 |
 |
 |
|
May 12--ARLINGTON -- A day after his start lasted just 12 pitches, Kevin Millwood was was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained right groin.
Right-hander Doug Mathis' contract was purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma to add immediate bullpen depth. Mathis, 5-0 at Oklahoma, is expected to get his first major league start May 20 at Minnesota.
He could get more than that, depending on how well he pitches, how effective Luis Mendoza is on his rehab assignment that is scheduled to begin Thursday and how quickly Millwood recovers.
Millwood was still sore Sunday, and the Rangers opted to take no chances on having the injury linger. Last year, Millwood came back after two weeks from a hamstring injury, made one start and went back on the DL for two more weeks.
Millwood, who had a rigorous off-season conditioning program, suffered a groin strain in 2005 while he was with Cleveland. He missed two weeks and went on to win the AL ERA title.
"It's a little bit frustrating," he said. "But one of the things about getting my body in better shape is that hopefully you heal more quickly."
Fukumori outrighted: Reliever Kazuo Fukumori, who had a 20.25 ERA in four appearances before being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma, cleared outright waivers and has been removed from the 40-man roster. He remains at Oklahoma.
Fukumori, a veteran of the Japan Professional Baseball League, signed a one-year contract with the Rangers with an option for a second season that vests as long as he does not spend 30 days on the disabled list this year. Moving him off the roster does not impact the contract.
It does, however, create more roster flexibility. The Rangers have 39 players on the 40-man roster.
Briefly: OF Marlon Byrd was 3-for-4 for Triple-A Oklahoma in his second rehab game. Byrd is expected to play today and then could be activated Tuesday. ... At Class A Clinton, RHP Blake Beavan of Irving, the Rangers' top pick in last year's draft, allowed one run in five innings for his second professional victory in a 12-4 win over Peoria. 1B Ian Gac hit two more homers to give him 14. ... A day after throwing his normal bullpen session, LHP Kason Gabbard felt no residual soreness from being tackled by Richie Sexson last week.
-----
To see more of The Dallas Morning News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.dallasnews.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Dallas Morning News
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
louisianadoc 
