Indians Lose Thome and Ogea

The defending American League champion Cleveland Indians received a double-dose of bad news Friday, losing two players to injury, including slugger Jim Thome.

The two-time All-Star first baseman will be out four to six weeks with a broken bone in his right hand after being hit by a Wilson Alvarez pitch during Friday’s 5-1 victory at Tampa Bay.

And they put pitcher Chad Ogea, who has already been sidelined 10 weeks, on the 15-day disabled list. It’s his third time on the DL this season.

Ogea has tendinitis in the middle finger of his throwing hand.

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The Kansas City Royals put outfielder Shane Mack on the 15-day disabled list with a protruding disk in his back. The move is retroactive to July 31.

Pitcher Tim Byrdak was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to fill Mack’s roster spot.

Also, Larry Doughty, the Royals’ vice president of player personnel, was fired.

Doughty, whose contract was set to expire at the end of this season, joined the Royals after the 1993 season. He was promoted to vice-president of player personnel in February of 1997.