Twins’ Ortiz Out Six to Eight Weeks

Designated hitter David Ortiz of the Minnesota Twins went on the disabled list Saturday, a day after breaking his right wrist diving into home plate. He is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Ortiz was injured in the fourth inning of Minnesota’s 6-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. He is batting .311 with six home runs and 18 runs batted in.

To fill Ortiz’s roster spot, the Twins recalled right-hander Jack Cressend from triple-A Edmonton, where he was 2-2 with a 3.50 earned-run average and one save.

Cal Ripken hopes the fans at Camden Yards remember pitcher Mike Mussina for what he did with the Baltimore Orioles and not for how he left them.

Mussina had a 147-81 record with Baltimore over 10 seasons before signing as a free agent with the New York Yankees in the off-season. He will pitch against the Orioles for the first time today.

Ripken expects the home fans to fondly yell “Moose” when Mussina (2-3, 3.73 ERA) walks to the mound in the bottom of the first inning.

“I think they’ll react positively,” Ripken said. “He was a big part of our team. Going to the Yankees, that doesn’t change what he did here.”

Right-hander John Smoltz of the Atlanta Braves threw four shutout innings in a rehabilitation start for double-A Greenville (S.C.).

“I’m excited,” said Smoltz, who sat out all of last season after tearing a right elbow ligament in spring training. “I feel like I’m on my way. I couldn’t say that a week ago.”

His next outing is scheduled for Thursday with Class-A Macon. He hopes to start for the Braves on May 15.

Jack Wilson, who jumped from double A to the major leagues and became the Pittsburgh Pirates’ starting shortstop, was optioned to triple-A Nashville.

Wilson leaves with a .155 batting average and eight errors in 19 games. He made three errors against the first six batters in Wednesday night’s 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

In other Pirate moves, catcher Keith Osik went on the 15-day disabled list because of a left hamstring strain, and the contract of pitcher Don Wengert was purchased from Nashville. He will start today’s game against Colorado.