News briefs: House takes back steroid accusations

NEW YORK -- Former major-league pitcher Tom House said he misspoke when he estimated a half-dozen pitchers on every team experimented with steroids or human growth hormone in the 1960s and 1970s.

House said he meant to say those players used amphetamines.

"It was my fault. Maybe I wasn't saying what I thought I was saying," he told the Associated Press on Thursday, referring to the interview that appeared in Tuesday's San Francisco Chronicle.

"The thing is I have to make it right. I don't want anyone thinking that six or seven guys on my teams in those days, the Atlanta Braves, had anything to do with anabolic steroids or growth hormone," he said.

House reiterated what he told the paper about himself: that he did use steroids and growth hormone, as well as amphetamines, during his career. Full story

Astros get much needed help in Berkman's return

ATLANTA -- The struggling Houston Astros will get a boost Friday when outfielder Lance Berkman is activated from the disabled list.

He missed the first month of the season while recovering from offseason knee surgery. Berkman tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing flag football in November.

Joining the Astros from a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock, Berkman took batting practice before the opener of Houston's four-game series against the Atlanta Braves.

Berkman hit .316 with 30 homers and 106 RBI last season, helping the Astros get within one game of their first World Series. He led Houston in batting average, homers, walks, slugging percentage, total bases, on-base percentage and games.

Phils hope to have Thome back in two weeks

NEW YORK -- Jim Thome was diagnosed with a strained lower back, and the Philadelphia Phillies hope their first baseman will be able to play again in about two weeks.

"That's good news," manager Charlie Manuel said after a 7-5 loss to the New York Mets. Thome, hitting .203 with one homer and 12 RBI, was put on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, a move retroactive to Sunday, and can be activated May 16. He had an MRI exam Tuesday, and more tests Wednesday.

"Dr. Alex Vaccaro and I have also determined he has an inflammation of a previously documented pars defect," Phillies director of medical services Dr. Michael Ciccotti said in a statement.

"A pars defect is an incomplete fusion of the bone in the lumbar region. It is common with a lot of people. Jim's had this for a long time. Athletically active persons can aggravate the defect, causing an inflammation. The treatment for the strain and inflammation continues to be rest, medication and a progressive strengthening program."

Rockies, Neagle reach agreement

DENVER -- Pitcher Denny Neagle reached a settlement over his grievance against the Colorado Rockies, who terminated his contract last winter after he was issued a citation for soliciting sex from a prostitute.

Terms of the settlement were not released by Major League Baseball and a staffer in the Rockies public relations office said the team was not releasing any information.

In 2000, Neagle signed a five-year, $51 million contract that called for him to be paid $10 million in 2005. The deal contained a $12.5 million team option for 2006 with a $9 million buyout. It meant there was as much as $19 million riding on his hearing with arbitrator Shyam Das this week.

The Rockies terminated Neagle's contract last Dec. 6, citing a provision in the uniform language of the contract stating the team can end a contract if the player shall "fail, refuse or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship."

M's Wilson could miss rest of season

SEATTLE -- Dan Wilson may not be able to play again this season for the Seattle Mariners.

According to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Wilson tore the ACL in his right knee in the Mariners' 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday and has been placed on the 60-day disabled list.

Wilson suffered the injury while running the bases in the seventh inning. He was on first base and charged toward second when Ichiro Suzuki hit a line drive to left field. After Angels left fielder Garret Anderson made the catch, Wilson injured his knee while retreating to first base.

Wilson, who is in his 12th year with the Mariners, was hitting .185 with two RBI in 10 games.

Yankees' Giambi OK after CT scan

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- New York Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi was back at the ballpark, one day after being hit by a pitch that deflected off his shoulder before striking him in the head during a game at Tampa Bay.

Giambi underwent a precautionary CT scan, which was negative. He had a headache and some pain near his right temple, where the ball struck him, but otherwise was OK before Thursday night's game against the Devil Rays.

"I feel a little out of it ... a little dizzy," Giambi said. "I have a big headache."

Yankees manager Joe Torre said Giambi, who did not take part in any on-field drills, could be available to play within a few days.

Pulsipher activated in Cards' bullpen shakeup

ST. LOUIS -- Dissatisfied with their middle relief situation, the St. Louis Cardinals activated left-hander Bill Pulsipher from the 15-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Brad Thompson from Triple-A Memphis.

They replace left-hander Carmen Cali and right-hander Jimmy Journell, who have struggled with control. Both were optioned to Memphis.

Pulsipher, who made it back to the majors for the first time since 2001 after being a non-roster invitee to spring training, had been on the disabled list since April 11 with a strained right hamstring. He's made a handful of rehab outings for Triple-A Memphis.

Thompson set a Southern League record with 49 consecutive scoreless innings in 2004, not allowing a run until his eighth start of the season for Double-A Tennessee. The streak was 57 2/3 innings dating to the end of the 2003 season, 1 1/3 innings shy of a minor-league record set in 1907.

Nationals' Sledge, Osuna scheduled for operations

WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals outfielder Terrmel Sledge and right-hander Antonio Osuna will have operations for injuries that landed them on the disabled list.

Sledge's right hamstring will be repaired Friday in Los Angeles, while Osuna will have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder May 12 in Washington.

Sledge's muscle tore off the bone when he was chasing Hee-Seop Choi's double in the sixth inning of Monday night's 6-2 victory over the Dodgers. He went on the disabled list Tuesday. Sledge is hitting .243 with one home run and eight RBI.

Osuna, 32, hasn't pitched since April 10, when he allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning at Florida. He was put on the 15-day DL on April 18. He made four appearances, giving up 11 runs in just 2 1/3 innings for a 42.43 ERA.

Castillo returns to Pirates' lineup

PHOENIX -- Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Jose Castillo was activated from the 15-day disabled list.

Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon promptly put Castillo in the lineup, batting sixth, for the opener of a four-game series in Arizona. To make room on the roster, the Pirates designated infielder Alfredo Amezaga for assignment.

The 24-year-old Castillo had been on a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis. He made the jump from Double-A to the majors last year and hit .256 with eight home runs, 15 doubles and 39 RBI in 129 games.

Castillo strained a stomach muscle on April 6, the Pirates' second game this season. He was hurt swinging at a pitch in the second inning but stayed in the batter's box until he struck out against Milwaukee's Doug Davis.