Mesa Gets Four-Game Suspension

Colorado Rocky pitcher Jose Mesa was suspended four games by Major League Baseball on Friday for intentionally throwing at San Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel.

Mesa appealed the suspension and was available for this weekend’s series against the Florida Marlins.

The right-hander threw at Vizquel’s head during the eighth inning of last Saturday’s game at Denver.

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Striking minor league umpires reached a tentative agreement with management on a six-year contract and could be back at work next week if the deal is ratified.

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Ken Griffey Jr. was eligible to be activated from the disabled list Friday, but the Cincinnati outfielder said he didn’t feel that an inflamed tendon behind his right knee was back to full strength.

Griffey, 36, is on the disabled list for the eighth time in his seven seasons with Cincinnati.

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Oakland pitcher Rich Harden was put on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained back muscle and is expected to sit out three to six weeks, the A’s said. ... San Francisco second baseman Ray Durham went on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained left hamstring, and the Giants purchased the contract of Kevin Frandsen from triple-A Fresno and put him in the starting lineup for the opener of a three-game weekend series against Arizona. The Giants also traded right-handed reliever Tyler Walker to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for right-hander Carlos Hines.... Washington National right-hander John Patterson went on the 15-day disabled list because of a right forearm strain. ... St. Louis left-hander Ricardo Rincon went on the 15-day disabled list because of a shoulder injury.... New York Met minor league pitcher Yusaku Iriki has been suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance, Major League Baseball announced. Iriki, 33, had been playing for the Mets’ triple-A team at Norfolk, Va.