Cardinals Put McGee on Disabled List

The St. Louis Cardinals put outfielder Willie McGee on the 15-day disabled list and recalled outfielder-first baseman Phil Plantier from triple-A Louisville of the American Assn.

Plantier had two hits, including a solo home run during an 11-5 victory over the Cubs at Chicago.

McGee, who plays all three outfield positions, has been bothered because of a left side strain. McGee, 38, was batting .299 with three home runs and 21 RBI in 68 games. He joins a crowded Cardinals disabled list that includes outfielder Brian Jordan, catcher Tom Pagnozzi, and pitchers Donovan Osborne and Rick Honeycutt.

Plantier, who began the season with the San Diego Padres, came to the Cardinals along with left-handed pitcher Fernando Valenzuela as part of a six-player deal in June.

Plantier, 28, has struggled since 1993 when he had a career-high 34 home runs and 100 RBIs for the Padres. He was batting .125 in 10 games with the Padres before he was placed on the disabled list in May with a muscle strain.

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Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall participated in an old-timers’ game Sunday, pitching to two batters and playing shortstop for another. Nuxhall was the youngest player to appear in the major leagues when he pitched for the Reds at age 15 in 1944. . . . San Diego Padres shortstop Chris Gomez, who suffered a mild concussion and lacerated right hand in a collision Saturday, did not start Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. The Padres put catcher Carlos Hernandez on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right calf and purchased the contract of catcher Mandy Romero from triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League.