Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter suffers from brain tumor

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has a brain tumor that is likely cancerous.

Doctors performed biopsies on a tumor in Carter’s brain on Friday morning and Duke Medicine said in a release that preliminary results show it “appears to be malignant.”

“Once the pathology report is available, which will take several days, we will discuss treatment options with Mr. Carter and his family,” said Doctors Allan H. Friedman and Henry S. Friedman, the co-deputy directors of The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke.

“In the meantime, Mr. Carter is in excellent spirits and good physical condition. He is resting comfortably, surrounded by his family.”

Riggleman, Werth air out differences

After the Washington Nationals lost their fifth straight game on Wednesday, Jayson Werth told reporters in Milwaukee “Things need to change.”

Werth, who last December signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with Washington, wasn’t specific about the changes. The Nationals are season-worst seven games under .500 and batting just .229.

Before the Nationals began a series with San Diego, manager Jim Riggleman said he met with Werth.

Riggleman announced it was a good meeting and he didn’t feel Werth was calling him out.

“I guess the short answer is no,” Riggleman said.

“We’ve got to start winning ballgames,” Riggleman said. “The losing that’s taken place here the (last) couple of years – that’s got to change. We’ve got to change some things – what we do – how we play.”

Riggleman, who was named interim manager on July 14, 2009, and was given the job after the 2009 season, said he had a positive conversation with Werth, though he declined to go into specifics.

“He used the word ‘frustrating.’ He’s been around a lot of winning – and we’re not winning right now,” Riggleman said. “Other players are frustrated, and Jayson’s becoming one of the voices of the ballclub.”

Giants’ Posey says season likely over

Giants catcher Buster Posey says it’s “highly likely” he will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left leg and ankle in a collision at home plate.

Posey said in a conference call with San Francisco reporters that he is still committed to playing catcher when he returns. He also asked that Major League Baseball and the players’ union look at ways to protect catchers at home plate.

Clearing the bases

The Texas Rangers recalled former Spokane Indians left-hander Michael Kirkman from Triple-A Round Rock and out-righted right-hander Brett Tomko to the same club. … The Detroit Tigers traded second baseman Scott Sizemore to Oakland for left-handed reliever David Purcey.