Strawberry’s Penalty Shortened

Darryl Strawberry’s 120-day suspension for his arrest on solicitation and drug charges April 14 was cut short one week by Commissioner Bud Selig on Monday, making the New York Yankee outfielder eligible to play Wednesday.

Selig decided to shorten the suspension after reviewing medical records and speaking to Strawberry.

Strawberry will report Wednesday to triple-A Columbus and is expected to play that night.

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Cal Ripken Jr., bothered by back stiffness, left the Orioles in Oakland and returned to Baltimore, where he will be examined today by an orthopedic specialist.

Ripken was scratched from the Oriole lineup Sunday in Seattle because of lower back pain.

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The owners of the Minnesota Twins said they have agreed to sell their interest in the team to a St. Paul group, and the team would move from Minneapolis if a sales tax referendum to build a stadium passes.

Major league baseball has also agreed to the deal, and the league has approved a move from the Metrodome in Minneapolis if St. Paul can build a new stadium.