BASEBALL : DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Athletics Get Darling From Expos

The Oakland Athletics acquired right-handed pitcher Ron Darling from the Montreal Expos on Wednesday for two minor leaguers. The Athletics beat the midnight trade deadline by minutes.

Darling was traded for the second time this month, having gone from the New York Mets to Montreal on July 15.

Darling was 5-6 for the Mets and 0-2 for Montreal while trying for the 100th victory of his career. He has a combined 4.37 earned-run average.

The Expos got minor league pitchers Matt Grott and Russell Cormier.

Right-hander Jim Clancy was traded from the Houston Astros to the Atlanta Braves for minor league pitcher Matt Turner and a player to be named.

Clancy, 35, was 0-3 with a 2.78 ERA and five saves in 30 games for the Astros.

National League President Bill White upheld the four-game suspension and $1,000 fine against Cincinnati Red relief pitcher Rob Dibble.

Dibble was suspended for throwing a ball that struck a fan on April 28. The suspension kept Dibble out of Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs, and he will also miss the first three games of a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

Dibble, second in the National League’s with 23 saves, accepted the suspension rather than appeal to baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent.

Dibble, who recently served a three-game suspension for throwing a pitch at Houston’s Eric Yelding on April 11, is facing another possible suspension for throwing a ball at Doug Dascenzo while the Cub outfielder ran to first after a successful squeeze bunt on July 23.

The Texas Rangers said they will places Nolan Ryan on the disabled list today for the second time this season because of an aching right shoulder. It is uncertain when he will return.

The Rangers said Ryan will be replaced on the roster by right-hander Bobby Witt, who has been on the disabled list since May 27 because of a sore shoulder.

Reliever Jeff Gray, who collapsed in the Boston Red Sox clubhouse Tuesday morning, was reported “resting comfortably” while undergoing additional tests at Beth Israel Hospital. There was no comment on the reason for his collapse.