Rockies Put Walker on the Disabled List

The Colorado Rockies put all-star right fielder Larry Walker on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with an elbow injury.

Walker sat out Friday’s 15-7 rout of the San Francisco Giants because of soreness in his right elbow, making the move retroactive to Thursday.

The National League batting champion each of the last two years, Walker is hitting .347 with three home runs and 17 runs batted in in 30 games.

The Rockies purchased the contract of outfielder Bubba Carpenter from triple-A Colorado Springs to replace Walker on the roster.

*

Baltimore Manager Mike Hargrove said the team may wait as late as Friday to make a decision on whether to place third baseman Cal Ripken on the disabled list. However, with games at Edison Field on Tuesday and Wednesday, it is possible the decision could be made sooner. Ripken has mentioned that lengthy travel has been difficult on his back.

Ripken has not played the last two games after suffering nerve irritation in his back, which was repaired surgically on Sept. 23.

*

Oakland activated pitcher Kevin Appier from the disabled list to start Saturday’s game against the Seattle Mariners. Appier strained his right forearm in a game on April 24 against Toronto. He’s 3-2 with a 4.06 earned-run average this season. To make room for Appier, the Athletics optioned infielder Frank Menechino to triple-A Sacramento. . . . Detroit first baseman Tony Clark was put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left rib cage. Clark’s spot on the roster was filled by infielder Gabe Alvarez, who was recalled from triple-A Toledo. Clark suffered the injury last week at Minnesota and aggravated it Friday night against New York.

*

Melvin Mora was put on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Mets, who recalled Joe McEwing from triple-A Norfolk. Mora, who plays infield and outfield, needed four stitches to close a cut on his right index finger, an injury suffered bunting Friday night. . . . Toronto outfielder Shannon Stewart, out since April 29 with a strained right hamstring, is expected to be activated today. . . . Pitcher Mark Guthrie, obtained by Tampa Bay on Friday in a trade sending outfielder Dave Martinez to the Chicago Cubs, joined the team and 36-year-old rookie reliever Jim Morris was optioned to triple-A Durham. Outfielder Quinton McCracken was recalled from Durham and infielder Tony Graffanino was designated for assignment. . . . Atlanta activated pitcher Kevin McGlinchy after his rehabilitation assignment in Greenville and sent relief pitcher Kerry Ligtenberg to triple-A Richmond. . . . Cincinnati purchased the contract of pitcher Osvaldo Fernandez from double-A Chattanooga. He took the spot of Pete Harnisch, out since May 5 with weakness in his rotator cuff. . . . Houston ace Shane Reynolds had his next start pushed back a day because of stiffness in his shoulder. Reynolds will pitch Tuesday at Milwaukee.