MLB notes: Streaking Royals lose Alex Rios to injury
The Kansas City Royals have suffered their first loss of the season: Right fielder Alex Rios was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his left hand.
Rios was hit by a pitch Monday in the eighth inning of their game at Minnesota. X-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal, which is the bone on the pinky finger. The team said no timetable for his return has been set, declaring him out indefinitely, but the injury typically takes one month or so to heal.
The defending American League-champion Royals (7-0) are the only unbeaten team in the major leagues, with a baseball-best 52 runs scored. Rios is batting .321 with eight RBIs and one homer in his first year with the team.
Selig honored by U.S. Army
Bud Selig is being given the Outstanding Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Army, the third highest honor the military branch can bestow upon a private citizen.
The former baseball commissioner will receive the distinction on Tuesday at Whipple Field, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia.
The Army is recognizing Selig for baseball’s long tradition of support for soldiers, veterans and their families during his tenure that ended in January.
Clearing the bases
Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco was carted off the field after being hit in the face by a line drive that appeared to first deflect off his right hand. The White Sox’s Melky Cabrera hit a sharp liner back at Carrasco, who threw his hands up to try and block the ball. He was hit below the left eye and fell face down on the front of the mound. Carrasco was down for several minutes, but slowly walked to the cart with assistance. He was holding the left side of his face as he was driven off the field. … Red Sox third baseman Pablo Sandoval left Boston’s game against the Nationals after being hit on the top of the foot by a pitch. … Mets cleanup hitter Michael Cuddyer left New York’s game against Philadelphia after getting hit by a pitch on the left hand. The team says X-rays were negative. … Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco was out of the starting lineup against the Chicago Cubs because of an ailing left hip. … Christian Yelich was scratched from Miami’s lineup at Atlanta because of tightness in his back. Ichiro Suzuki replaced Yelich in left. … Indians All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley was not in Cleveland’s starting lineup for the fifth time because of a bad back. … New York Yankees starter Ivan Nova threw his first batting practice session since elbow ligament- replacement surgery last April. Nova threw 20 pitches at the Yankees’ minor league complex and appears on track to rejoin the team in June. … The Indians have selected the contract of catcher Brett Hayes from Triple-A Columbus, a needed move with Yan Gomes injured and expected to miss six weeks. … The Washington Nationals have called up right-hander Rafael Martin from Triple-A Syracuse and designated left-hander Xavier Cedeno for assignment. … Jon Lester made a pickoff throw to first base for the first time in two years Monday. Lester had not thrown a pickoff to first since April 30, 2013, for Boston at Toronto.