Mariners welcome Cano back from DL
Seattle options trio of players to Triple-A Tacoma; recalls catcher Zunino and pitcher Pagan
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have recalled catcher Mike Zunino and pitcher Emilio Pagan from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned three players to help clear a spot for the expected return of second baseman Robinson Cano.
The Mariners made the roster moves Monday, an off day before the start of a three-city road trip on Tuesday. The Mariners optioned pitcher Chris Heston, catcher Tuffy Gosewisch and infielder Daniel Vogelbach with the expectation that Cano will be able to come off the disabled list Tuesday after missing time with a strained quadriceps. The return of Cano gives the Mariners their major offensive weapon back in the lineup. He was hitting .296 with eight homers and 28 RBI when he went on the DL.
Zunino started the season with the Mariners but was sent down earlier this month after batting .167 in the first 24 games of the season. Zunino hit .293 and had five home runs in 41 at-bats with Tacoma.
Giants’ Span shelved
CHICAGO — San Francisco Giants centre fielder Denard Span is out of the starting lineup with a sprained left thumb.
Span was injured when he got jammed on a pitch during Sunday’s 8-3 loss at St. Louis. Giants manager Bruce Bochy says Span is available to pinch run or play defence, but likely will be out of the lineup again Tuesday.
Span is batting .258 with two homers and eight RBIs in 23 games during his second season with San Francisco.
Cubs add Rosscup
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs have promoted reliever Zac Rosscup from Triple-A Iowa, adding another left-hander to their bullpen corps.
They selected Rosscup’s contract before Monday night’s game against San Francisco.
Right-hander Dylan Floro was sent down to Iowa, and righthander Jake Buchanan was designated for assignment to make room for Rosscup on the club’s 40-man roster.
The 28-year-old Rosscup missed last season due to left shoulder surgery.
He is 3-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 61 career major league games.
Pujols back in lineup
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols was back in the lineup Monday after missing three games in a row because of tendinitis in his right hamstring.
Pujols was in the lineup as the designated hitter and batting third against Tampa Bay. He was hitting .247 with five homers and 32 RBIs in 40 games before being sidelined.
Pujols is four homers away from 600 in his career.
Infielder Nolan Fontana, recalled by the Angels from Triple-A Salt Lake, is starting at second base in his major league debut.
To make room for Fontana, infielder C.J. Cron was optioned to Salt Lake.
Tebow hits a groove
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tim Tebow may have found his hitting groove once more with the Columbia Fireflies.
After ending an 0-for-18 slump with an RBI double on Saturday night against the West Virginia Power, Tebow followed that up with his first home run in six weeks on Sunday for the Class A New Mets affiliate.
The former NFL quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner also became the first Firefly — it’s a 2-year-old franchise — to trade jokes on late-night TV as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday — which was an off day for the club.
Tebow played in six of Columbia’s seven games last week.