Ashby Goes on Disabled List

Andy Ashby, who has an infected blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, was put on the 15-day disabled list Sunday by the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies recalled Paul Byrd from triple-A Scranton. Byrd, who made three starts there and was 2-0 with a 1.73 earned-run average, is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Mets at New York. Byrd was 1-5 with a 7.86 ERA with the Phillies before his demotion.

In 13 starts, Ashby--a two-time All-Star right-hander--was 2-7 with a 6.16 ERA.

“It can’t get any more frustrating than this,” Ashby said. “I was hoping it didn’t come to [being put on the disabled list]. I think it could be something that could clear up quickly but the doctors don’t want to take a chance in [the finger] getting infected again. This route, I’ll be back and won’t have the problem again.”

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Umpire Greg Bonin sat out Sunday’s Florida-Pittsburgh game at Three Rivers Stadium, a day after sustaining a concussion when he was hit by a foul ball. He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital after Wil Cordero’s foul struck him in the eighth inning Saturday night. After tests, Bonin was released.

Pirate physician Dr. Joseph Coroso said Bonin had a pinched nerve in his neck and the force of the ball hyperextended his neck and caused intense pain.

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Tampa Bay’s Tony Saunders took another step in his bid to come back from a broken pitching arm, pitching two innings in a simulated game before the Devil Rays’ game against Texas.

The 26-year-old left-hander broke the bone that runs from his shoulder to the elbow in the third inning of a game against the Rangers on May 26, 1999, an injury few have been able to overcome and pitch effectively in the majors again.

But Saunders is ahead of schedule in his attempt to return to the Devil Rays and thinks he might be able to pitch in the minor leaguesbefore the All-Star break.

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Aramis Ramirez, who started the season as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ third baseman, will rejoin the club today in Montreal after outfielder Emil Brown goes on the 15-day disabled list. The Pirates decided to deactivate Brown after learning he would be sidelined for seven to 10 days with a urological problem.