-4 in DH debut for Rangers, who ended 4-game win streak.
Kansas City 2 at Tampa Bay 6
W: Hendrickson (5-7)
L: Lima (4-9)
Mark Hendrickson took 1-hitter into 8th inning and Travis Lee hit HR as Devil Rays finished 4-game sweep. Victory put Lou Piniella (1,492) in 18th place for career wins as manager.
Minnesota 3 at Boston 4
W: Timlin (4-1x)
L: Rincon (4-4)
S: Schilling (5)
Mike Timlin allowed 2 hits and intentional walk in 1 1/3 innings, striking out one, as Red Sox rallied past Twins for 5th straight victory and Curt Schilling pitched 9th for 5th save.
Detroit 2 at Oakland 5
W: Saarloos (7-6)
L: Bonderman (13-7)
Kirk Saarloos took shutout into 9th inning and Nick Swisher hit HR as surging Athletics won for 11th time in 12 games and 31 of 38 to move within 1 1/2 games of West-leading Angels.
Cleveland 9 at Seattle 7
W: Westbrook (9-12)
L: Pineiro (3-7)
S: Wickman (27)
Jhonny Peralta hit 3-run double and finished with career-high 4 RBIs for Indians, who took 3 of 4 from Mariners despite starter Jake Westbrook giving up 7 runs and 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
