Utley’s hitting streak comes to end at 35
Chase Utley knew his hitting streak would end sooner or later. He just would have preferred later.
Utley went 0 for 5 Friday night in Philadelphia’s 5-3 victory over the Mets in New York, ending a 35-game hitting streak that tied him for 10th longest in major league history.
Utley struck out twice and was robbed on his best chance for a hit when Mets second baseman Jose Valentin ranged to his right in the seventh inning, backhanded his grounder up the middle and threw him out.
For a moment, the All-Star second baseman thought he had his hit.
“I wasn’t sure,” Utley said. “He’s a pretty slick fielder.”
“As soon as I caught it, I knew I had to make a good throw,” Valentin said. “He’s fast. Sometimes something like that has to end.”
Utley agreed.
“I felt comfortable,” Utley said. “It takes a little luck, too.”
Utley had one more chance, but he struck out leading off in the ninth inning. When he got to the dugout, his teammates congratulated him.
“I got pats on the back,” Utley said. “I really didn’t want it to go extra innings. It was a good run.”
Lopez to Boston
Javy Lopez was traded from the Baltimore Orioles to Boston, a deal that gives the former All-Star another chance to play and provides the Red Sox a replacement for injured catcher Jason Varitek.
The Orioles sent Lopez and $1.3 million to the Red Sox for a player to be named.
Varitek had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Thursday and the Red Sox have not indicated when he might return.
Colon likely out for season
The injury-plagued season of Los Angeles Angels right-hander Bartolo Colon took another hit when last year’s A.L. Cy Young winner learned he has a rotator cuff problem that could possibly end his 2006 campaign.
“It’s tough news,” manager Mike Scioscia said.
“I would assume it’s going to be lengthy. And with about seven weeks left in the season, it would seem doubtful that he’s going to return,” added Scioscia.
Fans erupt at Bonds’ ejection
The Colorado Rockies cleared the field in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants after fans threw garbage following the ejection of Barry Bonds. Bonds was batting in the ninth when he began arguing with plate umpire Ron Kulpa about a called second strike. Kulpa immediately ejected the Giants slugger, who got in the umpire’s face and began yelling.
Bonds returned to the dugout as fans responded by throwing garbage, including beer bottles, onto the field. The Rockies retreated into their dugout to avoid being hit. Security came onto the field and so did a large cleanup crew, causing about an 11-minute delay.
Reporters won’t reveal sources
Lawyers for two San Francisco Chronicle reporters argued that the First Amendment protects them from revealing their source for the secret testimony of Barry Bonds and other elite athletes ensnared in the government’s steroids probe.
Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada published a series of stories and a book based largely on transcripts of testimony by Bonds during the investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.
Ex-pitcher Auker dies
Elden Auker, the submarine-style pitcher who struck out Babe Ruth, faced Dizzy Dean and helped the Detroit Tigers win their first World Series championship died in Vero Beach, Fla. He was 95.
Auker used his unique delivery to go 130-101 for the Tigers, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns from 1933-42.
Clearing the bases
Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb will miss his start today with an inflamed elbow. …Detroit rookie Justin Verlander will miss his start Sunday because of fatigue in his right arm.