Utley extends hitting streak to 33 games

Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 33 games Tuesday night with a single in the first inning for the Philadelphia Phillies against St. Louis.

The streak is the longest in the major leagues this year and five games shy of the franchise record set by teammate Jimmy Rollins, who hit safely in the final 36 games of 2005 and the first two this season.

Headling into the game, Utley was batting .409 (56 for 137) during the streak, raising his season average to .329.

Utley singled in the sixth inning Monday against Florida, his final at-bat of the day, to extend the run to 32 games.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the streak is tied for the ninth-longest in National League history with Rogers Hornsby (1922) and George Davis (1893).

Guillen hits for cycle

Carlos Guillen became the 10th player in Detroit Tigers history to hit for the cycle in the game against Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg Fla.

Guillen completed the cycle with an eighth-inning double off reliever Edwin Jackson. He had an RBI triple in the second, a third-inning solo homer and a single in the sixth

He is the first Tigers player to accomplish the feat since Damion Easley on June 8, 2001, against Milwaukee.

MLB suspends seven

Major League Baseball suspended seven minor leaguers for violating the drug prevention and treatment program.

Cole Flowers of the Atlanta Braves, Kengshill Pujols of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Edison Barrios and Juan Casas of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Alvaro Diaz of the Detroit Tigers, and Jesus Granado of the Philadelphia Phillies received 50-game suspensions for failing drug tests. Alfredo Reyes of the Pirates was given a 100-game suspension following a second positive test.

Clearing the bases

Eric Young was released by the San Diego Padres, who had to clear roster spots for infielder Todd Walker and outfielder Ben Johnson. … Houston Astros third baseman Morgan Ensberg was activated from the disabled list and was in the starting lineup against the San Diego Padres. … Jason Varitek was placed on the disabled list with a twisted left knee. … New York Mets right-hander Duaner Sanchez underwent shoulder surgery on his pitching arm and will miss the rest of the season. … Right-hander Scott Elarton, the Kansas City Royals’ opening day starter, had season-ending shoulder surgery to repair his labrum.