News briefs: Benches clear during Cubs-Astros matchup

Seuss, who turns 24 on Tuesday, was a 36th-round pick by the Astros in the 2000 draft. In 104 games for Class-A Salem of the Carolina League this season, he hit .283 with seven homers and 64 RBI.

Indians make series of moves with pitchers

CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians called up right-hander Jeremy Guthrie from Double-A Akron.

Guthrie, 25, was the 22nd overall pick in 2002 out of Stanford. He went 8-8 with a 4.21 ERA at Akron in 23 appearances, including 21 starts, after being demoted from Triple-A Buffalo. He went 1-2 with a 7.91 ERA in eight starts at Buffalo.

Guthrie worked his past two games in relief at Akron and will be used out of the bullpen.

Expos call up M. Izturis to fill in for injured Gonzalez

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Expos purchased the contract of shortstop Maicer Izturis from Triple-A Edmonton.

Izturis, the younger brother of Los Angeles shortstop Cesar Izturis, made his major-league debut against San Diego, one day after Expos shortstop Alex Gonzalez was forced to leave a 10-3 loss to the Dodgers after he was hit on his right wrist by a pitch.

Gonzalez had X-rays on his wrist following Thursday's game, which came back negative. Expos manager Frank Robinson was unsure when Gonzalez would be able to return.

Cubs sign eighth-round pick, younger brother of CF

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs agreed to terms Friday with infielder Eric Patterson, an eighth-round draft pick and the younger brother of Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson.

Patterson, 21, batted .326 with nine homers, 49 runs batted in and 48 stolen bases last season at Georgia Tech. In three seasons with the Yellow Jackets, he had a total of 14 homers and 124 RBI.

Patterson also played for the U.S. national team in the summers of 2002 and 2003, winning silver medals at the FISU World Championships and the Pan American Games.

Minor-league game postponed because of food poisoning

KINSTON, N.C. -- The Kinston Indians and Wilmington Blue Rocks postponed their minor-league game because more than a dozen Wilmington players were sick with food poisoning.

Officials from both teams and Carolina League president John Hopkins agreed to make up the Class-A game as part of a doubleheader Sunday rather than declare Kinston a winner by forfeit.

"I wasn't really sure if they really were that sick, but they got off that bus, they looked like death," Kinston infielder Shaun Larkin was quoted as telling the Kingston Free Press. "We've all been there, and the last thing you want to do is get up out of bed, let alone come out and play a professional baseball game."