Injuries, moves, rumors and newsmakers...

The Braves' relief corps needs some relief; Jack Cust clears the bases Friday night; Russ Ortiz is back in the Giants' rotation; Josh Towers is out of the Toronto rotation; and more...
 

   BANGED-UP BULLPEN

It's a good thing the Braves bulked up on relievers last month, because they're looking pretty banged up in the bullpen these days. Closer Bob Wickman is dealing with inflammation in his forearm and newcomer Octavio Dotel, the centerpiece of their July bullpen additions, was placed on the disabled list Friday with a shoulder injury.

Rookie righty Manny Acosta was called up for the first time in his career to take Dotel's bullpen spot, while Rafael Furcal and Oscar Villarreal take over as the primary late-relievers for the time being.

Friday night, it was rookie reliever Peter Moylan, who has otherwise been great this year, who blew a 4-4 lead in the seventh with the aid of a Yunel Escobar error, leading to a 5-4 loss.

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ATHLETICS 
Breakthrough slugger Jack Cust has had some big games for the A's this year, with two four-RBI games and a five-RBI contest, but none bigger than Friday's. He came up twice with the bases loaded and twice cleared the bases, once with three-run double and then with a grand slam. His seven RBIs were a career high in the A's 16-10 slugfest victory in Detroit.

BLUE JAYS 
Three straight rough starts have Josh Towers heading back to the bullpen in light of A.J. Burnett's imminent return from the disabled list. This is the lanky righty's second bullpen stint of the year. After struggling in four outings as the fifth starter to begin the season, he was sent to toss relief, then placed back in the rotation on June 11 for 11 starts. Burnett is scheduled to return from six weeks on the shelf with shoulder soreness on Sunday evening.

GIANTS 
After spending more than two months on the DL with a forearm injury, veteran righty Russ Ortiz was activated to start Friday's game. Ortiz had been banished to the bullpen shortly before his injury, so this was his first start since May 1. Under the circumstances he did a pretty good job, removed after 62 pitches and 5.0 innings, allowing two runs and left with the lead. He took the rotation spot of rookie Pat Misch, who was sent back to Triple-A Fresno after making two decent starts.

MARLINS 
As expected, young righty Daniel Barone was finally called up to take the rotation spot of Byung-Hyun Kim, who was claimed by the Diamondbacks last week. While the 24-year-old isn't considered a major prospect, he'll get every chance to take over the fifth starting spot over the next few weeks. Barone had some command problems in his debut Friday night in New York, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks, striking out four through 4.2 innings. Righty Mauro Zarate, who only got into one game (1.1 IP, 3 R) since popping up following Kim's departure, was sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Barone.

METS 
Center-fielder Carlos Beltran got right back in the swing of things Friday night after being activated from the DL. Out since July 25 with an abdominal injury, the dynamic all-star slugged his 20th home run of the year Friday night, a three-run shot that accounted for the only Mets runs in a 4-3 loss to the Marlins. His return surely means a cut in playing time for hot young outfielder Lastings Milledge. Utility man Marlon Anderson was placed on the bereavement list, making room on the roster for Beltran's return.

ORIOLES 
Following Thursday's trade of reliever John Parrish to the Mariners, the Orioles have made a couple of changes to their pitching staff. Rookie righty Jim Hoey was called up to take Parrish's seat in the bullpen in the midst of a strong year in the minors. The big 24-year-old throws hard and should eventually factor into their setup scheme. Southpaw Garrett Olson has also been called up and slotted into the rotation for Saturday's start. The highly-touted 2005 first-rounder made a couple of solid spot-starts in July. He takes the rotation spot of rookie lefty Brian Burres, who has struggled of late and heads to the bullpen. Lefty reliever Kurt Birkins was demoted to Triple-A Norfolk to make room for Olson.

PADRES 
In less than two weeks since being acquired from the Diamondbacks, outfielder Scott Hairston has emerged as a fan-favorite thanks to some big home runs, so it's a shame to see him placed on the DL with a strained oblique muscle. The injury shouldn't keep him out longer than the minimum 15 days. Meanwhile, with veteran reliever Doug Brocail being placed on the bereavement list on Friday, the Padres used the two vacant roster spots to add to their bullpen depth, calling up righty Jack Cassel and lefty Joe Thatcher, who was recently acquired from the Brewers for setup man Scott Linebrink.

RANGERS 
Less than two weeks after being acquired from the Red Sox in the Eric Gagne trade, outfielder David Murphy is up with the Rangers, recalled on Friday. He's a good all-around player but he's not expected to get everyday playing time, at least not right now. He takes the bench spot of utility man Jerry Hairston Jr., who joins brother Scott on the DL and may be done for the season with a bad back.

TWINS 
Evidently, the Twins still feel there's enough potential in Jerome Williams' right arm to give him a shot with their Triple-A club in Rochester, signing him to a minor-league contract. Earlier in the week, he was released by the Nationals due to his horrible performance both in the big-league rotation and in the minors.