Games-Played Streak Ends at 239 for Hunter

For the first time since the last game of the 1996 season, Detroit Manager Buddy Bell filled out a lineup card Thursday night without Brian Hunter’s name on it.

Hunter’s streak of 239 consecutive games played, the third-longest current streak in the majors, ended because of an injury to his left thigh that forced him to sit out the Tigers’ 11-7 loss to Chicago.

“I’m not concerned about the streak,” said Hunter, who could sit out the four-game series against the White Sox but is not expected to go on the disabled list because of the injury. “Not being able to help the team is the tough thing about not playing.

“But if I try to play sore, I wouldn’t be helping the team. I wouldn’t be able to do the things I can do to help the team.”

Entering Thursday, Hunter’s streak trailed Cal Ripken Jr.’s record 2,529 consecutive games and Craig Biggio’s 433 among current players.

Kimera Bartee was recalled from triple-A Toledo and replaced Hunter both in center field and as leadoff batter.

The Tigers also recalled infielder Bill Ripken from a rehabilitation assignment at Toledo. He had been on the disabled list since April 26 with a torn meniscus in his left knee.

To make room for Bartee and Ripken on the roster, the Tigers optioned right-handed pitcher Greg Keagle to Toledo and placed infielder-outfielder Bip Roberts on the 15-day disabled list.

Roberts injured his right hamstring Tuesday at Cleveland. It is his second time on the disabled list this year.

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Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, returning from a mild shoulder separation, was activated and in the lineup for the Red Sox in an 8-3 loss to the New York Yankees.

Garciaparra, who was put on the disabled May 13, retroactive to May 9, had one hit in five at-bats.

Boston also optioned infielder Keith Johns and pitcher Joe Hudson to Pawtucket and recalled pitcher Brian Barkley from the Pawtucket.

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New York Yankee first baseman Tino Martinez did not play against the Red Sox because of residual pain and swelling in his back, where he was hit by a pitch from Baltimore’s Armando Benitez on May 19.

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The Yankees designated pitcher Willie Banks for assignment and recalled Todd Erdos from Columbus of the International League.

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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays activated infielder Bobby Smith and put pitcher Wilson Alvarez on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 21 with tendinitis in his left shoulder.

Alvarez, the team’s No. 1 starter, complained of pain in his throwing shoulder after giving up six runs in 4 2/3 innings at Toronto on May 20.

Although an MRI test was negative, a Tampa Bay team doctor ordered a week of rest for Alvarez, who has a 4-5 record with a 4.39 earned-run average.

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It hasn’t been built yet, but a proposed new downtown baseball stadium for the Montreal Expos has a name: Labatt Park.

The brewery said it will invest about $70 million in the team over 20 years, including about $30 million on the stadium name.

The new 35,000-seat downtown stadium, which is scheduled to be ready for the 2001 season, is expected to cost more than $175 million.

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Philadelphia pitcher Curt Schilling had only two strikeouts in the Phillies’ 8-7 victory over Chicago--his lowest total since June 23, 1995--but is still on pace to set a major league record this season.

Schilling has totaled 10 or more strikeouts in eight of his 12 starts, has 119 total, and remains ahead of both Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax in their record setting seasons.

Ryan had 117 strikeouts after 12 starts in 1973 when he set the American League record of 383. Koufax had 106 after 12 starts in 1965 when he struck out a NL record 382.

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Texas catcher Ivan Rodriguez did not play in the Rangers’ 5-2 loss to Baltimore because of soreness in his chest, the result of a collision at the plate Wednesday in a game against Minnesota. X-rays were negative.