ROYALS: Kansas City pitcher Jimmy Gobble, who allowed 10 runs in one inning Monday against Detroit, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a stiff lower back. Gobble established a Kansas City franchise record for runs allowed by a reliever in a game.
ASTROS: Houston acquired pitcher Randy Wolf from San Diego in exchange for minor leaguer Chad Reineke. Wolf, an NL All-Star in 2003, is 6-10 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts for the Padres this season. The 31-year-old is in his 10th season and will play for his fourth team. He previously played for Philadelphia (1999-2006) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007) before joining the Padres this season.
BRAVES: Atlanta manager Bobby Cox sat out Tuesday night against Florida to serve the one-game suspension he earned with a tirade on Sunday. Cox was suspended for "inappropriate conduct and comments"
during Sunday's 15-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, Major League Baseball disciplinarian Bob Watson said. Cox was ejected in the third inning, after Buddy Carlyle issued a bases-loaded walk to force in a run that put the Nationals ahead 6-1. Plate umpire Chris Guccione turned to the Braves dugout and cautioned Cox not to come on the field. Cox bounded up the dugout steps anyway and was quickly ejected by Guccione. Cox followed Guccione during a long tirade before returning to the dugout. Chino Cadahia, the Braves' bench coach, took over as acting manager against the Marlins.
BREWERS: Milwaukee optioned left-handed reliever Mitch Stetter to Class AAA Nashville, making room on the roster to activate Jeff Suppan to start against the Cardinals. Stetter was 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 23 appearances over two stints. He has held opponents to a .160 batting average, and went 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA since recalled on June 20, but was vulnerable because he has minor league options remaining.
CARDINALS: St. Louis placed Chris Duncan on the 15-day disabled list with a bulging disc in his neck. Duncan, batting .248 with 27 RBIs in part-time duty, said the neck has been bothering him for a while but had been tolerable until after Monday night's game when he couldn't sleep and then woke up with stiffness. He also reported shooting pain down his right arm.
DODGERS: Los Angeles recalled left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw from Class AA Jacksonville and optioned Eric Stults to Class AAA Las Vegas. Kershaw, 20, was 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA in eight starts with the Dodgers earlier this year. He was sent to Jacksonville on July 2, where he was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in three starts for the Suns.
GIANTS: San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy and GM Brian Sabean sat down with Omar Vizquel and told the 11-time Gold Glove shortstop he will play less in the season's second half. The Giants are going for a youth movement and that means the 41-year-old Vizquel apparently will spend more time watching the likes of rookies Emmanuel Burriss and Ivan Ochoa at his spot in the middle of the infield.
METS: Tests on New York closer Billy Wagner's left shoulder showed he has muscle spasms around the joint. Wagner was examined Monday and had the MRI on Tuesday morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery after he felt tightness in his shoulder while warming up before the 10th inning Sunday in Cincinnati. He was visited on the mound by manager Jerry Manuel and a trainer before striking out the side for his 24th save.
NATIONALS: Washington shortstop Cristian Guzman agreed to terms on a $16 million, two-year contract extension that takes him through the 2010 season. He appreciated the vote of confidence by his club, especially after making his second All-Star game and first since 2001. Guzman, who will earn $8 million in each of the next two seasons, could have opted to test free agency this fall.
Also, the Nationals reinstated third baseman Ryan Zimmerman from the disabled list and his rehab assignment with Class AAA Columbus. Zimmerman had been on the disabled list since May 26, with a small tear of the labrum in his left shoulder.
Washington outfielder Wily Mo Pena underwent surgery on his left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season. The team said the surgery was to repair a partial tear of Pena's rotator cuff and a tear of his labrum.
REDS: Cincinnati right-hander Josh Fogg was hit in the mouth by a ball during batting practice and was taken to a medical center where he got 30 stitches for a split upper lip. A ball hit by Joey Votto smacked Fogg, who was in the outfield during batting practice. Fogg left the field with the assistance of a trainer who held a towel in front of his face.
