Dierker Out of Intensive Care

Houston Astro Manager Larry Dierker has been moved out of intensive care and into a private room after undergoing surgery this week to remove tangled blood vessels from the front of his brain.

Dr. Rob Parrish, who performed the surgery Tuesday at Methodist Hospital, told Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker on Thursday that Dierker was “walking around on his own” in his private room.

Dierker, who suffered a seizure in the Astro dugout during a game Sunday, was expected to remain hospitalized into next week. He probably won’t return to managing until mid-July at the earliest.

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The New York Mets acquired hard-throwing right-hander Mac Suzuki from the Seattle Mariners for left-hander Allen Watson. . . . Manager Jim Leyland of the Colorado Rockies plans to have surgery on his right elbow to repair a pinched nerve. . . . Left fielder Reggie Sanders was activated from the 15-day disabled list by the Padres and rookie outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. was optioned back to triple-A Las Vegas. . . . Former Atlanta Brave infielder Mark Lemke made his minor league pitching debut with the New Jersey Jackals, uncorking three wild pitches but striking out two with an erratic knuckleball at Little Falls, N.J. Lemke pitched the ninth inning of the Jackals’ 14-4 victory over the Adirondack Lumberjacks of the independent Northern League. He gave up one hit and one run in his professional pitching debut.