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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Baseball notebook: Joyce turns down day off

Associated Press

Jim Joyce could have had the day off.

Major League Baseball was prepared to send in another umpire for the Indians-Detroit Tigers game Thursday at Comerica Park, but Joyce told them he would prefer to go to work, as usual.

“No, not in my lowest moment,” Joyce said, when asked if he considered not showing up. “If I had done that, I couldn’t have faced myself.”

“I’ve always respected Jim,” Indians catcher Mike Redmond said. “He goes to another level. It doesn’t surprise me (that he didn’t take the day off). He wants to go out there and do the best job he can do.”

Joyce turned a perfect game into a one-hitter for Tigers starter Armando Galarraga on Wednesday, when he mistakenly called Jason Donald safe at first after he hit an infield grounder to the right side with two out in the ninth inning.

A’s back at Coliseum

The Oakland Athletics are staying put at the Coliseum.

The A’s have exercised their option to play the 2011 season in the venue, which commissioner Bud Selig has regularly said isn’t a viable long-term option for the small-market club to stay competitive or afloat financially.

Strasburg looks ready

By working himself out of a jam, Stephen Strasburg looks ready to make his major league debut with the Washington Nationals next week.

In his final minor league start, the Nationals’ top pitching prospect allowed no runs, three hits and one walk through five innings for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.

The first pick in last year’s draft will join the Nationals on Tuesday.