Monday, June 4, 2007

Blue Jays 1B Lyle Overbay is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his right hand.

Overbay was injured when he was hit by a pitch from White Sox LHP John Danks in the third inning of yesterday's game. Overbay stayed in the game to run, but was replaced at first base by Matt Stairs to start the fourth.

White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez for arguing that Overbay had swung at the pitch and should not have been given first base.

Overbay, 30, is batting .256 with eight home runs and 27 RBI in 55 games.

"It's frustrating because I was feeling better and feeling like I had a chance out there and getting some consistency," Overbay said.

A seven-year veteran, this will be Overbay's first trip to the disabled list.

· TESTS FOR CLEMENS: Roger Clemens will have tests on his ailing groin today, and the Yankees hope he can make his first start of the season next weekend.

Yankees Manager Joe Torre said yesterday that Clemens could pitch Saturday against the Pirates, five days after he was originally slated to return to the struggling team before being scratched because of a fatigued right groin.

· IWAMURA HURTS EYE: Devil Rays 3B Akinori Iwamura is expected to miss four to five games with a left eye injury.

Iwamura chased after a ball Saturday night in the bullpen down the third base line in the eighth inning that bounced and hit him in the eye. He was checked by a team trainer and stayed in the game for the rest of the inning before leaving.

Iwamura, through an interpreter, said he felt as if he "got punched by a heavyweight."

· MESA TABLED: The Tigers released RHP Jose Mesa. Right-hander Fernando Rodney, sidelined since May 21 with tendinitis in his right biceps, is expected to be activated tomorrow.

Mesa, signed as a free agent in December, went 1-1 with a 12.34 ERA in 16 appearances for Detroit, his eighth club in a major league career that began 20 years ago with the Orioles.

-- From News Services