Boston's Ellsbury on DL, Red Sox recall Lin

BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox are looking for someone to help fill the leadoff spot with the loss of Jacoby Ellsbury.

The Red Sox placed Ellsbury on the 15-day disabled list with a partially dislocated right shoulder before Saturday's game against Tampa Bay.

The club recalled outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Ellsbury's spot on the roster. The 23-year old Lin is in the big leagues for the first time. He was 3-for-20 in six games with Pawtucket this season.

Ellsbury, the runner-up in last year's AL MVP voting, injured the shoulder sliding into second in Friday's 12-2 win in the home opener.

Last season Ellsbury batted .321 with 32 homers, 105 RBIs and led the majors with 364 total bases -- the most since Bobby Bonds did it with the San Francisco Giants in 1973.

Rays shortstop Reid Brignac fell on his shoulder after making a throw to first to complete a double play.

Manager Bobby Valentine said Ellsbury was examined Friday night and will continue to be looked at. He didn't give a timetable for the outfielder's return.

"Proper treatment," Valentine said when asked what type of treatment Ellsbury would need for the injury.

Ellsbury also was the Red Sox player to steal 30 bases (39) and hit 30 homers.

Wilson facing surgery

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants closer Brian Wilson is likely headed for surgery on his right elbow after an MRI showed structural damage and an issue with the ligament, and his season could be in jeopardy.

Manager Bruce Bochy and athletic trainer Dave Groeschner say the club will seek at least one other opinion and probably two, including from the renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, who performs Tommy John elbow-reconstruction surgeries.

The 30-year-old Wilson, who led the majors with 48 saves in 2010, already had one Tommy John surgery during college. The three-time all-star right-hander complained of discomfort in the elbow Friday then was sent for tests.

Tributes for Robinson

FORTY-TWO will again be the magic number throughout baseball today, especially at Yankee Stadium, in a 65th anniversary tribute to Jackie Robinson's first major league game.

Every player and everyone else in uniform throughout the big leagues will wear No. 42 in honor of Robinson, who broke baseball's racial barrier for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. His number was retired for all teams during a ceremony at Shea Stadium on the 50th anniversary in 1997, a service attended by then-President Bill Clinton, commissioner Bud Selig and Rachel Robinson, Jackie's widow.

The latter will be at Yankee Stadium tonight for another Jackie Robinson Day ceremony before the start of the game against the Angels. The Robinsons' daughter Sharon also will be on the field, after having helped host an afternoon youth baseball clinic at Macombs Dam Park, across the street from the Stadium.

Major League Baseball on Saturday introduced a Jackie Robinson Day public service announcement, tracing the sport's history of diversity to the former Dodgers infielder. It is narrated by longtime Dodgers announcer Vin Scully, who called games in Brooklyn when Robinson played there.

Two years ago, the Yankees hosted the Angels on Jackie Robinson Day, and Robinson Cano -- named for the Hall of Famer -- hit two home runs.

"That's one of the days when I always can't wait to come here, so I can wear that No. 42," Cano said after the game on Saturday. "I'll just be happy to be in the lineup tomorrow."

For what it's Werth

WASHINGTON -- Turns out Jayson Werth did something baseball fans see once every half-century or so.

According to the Nationals, Werth's bases-loaded single to lead Washington past Cincinnati 2-1 made him the first big leaguer since 1963 to deliver a game-ending RBI in the 13th inning on Friday the 13th.

The last time there was a 13-13 just like that, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 5-4 on Hall of Famer Willie Stargell's triple.

And who scored the winning run for Pittsburgh on that Friday the 13th after drawing a one-out walk in the 13th inning? Dick Schofield -- who just so happens to be Werth's grandfather.

-- from the news services

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 15, 2012 B7