Notes

METS

Wright sits out with stiff neck

MIAMI - New York Mets third baseman David Wright was held out of the starting lineup Monday night at Miami because of a stiff neck, and said he hoped to miss only one game.

Wright said neck spasms began to bother him during Sunday’s loss against Philadelphia, and he felt worse when he woke up Monday.

“It’s not something I’m worried about,” Wright said before heading to treatment. “I just wouldn’t be any good to anybody today. Hopefully it’s just one day, and then I’ll be back in there.”

Wright had started every game this season and missed only six games in 2012. He began the week ranked among the NL leaders with 19 RBI and was batting .309 with 2 home runs.

He was replaced at third base by Justin Turner, and Daniel Murphy moved into Wright’s No. 3 spot in the batting order.

“Somebody else has to pick it up,” Manager Terry Collins said. “He’s our star. You take your star out of the lineup, it changes the lineup.” CARDINALS Reliever sent to minors

ST. LOUIS - Making a move to shore up a shaky bullpen, the St. Louis Cardinals have demoted struggling left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski to the minor leagues.

The decision Monday means for now that the Cardinals are keeping Mitchell Boggs on the active big league roster despite a 12.66 ERA.

St. Louis selected the contract of right-hander Seth Maness from Class AAA Memphis. The 24-year-old Maness, 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in five starts in the minors, was the franchise’s minor league pitcher of the year last season.

Rzepczynski allowed seven runs in eight innings over nine appearances for a 7.88 ERA and gave up a two-run home run to Russell Martin in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 9-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Boggs was charged with the other three runs in that inning.

BLUE JAYS

Laffey chooses free agency

TORONTO - Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Laffey has chosen to become a free agent rather than report to the minor leagues.

The team announced the decision Monday.

Laffey was claimed off waivers from the New York Mets last Tuesday. The 28-year-old lefty made one start for Toronto, and was wild in a no-decision Friday night against the New York Yankees.

Laffey pitched for Toronto last year.

NATIONALS

Ramos returns from 15-day DL

ATLANTA - Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos has been activated from the 15-day disabled list.

Ramos was placed on the disabled list April 14 because of a strained left hamstring. He did not start Monday night’s game against Atlanta, because Manager Davey Johnson wants to be cautious.

Johnson says he is always careful with hamstring injuries. He said he looking forward to Ramos returning to the lineup.

Ramos is hitting .300 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI in six games. He played two games during an injury rehabilitation assignment with Harrisburg of the Class AAA Eastern League.

Washington optioned catcher Jhonatan Solano to Syracuse of the Class AAA International League.

DODGERS Kershaw on bereavement

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers placed pitcher Clayton Kershaw on the bereavement list Monday.

Kershaw, who threw eight dominant innings in a 2-0 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, left the team to tend to what Manager Don Mattingly called a “personal issue.”

The 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner will be required to miss a minimum of three games and a maximum of seven. Mattingly said he expects to have Kershaw back in time to take his next turn in the rotation Friday against the San Francisco Giants.

WHITE SOX Wells acquired from A’s

OAKLAND, Calif. - Well-traveled outfielder Casper Wells is on the move again, this time going from the Oakland Athletics to the Chicago White Sox.

The teams announced Monday night that the A’s sent him to Chicago for cash.

Wells will be joining his fourth American League team in less than a month.

Wells began the season with Seattle and hit .189 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI in 16 games. He was designated for assignment March 31 and claimed off waivers by Toronto on April 10.

Three days after joining the Blue Jays, he was cut without ever playing for them. Oakland acquired Wells for cash April 22 and went hitless in five at-bats.

Wells was designated for assignment Sunday when A’s outfielder Yoenis Cespedes came off the disabled list.

Sports, Pages 20 on 04/30/2013

Upcoming Events