BURNETT APPEALS SIX-GAME SUSPENSION
NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett was suspended for six games Thursday for throwing high-and-tight to the Rangers’ Nelson Cruz earlier this week.
Burnett appealed the penalty, which had been set to take effect immediately. He can continue to pitch until a hearing is held.
“You kind of expect something to happen when the ball comes that close,” Burnett said before New York played the Rangers in the series finale.
Burnett said it was the first time he’d been suspended. He seemed a bit surprised by the severity, and said his first reaction when told was: “Really?”
A Burnett fastball sailed near Cruz’s head during a 12-3 win Tuesday night. Earlier in the game, Texas’ Vicente Padilla twice hit Mark Teixeira with pitches. Both Burnett and Padilla were fined undisclosed amounts.
Ortiz is considering all his options
DETROIT — David Ortiz doesn’t think his season-long slump has anything to do with his eyes. At this point, though, he’s willing to try just about anything.
Ortiz is hitting .187 with just one home run this season.
“I’ve been thinking about getting my eyes checked — for real,” he said. “My vision has always been 20-20, and I’m not feeling anything crazy, but I’m going to get it checked out.”
Footnotes.
Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria is likely to return to the starting lineup by Saturday.
Longoria, the top AL vote-getter for this year’s All-Star Game who left Tuesday’s game with tightness in his left hamstring, didn’t play against the Royals for the second straight day.
• Travis Hafner, sidelined since April 29 with right shoulder soreness, rejoined the Indians and said he was ready to return from the DL.
• The Cardinals purchased the contract of right-hander Jess Todd from Triple-A Memphis and designated righty Blaine Boyer for assignment.
• The Marlins designated right-hander Hayden Penn for assignment a day after he walked three straight batters with the bases loaded. They also placed right-hander Anibal Sanchez on the 15-day DL and recalled right-handers Tim Wood and Cristhian Martinez from the minors.
• Mets reliever J.J. Putz will leave the team and return to New York to be examined by team doctors after experiencing “sharp pain” in his right elbow.
• The Royals activated outfielder Coco Crisp from the bereavement list and optioned infielder Tug Hulett to Triple-A Omaha. The Associated Press
