In the second inning of today's Royals-Blue Jays game, Lyle Overbay walked to reach base for the 12th consecutive time at the plate breaking Tony Fernandez's record of 11 consecutive times. 

…The Washington Nationals have announced that they've signed infielder Pokey Reese to a minor league contract. He's been signed to play in Triple - A Columbus who are short middle infielders since Pete Orr when on the DL and Brett Boone retired from Baseball (again). Reese hasn't played in the Majors since 2004 with the Boston Red Sox.

…Former San Fransisco Giants star Orlando Cepeda was fined $100 in a drug plea deal that also lead to the firing of District Attorney Joe Camarata. He pleaded no contest to marijuana possession. What lead to the firing was that Camarata had agreed to drop charges of cocaine possession and a hypodermic syringe.

…According to Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin, the Brewers have no plans to release Derek Turnbow. Turnbow was demoted to Triple A Nashville and his control problems have gotten worse, not better. In 4 1/3 innings pitched at the AAA level, Turnbow has allowed 5 hits and 7 earned runs (14.54 ERA) in six appearances.

…Speaking of the Brewers and Triple-A Nashville, Jeff Weaver who signed a minor league deal with the Brewers can ask for his release this time next week if he isn't promoted to the Brewers. In five starts in Nashville he's 1-2 with a 6.52 ERA.

…Dodgers Center Fielder Andruw Jones will hit the Disabled List for the first time in his career because of his injured right knee that will require surgery. He'll be out at the least 4 to 6 weeks. He really didn't want to have the surgery done, but he was basically left with no choice.

With Hawpe, Atkins and Barmes not available, Ian Stewart has been called
up to the big leagues  (mirofoto/flickr)

Boston    

Julian Tavarez - Refused an outright assignment and decided to become a free agent.
    
Cincinnati 

Justin Lehr - Contract sold by the Cincinnati Reds to the Doosan Bears (Korean League).
    
Cleveland    

Jensen Lewis - Optioned to Buffalo (AAA).
Edward Mujica - Recalled from Buffalo (AAA).
Scott Elarton - Contract purchased from Buffalo (AAA).
Fausto Carmona - Hip injury, 15-day DL.
    
Colorado    

Willy Taveras - Bruised right knee, day-to-day.
Garrett Atkins - Stiff neck, day-to-day.
Brad Hawpe - Hamstring, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 21).
Clint Barmes - Sprained right knee, 15-day DL (retroactive to May 21).
Ian Stewart - Recalled from Colorado Springs (AAA).
Seth Smith - Recalled from Colorado Springs (AAA).
    
Florida    

Robert Andino - Recalled from Albuquerque (AAA).
Brett Carroll - Separated right shoulder, 15-day DL.
    
Los Angeles Dodgers    

Nomar Garciaparra - Transferred from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL (calf injury).
Andruw Jones - Right knee injury, 15-day DL.
Terry Tiffee - Contract purchased from Las Vegas (AAA).
Yhency Brazoban - Optioned to Las Vegas (AAA).
Esteban Loaiza - Missed 14 games (shoulder injury) and designated for assignment.
Clayton Kershaw - Contract purchased from Jacksonville (AA).
    
Milwaukee    

Anthony Gwynn - Optioned to Nashville (AAA).
Russell Branyan - Contract purchased from Nashville (AAA).
    
NY Mets    

Ryan Church - Mild concussion, day-to-day.
Nick Evans - Contract purchased from Binghamton (AA).
Marlon Anderson - Hamstring, 15-day DL.
    
Philadelphia    

Joe Valentine - Contract purchased from Long Island (Atlantic) and assigned to Lehigh Valley (AAA).
    
San Diego    

Colt Morton - Optioned to San Antonio (AA).
Michael Barrett - Missed 42 games (elbow injury).
    
Washington    

Pokey Reese - Signed by the Washington Nationals to a minor league contract and assigned to Columbus (AAA).

Not even a week has passed since Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox no hit the Kansas City Royals, now he's revealed that his father has cancer as well. He revealed that his father John was diagnosed with lymphoma last month.

“He's telling everyone … like he won a prize,” Jon Lester said. “It
makes him feel better to sit there and talk about it. He can tell
people, you know what, I have cancer, I'm doing great, everything is
going to be good and people look at him like he's crazy. I guess that's
how everyone looked at me when I told them.”

None of his Red Sox teammates knew this, except the man that's been like a second father to him - Terry Francona his manager. Which would most likely be the case why he kept his conversation with Francona right after he no hit the Royals private.

Not only that but he's been counseling Anthony Rizzo a Boston minor leaguer who recently found out he too has a form of cancer.  Lester is becoming somewhat of a role model to cancer patients, something that he's still trying to get adjusted to.

It has not been an easy weekend series for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  There was optimism as Rafael Furcal was expected to return for Friday night's game and Andruw Jones looked to also be on the road to recovery.  Then reality set in. 

First, Furcal woke up with stiffness in his back on Thursday and by Friday manager Joe Torre was talking about the real possibility that their leadoff hitter might not be able to travel with the team on their road trips to Chicago and New York.  The team then dropped a tough one to the Cardinals on Friday night highlighted by a 65-minute rain delay in the bottom of the ninth inning that prolonged the agony of a 2-1 loss.

With Friday behind them and the exciting news of 20-year-old lefty Clayton Kershaw getting the nod for Sunday's game, the Dodgers were looking forward to putting the bad news of Furcal's setback and the previous night's loss behind them. 

Prior to the game, Andruw Jones unsuccessfully tested his knee and the decision was made to have Jones undergo surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee which put the $36-million dollar man on the disabled list.  The surgery means that Jones will have to continue to have his .165 batting average, 45 strikeouts and 1-for-33 performance with runners in scoring position weighing on his mind while on the mend.

More bad news came in the form of Nomar Garciaparra going on the 60-day disabled list with a calf injury which would put him out until the end of June, at least.  Then their worst fears for Furcal were realized when it was confirmed that he would not travel to Chicago or New York.  At 7-8 going into Saturday's game without Furcal, this was the biggest blow of the day.

Saturday night's game offered no salvation as ace Brad Penny was outpitched by Kyle Lohse and the Cardinals bullpen on his 30th birthday as L.A. lost 4-0 and fell to 7-9 without Furcal and 3 1/2 games out of first place in the N.L. West.

A strong debut from Kershaw on Sunday would be music to the struggling team's ears as the Dodgers are in the third day of 15 consecutive days in a row.  Fortunately, the team their chasing, the Arizona Diamondbacks, have also come down to earth and the Dodgers have lost very little ground during their downtrend.  Also, pitchers Jason Schmidt and Estaban Loaiza have progressed well in a rehab assignment and catcher Gary Bennett's foot injury that landed him on the DL gives him an opportunity to work on the mental block he has had with his throwing accuracy.

It could only get worse for L.A. if Vin Scully decided to retire this week.  Let's hope for Dodgers' fans things don't get that bad.

• Robinson Cano went 4-for-4 with 3 doubles, and Jason Giambi singled, doubled, homered and drove in 3 runs as the Yankees doubled up the Mariners, 12-6. Hideki Matsui also reached base 4 times, and Bobby Abreu drove in 4 runs for New York. Yuniesky Betancourt  and Jose Lopez each had 3 hits, and Jose Vidro hit a 3-run homer for Seattle.
• Jered Weaver tossed a 3-hitter over 8 scoreless innings, and Vlad Guerrero hit a solo home run to provide the Angels all the offense they would need to beat the White Sox, 2-0.
• Ramon Castro had 3 hits, Nick Evans collected 3 doubles, and Carlos Beltran drove in 3 runs as the Mets knocked off the Rockies, 9-2. Claudio Vargas went 7 strong innings on the mound for New York.
• Jesse Litsch pitched a complete game 7-hit shutout, and Brad Wilkerson launched a grand slam as the Blue Jays blanked the Royals, 6-0.
• Four different Atlanta pitchers held Arizona to just 3 hits, and Jeff Francoeur provided the heroics by hitting a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Braves a 3-1 walk-off win over the Diamondbacks.
• Evan Longoria hit 2 home runs and drove in 6 runs, B.J. Upton went 4-for-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI, and 3 runs scored, and Carlo Pena singled, doubled, tripled, knocked in 2 runs and scored 3 more as the Rays roughed up the Orioles, 11-4. Carl Crawford also reached base 3 times, stole a base, and scored 3 times for Tampa Bay.
• Ben Francisco doubled, homered, and drove in 3 runs, and Cliff Lee struck out 8 while allowing just 2 runs over 6 2/3 innings as the Indians defeated the Rangers, 5-2.
• Michael Bourn had 2 hits, scored 2 runs, and stole a base, and Carlos Lee singled, doubled, and drove in 3 runs as the Astros held off the Phillies, 4-3. Ryan Howard doubled, homered, and had 3 RBI for Philadelphia.
• Mike Cameron doubled, homered, and scored twice, and Corey Hart belted a 2-run home run to help the Brewers get back in the win column with a 5-2 victory over the Nationals.
• Magglio Ordonez doubled, hit 2 home runs, drove in 6 runs, and scored 4 times, Placido Polanco went 4-for-5 with a walk and 4 runs scored, and Gary Sheffield singled, doubled, drove in 3 runs and scored 2 more as the Tigers obliterated the Twins, 19-3.
• Justin Duchscherer pitched one-hit ball through 8 scoreless innings, and Ryan and Mike Sweeney each drove in a run as the Athletics shut down the Red Sox, 3-0. David Ortiz had the only hit for Boston on the evening.
• Nate McLouth reached base 4 times, and Jason Bay went 4-for-6, hit a home run, and drove in the game winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the 14th as the Pirates pulled off a 5-4 walk-off win over the Cubs.
• Kyle Lohse pitched 6 shutout innings, and Rick Ankiel paced the offense with a double and 2 RBI as the Cardinals quieted the Dodgers, 4-0.
• Brandon Phillips singled, doubled, tripled, and scored twice, and Joey Votto hit his 10th home run of the year and drove in 4 runs as the Reds cruised to a 7-2 win over the Padres. Bronson Arroyo struck out 9 in 6 1/3 innings for Cincinnati.

Saturday's Scoreboard