Garciaparra to Play With Triple-A Team

Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who hasn’t played all season because of a sore Achilles’ tendon, is to begin a rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Pawtucket today.

Garciaparra plans to play two games with Pawtucket at Louisville, then return to Boston to work with a therapist for a couple of days. He is expected to rejoin Pawtucket in Toledo on Thursday.

Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said Garciaparra would play four or five innings and bat leadoff, to maximize his at-bats.

The two-time batting champion was hitless in eight at-bats in spring training before taking a ball off his right heel on March 17.

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Al Leiter threw 25 game-simulated pitches in a workout session and could be back in the New York Mets’ rotation as early as Tuesday.

He hasn’t pitched since May 11 because of tendinitis in his left shoulder.

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New York Yankee reliever Steve Karsay threw two innings in an extended spring training game in Tampa, Fla., his first such appearance since rotator cuff surgery a year ago.

The right-hander’s fastball reached 94 mph. He could pitch again Tuesday in another minor league game and might be ready to rejoin the Yankees by the middle of June.

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From Associated Press