Brewers’ Doug Jones, 40, Returns

Closer Doug Jones had a successful return after being activated Sunday from the 15-day disabled list by the Milwaukee Brewers. Jones, a 40-year-old right-hander, had been on the disabled list since July 16 with a lower back strain.

Jones entered the Brewers’ 6-5 loss to Seattle Sunday in the eighth with two runners on base and a 2-0 count on Alex Rodriguez. Jones escaped when Rodriguez hit into a double play and Ken Griffey Jr. flied out. Jones also pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, with a pair of strikeouts.

To make room for Jones, the Brewers released right-hander Greg Hansell, who gave up two runs on three hits in three innings in Saturday night’s 14-4 loss to Seattle.

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Darryl Strawberry is expected to be the designated hitter tonight when the Yankees’ Tampa affiliate in the Florida State League plays St. Petersburg. Strawberry is rehabilitating from knee surgery. Tim Raines is scheduled to play left field at Tampa for the first five innings. . . . Yankee right-hander Brian Boehringer, recovering from elbow surgery, is expected to pitch a simulated game today. . . . Oakland’s Jose Canseco missed his third consecutive game because of a sore back.

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Since breaking Lou Gehrig’s consecutive-game record on Sept. 6, 1995, Cal Ripken has played in 294 consecutive games, which if taken by itself would constitute the third-longest active streak behind Houston’s Craig Biggio (329) and Jeff Bagwell (300). Overall, Ripken has played in 2,424 in a row.