ST. PETERSBURG -- This wasn't the kind of birthday Ramiro Pena had in mind. Pena Authentic Alex Rodriguez Jersey awoke Monday morning -- Authentic Jose Reyes Jersey the day he turned 26 -- with severe stomach pains and was taken to the hospital. The result was appendicitis, Phillies Cliff Lee Jersey which prompted doctors to remove his appendix and forced Pena to go on the disabled list prior to the start of a four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. "It'll be a birthday I'm sure he'll Chase Utley Jersey never Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey forget," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. To fill his Carlos Pena Jersey spot on the active roster, the Yankees called up Brandon Laird from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Laird was expected to arrive before first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET, but his flight was delayed, so he Authentic Brian Wilson Jersey was deemed inactive.Girardi wasn't sure how long Pena Yankees Derek Jeter Jersey would be out.  "I mean, we put him on the 15-day DL knowing it would be that long," Girardi said. "I've heard guys try to come back [from appendicitis] after five or Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey six days. I think that's a little bit difficult. But I wouldn't expect it would be too long." Several players have undergone emergency appendectomies in recent history, with the Cardinals' Matt Holliday and the White Sox Adam Dunn each undergoing the procedure in April. Dunn missed Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey only six games and Holliday was out for Alex Rodriguez Jersey seven. But then there are Authentic Chase Utley Jersey players like Padres starter Aaron Harang and Mets Jose Reyes Jersey Brewers outfielder Corey Hart, each of whom missed about five weeks because of it in 2009. Pena's appendectomy was Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey the second by a Yankees player in the last two weeks. Right-hander Joba Chamberlain -- out for the year because of Tommy John surgery -- recently had one as well.Regardless of how long Pena is out, it's another injury blow to what has become a thin position for the Yankees. Alex Rodriguez isn't expected back until possibly early September after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. With him Ryne Sandberg Jersey out, Eduardo Nunez has been getting the bulk of the playing time at the Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey hot corner. But Pena was a valuable asset off the bench because of his ability to play second base, third base and Authentic Derek Jeter Jersey shortstop. "You lose some flexibility, definitely, because you had two guys who could do that," Girardi said. "Now you have one, and the other guy [Nunez] is Jose Reyes Jersey more of a third baseman [for Giants Cody Ross Jersey now]." Pena was 2-for-25 while appearing in 14 Major League games this season, but provided solid defense and made some nice plays while getting the start at Cody Ross Jersey third base in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. Laird, a 23-year-old right-handed hitter -- and the brother of Cardinals backup catcher Gerald Laird -- was hitting .266, with 10 homers and Derek Jeter Jersey 49 RBIs in 90 Triple-A Phillies Chase Utley Jersey games. He also has experience playing first base, but that won't be necessary on the big league club. "It's a young man who had an excellent year in Double-A," Girardi said. "[Laird] started off a little slow Nelson Cruz Jersey in Triple-A, but has really turned his season around, and we have high hopes for this kid of being a Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey prospect."

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Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch has been reinstated from the 15-day Alfonso Soriano Jersey disabled list and optioned Phillies Cole Hamels Jersey to Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced Monday. Litsch, 26, Authentic Johan Santana Jersey was placed Yankees Jorge Posada Jersey on the 15-day DL on May 19 with a right Jorge Posada Jersey shoulder impingement after making eight Starlin Castro Jersey starts for Toronto this season and logging a 4-3 record Brian Wilson Jersey with a 4.66 ERA. The Yankees Mariano Rivera Jersey club was faced with a tough decision, since Authentic Mariano Rivera Jersey Litsch began his rehab assignment on June 17 and, according to MLB rules, a rehab assignment can last just 30 days. After that point, the team has to either recall Michael Cuddyer Jersey the player to the Major League roster or option him to one of its Minor League affiliates. And with all five spots in the Toronto rotation fairly secured by Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil, Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey Carlos Villanueva and Jo-Jo Reyes, Litsch became the odd man out. Reyes is Cliff Lee Jersey just 5-7 with Freddy Sanchez Jersey a 4.94 ERA Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey this year, but he is out of Minor League options and would have to clear Authentic Freddy Sanchez Jersey waivers before being sent down.  Farrell said on Saturday Giants Freddy Sanchez Jersey that Litsch's fastball Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey velocity Twins Michael Cuddyer Jersey and cutter were much improved in his most recent outing, calling it a good step Authentic Jorge Posada Jersey forward. Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey But there simply was not a Mariano Rivera Jersey seat for Authentic Michael Cuddyer Jersey Litsch Mets Johan Santana Jersey to fill on the Major League roster. Litsch has also made seven starts in the Minors this season Authentic Cliff Lee Jersey -- six coming during his rehabilitation assignment for Class A Lansing, Double-A New Hampshire Johan Santana Jersey and Las Vegas -- and he owns a record of 0-2 with a 6.59 ERA in those.

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In the first month of the Twins Justin Morneau Jersey 2000 season, Pedro Martinez was literally unbeatable.  In five starts in April, Martinez was 5-0, owned a 1.27 ERA, Authentic Mickey Mantle Jersey was holding his Cubs Matt Garza Jersey opponents to a .475 OPS and had struck out 50 batters in 35 1/3 innings. In other words, it was most likely going to take an otherworldly performance from an opposing pitcher to keep his team in the game against Pedro.  On May 6 of that season, that's exactly what Steve Trachsel contributed.In that game, Pedro went the distance, surrendered six Matt Garza Jersey hits, struck out 17 and allowed one run.  Which was one more than Trachsel gave up.  The Tampa Bay right-hander also went the distance, allowed half as many hits, struck out a career high 11 batters and beat Pedro and the Red Sox, 1-0.Red Sox-RaysBoston's Josh Beckett (eight innings, one hit, six strikeouts, zero walks) and Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann (eight innings, two Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey hits, 10 strikeouts, two walks) each compiled an 86 game score.  The last time a game featured both starters putting up at least an 86 was on May 28, 2002, when Phillies Roy Halladay Jersey Arizona's Miguel Batista (87) and San Francisco's Jason Schmidt (86) dueled.  The last time an American League game witnessed both starters getting an 86 (or better) was on May 6, 2000, and also featured the Red Sox and Rays.  That day, Trachsel had an 89 game score and Martinez had an 87.• It was the longest game (by innings) to finish with a 1-0 score since the Brewers beat the Angels in 17 innings on June 8, 2004.• For the Red Sox, it was the longest game (by innings) to finish 1-0 in the live-ball era.• For the Rays, it was the longest game (by innings) to finish 1-0 in franchise history.• Mickey Mantle Jersey It was the longest AL game (by innings) to finish with a 1-0 score since the Orioles beat the Brewers on Sept. 27, 1974.• Authentic Nick Swisher Jersey With his eight innings and one hit allowed, Beckett has allowed a total of two hits in 17 innings against the Rays this season.  On June 15, he threw a one-hit shutout.TigersDetroit's Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth inning to record his 25th save of the season and remain perfect in save opportunities for the year.  Valverde's streak is the second longest for a Tigers Authentic Cole Hamels Jersey pitcher from the beginning of the season forward; Willie Hernandez converted his first 32 opportunities of the 1984 season.  Valverde is the 12th pitcher to begin a year by converting his first 25 or more opportunities.CardinalsLance Berkman hit his 25th home run of the season -- the ninth time in his career he has reached that mark.  Berkman and his nine seasons tie him with Mark Teixeira for the fourth most by a switch-hitter.  Eddie Murray had 12 seasons with 25+ homers, which is the most.  After Murray, Mickey Mantle and Chipper Jones are tied with the second most, with 10 such seasons.RedsCincinnati's Zack Cozart went Authentic Matt Cain Jersey 2-for-4 and hit his first Major League home run.  Cozart, who has hit safely in all six of his Major League games, is the seventh Reds player since 1919 to open Matt Cain Jersey his career with a hitting streak of at least six games.Reds streaks to begin careersPlayerStreakYearChuck Aleno171941Tony Gonzalez81960Adam Dunn72001Ival Goodman61935Joe Abreu61942Frank Baumholtz61947Zack Cozart62011*Since 1919PhilliesPhiladelphia's Antonio Bastardo saw his no-hit streak end when he Cole Hamels Jersey allowed a one-out double to Daniel Murphy in the bottom of the ninth of the Phillies' 8-5 win over the Mets.  Before the double, hitters had been hitless in their past 39 at-bats with two walks against Bastardo.  Before Murphy's double, the last hit allowed by the Phillies left-hander was a single by Lyle Overbay on June 5.  For the season, Bastardo is allowing 3.31 hits per nine innings (13 hits in 35 1/3 innings).BravesBrian McCann hit his 16th home run and drove in three runs to bring his career totals in those two categories to 128 and 519.  His 128 home runs tie him with Mike Piazza for the seventh most by any catcher through his age-27 season, Giants Matt Cain Jersey and his 519 RBIs leave him 33 shy of matching Joe Torre for the fifth most in history for any catcher in his age-27 season. Johnny Bench (240 homers and 855 RBIs) is the leader in both categories for this age.NationalsSecond baseman Danny Espinosa singled, tripled and homered.  Espinosa leads all NL rookies in home runs (17), runs (47), total bases (160) and extra-base hits (37), and is three homers away from tying Brad Authentic Matt Garza Jersey Wilkerson (2002) and Ryan Zimmerman for the franchise rookie home run record.TwinsIn the Twins' 4-3 victory over the Royals, Jim Thome hit his 596th career home run.  Thome has 48 home runs against Kansas City, his third-highest total Mets Ike Davis Jersey against any one opponent.  He has 63 against the Tigers and 57 against the Twins. The home run was the 500th of his American League career.500 homers as AL playerPlayerHomersBabe Ruth708Alex Rodriguez626Harmon Killebrew573Reggie Jackson563Rafael Palmeiro544Mickey Mantle536Jimmie Foxx524Ted Williams521Frank Thomas521Manny Ramirez511Jim Thome500RockiesColorado's Jason Giambi went 2-for-3 with a double and a home run.  In 90 at-bats this season, Giambi has five doubles and 10 home runs for an extra-base hit percentage of 60 (15 extra-base hits/25 total hits).  The Major League average this year is 32 percent.Athletics-AngelsThe A's scored eight runs in the bottom of the first and went on to beat the Angels, 9-1. It was the highest-scoring first inning for Oakland since putting up nine runs in the first Yankees Nick Swisher Jersey on Sept. 3, 2006, against the Orioles.  In this game, Oakland scored seven runs (on four walks, a single, a Conor Jackson grand slam and an error) before an out was recorded.  In all, the inning produced five walks, five hits and the error, and Angels starter Joel Pineiro was charged with all eight of the runs in one-third of an inning pitched.  Pineiro is the second starter in Angels history to have no more than one-third of an inning for the day and allow at least eight runs.  On June 4, 1995, Mark Langston recorded one out and finished his day with eight runs allowed on six hits.  GiantsThe Giants beat the Padres, 4-3, in 11 innings.• San Francisco improved to 26-12 in one-run games.  The total of Authentic Justin Morneau Jersey 38 one-run games is second most in the Majors, behind the Twins' 41 (Minnesota is 20-21).•  The Giants stole six bases in the game -- their most since Sept. 8, 1987, against the Astros. In that game, Kevin Mitchell had three steals, Dave Henderson had two and Chris Speier chipped in with one. In this game, Nate Schierholtz and Emmanuel Burriss had two apiece, and Eli Whiteside and Andres Torres had one. The last time the Giants had more than six steals in a game was on April 22, 1922, when they had seven.Rangers-MarinersMatt Harrison (7 2/3 innings, 5 hits, 1 run) won his eighth game and the Rangers extended their winning streak to 11 games.  • The 11 straight wins tie this club with the 2010 Rangers for the second longest single-season winning streak in franchise history.  The 1991 team won 14 straight.• During this winning streak, the Texas pitching staff owns a 2.09 ERA.11-game Rangers streaksYearIPHRERAK/BB201010076302.70100/3120119969232.0936/23• Harrison's 144 ERA+ makes him one of three Giants Buster Posey Jersey Rangers starters with an ERA+ of at least 130 (Alexi Ogando is at 144 and C.J. Wilson sits at 135).  Texas is one of two teams to have Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey three qualifying starters Yankees Mickey Mantle Jersey with an ERA+ of at least 130.  The Phillies (Roy Halladay -- 156; Cole Hamels -- 142; Cliff Lee -- 136) are the other team.• During the Rangers' four-game sweep of the Mariners, Seattle did not Ike Davis Jersey score more than one run in any game.  The four straight games of one or fewer runs scored tied a franchise record, set in 1988.  Seattle is the fifth team this season Josh Hamilton Jersey to suffer through a four-game streak like this.  The Padres have two streaks of this sort (one of them five games long) and the Blue Jays and Indians have the other two.  • Neftali Feliz pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts for his 20th save of the season.  In 12 career appearances Authentic Ike Davis Jersey totaling 11 Justin Morneau Jersey innings against the Mariners, Feliz has not allowed a hit and has struck out 13, while walking two and hitting one batter.  D-backsArizona's Daniel Hudson threw a five-hitter for his second career complete game and also hit his first career home run.  Hudson is the first pitcher in D-backs history to homer in a complete-game win.

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MINNEAPOLIS -- All season, the Twins have been counting down the number of home games until Bert Blyleven's induction Pablo Sandoval Jersey into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.That countdown reached single digits over the weekend, and was down to just five games Monday as Blyleven entered the final week before the ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.It's a big eight-day stretch for Blyleven, Phil Rizzuto Jersey which began Saturday with the Twins retiring Yankees Phil Rizzuto Jersey his No. 28 at Target Field, Authentic Roy Halladay Jersey and will culminate in Sunday's induction ceremony."It's Lan Kinsler Jersey kind of a nice stepping stone to the following weekend in Cooperstown," Blyleven said Friday on a conference call. "The honors are coming my way and it's very, very nice."   Bert Blyleven goes Phillies Ryan Howard Jersey to Cooperstown• Blyleven reflects on career with Twins• Twins retire Bert's number• In home stretch for induction• Blyleven's career statsBlyleven on inductionHonored by number retirementTarget Field first pitchTodd Blyleven on his Mets David Wright Jersey dad  In the final week before his induction, Blyleven continued his usual broadcasting duties in the TV booth for the Twins during Monday's doubleheader and Tuesday's game at Target Field.Blyleven also will be working on his induction speech, which he said Friday he had yet to finish. It should be a good one considering Blyleven's experience with public speaking and doing color commentary for Twins Joe Mauer Jersey Fox Sports North."My speech, I'm still working on it," Blyleven Yankees Robinson Cano Jersey said. "To me, Joe Mauer Jersey it's a Authentic Joe Mauer Jersey day of 'Thank you' to so many people that mentored Roy Halladay Jersey me, and that's what Authentic Pablo Sandoval Jersey I'm just trying to get down."It's going to be a long one, I'm thinking about going over an hour. ... Just kidding."On Wednesday morning, Blyleven will fly out to Cooperstown to begin his busy week of Hall of Fame activities. Upon his arrival, Blyleven will have a series Giants Pablo Sandoval Jersey of meetings with the Hall of Fame staff and will go through the schedule for the weekend.Among the things on Blyleven's schedule on Friday and Saturday are an induction ceremony rehearsal, a Hall of Fame member golf outing, Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey the awards presentation, the Parade of Legends and the Chairman's party.The induction ceremony will be held on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. CT) at the Clark Sports Center, located about a mile from the National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum. Admission to the ceremony is free, and it will also be broadcast live on MLB Network.On Monday morning, Blyleven will see his Authentic Phil Rizzuto Jersey plaque at the Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey Hall of Fame and take part in a program to share his memories before returning home.He'll have a lot on his schedule while in Cooperstown, but Blyleven said he's looking forward to all of it."I enjoy meeting people, because that's part of Authentic Buster Posey Jersey it," Blyleven said. "Hopefully shaking a lot of hands of Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey all the Kosuke Fukudome Jersey fans that come out there, taking time out of their busy schedule to come out and see myself or Roberto Alomar or Pat Gillick. It's a great honor for me to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with those two gentlemen."I'm looking forward to seeing what Cooperstown Authentic David Wright Jersey is all about during the induction weekend. I heard it was a lot of David Wright Jersey fun."Blyleven seemed particularly excited about one particular person Nick Swisher Jersey expected to be in attendance, flying in just to see him."I'm looking forward to also my mother, at 85, is flying in. Most of my family Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey is going to be there," Blyleven said. "Hopefully the weekend's going to be very special for her."

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No matter what the circumstances, tragedy is never good. Some moments are worse than others. Such was the case earlier this month at the home park of Carlos Beltran Jersey the Texas Rangers. You had a father tumbling to his death in the middle of a game while trying to catch a ball tossed his way from his son's favorite player. And we still grieve.Then, within days, there was nearly disaster in Phoenix, where another guy Robinson Cano Jersey flirted with plunging 20 feet into a pool deck at Authentic Carlos Beltran Jersey Chase Field during the All-Star Home Run Derby. As Authentic Ryan Howard Jersey he flew over the fence, those around him grabbed his feet and one of his arms and pulled him to safety.So what was baseball's response to those situations, ranging from officials of the teams associated with Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey the ballparks to Yankees Roger Maris Jersey executives inside of the Commissioner's Office?We're talking swift and appropriate. There was concern Carlos Zambrano Jersey for the folks associated with the victim and near victim, respectively. Then there was a review of why the horrors took place and discussion about possible solutions Authentic Roger Maris Jersey to help the future not resemble the past.Mostly, there was no panic, and that was the proper reaction. As brutal as these situations were (especially the Buster Posey Jersey one leading to death), fatalities along these lines have been rare in the game. But there have been fatalities. It's just that many resulted from fans putting themselves in the vicinity of tragedy -- you know, despite the fact that every Major League team warns fans Authentic Robinson Cano Jersey on the back of their tickets against partaking in high-risk activities at ballparks.Even so, there was the 27-year-old man who attempted in May to slide down a staircase railing during a Colorado Rockies home game. He lost his balance and fell to his death.Three years ago, there were similar scenarios in Atlanta and New York, but this isn't an epidemic.Just think: We've witnessed only a sprinkling of tragedies along those lines, and pro baseball started Roger Maris Jersey in 1869. Which means there have been more than a few balls thrown into the stands by players, folks reaching for home runs over fences and other potential disasters waiting to happen.No need for panic, but tweaking is acceptable.It happened with the Rangers. Despite local and state officials telling the Rangers that their ballpark was up to code, the Rangers still put a covering between the edge of the railing of Denard Span Jersey their stands and the outfield wall.Outside of similar adjustments that have been tiny yet effective, teams and baseball executives traditionally have shown wisdom Authentic Michael Young Jersey by staying away from dramatic alterations.There have been dramatic suggestions, though. The most prominent among them keeps returning again and again. It says baseball should extend the netting from behind home plate down the first-and-third base lines -- or even farther than that. According to Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey supporters of the measure, it would protect fans from foul balls and wayward bats.Would it help with safety? Definitely. But it also would contribute to a significant drop in attendance for teams trying to sell box seats or anything near that area. That's because such a netting would zap away much Giants Tim Lincecum Jersey of baseball's ambiance since Yankees Alex Rodriguez Jersey fans in those seats would have to view the action with a see-through barrier between them and the field.To translate: It would ruin the mood. And, yes, I know: Those who sit behind plate at games already are dealing with a see-through barrier, but who's to say they enjoy it?Nothing surpasses the following precautions when it comes to preventing the possibility of injury or even death while at a ballpark: Be alert. Be careful. Be sober. Be prepared to get out of the way in a hurry.Despite the mighty exceptions, of course, that approach is almost flawless Tim Lincecum Jersey regarding everything Rangers Michael Young Jersey we just discussed.I was changed forever during a game at old Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati in the early 1970s. It involved one of those times my brothers and I would buy cheap seats at a Reds game Giants Brian Wilson Jersey and Authentic Tim Lincecum Jersey then move down to the expensive ones near the end of the game.There we Ryan Howard Jersey were, standing in the concourse behind the row of blue seats down the first-base Michael Young Jersey line, and Don Gullett was at the plate. We weren't paying attention when the Reds' right-handed-hitting pitcher lined a foul shot that was heading our way.We were lucky.A woman near us wasn't. The ball whizzed past our noses to slam the woman in the forehead like a missile, and she was knocked to the ground. The response from stadium officials was quick. So was the one from my brothers and me. We decided as we hustled a few rows back that it Authentic Denard Span Jersey wasn't wise to be THAT close to the action without always looking toward the field.Afterward, I kept my head on a swivel whenever I sat anywhere in a ballpark that didn't allow you to reach up and touch the sky.The other habit I developed was to bring a glove to games, or to have somebody else do so. In later years, when I moved to Atlanta, I often took my godson, Julian, to Turner Field, and I always gave him one mission as I handed him his glove during our way to the ballpark: "Your job is to protect Uncle Terry from foul balls." Many Mets Carlos Beltran Jersey of our Braves trips were during the reign of Gary Sheffield, among the most notorious pull hitters in baseball history. After several close calls, when we sat along the third-base line with Sheffield at the plate, Julian suggested Twins Denard Span Jersey that we buy tickets somewhere else. Uncle Terry didn't argue.

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