Mariners put Guardado on DL

The Seattle Mariners placed closer Eddie Guardado on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a tired left shoulder.

Left-handed pitcher Matt Thornton will be recalled from Triple-A Tacoma today, the Mariners said.

Guardado has appeared in 41 games for the Mariners with 18 saves and a 2.78 ERA. In his last outing on Saturday, Guardado gave up a game-winning home run to Jose Guillen in the 11th inning of a 9-8 loss to Anaheim.

Thornton will be making his third appearance with the Mariners this season. He has appeared in three games in late June and early July, going 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA. At Tacoma, Thornton is 7-5 with a 5.25 ERA.

Clemens tossed for spitter

Roger Clemens was ejected from a youth league game after his 10-year-old son was called out in a close play, Clemens was banished to the parking lot after an umpire said the Rocket spit a sunflower seed at him.

It happened Saturday in rural Craig, Colo., during a 10-and-under Triple Crown Sports tournament. The future Hall of Famer was away from the Houston Astros, as his team allows him to be when he’s not pitching.

“It wasn’t like he was shouting or came storming on the field, like a Mike Piazza moment,” Ron Stapp, whose son made the phantom tag on Kacy Clemens on a steal attempt, said Monday.

Even so, Clemens wound up watching the rest of game from his car, peering over a fence as Kacy and the Katy (Texas) Cowboys lost to the Bakersfield (Calif.) Curve 11-5.

“I supported the umpire’s decision and he respectfully left,” field supervisor Jim Carpenter said.

A call to the Triple Crown coordinator for comment was not returned. Organizers did not identify the umpire.

Marlins put closer on DL

The Florida Marlins placed closer Armando Benitez on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his right elbow.

The move is retroactive to July 23.

The right-handed Benitez will be eligible to play Saturday when the Marlins return home to face Milwaukee. The Marlins begin a three-game series at Arizona today.

Right-hander Guillermo Mota, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, is expected to take over as closer.

Newly acquired No. 5 starter Ismael Valdez will take Benitez’s spot on the 25-man roster.

Bellhorn sidelined

Infielder Mark Bellhorn was placed on the 15-day DL by the Boston Red Sox, who added outfielder Dave Roberts to the roster.

Bellhorn fractured his left thumb Sunday in Minnesota when he was hit by a pitch from Twins closer Joe Nathan in the ninth inning. He is the 10th member of the Red Sox currently on the disabled list.

Bellhorn, who is in his first season with the Red Sox, is batting .256 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 98 games. He leads the A.L. with 68 walks and is second on the club with 72 runs scored.