Just when the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels were returning to health.
Just when the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels were returning to health. 16-game winner Joe Saunders was hospitalized Friday night with a kidney stone.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Saunders was expected to pass it before Saturday night’s game against the Texas Rangers. The left-hander is still scheduled to start Tuesday night at Seattle.
“Right now it (making the next start) is a little bit of a question,” Scioscia said. “We’ll see how he comes out of it. He was doubled over last night and had to go to the hospital.”
With the playoffs approaching, there was some good news for the Angels with the return of slugger Vladimir Guerrero to the lineup. Guerrero had been out since leaving a game on Sept. 12 with right knee irritation.
Two other injured players - outfielder Juan Rivera (strained right hip flexor) and infielder Howie Kendrick (strained left hamstring) - were able to run before the game and are closer to returning to action.
“Howie ran the bases 100 percent,” Scioscia said. “We’ll give him a day to recover and then evaluate him on Monday with a possibility of playing as early as Monday. He made a lot of progress today. Barring any setbacks, we’re pretty comfortable that he’ll be out there in the next couple days. And Juan ran today and is feeling better, closer to getting there.”
Kendrick has been out since Aug. 27 and Rivera has been sidelined since Sept. 13.
Infielder Chone Figgins (right elbow) was able to throw before the game and is day-to-day. Figgins has been out since he was hit by a pitch on Sept. 8.
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Sheffield still angry at Indians after brawl.
Gary Sheffield was still angry a day after he was involved in a brawl with the Cleveland Indians.
The Detroit Tigers designated hitter was hit by a pitch from Fausto Carmona in the seventh inning Friday night, an incident that led to a bench-clearing brawl. Sheffield and Carmona were ejected, as was Indians catcher Victor Martinez and Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco.
Sheffield said Friday night he wouldn’t forget the actions of several Indians players during the brawl. He was still unhappy before Saturday’s game and directed most of his comments at Martinez, who was pointing at the Tigers veteran while being dragged away from the fight.
“He hasn’t done anything in this game,” Sheffield said. “He’s had a couple of (good) years. When you have a catcher chirping like he’s something special … like he’s done something. He hasn’t done anything.”
Martinez, who missed two months this season because of elbow surgery, took a .301 batting average into 2008. The switch-hitter has batted .300 or better three times, topped the 100 RBI mark twice and has made two All-Star teams.
While Sheffield said Carmona has hit him three times this season, Friday night actually marked the second time it has happened. Sheffield says Martinez has “chirped” at him on each occasion.
“He needs to watch his mouth,” Sheffield said. “He doesn’t know who he’s dealing with.”
Sheffield was in the lineup Saturday while Martinez didn’t start. Indians manager Eric Wedge said the day off for Martinez was planned before the series and he will catch Sunday.
Martinez, who said Friday that Sheffield should keep his mouth shut and play the game, was unavailable for comment Saturday.
The incident occurred after Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer off Carmona, giving Detroit a 4-2 lead. One out later, Carmona hit Sheffield in the left elbow. Sheffield walked slowly to first base, carrying his bat and glaring at Carmona.
“Every time I get hit, it’s because someone hit a home run,” Sheffield said. “Why am I the one getting hit?”
Carmona threw to first on a pickoff attempt. Sheffield motioned, yelled, then charged the pitcher. Both players threw punches before Carmona got Sheffield in a headlock and landed more punches as both dugouts and bullpens emptied.
Sheffield was also upset with Indians second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, who hit Sheffield on top of his head a couple of times while he was in Carmona’s headlock. Sheffield said Friday night he watched the tape and saw what Cabrera did.
“He’ll get taken care of, trust me,” Sheffield said. “If you take a cheap shot at me, I’ll never forget it. I won’t forget it until the day I die.”
Sheffield said Friday Indians reliever Rafael Perez was another player who was yelling at him. He referred to Perez as the “skinny guy from the bullpen.”
Asked about upcoming suspensions, Wedge said, “That’s always a possibility. We haven’t heard anything. I’m sure we’ll hear something at some point.”
The Tigers are playing this series without manager Jim Leyland, who suspended for three games for his actions during consecutive road games against the Texas Rangers earlier in the week.