Williams Tends to Family Matter

Matt Williams, the National League leader in runs batted in, has left the Arizona Diamondbacks to be with his family in Nevada.

Diamondback Manager Buck Showalter said Williams told him about a serious illness in his family on Sunday, and caught a flight to Carson City, Nev., on Tuesday along with his children and his wife, actress Michelle Johnson.

Williams has career highs in hits (176), doubles (34) and RBIs (130) this year. Showalter said he did not know when the third baseman would return.

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Outfielder Glenallen Hill agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Chicago Cubs, hoping he can be part of a turnaround in 2000. Hill has batted .332 with 14 homers and 42 RBIs as a starter, and contributed three pinch-hit homers.

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The Mets acquired left-hander Glendon Rusch from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Dan Murray.

The Mets also received right-hander Justin Dunning from Seattle to complete the earlier trade that sent pitcher Allen Watson to the Mariners.

Rusch, who was in uniform for New York’s game Tuesday, has spent parts of the last three seasons with the Royals. He is 12-25 with a 5.80 ERA in 62 games, 51 of which were starts.