Cleveland pitcher arrested while hiding
Indians pitcher Scott Sauerbeck apologized Tuesday to his family and teammates following his early-morning arrest, another distraction for a struggling Cleveland team.
Sauerbeck and a woman were taken into custody after fleeing the left-hander’s vehicle and were found hiding behind bushes, police said.
“I want to apologize first and foremost to my family,” Sauerbeck said before the Indians played the Chicago White Sox. “I’m sorry to my teammates, the organization and fans for causing any embarrassment.”
Sauerbeck, who is married, was the passenger in his 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible, which a patrolman observed weaving at 3:45 a.m. The vehicle pulled into a driveway and the driver, Lily Miller, 28, and Sauerbeck got out, walked into the backyard and jumped a fence, according to a police report.
The owner of the house reported hearing voices outside and police found Sauerbeck and Miller hiding between the home and some bushes.
Sauerbeck was charged with obstructing official business and permitting someone intoxicated to drive his vehicle.
“In trying to do the right thing. I made a terrible error in judgment, something I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life,” he said. “I’m a big boy and I’m going to have to handle it.”
He refused to elaborate.
Astros want Clemens
The Houston Astros still want to re-sign Roger Clemens, though his agent and the team said there is no deal.
The seven-time Cy Young Award winner plans on deciding soon whether to pitch this season or retire for good.
“Obviously, we’re still hopeful. But nothing has been determined,” Astros general manager Tim Purpura said.
Mets call up Milledge
Top prospect Lastings Milledge was called up by the New York Mets after starting right fielder Xavier Nady was placed on the disabled list following an appendectomy earlier in the day.
The arrival of the 21-year-old Milledge from Triple-A Norfolk has been greatly anticipated by fans in New York since the highly regarded outfielder was chosen with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2003 draft.
He went 1 for 4 in his first game.
Clearing the bases
Boston left-hander David Wells will be placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right knee, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. … The Los Angeles Dodgers activated closer Eric Gagne but announced he began serving a two-game suspension and will not join the team until Thursday in Los Angeles. Gagne was serving a suspension imposed by Major League Baseball on April 29, 2005, for violating the terms of a previous penalty. … A day after saying health will be one of the keys to whether he plays long enough to have a chance to break Hank Aaron’s career home run record, Barry Bonds was scratched from San Francisco’s lineup because of a sore back. … Minor league umpires settled their season-long strike, ratifying a six-year contract that calls for a $100 monthly salary increase. … Cincinnati acquired right-hander Esteban Yan from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Kyle Edens. … Johnny Damon and Gary Sheffield were both out of the New York Yankees starting lineup against Detroit with injuries.