April 3, 2007 in Sports

Nationals lose two in opener

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Associated Press photo

Baltimore catcher Ramon Hernandez (left) missed opening day with an injury.
(Full-size photo)

Five innings into the first game of the season, the Washington Nationals lost two starters to injuries Monday: Shortstop Cristian Guzman strained his left hamstring and center fielder Nook Logan hyperextended his left foot.

Manager Manny Acta indicated Guzman’s injury was the more serious – he pulled up while running out a groundout in the fifth inning and will be re-evaluated today.

“A hammy just doesn’t heal overnight,” Acta said.

Logan got his foot stuck in the padding when he leaped against the wall to grab Dan Uggla’s fly ball in the fourth inning. After throwing the ball to the infield, Logan hopped along the warning track for a bit before sitting down.

Hernandez out

Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez was scratched from the lineup because of a strained left oblique muscle.

The Orioles, who were in Minnesota to play the Twins for their season opener, purchased the contract of catcher Alberto Castillo from Triple-A Norfolk for insurance and sent left-hander Brian Burres to Norfolk. Paul Bako replaced Hernandez behind the plate and batted ninth.

Cubs to be sold

Tribune Co. made a stunning pitch to investors on baseball’s opening day: The Chicago Cubs will be sold at season’s end.

The announcement came as the ailing media conglomerate announced its acquisition by billionaire investor Sam Zell.

The Cubs’ popularity as a sports franchise – and the lure of potentially steering them to their first championship since 1908 – has attracted the interest of many potential buyers since a sale became a strong possibility last year.

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, Phoenix sports executive Jerry Colangelo and actor Bill Murray are among those reported or rumored to have interest, along with numerous Chicago business figures.

Hurdle extended

Clint Hurdle received a two-year contract extension through 2009, hours before the Colorado Rockies opened the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Rockies also gave general manager Dan O’Dowd a two-year extension.

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