CARDINALS
and allowed Wainwright to leave after five innings in which he needed 93 pitches to get 15 outs.
“He was at 93 pitches, and we’re in September,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “The first two (innings) were stressful. To me, we’ve got a lead that we think our bullpen can hold. I guess your greatest argument (for leaving him in) is you want to see him hit again.”
Cardinals Notes: Piscotty left in the fifth inning after being hit in the wrist with a pitch though Matheny said X-rays were negative . ... RHP Mike Leake will return after a bout with the shingles when he starts on Wednesday . ... C Brayan Pena is finally healthy after battling injuries much of the season but the team will not use him to catch a full game.
SHOEMAKER SURGERY
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker underwent surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center late Sunday to stop bleeding on his brain after he was struck in the head by a line drive against the Mariners in Seattle.
“The CT scan confirmed or when they actually did the operation that confirmed where the bleeding was,” General manager Billy Eppler said. “They were able to access that area. They were able to seal it, stop the bleeding. He was wheeled back up into recovery and is recovering fine.”
With one out in the second inning, Shoemaker was hit on the right side of the head on a sharp liner off the bat of Kyle Seager a ball with an exit velocity of 105 mph, according to MLB Statcast. He was able to turn his head slightly to avoid a direct blow to his face but was unable to get his glove up in time.
BASEBALL NOTES
The Washington Nationals reported to work Monday afternoon a weary bunch, sleep-deprived with their routines askew because they arrived in Washington D.C., at 3 a.m after playing a game in New York into the late hours Sunday night.
It was an atypically quick turnaround, even for baseball’s unrelenting grind, but Washington still beat the last-place Atlanta Braves 6-4.
The New York Mets have recalled rookie infielder Matt Reynolds from Triple-A Las Vegas. Reynolds got the start at shortstop for Monday’s game at Cincinnati.
Reynolds is batting .211 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 37 games with the Mets this season. He hit .264 with two homers and 24 RBIs in 71 games with Las Vegas.
Detroit Tigers righthander Mike Pelfrey has been activated off the disabled list and moved to the bullpen. The 32-year-old Pelfrey is 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA in 21 starts this season. He has appeared in 239 games in his 11-year career, including 234 starts.
The Tigers also recalled infielder Dixon Machado from Triple-A Toledo before Monday’s game against the White Sox as insurance with second baseman Ian Kinsler nursing a sore finger.
Manager Brad Ausmus confirmed right-handed prospect Joe Jimenez will go to instructional ball and won’t be called up this month.