Cubs welcome Lee back from DL
Derrek Lee will be back with the Chicago Cubs for today’s game at Minnesota after just one minor league rehab appearance.
The move to activate Lee from the disabled list will come one day sooner than expected, as injuries to Tony Womack and Freddy Bynum during Saturday night’s 3-0 loss to Minnesota forced Chicago’s hand.
Lee went 1 for 4 and with an RBI single Saturday night in a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa in Des Moines. The Omaha Royals beat Iowa 10-4.
“I’ve got to go to work tomorrow. It wasn’t expected, but unfortunately two guys got hurt tonight so we had to make a move,” Lee said. “I’m excited. I’m ready to go.”
After the game Lee said his wrist was “good to go.”
“It’s what we expected it to be, just not quite as strong. But in a week or two it will be ready to go full strength,” Lee said.
Sweeney nears return
Five-time All-Star first baseman Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals, out since May 2 with a bulging disc, said he plans to start a rehab assignment next week at Double-A Wichita.
“I’m going to leave Monday morning and play some games in Wichita (Kan.) and make my way back to Kansas City soon as possible,” Sweeney said.
He’s hoping to be activated by Kansas City around July 2.
Closer Mike MacDougal is also on a rehab assignment at Wichita.
Fenway faithful jeer Myers
Standing on the dugout steps, Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel put his arm around Brett Myers and patted his starting pitcher on the back. It was not an easy day for Myers, and pitching in Fenway Park didn’t make it any easier.
Myers, arrested Friday and charged with hitting his wife in the face on the street near the team’s hotel, was booed every time he walked to the mound.
“It didn’t surprise me at all,” Manuel said. “Boston is pretty tough.”
Myers understood the harsh reaction he received from the sellout crowd. He anticipates hearing boos wherever he pitches and said it wouldn’t surprise him to hear a negative reaction from fans in Philadelphia.
“I’m sorry it had to get public, that’s it. Of course it’s embarrassing,” Myers said.
Injury bug bites Angels
Dallas McPherson bent over to field a ground ball during batting practice Friday, something he does hundreds of times a week. Only this time, his lower back locked up and the subsequent spasms sent the third baseman to the 15-day disabled list.
“There was no indication” this would happen, said McPherson, the second Angel to go on the DL in two days, following Darin Erstad.
Mets’ Sanchez, Lo Duca ail
New York Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez has a pinched nerve in his neck and is day to day, the team announced.
Sanchez, a key part of New York’s stellar bullpen, left after throwing just two pitches in the eighth inning of Friday’s 6-1 victory over Toronto.
•Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca left New York’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays because of a bruised left thumb.
After Lo Duca grounded out to end the top of the third, backup catcher Ramon Castro replaced him.
He’s listed as day to day.