American League notes
Baltimore: LF Nolan Reimold (bulging disk in neck) is scheduled to have surgery today that could sideline him for the rest of the season. Doctors will take out the disk and fuse his spine, a procedure similar to what NFL quarterback Peyton Manning had.
Boston: RHP Clay Buchholz (intestinal bleeding) was placed on the 15-day disabled list and hospitalized. Manager Bobby Valentine expects Buchholz to return when eligible.
Chicago: RHP Dylan Axelrod gave up four earned runs in 5z innings Saturday in his season debut. “I wasn’t nervous at all, just excited,” Axelrod said. “I feel comfortable here. I think just getting back out there will help me for the next start.” Axelrod is scheduled to start Thursday against the Yankees.
Cleveland: RHP Jeanmar Gomez’s spot in the rotation could be growing tenuous. In his first eight games, Gomez was 3-2 with a 3.19 ERA. He is 1-5 with a 7.92 ERA in his last six starts and has pitched fewer than six innings in all of them.
Detroit: RH closer Jose Valverde (right wrist strain) played catch Saturday. Manager Jim Leyland hopes to have him available early during the series at Texas this week.
Kansas City: RHP Felipe Paulino has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and he could be headed for season-ending Tommy John surgery. Paulino was 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA in seven starts this season.
Los Angeles: RHP Jerome Williams, on the disabled list after an apparent asthma attack, is expected to throw in a three-inning simulated game during the two-game series in Baltimore. He is eligible to be activated July 4.
Minnesota: Joe Mauer (thigh bruise) caught Sunday for the first time since June 17. He went 2-for-4. He played first base in Saturday’s 6-0 loss at Cincinnati after being limited to one pinch-hit appearance in the four previous games.
New York: C Russell Martin was removed in the ninth inning Sat- urday with a sore back but insisted the injury was not serious. He was not in the starting lineup Sunday. “I’m just a little stiff,” Martin said. “I thought it would loosen up as the day went along.” . . . 1B Mark Teixeira came up in the Texas system with Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who started Sunday against the Yankees. “We were rookies together (in 2003), and he was a conventional pitcher then,” Teixeira said. “The transformation (to a knuckleballer) was a big leap of faith. . . . I’m so happy for him.” Oakland: RHP A.J. Griffin made his major league debut Sunday after RHP Brandon McCarthy was placed on the disabled list with chronic right shoulder trouble. Griffin gave up two runs (on a first-inning home run), three hits and a walk in six innings. . . . RHP Bartolo Colon was placed on the DL on Saturday with a right side muscle strain. RHP Tyson Ross was called up from Class AAA Sacramento (West Sacramento, Calif.). Seattle: RHP Felix Hernandez’s two-run double Saturday put the Mariners ahead to stay in a game that ended a six-start winless streak for Hernandez. The double came on the four-year anniversary of the biggest hit of his career, a game- winning grand slam against Mets LHP Johan Santana in New York. Tampa Bay: LHP Alex Torres was summoned from Class AAA Durham (N.C.) for Sunday’s day-night doubleheader to take advantage of the new rule allowing a one-day roster expansion. Torres had been dropped from the rotation at Durham, but he rediscovered his command as a reliever and resumed starting last week. Texas: It appears RHP Justin Grimm will be in the rotation until at least the All-Star break. Manager Ron Washington said he expected LH Derek Holland to need more than one rehab start to rebuild his durability to about 100 pitches. Holland has thrown off a mound three times since going on the disabled list retroactive to June 6 because of left shoulder fatigue. Toronto: After Sunday’s game, the Blue Jays activated OF Ben Francisco (left hamstring strain) from the disabled list and purchased the contract of 1B Adam Lind from Class AAA Las Vegas. Lind hit .395 in 31 games for Las Vegas. 1B David Cooper (.292 in 24 games) and IF Mike McCoy (3-for-8 in eight games) were optioned to Class AAA.