July 27, 2007

Royals' Brown hits reporter near eye with pellet from toy gun
From Register news services

Kansas City Royals outfielder Emil Brown hit a television reporter near the eye with a pellet from a small plastic gun in the Kansas City clubhouse Friday afternoon.

A team spokesman said Brown didn't mean to shoot KMBC sports reporter Karen Kornacki with the plastic pellet gun.

"It was certainly an accident," Royals spokesman David Holtzman said. "He wasn't shooting at anybody."

Kornacki was interviewing shortstop Tony Pena Jr. before the game when she felt the pellet hit near her left eye, said Gary Roberts, KMBC's assistant news director. Kornacki ended the interview and left the locker room immediately.

"I don't think she's seriously injured," Roberts said. "She was certainly a little shaken by it."

Utley has surgery

Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley (UCLA) had surgery on his broken right hand and could be out from three weeks to a month. As a replacement for Utley, the Phillies acquired Tadahito Iguchi from the Chicago White Sox for minor-league pitcher Michael Dubee.

Utley had a pin inserted into his hand to stabilize a broken right ring finger during surgery and was put on the 15-day disabled list.

The Phillies also activated closer Brett Myers before Friday's game against Pittsburgh.

In other trade news

Kenny Lofton returned for his third stint with Cleveland after the Texas Rangers traded the 40-year-old outfielder to the Indians for minor-league catcher Max Ramirez, who will be assigned to Class-A Bakersfield.

In another trade, the San Diego Padres acquired outfielder Scott Hairston from the Arizona Diamondbacks for minor-league pitcher Leo Rosales.

Around the majors

Cincinnati outrighted right-hander Kirk Saarloos (Cal State Fullerton) to Triple-A Louisville and recalled right-hander Victor Santos. … Baltimore activated shortstop Miguel Tejada from the disabled list and sent outfielder Jon Knott to Triple-A Norfolk. … In Phoenix, U.S. Magistrate Edward C. Voss rejected a request by The Associated Press to reveal the names of players allegedly implicated in drug use by former major-league pitcher Jason Grimsley. … Cleveland sent starter Cliff Lee (5-8 with a 6.38 ERA) to Triple-A Buffalo, recalled reliever Edward Mujica from Buffalo and optioned rookie outfielder Ben Francisco to the Bisons. … The New York Yankees sent struggling starter Kei Igawa (2-3) to Triple-A Scranton and recalled infielder Chris Basak from the same club. … The New York Mets activated outfielder Moises Alou from the disabled list and designated catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. for assigment. … Former San Francisco pitcher Thomas King, who is playing for Class-A Augusta of the South Atlantic League, was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a drug of abuse. … Third baseman Brian Buscher was called up by Minnesota from Triple-A Rochester. … St. Louis recalled left-hander Randy Keisler from Triple-A Memphis and optioned rookie infielder Brendan Ryan. … Tampa Bay reinstated catcher Josh Paul from the 60-day disabled list and designated catcher Raul Casanova for assignment. … The Chicago Cubs optioned right-hander Billy Petrick and catcher-infielder Jake Fox to Triple-A Iowa and recalled outfielder Matt Murton and right-hander Rocky Cherry from Iowa.