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Dukes Kept Out of Lineup for 2nd Straight Day
Elijah Dukes, a starting rookie center fielder for the Devil Rays, is said to have made threats against his estranged wife.
(By Chris O'meara -- Associated Press)
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Devil Rays rookie OF Elijah Dukes was out of the lineup for the second straight game yesterday after a published report indicated that he made threats against his estranged wife.
Manager Joe Maddon said he expected Dukes, who was in uniform for an afternoon game against the Mariners, to play during a weekend series that begins today in Chicago. Maddon would not say if Dukes would resume his role as the starting center fielder.
"I just thought about it a lot and thought it was appropriate to do it this way," Maddon said, adding that his decision was not affected by the type of reaction Dukes might draw from the crowd at Tropicana Field.
NiShea Gilbert sought a restraining order earlier this month after receiving a threatening message on her cellphone, as well as a text message that included a picture of a handgun.
Gilbert also gave the St. Petersburg Times an account of an April 30 incident at the middle school where she teaches, saying the 22-year-old Dukes threatened her at her classroom while the students were at lunch.
· NOT QUITE READY: Roger Clemens probably will make another minor league start before rejoining the Yankees.
Clemens struggled a bit Wednesday, allowing three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings for Class AA Trenton. Making his second minor league start, Clemens walked four, struck out five, hit a batter and a threw a wild pitch.
While a final decision won't be made until after a bullpen session today, there's a good chance the 44-year-old right-hander will start on Monday at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Toledo, Yankees officials said.
That would put the seven-time Cy Young Award winner on track to make his first start for the Yankees at Fenway Park on June 2 or 3 against the Red Sox.
· GOOD SHOWING: Red Sox LHP Jon Lester allowed only one hit and one run in his fourth rehabilitation start for Class AAA Pawtucket, a 3-2 victory over Syracuse.
Lester, cancer-free since December after undergoing chemotherapy to treat lymphoma, walked one, struck out one and threw 49 of 65 pitches for strikes. He retired the first 11 in order before Curtis Thigpen lined a single in the fourth inning.
-- From News Services
