Park designated for assignment by Mets

Chan Ho Park was designated for assignment Thursday by the New York Mets, three days after he was hit hard in his season debut.

Park gave up seven runs and six hits in four innings Monday during a 9-6 loss to Florida. He made the start after Orlando Hernandez went on the disabled list with bursitis.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Randy Flores will miss playing catch with Josh Hancock.

“Every day, I was reminded of his heart,” Flores said at a public memorial for his fellow reliever in Tupelo, Miss. “Josh loved being a baseball player.”

The Cardinals were among an estimated 500 mourners for Hancock, who died in an automobile accident early Sunday. Flores was the only teammate who spoke at the service, and he recalled Hancock’s playful nature.

Organizers had expected three or four Cardinals to participate, including Manager Tony La Russa. They also anticipated that several players would speak after the service. Instead, on the advice of center fielder Jim Edmonds, the traveling party of 50 filed onto two buses behind the church and left immediately without talking to the media.

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Kansas City Royals outfielder Reggie Sanders has a torn left hamstring and will be put on the 15-day disabled list today.... Texas Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood was scratched from Thursday’s scheduled start against the New York Yankees because of a mild left hamstring strain.... San Francisco Giants right-hander Russ Ortiz was put on the disabled list because of an inflamed nerve in his right elbow.