SEATTLE — The Mariners might be getting a quicker-than-expected boost to their surprising playoff chase.
Gold Glove third baseman Adrian Beltre is hitting for the first time this weekend since shoulder surgery, and the mainstay in the middle of Seattle’s batting order said Friday he’s two weeks away from returning to his surging team.
Beltre had surgery June 30 to remove painful bone spurs in his left, nonthrowing shoulder. The Mariners estimated he would miss six to eight weeks.
“I feel like I probably could play right now,” Beltre said.
• The Mariners designated reliever Roy Corcoran for assignment, clearing roster space for pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith to be recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
Padilla battling swine flu
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla tested positive for swine flu, though his symptoms are subsiding and he’s expected to make his next start, Tuesday against Detroit.
Padilla was scratched from his start Wednesday against Boston because of flulike symptoms, and lab reports Friday indicated he had H1N1 Type A influenza. He is thought to be the first athlete in U.S. major pro sports to be diagnosed with swine flu.
Several Rangers players have been hit with the flu this week, including Eddie Guardado, Omar Vizquel and David Murphy. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was scratched from Friday night’s game against Kansas City because of the flu.
Cultures have been sent away to determine if any other players have swine flu.
Also, Rangers left-hander Matt Harrison will likely need surgery to remove a rib and alleviate pain in his shoulder.
Footnotes.
Royals outfielder Jose Guillen could miss up to 10 weeks because of a knee injury suffered while he was putting on a shin guard during Wednesday’s loss to the Angels.
• The Cubs scratched left-hander Ted Lilly from his start today against the Reds because of shoulder soreness. Kevin Hart will start in Lilly’s absence.
• The Red Sox designated utilityman Mark Kotsay for assignment to make room on the roster for newly acquired Adam LaRoche.
• The Yankees’ interest in acquiring left-hander Cliff Lee from Cleveland cooled considerably when the Indians insisted on either Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain as part of any deal, according to .
Meanwhile, Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang is awaiting a second opinion on his injured right throwing shoulder, and manager Joe Girardi wasn’t optimistic about getting the sinkerballer back this season. Denver Post wire services
