CLEVELAND: After blowing saves in three consecutive appearances, RHP Fausto Carmona will retain his role as closer, Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "He's our closer and he'll be back tomorrow," Wedge said. ... The Indians haven't won consecutive games since beating the New York Yankees on July 3 and 4. .
TAMPA BAY: LHP Scott Kazmir (left shoulder inflammation) had a long toss session. The Devil Rays expect him to rejoin the rotation on Aug. 8. ... Manager Joe Maddon said RHP Seth McClung, who was called up after Wednesday's game from Triple-A Durham, will pitch in the eighth inning and be eased into the closer's role. ..
MINNESOTA: LHP Francisco Liriano, who was skipped from a Wednesday start with inflammation in the forearm muscle, is scheduled to make his next start on Monday at Detroit. ..
HOUSTON: Lance Berkman, who has been out of the starting lineup for six games with a strained left groin muscle, will play first base Friday against Arizona.
HOUSTON: Manager Phil Garner didn't feel any sense of nostalgia Thursday when he put on the Astros rainbow jerseys as part of Retro Day at San Diego's PETCO Park. "They are ugly uniforms," said Gardner, who was on the 1986 team that wore similar jerseys. "The only redemption was that they were lightweight. They were the first ones of the synthetic uniforms that were very comfortable."...
The Padres are 2-0 wearing retro uniforms. They beat the Cubs 2-1 on May 6 while sporting the 1948 Pacific Coast League uniforms.
FLORIDA: Manager Joe Girardi made a series of ninth-inning moves Wednesday that were difficult to follow, much less describe: He pinch ran a pitcher for a pitcher who pinch ran for another pitcher who pinch hit. Girardi offered an explanation Thursday. RHP Logan Kensing was warming up to pitch the 10th inning, and Girardi waited until he was done before sending him into the game as a pinch runner for LHP Scott Olsen. "Once he was ready to go, he was probably the fastest pitcher we've got," Girardi said. Olsen entered the game to run for RHP Brian Moehler, who reached when hit by a pitch trying to bunt. The Marlins failed to rally and lost 6-5. ... Girardi said Miguel Olivo will catch a lot in the absence of Matt Treanor, who is expected to be sidelined two weeks with a strained left shoulder.
CINCINNATI: RHP Bronson Arroyo volunteered to start Saturday against Atlanta, one day earlier than scheduled, which means he'll be pitching on three days' rest. "I haven't won, so I thought I'd make something up," said Arroyo, who hasn't won in eight starts since June 19. "I've been wanting to go four-man (rotation) all year." The switch will allow Arroyo to pitch against St. Louis next week. ... Arroyo is switching starts with RHP Kyle Lohse, the former Twin who now will make his first NL start on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA: RHP Ryan Madson, 9-7 with a 5.99 ERA, has been moved to the bullpen for perhaps the remainder of the season. Madson, who has made 17 starts, gave up a two-run homer to Aaron Miles that cut the Phillies' lead to 8-7 in the seventh inning on Wednesday. ... The Phillies were 3 1/2 games back in the wild card race despite trading OF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle, scoring in double digits in four of the previous six games. "We're playing relaxed and we're loose," manager Charlie Manuel said. "What I like is the fact we're 14 games back in our division and we've still got something to play for."
ST. LOUIS: RHP Chris Carpenter jumps ahead of rookie RHP Anthony Reyes in the rotation on Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Milwaukee, going on regular rest, and Reyes will work on six days' rest on Saturday. .
TAMPA BAY: LHP Scott Kazmir (left shoulder inflammation) had a long toss session. The Devil Rays expect him to rejoin the rotation on Aug. 8. ... Manager Joe Maddon said RHP Seth McClung, who was called up after Wednesday's game from Triple-A Durham, will pitch in the eighth inning and be eased into the closer's role. ..
MINNESOTA: LHP Francisco Liriano, who was skipped from a Wednesday start with inflammation in the forearm muscle, is scheduled to make his next start on Monday at Detroit. ..
HOUSTON: Lance Berkman, who has been out of the starting lineup for six games with a strained left groin muscle, will play first base Friday against Arizona.
HOUSTON: Manager Phil Garner didn't feel any sense of nostalgia Thursday when he put on the Astros rainbow jerseys as part of Retro Day at San Diego's PETCO Park. "They are ugly uniforms," said Gardner, who was on the 1986 team that wore similar jerseys. "The only redemption was that they were lightweight. They were the first ones of the synthetic uniforms that were very comfortable."...
The Padres are 2-0 wearing retro uniforms. They beat the Cubs 2-1 on May 6 while sporting the 1948 Pacific Coast League uniforms.
FLORIDA: Manager Joe Girardi made a series of ninth-inning moves Wednesday that were difficult to follow, much less describe: He pinch ran a pitcher for a pitcher who pinch ran for another pitcher who pinch hit. Girardi offered an explanation Thursday. RHP Logan Kensing was warming up to pitch the 10th inning, and Girardi waited until he was done before sending him into the game as a pinch runner for LHP Scott Olsen. "Once he was ready to go, he was probably the fastest pitcher we've got," Girardi said. Olsen entered the game to run for RHP Brian Moehler, who reached when hit by a pitch trying to bunt. The Marlins failed to rally and lost 6-5. ... Girardi said Miguel Olivo will catch a lot in the absence of Matt Treanor, who is expected to be sidelined two weeks with a strained left shoulder.
CINCINNATI: RHP Bronson Arroyo volunteered to start Saturday against Atlanta, one day earlier than scheduled, which means he'll be pitching on three days' rest. "I haven't won, so I thought I'd make something up," said Arroyo, who hasn't won in eight starts since June 19. "I've been wanting to go four-man (rotation) all year." The switch will allow Arroyo to pitch against St. Louis next week. ... Arroyo is switching starts with RHP Kyle Lohse, the former Twin who now will make his first NL start on Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA: RHP Ryan Madson, 9-7 with a 5.99 ERA, has been moved to the bullpen for perhaps the remainder of the season. Madson, who has made 17 starts, gave up a two-run homer to Aaron Miles that cut the Phillies' lead to 8-7 in the seventh inning on Wednesday. ... The Phillies were 3 1/2 games back in the wild card race despite trading OF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle, scoring in double digits in four of the previous six games. "We're playing relaxed and we're loose," manager Charlie Manuel said. "What I like is the fact we're 14 games back in our division and we've still got something to play for."
ST. LOUIS: RHP Chris Carpenter jumps ahead of rookie RHP Anthony Reyes in the rotation on Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Milwaukee, going on regular rest, and Reyes will work on six days' rest on Saturday. .
