Ankiel Sent to Triple A

Rick Ankiel was sent to the minor leagues by the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, a day after the 21-year-old left-hander’s latest shaky outing.

“It’s not fun competing the way I’m competing right now,” Ankiel said. “So it’s a good opportunity for me to go down there and try and get it right and hopefully come back soon.”

Ankiel, who threw five pitches to the backstop Thursday in a three-inning stint during an 11-5 victory over Pittsburgh, was optioned to triple-A Memphis.

Ankiel has made six starts and is 1-2 with a 7.13 earned-run average and 25 walks in 24 innings.

The Cardinals replaced Ankiel on the roster by calling up outfielder Luis Saturria from Memphis.

San Diego Padre outfielder Tony Gwynn, who re-injured his right hamstring on his 41st birthday, went on the 15-day disabled for the second time this season.

Gwynn hurt his hamstring making a running catch in right field on Wednesday night, one day after coming off the disabled list.

Chicago White Sox left-hander Jim Parque will undergo exploratory surgery next week on his pitching shoulder. . . . The Toronto Blue Jays put center fielder Jose Cruz Jr. on the 15-day disabled list because of a lower back strain. The Blue Jays recalled outfielder Vernon Wells from triple-A Syracuse. . . . The Cincinnati Reds put pitcher Pete Harnisch on the 15-day disabled list because of tendinitis on the inside of his pitching elbow. The Reds called up first baseman D.T. Cromer. . . . Milwaukee Brewer pitcher Mark Leiter was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right biceps. The Brewers recalled right-handed pitcher Brandon Kolb from triple-A Indianapolis. . . . Colorado outfielder Larry Walker will miss games today and Saturday against the Montreal Expos to attend his grandfather’s funeral . . . The Montreal Expos outrighted right-hander Anthony Telford to triple-A Ottawa and put left-hander Scott Stewart on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained pitching shoulder.