PITTSBURGH -- Jason Bay did not start for the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time in almost two years Monday night.
The All-Star outfielder, who had tightness in his upper left hamstring, had not missed a start since Sept. 4, 2004 -- a streak of 307 consecutive games.
The Pirates also placed outfielder Nate McLouth on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a sprained left ankle and recalled outfielder Rajai Davis from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Bay had started all 118 of Pittsburgh's games this season in left field, hitting .291 with 25 home runs and 81 RBI. He was the only National League player to appear in 118 games through Sunday.
Bay, who hit a home run Sunday as the last-place Pirates completed a sweep of the first-place St. Louis Cardinals, was replaced in left by Jose Bautista against Milwaukee. Full story
Sexson leaves team; wife delivering twins
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Mariners first baseman Richie Sexson left the Bay Area to return to Seattle, where his wife underwent an emergency C-section and delivered twins.
Sexson was placed on the bereavement list, which is a minimum of three days, and the Mariners recalled infielder/outfielder Mike Morse from Triple-A Tacoma to take his roster spot. Morse was expected to be in uniform in time for Monday night's series opener against the Oakland Athletics.
Sexson called the team and reported that his wife, Kerry, had given birth to a baby boy and girl and that everyone was doing fine. The twins were due in September.
Sexson is batting .229 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI in 116 games this season.
Castilla returns to Rockies
DENVER -- Vinny Castilla, a fan favorite in two stints with the Colorado Rockies, agreed to a minor league contract with the team and is expected to join the expanded roster in September.
The 39-year-old third baseman was released by the San Diego Padres on July 21 after hitting .232 with four homers and 23 RBI in 72 games. Castilla is a career .276 hitter and was a member of the Rockies' only playoff team in 1995.
"In the brief history of our franchise, few players have endeared themselves to Rockies fans as much as Vinny," Rockies president Keli McGregor said Monday.
The team said Castilla will join the organization in an undetermined role after he retires.
Red Sox recall Breslow
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox recalled lefty Craig Breslow in an effort to help their overworked and struggling bullpen.
Breslow was promoted from Triple-A Pawtucket and catcher Corky Miller was designated for assignment.
The reliever is 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA with seven saves in a team-high 35 outings for Pawtucket this season. He hasn't allowed a run in his past seven games and has 65 strikeouts in 60 innings. He was called up one day after relievers Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen and Jonathan Papelbon all pitched poorly in an 11-9 win over Baltimore.
Breslow, signed as a free agent last Feb. 1, had been called up to Boston on July 13 then optioned on July 16. He appeared in one game on July 14 against Oakland and pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Angels bring up Willits, demote Bootcheck
NEW YORK -- The Los Angeles Angels recalled outfielder Reggie Willits from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned right-hander Chris Bootcheck to their top farm club.
Willits was in the starting lineup Monday night, batting ninth and playing center field against Randy Johnson and the New York Yankees in the finale of a four-game series.
This is Willits' third stint with the Angels this season. He was 3-for-10 with one RBI in six games for Los Angeles.
He was called up this time because the Angels were looking for depth in the outfield while Garret Anderson is hampered by tightness in his lower back. Anderson was not in the lineup Monday for the third consecutive game, but manager Mike Scioscia said he hopes to have Anderson back in some capacity Tuesday night at Texas.
Giants send down Vizcaino
SAN DIEGO -- The San Francisco Giants designated infielder Jose Vizcaino for assignment and recalled infielder Kevin Frandsen from Triple-A Fresno.
Vizcaino, 15-year veteran, batted .210 with one home run and five RBI in 64 games. He won a World Series title with the New York Yankees in 2000.
Frandsen is in his fourth stint this season with San Francisco. He hit .210 with three RBI in his previous times with the club.
Frandsen hit .340 with one homer and seven RBI for Fresno in 13 August games.
Mercker will have season-ending surgery
CINCINNATI -- Veteran left-hander Kent Mercker will undergo season-ending reconstructive surgery on his left elbow, the Cincinnati Reds said.
The 38-year-old Mercker was placed on the disabled list Saturday after pitching a scoreless inning in relief Friday night in Philadelphia. He was examined Monday by Timothy Kremchek, the Reds' medical director, who scheduled surgery for Thursday. Mercker has been on the disabled list three times this season because of elbow problems.
Mercker is 1-1, with a 4.13 ERA and one save in 37 relief appearances this season. He did not allow an earned run in his final 12 appearances. He is in his third stint with the Reds and has pitched for eight other teams, making his major league debut with Atlanta in 1989.
Also Monday, Kremchek performed arthroscopic surgery on left-hander Brandon Claussen's left shoulder. He went on the disabled list June 17 after going 3-8 with a 6.19 ERA for the Reds.
Gordon complains of sore shoulder
PHILADELPHIA -- All-Star closer Tom Gordon has soreness in his right shoulder and will likely miss the rest of Philadelphia's four-game series with the New York Mets.
Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said Gordon will be examined at a local hospital Tuesday as a precaution. Gordon is 3-4 with a 3.28 ERA and 27 saves and hasn't pitched since losing Saturday night's game against Cincinnati.
"He'll be all right," Manuel said. "Two to three days of rest should take care of it."
