Halladay will miss All-Star start
Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay will miss at least a month because of a broken bone in his left leg, spoiling his shot to start Tuesday’s All-Star game.
Halladay sustained a non-displaced fracture in his lower left leg when he was struck by Kevin Mench’s line drive in the third inning of the Blue Jays’ 7-6 loss at Texas on Friday night.
The Blue Jays put their ace on the 15-day disabled list Saturday and expect him to be out four to six weeks. Halladay, the 2003 A.L. Cy Young winner, is 12-4 with an A.L.-leading 2.41 ERA this season. He was on the disabled list twice last season because of right shoulder problems.
Halladay will return to Toronto during the All-Star break to begin rehab instead of going to Detroit.
•Boston Red Sox right-hander Matt Clement, a former Spokane Indian, will replace Halladay on the American League squad in the All-Star game, Boston manager Terry Francona announced.
Clement (10-2, 3.85 ERA) was delighted to take his place in Tuesday’s game.
“To get a chance to be with the best players in the world is truly an honor, and I’m excited,” he said. “I wish Roy all the luck in the world; that’s not the way I wanted it to happen. He’s a great pitcher and he deserved to be there. But I’m glad I’m going.”
Francona, who will manage the A.L. stars, told reporters that he would have started Halladay.
Clement, 30, signed with Boston as a free agent in December. It will be his first All-Star game.
Rogers gets cheers in home start
Kenny Rogers was greeted by mostly cheers from Texas Rangers fans when he took the mound for his first home start since shoving two TV cameramen and being suspended 20 games by commissioner Bud Selig.
When the All-Star pitcher’s name was announced during pregame introductions, and again right before Rogers threw the first pitch against Toronto, there were loud cheers that mostly drowned out an audible chorus of boos.
Rogers can continue to pitch while appealing his 20-game suspension and $50,000 fine. He hasn’t said whether he will go to Detroit for the All-Star game.
Kotsay gets 3-year extension
Mark Kotsay agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Oakland Athletics, keeping the reliable center fielder with the club through the 2008 season.
The deal supercedes the final year of his current contract, a five-year deal through the 2006 season.
Kotsay, acquired after the 2003 season from San Diego for Ramon Hernandez and Terrence Long, is batting .280 with seven home runs and 46 RBIs this season.
Clearing the bases
Pittsburgh first baseman Craig Wilson returned to the lineup after missing two months with a finger injury. … The Angels placed rookie third baseman Dallas McPherson on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his left hip and purchased the contract of infielder Zach Sorensen from Triple-A Salt Lake. … Dodgers left-hander Kelly Wunsch will have season-ending surgery on his right ankle. … Cleveland recalled infielder Brandon Phillips from Triple-A Buffalo and sent down left-hander Brian Tallet.