Bottalico To Have Elbow Surgery

Philadelphia Phillies’ closer Ricky Bottalico has a bone chip in his right elbow, and probably will need surgery that would sideline him for at least six weeks.

Bottalico, who has recorded 34 saves in each of the last two seasons, earned his third save of the year in Wednesday night’s 5-4 victory over Cincinnati.

“It’s been bothering me for two or three days, and it was pretty bad last night,” Bottalico said. “Whenever I extended, it was like somebody sticking a knife in the bottom of my elbow.”

Bottalico, 28, is 1-1 with a 4.66 earned-run average in seven games this season. He was an all-star in 1996.

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The Padres signed left-handed pitcher Roberto Ramirez to a minor league contract. The four-time Mexican League all-star has compiled a 73-32 record and a 3.34 ERA in eight seasons with Mexico City. His .695 career winning percentage is the highest in Mexican League history.

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Dave Stieb’s comeback bid hit a rough spot when Shawn Green homered and Jose Cruz Jr. had a two-run double, leading the Toronto Blue Jays over their triple-A Syracuse team, 10-4, at Syracuse, N.Y.

Stieb, Toronto’s career win leader, has not pitched in the majors since 1993. Stieb, 40, gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings for Syracuse.