Reds' Votto expected to miss about 10 days

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Paul Konerko (TRIBUNE MEDIA MCT)

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Al Behrman / the associated press archives Joey Votto has a bum knee. (CP)

CHICAGO -- Reds first baseman Joey Votto returned to Cincinnati to have cartilage removed from his surgically repaired left knee.

Manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Votto felt soreness in his knee after participating in a sliding drill. Votto underwent a six-minute procedure Friday night.

Cincinnati played the third of a four-game stand against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. If rehab goes well, Votto is expected to return to the Reds in about 10 days.

The 2010 NL MVP had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage on July 17 after getting injured sliding into third base.

Before that surgery, Votto was batting .342 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs. He was leading the NL in doubles, walks, on-base percentage and extra-base hits.

Concussed Konerko

must pass tests

CHICAGO -- Chicago White Sox star Paul Konerko, on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion, is taking it easy this weekend and then will be re-evaluated by doctors.

Konerko will have to pass certain tests and then be cleared by an MLB medical director.

The 36-year-old Konerko has been feeling concussion symptoms since Tuesday when he was elbowed in the head by Kansas City's Jarrod Dyson during a close play at first. Konerko, who is hitting .316 with 18 home runs, will be eligible to return on Aug. 17

Chicago manager Robin Ventura said it's possible Konerko, who had trouble sleeping right after the injury, could be out for more than a week and won't immediately travel with the team when it begins a series in Toronto next week.

Santana pulverized

in worst start of career

NEW YORK -- Johan Santana's return to the mound didn't last long.

The New York Mets left-hander managed only four outs Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves in the worst start of his career. He was charged with eight hits and a season-high eight runs in his first outing since July 20.

Santana was sidelined for three weeks with a sprained right ankle, a stint on the disabled list also intended to refresh his surgically repaired left shoulder. But he was hit hard for the fourth straight start and left in the second inning trailing 6-0 after 43 pitches.

Freddie Freeman then greeted reliever Jeremy Hefner with a three-run homer.

Santana gave up seven singles and Freeman's two-run double. He also lasted only 1 1-3 innings in his third start of the season at Atlanta. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed six runs -- four earned -- and four hits in that game.

The 33-year-old Santana, who missed last season following major shoulder surgery, got off to a strong start this year and pitched the first no-hitter in Mets history June 1 against St. Louis. He threw a career-high 134 pitches in that game, however, and has struggled badly since.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 12, 2012 B12