The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 26

www.delawareonline.com C6 THE NEWS JOURNAL WEDNESDAY AUGUST i 2007 PHILLIES NOTEBOOK 1 I Rangers part ways with Gagne, Teixeira Closer goes to Red Sox; slugger sent to Braves A 0 til I Item n. I IP A 1 4 i APJERRY LAI reaches for Adam Eaton's errant throw on a bunt by the Cubs' Ryan Theriot Bourn placed on DL Phillies: Getting injured players back will help most FROM PAGE Cl Mateo for Class AA infielder Jesus Merchan. And, now, they will hold their breath that the balance of power in the three-team race for the National League East crown hasn't shifted to Atlanta. "I think the Braves improved themselves," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "Teixeira is a good player.

Dotel, when we saw him in Kansas City in June, he threw good. I think it's going to be a good race." For at least the next two weeks, the Phillies will be running it without Victorino, Bourn, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley and set-up man Ryan Madson, all of whom were injured within the past five days. An injury epidemic is nothing new for the Phillies. Twelve players have been on the disabled list at some point this season, yet the Phillies entered Tuesday night's game only three games behind the division-leading New York Mets and VA ahead of the third-place Braves. The Mets failed in their bid to acquire pitching help.

But they did get swift second baseman Luis Castillo from the Minnesota Twins. Gillick described Mateo, a right-hander who turns 30 on Thursday, as an "inventory guy" to increase the Phillies' depth. He's 18-12 with a 3.68 ERA in parts of six seasons with the Mariners, but he'll be sent to Class AA Reading rather than Class AAA Ottawa. Legal troubles stemming from a May arrest on third-degree assault charges prevent him from going to Canada. But the Phillies believe their biggest boosts were getting set-up man Tom Gordon and closer Brett Myers back from shoulder injuries.

Gillick could still swing a waiver trade. Last August, he acquired pitcher Jamie Moyer and outfielder Jeff Conine. "I think we did improve when we got Gordon and Myers back," Gillick said. "Our bullpen is better than it was 10 days ago. Bourn and Victorino will be back.

And Chase will be back soon after." Contact Scott Lauberat slauberdelawareonline.com. By RONALD BLUM Associated Press Eric Gagne gave up a closing job in Texas for a setup role in Boston in the biggest trade Tuesday before baseball's deadline to make deals without waivers. Atlanta finalized its seven-player trade to acquire power-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira from the payroll-paring Rangers. Those were by far the biggest of the 10 trades that involved 25 players. Many of the big names bandied about in recent weeks stayed put, with no deals materializing for Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, Washington closer Chad Cordero and Cincinnati outfielder Adam Dunn by the 4 p.m.

deadline. Instead, contenders scrambled for whatever relief pitching was available, with the Braves obtaining set-up man Octavio Dotel from Kansas City and the Los Angeles Dodgers getting Scott Proctor from the New York Yankees for infielder Wilson Betemit. Gagne, a three-time All-Star and the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner for the Dodgers, was traded by the Rangers for left-hander Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre. Gagne will serve as Jonathan Papelbon's primary set-up man and will close for the Red Sox on days Papelbon needs rest. "We actually love our bullpen," Boston manager Terry Francona said of his relievers, who have the lowest ERA in the majors at 2.74.

"I think it just got a lot better." Milwaukee also tried to land Gagne, who can become a free agent after the World Series. Teixeira went to the Braves with left-hander Ron Mahay for rookie catcher Jarrod Salta-lamacchia and four prospects: shortstop Elvis Andrus, lefthander Matt Harrison, lefthander Beau Jones and righthander Neftali Feliz. Teixeira, eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, was an All-Star in 2005 and is a two-time Gold Glove winner. Atlanta also got Dotel from the Royals for right-hander Kyle Davies, and left-hander Royce Ring from San Diego for righthander Wilfredo Ledezma and lefty Will Startup. "We've got a World Series team," Braves shortstop Edgar General manager Pat Gillick said the Phillies believe Werth's wrist is "100 percent." Roberson, 27, batted .195 with one RBI in 57 games for the Phillies last season and was among their first spring-training cuts.

He picked up four hits Tuesday, including an RBI single in the second inning. "It was an early struggle for me, but I started swinging the bat better the last three or four weeks," said Roberson, who batted .295 in July for Ottawa. Helping Julio Julio Mateo, the right-handed reliever obtained by the Phillies in a deal for Class AA shortstop Jesus Merchan, hasn't pitched in the majors since early May. He was suspended by the Seattle Mariners after his May 5 arrest for allegedly beating, biting and choking his wife in a Manhattan hotel. "We're very aware of his situation, and we'll make sure Julio has the opportunity to meet with our people and receive the proper counseling," general manager Pat Gillick said.

Mateo was 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA for the Mariners. He will be assigned to Class AA Reading because his legal troubles prohibit him from playing in Canada at Class AAA Ottawa. Merchan, 26, was batting .330 for Reading, but his path to the majors was blocked by shortstop Jimmy Rollins. 1 Durbin OK with bullpen J.D. Durbin insists he isn't bitter or angry that the Phillies nudged him from the starting rotation by trading for righthander Kyle Lohse.

After all, he's still in the majors. Durbin was moved into the bullpen before Tuesday night's game at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. Reliever Clay Condrey was outrighted to Class AAA Ottawa to make room on the roster for Lohse, who will start the series finale Thursday. "Right now, the team needs a more consistent fifth starter," Durbin said. "Kyle Lohse probably gives you more of a chance to win.

But they know how I am now, and I think they still like me enough to keep me." Durbin was 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his last three starts, including a shutout July 22 in San Diego. Inside pitches Only five days after breaking his right hand, All-Star second baseman Chase Utley has begun taking grounders. Utley, who has a removable splint on his right hand, fielded balls with his left hand and shoveled them from his glove to a nearby coach. The Phils purchased the contract of 30-year-old right-hander Gary Knotts from the Newark (N.J.) Bears of the independent Atlantic League and assigned him to Class AA Reading. Contact Scott Lauber at stauberdelawareonlinexom.

turn to NASCAR. Stewart is feuding with the network, which criticized him two weeks ago for saying he was going to drink a case of beer to celebrate his July 15 win in Chicago. An ESPN analyst said later that Stewart was not a good role model, and Stewart has been reluctant to do interviews with its announcers. tUmmmi APfile Texas sent Mark Teixeira to the Braves for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four prospects. Renteria said.

"That makes the whole lineup more dangerous. It's exciting." Saltalamacchia was rated Atlanta's top prospect by Baseball America before the season, with Andrus second, Harrison third, Jones 14th and Feliz 18th. "That's what it took," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "I'll think about next year next year." Texas owner Tom Hicks said the trade was made after Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, turned down a $140 million, eight-year extension that was offered two weeks ago. "We told Boras that if our offer was turned down, we would trade Tex now if we received an appropriate offer, or during the offseason if not," Hicks said in an e-mail.

In this wild-card era, when the 16 teams playing .500 or better all think they have a chance to make a playoff push, fewer big names seem to be available at the trade deadline each succeeding season. In Tuesday's other trades: Boston sent right-hander Joel Pineiro and cash to St. Louis for a player to be named. The White Sox sent utility-man Rob Mackowiak to San Diego for right-hander Jon Link. Houston dealt infielder Morgan Ensberg and cash to San Diego for a player to be named or cash.

San Francisco sent righthander Matt Morris to Pittsburgh for center fielder Rajai Davis and a player to be named. Huge selection of OFFICE FURNITURE! Unbelievable prkes! Stationary office chairs Office desks lateral file cabinets Office chairs on wheels New Castle, Delaware SOOWestlasiaRiL tmt lo Miller's Cmptl) 302-32MM2 Moo.W.HSdt 9-S. Sun. 1 2-5 Se liable esrwnol OOOdPWM 1 9" i Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard Victorino, By SCOTT LAUBER The News Journal CHICAGO As he sprinted down the first-base line in the fourth inning Monday night, Shane Victorino felt a "pop" in his right calf. He feared the bubble had burst on his season, too.

And although an MRI exam Tuesday revealed a slight muscle tear and forced Victorino to the 15-day disabled list, the Phillies expect their speedy right fielder to be ready to play in two weeks when he's eligible to be activated. The news wasn't as promising on rookie outfielder Michael Bourn. Victorino's replacement went on the disabled list after spraining his left ankle stumbling over a bullpen mound in the fifth inning Monday night. X-rays showed a "moderate to severe" low ankle sprain and ligament damage. Bourn could miss three weeks.

"I'm glad it's not as bad as I thought it was," said Victorino, batting .284 with 11 homers, 42 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. "I expected the worst." To replace them, the Phillies recalled speedy outfielder Chris Roberson, who fell out of favor during spring training and was batting .266 with four home runs and 43 RBIs for Class AAA Ottawa. Jayson Werth, who was l-for-13 at Class A Clearwater through four games in a rehab stint from a strained left wrist, will rejoin the Phillies today. years at his hometown race track, was soaking up the adoration from the throng of orange-clad fans when he dedicated the win to them. "This one's for every one of those fans in the stands who pull for me every week and take all the expletive from everybody else," he said.

The curse came on ESPN's first Nextel Cup broadcast since NATIONALS 3 Vega came in to score when Brett Bigler grounded into a double play to make it 5-0 for the Blue Rocks. The Rocks also notched runs on RBI singles by Jose Duarte in the second inning and Brian Mc-Fall in the fourth and a run-scoring triple by Chris McConnell in the seventh. The Blue Rocks and Nationals conclude their series at 7:35 tonight. Wilmington then travels to Frederick. 1933 I.

Stewart fined for curse word after win at Indy We're like having a friend in the basinessl 2000 NASCAR, which called the language inappropriate, also docked car owner Joe Gibbs 25 points. The penalty doesn't hurt Stewart in the standings. He is currently fifth in points, and the deduction didn't drop him. But sixth-place Carl Edwards is now only 17 points behind him. The curse spoiled ESPN's re ByJENNA FRYER Associated Press CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 and docked 25 Nextel Cup points by NASCAR on Tuesday for cursing during his television interview after his win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday. Stewart, who had just scored his second victory in three BLUE ROCKS 7, 1 A It) AaiMkM tumttma Omnm CMm (1710(17 1 Vega sparks big third inning as Blue Rocks top Nationals Fred Smalls Insurance BusinesB Personal Insurance FREE Quotes by phone 302-633-1980 CALL 1-800-532-2500 www.fredsinalIiuiigurance.coin I I LOCATED OFF RT. 40 BEHIND FURNITURE SOLUTION MON-FRI 8-S-30 II i'm lovin' if AUTO SERVICE CENTER The News Journal WOODBRIDGE, Va. The Blue Rocks exploded for four runs in the top of the third inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Potomac Nationals on Tuesday night. With the Blue Rocks (24-14) clinging to a 1-0 lead, Miguel Vega broke the game open in the third with a two-run single to left field.

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