BASEBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Boston, Milwaukee Call Replacements

Two former replacement players were called up to the majors Friday, making them the first strikebreakers to suit up alongside regular players who were on strike for 232 days.

Outfielder Ron Mahay was called up by Boston, and pitcher Ron Rightnowar joined the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I’ll talk to the guys,” said Rightnowar, 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA and nine saves in 15 appearances for triple-A New Orleans. “[But] I think out of respect for them I’ll give them their space and let them get to know me. I’ll just focus on baseball.”

Rightnowar, 30, was called up to replace Cal Eldred, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation of his right elbow.

Mahay, 23, was called up to replace Lee Tinsley, who went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right quadriceps muscle.

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Atlanta Brave Manager Bobby Cox agreed to undergo violence counseling during a brief hearing in Cobb County Domestic Violence Court in Marietta, Ga.

Cox, 53, was charged with simple battery May 7 after his wife called police to their home northwest of Atlanta. Pamela Cox told police her husband hit her, but she retracted the statement the next day.

The judge put Cox’s charges on hold for 90 days pending outcome of the counseling and instructed Mrs. Cox to attend a YWCA battered women’s program.

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Florida Marlin third baseman Terry Pendleton was suspended for four games for bumping an umpire, but he immediately appealed the ruling and will be able to play pending a hearing.

Pendleton made contact with umpire Bill Hohn during Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Pendleton also was fined by the league, a penalty that also is stayed pending the appeal before NL President Len Coleman.

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St. Louis Cardinal center fielder Ray Lankford avoided arbitration and signed a one-year deal worth $2.8 million. Lankford, 27, is in his fifth season, all with St. Louis. He had asked for $3.2 million and the Cardinals had offered $2.4 million. Last year Lankford, who leads the National League with 12 doubles, made $1.65 million. . . . Reliever Rod Beck and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a one-year contract for $2.2 million, triple his $750,000 salary last season. . . . The Houston Astros put pitcher Mike Hampton on the 15-day disabled list and purchased the contract of outfielder Mike Simms from Class AAA Tucson. Hampton, 1-2 with a 2.50 ERA, has a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left elbow. . . . The Seattle Mariners sent pitcher Jim Converse to triple-A Tacoma to make room for pitcher Tim Belcher, who was acquired from Cincinnati for minor league pitcher Roger Salkeld.