Ben McDonald May Face Surgery

Milwaukee right-hander Ben McDonald will learn today if he needs season-ending surgery. He might have a torn rotator cuff. He underwent an MRI in Los Angeles on Friday.

“Worst-case scenario is they go in with a scope, clean this thing up and I’ll be ready to go in spring training,” McDonald said Sunday. “Best cast is, ‘Hey let’s rehab it for two weeks, do some weights, a little rest, come back and finish the year.’ ”

His doctor is Angel orthopedist Lewis Yocum.

McDonald went on the disabled list Saturday and must stay there until Aug. 1. Any hopes the Brewers had of trading him before the July 31 deadline have now been nullified.

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Mo Vaughn’s eye and reputation took a hit when he was involved in a bar scuffle two years ago. Now accused of punching a man in the face at a nude dance club, the Boston Red Sox first baseman said Sunday he’ll do what it takes to prove his innocence.

“If he wants to go to the end, we’ll go to the end,” Vaughn said. “That doesn’t bother me. Legal fees don’t bother me, either. I just want to get it cleared up.”

Scott Bird, 24, of North Olmsted, Ohio, alleged that the 1995 AL MVP punched him during an argument over someone being burned with a cigarette. The altercation allegedly took place in the doorway of a strip club called Tiffany’s Cabaret early Saturday, said Cleveland police Sgt. Mark Hastings.

Bird said Sunday that he had spoken with a lawyer and would seek charges against Vaughn .

Vaughn showed no signs of having been in a fight, getting hits in both of the Red Sox’s games at Cleveland this weekend.