Casey Returns to Lineup

The Cincinnati Reds activated first baseman Sean Casey from the disabled list Wednesday and called up reliever Norm Charlton to energize the lineup and steady a wobbly bullpen.

Casey chipped a bone at the base of his right thumb while fielding a grounder in an exhibition game April 1. The first baseman took batting practice Tuesday for the first time since the injury and felt no pain, prompting the Reds to change their plans.

“Batting practice felt good,” said Casey, who’s wearing a light pad on the thumb. Casey was two for three with two doubles Wednesday against San Francisco.

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A dispute between the Baltimore Orioles and former manager Phil Regan over the lineup card for the game in which Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record has been settled out of court and the card has been sold, the Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday.

A Virginia man, Warren Fitzgibbon, told the Sun he paid more than $40,000 for the copy of the card, as well as one used in the previous night’s game, when Ripken tied Gehrig’s record.

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The St. Louis Cardinals optioned pitcher Alan Benes, who has been plagued for 2 1/2 years with injuries, to their triple-A club at Memphis. Meanwhile, team doctors prescribed a more strenuous workout for Mark McGwire, who didn’t start for the seventh consecutive game because of a lower back injury.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates put Jason Schmidt on the 15-day disabled list due to inflammation in his right shoulder.