Mets’ Leiter Out at Least 4 Weeks

Left-hander Al Leiter of the New York Mets will be sidelined at least four weeks after partially tearing a knee tendon in Friday night’s game against the Yankees.

Leiter injured his left knee while running to cover first base in the seventh inning on a slow roller hit to the right side by Derek Jeter.

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The Cleveland Indians recalled Richie Sexson, one of their top hitting prospects, from triple-A Buffalo, and sent reliever Ron Villone to the same team.

Sexson, 23, may start at first base today against Houston to give Jim Thome a day off, Cleveland Manager Mike Hargrove said.

Sexson, who led the American Assn. with 31 homers last season, was batting .307 with 17 homers and 64 RBIs for Buffalo.

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The Kansas City Royals obtained outfielder Jermaine Allensworth from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor-league pitcher Manuel Bernal, a trade that could lead to another deal.

Allensworth, 26, was hitting .309 with three home runs and 24 RBIs for the Pirates, and his acquisition gives the Royals a surplus of outfielders.

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Pete Rose Jr., the son of baseball’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose, has signed a contract to play for the triple-A Nashville Sounds.

He requested and was granted his release by the Cincinnati Reds after they demoted him from triple-A Indianapolis to double-A Chattanooga.