Notes

YANKEES

A-Rod to play Thursday

BOSTON -- Alex Rodriguez will only start in Thursday's finale of the New York Yankees' three-game series at the Boston Red Sox before playing his final game in pinstripes at home on Friday night.

Manager Joe Girardi announced the plans for A-Rod prior to Tuesday night's series opener. Rodriguez and the Yankees said Sunday that A-Rod will start a final game at Yankee Stadium on Friday night against the Rays before being released and shifting into a role as a special adviser.

Girardi said Sunday he would get Rodriguez as many innings as possible this week, but said Tuesday he got caught up in the emotions of Sunday's announcement and is making a managerial decision as the Yankees chase a playoff spot.

Rodriguez said he is disappointed but excited to start at least one more time at Fenway Park, where he made his major league debut in 1994.

The 41-year-old also remained noncommittal when asked if he was definitely retiring as a player after Friday's game.

CARDINALS

Wacha on 15-day DL

Right-hander Michael Wacha, who has a five-game winning streak but who has had trouble putting hitters away with his fastball, apparently has had more than mechanical glitches with which to deal.

After Wacha was examined Tuesday, the Cardinals placed him on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, then brought up prized right-hander Alex Reyes from the Class AAA Memphis club.

To make room for Reyes on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals transferred injured catcher Brayan Pena (left knee) to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL.

Reyes, 21, considered among the top prospects in baseball, arrived at Busch Stadium on Tuesday and said he has been told he will be used out of the bullpen.

In his last game for Memphis on Saturday, Reyes allowed 1 run and fanned 8 in 6 innings.

After completing his 50-game suspension meted out last year for a PED infraction (marijuana), Reyes was 2-3 with Memphis with a 4.96 earned run average although he fanned 93 in 65 1/3 innings.

Wacha, who made his 23rd start on Monday night, lasted five innings in a no-decision. He is 7-7 with a 4.45 ERA this season in 131 1/3 innings.

CUBS

Upset with demotion

CHICAGO -- Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella has refused to report to Class AAA Iowa after being optioned to the minors nearly two weeks ago, and Chicago has placed him on the temporary inactive list.

La Stella started for the Cubs in last year's wild-card playoff victory over Pittsburgh. He was optioned to the minors on July 29 when Chicago activated outfielder Chris Coghlan off the disabled list.

The left-handed hitting La Stella is batting .295 with a .388 on-base percentage in 105 at-bats with the Cubs. Chicago said Tuesday that he didn't take the demotion well.

General Manager Jed Hoyer said they "decided to give him time" and that he's a "27-year-old kid working through some stuff." La Stella will continue to get paid while he's on the inactive list.

Manager Joe Maddon said he's communicated by text message with La Stella, who was back home in New Jersey working out.

INDIANS

Francona has chest pain

WASHINGTON -- Terry Francona did not manage the Cleveland Indians in Tuesday night's game against the Washington Nationals after complaining of chest pain while speaking to reporters before the game.

The Indians said Francona was examined by the Nationals park EMT and remained at the stadium. They added that Francona was feeling better at first pitch and was not expected to need to go to the hospital, calling the decision not to manage a precautionary one.

Francona, 57, has twice suffered a pulmonary embolism. In 2006 he joined others around baseball to educate people on deep-vein thrombosis.

In his pregame meeting with reporters in the visitor's dugout, Francona at one point paused and grabbed his sternum. He continued discussing the matters of the day while joking about his pain.

"I don't think I'm having a heart attack," Francona said. "If I'm having one, just don't take my answers if they're bad answers."

Francona, who could still be seen in the dugout during the game, was replaced by bench coach Brad Mills.

DODGERS

Puig finds the party

Yasiel Puig has found the party in the Pacific Coast League.

Days after a demotion to the minors, the unpredictable Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder posted videos to his Snapchat account Monday night of him partying with his new Class AAA teammates. The series of videos followed Oklahoma City's 3-2 loss at the Iowa Cubs.

Puig began by posting a video of him shirtless in the team's locker room, smiling and saying: "It's so funny. We lose today, and everybody's happy."

Videos posted later showed Puig and his teammates dancing, singing and chanting, often using profanity.

"We are aware of what Yasiel posted on social media last night and while we are disappointed in his and some of our other players' judgment, this is a matter we will address internally," Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, said in a statement released by the team Tuesday.

Puig was optioned to Oklahoma City last week after the Dodgers could not find a taker for him before the non-waiver trade deadline. He went 2 for 4 in his first game with Oklahoma City on Sunday and was 0 for 3 on Monday.

A major league All-Star in 2014, Puig, 25, has been physically limited this season and largely inconsistent when healthy, batting .260 with 7 home runs in 81 big league games. The Cuban slugger signed a $42 million, seven-year contract in June 2012.

Sports on 08/10/2016

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