White Sox Bring In Hill to Help Out Youngsters

The Chicago White Sox, seeking help for their young pitching staff, signed veteran right-hander Ken Hill to a minor league contract Friday.

Hill, released by the Angels on Aug. 7, will start tonight at Toledo for triple-A Charlotte of the International League.

Hill was 5-7 with a 6.52 earned run average in 16 starts for the Angels before being released.

“He’s a veteran pitcher with postseason experience and we think he may be able to help our staff down the stretch drive,” White Sox General Manager Ron Schueler said.

*

Because of a chronic knee injury, Andy Benes is about to be the first St. Louis Cardinal starter to miss a turn in the rotation this season.

The Cardinals will put Benes, 10-7 with a 4.85 ERA, on the disabled list before his scheduled start Sunday. The move is retroactive to Aug. 15, and the replacement will likely be Britt Rheames, who was in for a physical Friday night.

*

Cleveland Indian pitcher Jaret Wright underwent arthroscopic surgery to his right shoulder Thursday and isn’t expected to pick up a ball for at least 12 weeks. . . . The Houston Astros activated outfielder Roger Cedeno from the 15-day disabled list. Cedeno, 26, has been out since May 25 with broken bones in his left hand and a ruptured tendon in his left ring finger suffered sliding into first base. . . . The Detroit Tigers put relief pitcher Doug Brocail on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right elbow, and activated starter Hideo Nomo in time for Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. . . . The Baltimore Orioles signed pitcher Beau Hale, their top draft pick in the June amateur draft. . . . Major League Baseball has turned down the Minnesota Twins’ request to play some home games outdoors next month but left open the possibility of a preseason outdoor series next spring, the Twins said.