Umpire Danley Released From Hospital

Umpire Kerwin Danley was released from a hospital early yesterday morning, about five hours after he took a 96-mph fastball to the right side of his jaw -- briefly losing consciousness when the pitch from Dodgers RHP Brad Penny slammed into his face mask.

Danley, a native of Los Angeles, was resting comfortably yesterday afternoon at the home of his mother, who attended Saturday night's game and rode with him in an ambulance to the hospital. His brother, Kevin, met them at the hospital, where they were joined by umpire Greg Gibson after the game.

· SMOLTZ AILING: John Smoltz left the Braves' 6-3 loss to the Mets with what he called discomfort in his throwing shoulder.

The Atlanta right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in a season-low four innings. He also gave up his first two home runs of the season.

Smoltz (3-2) came in having allowed just two runs in his first four starts, for a 0.78 ERA.

· THANKS AND GOODBYE: Diamondbacks optioned RHP Yusmeiro Petit to Class AAA Tucson one day after he allowed the game-winning home run in Arizona's 8-7, 13-inning loss to the Padres.

Petit gave up Tadahito Iguchi's solo homer with one out in the 13th inning to end the 4-hour 2-minute game that gave the D-backs their second straight loss.

· COSTLY: Matt Morris, the veteran right-hander added by the Pirates late last season to stabilize a young rotation, was released after failing to pitch past the second inning in his latest start.

The decision to cut Morris will cost the Pirates more than $10 million, in addition to what they already have paid him this season. Morris is making $10,037,283 this season, or about one-fifth of their payroll, and has a $1 million buyout for 2009.

· ALOU: Mets OF Moisés Alou will undergo an MRI exam today to try to determine the cause of swelling in his left ankle.

On the 15-day disabled list after hernia surgery, Alou has been in extended spring training in Florida. But he will return to New York for the test after the ankle swelled up two straight days, GM Omar Minaya said yesterday.

While Minaya insisted Alou probably is close to returning to the Mets and characterized the MRI as precautionary, he said a preliminary scan showed "something" in the ankle, possibly a slight fracture.

-- From News Services