BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Orioles Release Catcher Nokes

The Baltimore Orioles, who had lost seven games in a row before beating the Yankees on Monday, continued tinkering with their roster, releasing veteran catcher Matt Nokes and calling up switch-hitting catcher Greg Zaun from Triple-A Rochester.

Zaun, the nephew of former Oriole catcher Rick Dempsey, who manages the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate in Albuquerque, was hitting .293 with six homers and 18 RBI in 42 games.

The Orioles on Sunday traded outfielder Andy Van Slyke, who had also been disappointing in his short stay, to Philadelphia.

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Jose Rijo got a cortisone shot in his right elbow, which became inflamed again after he threw only 11 pitches in a game Saturday against Montreal. He will miss a scheduled start Thursday against Atlanta. . . . The Chicago White Sox activated John Kruk from the disabled list and sent outfielder Lyle Mouton back to their triple-A Nashville farm team.