Yankees file protest against Marlins

June 23, 2009

The Yankees filed an official protest with the commissioner's office yesterday, one day after a disputed loss to the Marlins. Manager Joe Girardi protested a Marlins substitution mix-up when Chris Coghlan started the eighth in left field after he had been removed in an earlier double switch. Alejandro De Aza was supposed to take over in left, but never ran on the field . . . Carlos Beltran was put on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI found a bone bruise on his right knee had gotten worse. The Mets already are without shortstop Jose Reyes (hamstring) and first baseman Carlos Delgado (hip) . . . The Phillies' Ryan Howard could return today at Tampa Bay after being hospitalized over the weekend with flu symptoms.

The box office of the Triple A Albuquerque Isotopes had a steady stream of ticket buyers ready for Manny Ramírez’s minor league tune-up as he prepares to return to the Dodgers July 3 after a 50-game suspension for violating baseball’s drug rules . . . Indians infielder Asdrubal Cabrera (sprained shoulder) will begin a 20-day rehab assignment today . . . Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez had surgery to remove four bone chips in his right elbow and is expected to miss five weeks . . . Athletics minor league outfielder Larry Cobb was suspended 50 games after testing positive for amphetamines.

The Clippers remain intent on keeping the No. 1 pick in Thursday’s draft, and they’re expected to select Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin. Assistant general manager Neil Olshey said the pick “is not going anywhere’’ . . . Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will remain free on bail after a judge rejected a prosecutor’s request to revoke bail and send him to prison for covering up the shooting of a hired driver more than seven years ago. Prosecutors asked the judge to reconsider the sentencing delay due to Williams’s recent run-ins with the law . . . Nets owner Bruce Ratner will get a 22-year delay on paying the full $100 million for the right to build an arena in Brooklyn. He will pay the Metropolitan Transportation Authority $20 million up front and another $80 million in installments . . . Los Angeles Sparks center Lisa Leslie is expected to miss about six games because of a sprained right knee and bruised hip suffered last Friday.

Six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle La’Roi Glover, who was not re-signed by the Rams, is retiring after 13 seasons . . . According to profootballtalk.com, the Vikings have a deal with Reebok to produce Brett Favre No. 4 jerseys, meaning the veteran is on the verge of signing . . . Singer Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer Emilio Estefan, are buying a “very small’’ ownership stake in the Miami Dolphins.

Georgia gymnast Courtney Kupets won the Honda-Broderick Cup, given to the nation’s top female college athlete. Among the athletes she beat was UConn basketball star Renee Montgomery . . . UMass soccer goalie Zack Simmons was named Atlantic 10 Conference scholar-athlete of the year . . . Former University of Vermont soccer coach Hal Greig, 79, died after a long illness.

PGA Tour officials confirmed that the wife of Nationwide Tour player Chris Smith was killed and two of his children were critically injured in a weekend car crash in Indiana that also hurt several members of the London (Ontario) Silverbacks football team, including its owner. Beth Smith was killed and her children Abigail, 16, who was driving, and Cameron, 12, are in critical condition . . . Lizette Salas fired a 68 in the first qualifying round of the US Women’s Publinx at Red Tail GC in Devens. The low New Englander was Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury with a 71 . . . Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Chris Chelios, 47, won’t be offered a contract . . . Boston Cannons midfielder Paul Rabil was named Major League Lacrosse’s offensive player of the week. Cannons midfielder Brandon Corp was rookie of the week.