BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Giants Release Downs, Demote Clayton

Kelly Downs, a reliever and sometime starter for the San Francisco Giants for 5 1/2 years, was released in a series of roster moves that included the demotion of rookie shortstop Royce Clayton.

The release of Downs, 31, cleared a roster spot for right-hander Bill Swift, who was activated from the disabled list and scheduled to start against the San Diego Padres today.

Swift got off to a 6-0 start before suffering an inflamed right shoulder and going on the disabled list May 23. The Giants won all nine of Swift’s starts and have struggled in his absence, going 8-18.

The Giants optioned Clayton to their triple-A farm club in Phoenix and recalled shortstop Mike Benjamin. Clayton, who spent last season at double-A Shreveport, played well defensively but was batting .207 in 58 games. He was in a two-for-24 slump (.083) in his last nine games.

Downs was 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA in 19 games this season. He was 1-0 in 12 relief appearances and 0-2 in seven starts, continuing a pattern from last year, when he was 7-0 in relief and 3-4 as a starter.

Downs has a lifetime record of 47-38 since breaking in with the Giants in the latter part of the 1986 season. Shoulder problems interrupted his career for parts of the 1988, ’89 and ’90 seasons.

The Cincinnati Reds called up right-hander Tony Menendez from triple-A Nashville and sent catcher Scott Bradley to Nashville. Menendez, 27, was 1-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 23 games, including two starts, for Nashville. This is Menendez’s first trip to the major leagues.

Hank Aaron said he doubts that Milwaukee will lose the Brewers.

“In my opinion, I believe Milwaukee can rest assured that baseball is going to be here forever,” Aaron said after helping dedicate a remodeled Milwaukee County Stadium trophy case that honors him. The Brewers also unveiled a replica of Aaron’s No. 44 on the left-field fence.

The team hopes to build a new ballpark with the help of state loan guarantees, saying the existing stadium lacks the luxury boxes that provide needed rental income.