The Yankees’ loss in Colorado on Thursday made them 1-2 in Roger Clemens’ starts this year and left Clemens’ teams with an 11-11 record in his 22 starts over the last two seasons. It’s fun watching him, anyway. … The Phillies still hope Freddy Garcia will pitch for them this season. The team announced surgeon James Andrews concurred with the opinion of team doctor Michael Ciccotti that he can repair the damage to his labrum without surgery. Garcia will continue to rest and see how he feels at some point after the All-Star break. A free agent-to-be, his inclination is going to be to take care of himself, not to push it. … The Twins are looking at Jeff Cirillo as their regular third baseman, with Nick Punto moving back into the utility role he had before his big 2006. They are looking for third-base and DH options. … Would the Twins trade Torii Hunter? They haven’t made any late moves to try to re-sign him and the next month will determine if they are buyers or sellers. … Mike Piazza has to be a bit confused. The A’s signed him to DH but now want him to come off the disabled list as a catcher so they can keep Jack Cust in the lineup. He’s willing but not so able. He cannot throw the ball. … Giving a starting pitcher a five-game suspension, as MLB did San Diego’s Chris Young after his encounter with Derrek Lee, is a joke. All it means is that he pushes back a start one, maybe two days, and gets some extra rest. The Padres are hoping Young can drop the appeal of his suspension after his last start of the first half, which would allow them to set up their second-half rotation with him starting the second or third game. … Cancer survivor Jon Lester might resurface in Boston this week. The Red Sox juggled the rotation after Curt Schilling went on the DL but will need a fifth starter Tuesday. It could be Lester or Kason Gabbard. … The intentional walk is not considered such an honorable move in Japan, at least not for an ace. Before walking Barry Bonds last weekend, Daisuke Matsuzaka hadn’t walked a hitter intentionally since 2003. … Could Roberto Hernandez wind up with the White Sox? Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro insists the 42-year-old Hernandez doesn’t look like he’s washed up.Somebody’s going to sign him if he wants to keep pitching. … Tony Gwynn Jr. was hitting .301 when the Brewers shipped him to Triple A. They felt he wasn’t getting enough playing time in an outfield that includes Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins and Corey Hart in regular roles and Kevin Mench and Gabe Gross available off the bench. … Rick Ankiel, who once upon a time started an NLCS game for St. Louis, is hitting .274 with 19 homers for the Cardinals’ Triple-A team in Memphis. He’s stuck there because he’s out of options and the Cardinals expect that the White Sox or someone else would claim him. When he comes to St. Louis, he will be going there to stay.
