Notes

LITTLE ROCK — RED SOX Crawford back in lineup

BOSTON - Left fielder Carl Crawford was in Boston’s lineup Monday after missing the entire season with left wrist and elbow injuries.

Signed to a $142 million, seven-year contract before last season, the 30-year old Crawford had a disappointing 2011. He hit a career worst .255 with 11 home runs and 56 RBI, and finished with 18 stolen bases after stealing 47 in 2010 and 60 the year before that.

“Just happy to be back out there,” he said before the Red Sox took the field for batting practice. “I’m excited about playing. It’s been a while. I’m just happy that I can play a big league game. I’m a little nervous.”

Crawford had wrist surgery in January and was hoping to be ready for opening day, but suffered a few setbacks and didn’t begin his first rehab assignment until late June.

Crawford was especially happy to be batting near the top of the order, in a spot vacated with Dustin Pedroia on the 15-day disabled list.

“I’m a big part of a puzzle that’s supposed to win a championship,” he said.

REDS Votto needs knee surgery

CINCINNATI - Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto will have surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee, sidelining him for three to four weeks.

The 2010 National League MVP hurt the knee in late June, but kept playing. He had a medical exam Monday evening that detected the injury.

Votto was out of the starting lineup against Arizona on Monday night, getting a day of rest and a chance to have the knee checked.

Votto is batting .342 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI.

Cueto to start despite blister

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds expect right-hander Johnny Cueto to start today against the Arizona Diamondbacks despite a blister on the index finger of his pitching hand.

Cueto developed the blister during his bullpen session last week and had to skip his scheduled start Sunday night.

Cueto leads the staff with 10 victories and ranks third in the NL with a 2.39 ERA.

BLUE JAYS Pitcher out for season

NEW YORK - Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Luis Perez is going to have reconstructive elbow surgery today, an operation that could sideline him for more than a year.

Blue Jays Manager John Farrell said that Perez was examined by Dr. James Andrews in Florida earlier Monday. Andrews confirmed Toronto’s original diagnosis of a torn ligament.

Perez will be the second Blue Jays pitcher to have Tommy John surgery this year. Starter Kyle Drabek had the operation last month.

The 27-year-old Perez was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 8 with left elbow tightness. He went 2-2 with a 3.43 ERA in 35 appearances this season.

BREWERS

Greinke scratched from start

MILWAUKEE - After Zack Greinke’s three consecutive starts apparently left him feeling fatigued and out of his routine, the Milwaukee Brewers are skipping his scheduled start Wednesday and will sit him until next week.

“We probably put too much on him, thinking he’d be fine, and he wasn’t,” Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke said before Monday night’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Greinke was ejected in the first inning of a July 7 start in Houston. He pitched again the next day, then started Milwaukee’s first game after the All-Star break. He gave up 10 runs in eight-plus innings during those three starts.

ROCKIES

Nicasio out with injured knee

DENVER - Colorado Rockies Manager Jim Tracy said right-hander Juan Nicasio is likely out for the season following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

Tracy says doctors removed “four significant pieces” from Nicasio’s left knee.

Nicasio went on the 15-day disabled list June 2 after twisting to field a ground ball hit by the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Elian Herrera the day before. Twice he had fluid drained from the knee, most recently Wednesday, before he underwent surgery and the loose bodies were removed.

He is 2-3 with a 5.28 ERA in 11 starts this season.