Yankees’ Matsui returns from hiatus
Hideki Matsui returned to the New York Yankees lineup on Tuesday night. Matsui was in the starting lineup as the No. 8 batter and the designated hitter against Tampa Bay, exactly four months after he went on the disabled list with a broken left wrist.
When he batted in the first inning, the crowd gave him a prolonged standing ovation, prompting him to back out of the batter’s box, take off his helmet and wave it twice to the crowd. He then blooped an RBI single to center, putting the Yankees ahead 5-0 in a nine-run inning.
Matsui was hurt May 11 when he tried to make a diving catch on a fly ball hit by Boston’s Mark Loretta.
He went 3 for 11 with one double, one RBI and five walks during a four-game rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Trenton.
Abreu drives in six in first
Bobby Abreu hit a three-run homer and a three-run double in the first inning against Tampa Bay, becoming the first Yankees player with six RBIs in an inning in 55 years.
Abreu added a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the third to set a career high for RBIs in a game with seven.
Royals battery quarrels
Kansas City Royals pitcher Runelvys Hernandez and catcher John Buck got into a fight in the dugout during a game against the Cleveland Indians.
After striking out Ryan Garko with two runners on base to end the third inning, Hernandez jogged to the dugout, turned and pointed at Buck and began yelling. The two players charged each other and began throwing punches before being separated by teammates and coaches.
Clearing the bases
Former Gonzaga University standout Nate Gold has been named the Texas Rangers 2006 Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year. … Seattle Mariners minor league outfielder Welington Dotel has been suspended for 50 games by the commissioner’s office. The suspension, which comes after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, will be effective for the 2007 season. … Houston second baseman Craig Biggio, mired in a 0-for-20 slump that has dropped his average to .248, is getting a couple of games off. Manager Phil Garner will start Chris Burke in place of Biggio. … Houston Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte injured his left elbow and was lifted with two outs in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals. … St. Louis pitcher Mark Mulder underwent surgery to repair a partial tear of his rotator cuff. … Cleveland designated hitter Travis Hafner will not require surgery on his broken right hand. … Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya has a sprained right wrist and won’t be available for a few days. … KDKA, the first radio station to broadcast a major league baseball game, is losing the rights to Pittsburgh Pirates games after 51 years.