News briefs: Mariners minor leaguer extends hit streak to 44

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- High Desert's Jamie McOwen has extended his hitting streak to 44 games, the longest in the minor leagues in 55 years.

McOwen kept the streak going Tuesday night with a broken-bat single in the eighth inning of a 12-2 loss to San Jose. He finished 1 for 4 with two strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .353.

It's the minors' longest streak since Waco's Roman Mejias hit in 55 straight games in 1954. The 2007 sixth-round draft pick has a hit in every game for Seattle's Class A California League affiliate since May 10.

His run is the eighth-longest in minor league history, according to minorleaguebaseball.com. Wichita's Joe Wilhoit holds the minor league mark with a hit in 69 straight games in 1919.

La Russa drops Twitter lawsuit

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa has quietly dropped his lawsuit against the social networking site Twitter Inc.

A one-paragraph statement filed June 26 with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco said La Russa had dropped all claims -- and that San Francisco-based Twitter did not compensate him in exchange. It also said he could not refile the same complaint.

Calls and e-mails to La Russa's attorney, Gregory McCoy, and to Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, were not returned. Twitter attorney Rodger Cole said in an e-mail that he was not authorized to discuss the case.

La Russa's lawsuit, originally filed in San Francisco Superior Court in May and transferred to federal court on June 5, alleged trademark infringement, "cybersquatting" and misappropriation of his name. It claimed an unauthorized page that used his name caused emotional distress by making light of his DUI charge and the deaths of two Cardinals pitchers in recent seasons.

Cubs put Dempster on DL

CHICAGO -- Just when the Chicago Cubs figured they were getting healthy, a freak accident landed right-hander Ryan Dempster on the disabled list with a fracture of his big right toe. He could be out for up to a month.

Dempster was hopping over the dugout railing to go on the field and celebrate Sunday's victory over the Milwaukee Brewers when he caught his back leg on the railing and landed hard, injuring his toe. An X-ray revealed the non-displaced fracture.

"It's not pretty. It's pretty ugly right now," Dempster said.

Dempster had been scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against Atlanta and said he hoped he would only miss three starts, including one after the All-Star break.

Aceves to start for Yankees

MINNEAPOLIS -- The New York Yankees are moving right-hander Alfredo Aceves from the bullpen for a spot start on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins.

Aceves will fill in for Chien-Ming Wang, who is on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Manager Joe Girardi made the announcement before the Yankees opened a three-game series against the Twins. He said he also considered Sergio Mitre, but ultimately settled on Aceves because he "was the most stretched out right now."

Aceves is 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA in 21 appearances this season, helping solidify the Yankees bullpen. He made four starts for the Yankees last season, one reason why Girardi said he felt comfortable with the move this time around.

"He's a four-pitch guy. He's done it before," Girardi said. "We were comfortable going to him."

Padres designate Silva

PHOENIX -- The San Diego Padres have designated right-hander Walter Silva for assignment and called up infielder Craig Stansberry from Triple-A Portland.

Silva was 0-2 with an 8.76 ERA in six starts for the Padres this season. The 32-year-old pitcher gave up three runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings in San Diego's 6-5 loss to Arizona on Monday night. The Padres purchased Silva's contract from the Monterrey Sultans of the Mexican League on Feb. 20.

Stansberry batted .285 in 68 games with Portland, playing second base, shortstop and third.

Stansberry gives the Padres some depth heading into their game at Arizona. San Diego placed infielder David Eckstein on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a strained right hamstring.

DeRosa goes on DL

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals are placing newly acquired utilityman Mark DeRosa on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 1, because of a strained left wrist.

The Cardinals also announced that infielder Brian Barden and outfielder Nick Stavinoha are being recalled from Triple-A Memphis. St. Louis is sending infielder Tyler Greene to Memphis.

DeRosa, acquired last month from the Cleveland Indians, was injured during a June 30 game. He got off to a stuttering start with the Cardinals, going 0 for 9 in three games after batting .270 with 13 homers and 50 RBI with Cleveland.

Barden batted .238 with four home runs and 10 RBI in 51 games for the Cardinals this season, earning top NL rookie honors in April. Stavinoha batted .234 with one homer and 13 RBI in 27 games with St. Louis this season.

Diamondbacks trade Pena

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded right-handed reliever Tony Pena to the Chicago White Sox for minor league infielder Brandon Allen.

Pena was 5-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 37 games for the Diamondbacks this season. He was 16-13 with a 4.08 ERA in 209 career games with Arizona. He began the season as the team's top setup man but had struggled in recent weeks, especially against left-handed hitters.

Pena has the franchise record in holds at 63.

Allen, 23, split time this season with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte, hitting a combined .281 with 16 doubles, three triples, eight homers and 43 RBI. Allen was a fifth-round pick by the White Sox in the 2004 draft.

Judge mulling Leyritz decision

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A South Florida judge is expected to decide whether former New York Yankees World Series star Jim Leyritz will await his upcoming DUI manslaughter trial in jail.

The 45-year-old Leyritz was arrested last week after his ex-wife accused him of beating her. He had been free on bail on the manslaughter charge. A judge ruled that Leyritz's latest arrest violated the conditions of his release, however, and had ordered him to remain jailed.

Leyritz is scheduled to go on trial on the manslaughter charge Sept. 14. Police have said Leyritz was drunk when he caused a fatal car crash in December 2007.

Leyritz played for six teams in 11 seasons. During a stint with the New York Yankees, he hit a memorable home run in the 1996 World Series to help the Yankees win Game 4 against Atlanta.

Royals demote Hernandez

DETROIT -- The Kansas City Royals have designated infielder Luis Hernandez for assignment to make room for Ryan Freel.

The Royals acquired Freel from the Chicago Cubs on Monday in exchange for cash and a player to be named. Freel got the start in center field Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers and was batting ninth.

Hernandez hit .204 with no homers and two RBI in 22 games.

Five presidents to appear in video

NEW YORK -- All five living presidents will appear in a video shown before next week's All-Star Game.

Major League Baseball said it's the first time every living president will participate in a ceremony at a sports event. President Barack Obama will then throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game in St. Louis on July 14.

George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will recognize citizens being honored by baseball for their community service in the approximately seven-minute video.