SAN FRANCISCO — Slumping Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp was benched for a third straight game Tuesday night, and he approached manager Joe Torre to discuss it.
Torre said Kemp came to his office for a meeting that lasted about 20 minutes before Los Angeles played the middle game of its series with the rival San Francisco Giants. Torre appreciated the gesture and said Kemp would start Wednesday, when right fielder Andre Ethier is scheduled to have a day off. After that, Torre was noncommittal about Kemp’s status.
Struck down.
The Phillies have lost half of their starting infield to injury.
The Phillies put second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Placido Polanco on the 15-day disabled list and sent them back to Philadelphia for exams to see how long they will be sidelined. Utley has a sprained right thumb. Polanco has a sore left elbow.
Utley hurt his thumb while sliding into second base Monday.
Polanco has a bone spur in the left elbow. It was hit by a pitch in April and has bothered him since.
Job security.
Edwin Rodriguez will remain manager of the Marlins through the end of this season.
Florida owner Jeffrey Loria told the team of the decision before its game against the Mets.
Doubling down.
The Diamondbacks will reach down to Double-A Mobile to get a fill-in starter today for Edwin Jackson, who’s getting two extra days of rest after his 149-pitch no-hitter.
Arizona will use Barry Enright in the series finale at St. Louis. He is 4-1 with a 2.88 ERA in the minors.
Big Z suspended.
The Cubs put pitcher Carlos Zambrano (dugout tirade) on the restricted list and placed lefty reliever John Grabow (sprained knee) on the disabled list.
Bard returns.
The Mariners have activated catcher Josh Bard from the DL and designated catcher Eliezer Alfonzo for assignment. Bard had been out for a month because of a strained left calf.
Shut down.
Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya is gone for the rest of the season with a fractured right elbow.
The team said Zumaya fractured his right olecranon, which is the bony tip of the elbow right under the skin.
The Associated Press
