Notes

BRAVES/ANGELS LHP Downs acquired

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Braves have added a needed left-hander to their bullpen by acquiring Scott Downs from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league right-hander Cory Rasmus.

The Braves have lost left-handed relievers Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty to season-ending elbow injuries. Downs, 37, joins Luis Avilan as lefties in Atlanta’s bullpen.

Downs was 2-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 43 games with the Angels. He is 36-35 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 seasons.

Downs had 29 consecutive scoreless appearances from May 5-July 23 before giving up three hits and two runs in a 3-1 loss at Oakland in his last outing with the Angels on Saturday.

Rasmus had an 8.10 ERA in three appearances with Atlanta this season before he was optioned to Class AAA Gwinnett on June 18.

RAYS Tampa Bay lands Crain

BOSTON - The Tampa Bay Rays acquired injured reliever Jesse Crain from the Chicago White Sox on Monday in an attempt to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run in the tough AL East.

The White Sox will receive players to be named or cash for Crain, a 32-year-old right-hander who is 2-3 with a 1.15 ERA in 38 appearances. He was placed on the disabled list on July 3 with a right shoulder strain.

The deal was announced before the Rays faced the division-leading Red Sox in Boston on Monday night. Tampa Bay began the day just one-half game behind Boston in the AL East. Crain was expected to fly straight to Tampa Bay, where the Rays open a two-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Crain is 45-30 with a 3.05 ERA in a 10-year career, the first seven with the Minnesota Twins. He signed with the White Sox as a free agent after the 2010 season.

To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred pitcher Brandon Gomes (shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list.

TIGERS Veras added

DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers added some help for their shaky bullpen Monday, acquiring reliever Jose Veras from the Houston Astros for minor league outfielder Danry Vasquez and a player to be named.

Veras is 0-4 with a 2.93 ERA and 19 saves this season, and the 32-year-old right-hander has struck out 44 in 43 innings with only 14 walks.

Vasquez hit .281 with 5 home runs and 39 RBI in 96 games for Class A West Michigan this year.

Joaquin Benoit has converted all 10 of his save chances for the Tigers this season, andleft-hander Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) is 4-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 61 innings. In Veras, Detroit now adds a righthander who can pitch in the late innings.

MARINERS Morse recalled

SEATTLE - Outfielder Michael Morse has been recalled from his rehabilitation assignment by the Seattle Mariners and veteran outfielder Jason Bay has been designated for assignment.

Morse had been on rehab at Class AAA Tacoma while recovering from a quad injury that landed him on the disabled list for more than a month. Morse played in six games at Tacoma and hit .250 with one double and one home run.

Morse first suffered the injury in late May and has played in just 11 games since May 28.

Bay, 34, signed a one-year deal with the Mariners before the season. But his bat slumped of late and was hitting just .204 with 6 doubles and 11 home runs.

MLB Scott dies at 69

GREENVILLE, Miss. - George “Boomer” Scott, a three-time All-Star first baseman during the 1960s and 1970s who hit 271 career home runs, has died. He was 69.

Washington County coroner Methel Johnson confirmed Scott died Sunday in Greenville.

Scott spent most of his 14-year career with the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He hit 27 home runs during his rookie season with the Red Sox in 1966 and had his best year with the Brewers in 1975, when he hit 36 home runs and had 109 RBI.

Scott was a big man, listed at 6-2 and more than 200 pounds in his playing days, but surprising nimble in the field. He won eight Gold Gloves, playing primarily first base.

Castillo, 44, drowns

PHOENIX - Authorities have recovered the body of former major league pitcher Frank Castillo after he apparently drowned at a lake northeast of Phoenix.

Maricopa County (Ariz.) sheriff’s officials said divers pulled the 44-year-old’s body out of Bartlett Lake on Monday afternoon.

Family members and friends said Castillo wasn’t a good swimmer, but he jumped off a pontoon boat Sunday afternoon for a swim and didn’t resurface.

Divers searched for several hours before suspending the search until Monday.

Castillo had an 82-104 record in 13 major league seasons. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado, Detroit, Toronto, Boston and Florida in 1991-2005 before retiring and lived in the Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale.

Sports, Pages 18 on 07/30/2013

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