PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Hunter Pence and cash from the Houston Astros late Friday night for a player to be named and three minor-leaguers, including Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart, the team’s top position and pitching prospects, respectively.
Pence, who bats right-handed, will be inserted into right field and the middle of the lineup. He has a .308 batting average, 11 homers and 62 RBIs. The Phillies can bring Pence, 28, back with relative ease for each of the next two seasons. The Astros also got 25-year-old right-hander Josh Zeid.
• The New York Yankees activated reliever Rafael Soriano, who had been sidelined since May 14 with inflammation in his right elbow.
• Boston Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is day to day because of a stiff neck.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers placed reliever Kenley Jansen on the 15-day disabled list less than 72 hours after he was checked into a hospital for an irregular heartbeat.
• San Diego Padres left-hander Clayton Richard will miss the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.
Pistons hire Frank to replace Kuester as coach
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The Detroit Pistons agreed to a three-year deal with Lawrence Frank to be their new head coach. The agreement includes a team option for a fourth year. Frank was 225-241 as coach of the New Jersey Nets, who advanced to the conference semifinals three times with him at the helm.
The Pistons fired John Kuester in June after they missed the playoffs in both of his two seasons.
Tar Heels turn to Withers
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Everett Withers was named interim football coach at North Carolina, replacing dismissed Butch Davis.
“I told our assistant coaches this morning that I want to have fun,” Withers said. “I don’t want to stress.”
Withers had spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator and secondary coach under Davis.
• Syracuse 19-year-old running back Prince-Tyson Gulley is expected to make a full recovery after he was stabbed several times during a brawl at a party.
Footnotes.
The New Jersey Devils reached an agreement with high-scoring left wing Zach Parise on a one-year-contract.
• Clemson baseball coach Jack Leggett received a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the school through 2016.
• Former top-100 player Robert Kendrick of the United States was suspended for a year by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for a banned stimulant at the French Open.
• Beibut Shumenov (12-1) retained his World Boxing Association light heavyweight title by stopping Danny Santiago (31-5-1) in the ninth round in Las Vegas.
• Breanna Stewart scored 10 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading the U.S. to a 70-64 basketball victory over France and into the semifinals of the women’s under-19 world championship in Puerto Montt, Chile.
