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Chad Qualls has replaced struggling Brandon Lyon as the Arizona. Closer as the Diamondbacks try to stay in the NL West race over the final two weeks of the season.

The right-handed Qualls (4-8, 3.11 ERA) has been the best pitcher out of an otherwise shaky bullpen of late. He has not allowed a run in 17 of his last 18 appearances and has a 1.02 ERA since the All-Star break.

“He’s picked up a lot of confidence,” manager Bob Melvin said in announcing the change before the Diamondbacks played Cincinnati on Saturday.

Lyon (2-5, 5.23) has an 11.57 ERA since the All-Star break, allowing 21 runs in 16 1-3 innings.

He gave up two runs in the ninth in a 4-3 loss at San Francisco on Wednesday. Lyon came on in relief in the ninth Friday night against Cincinnati with a 3-0 lead and gave up two runs before Qualls replaced him. With runners at first and third, Qualls struck out Jerry Hairston Jr. to preserve Brandon Webb’s 20th victory of the season.

Lyon understood the move, Melvin said.

“All he wants to do is help the team win,” the manager said. “In that respect, he took it like a pro.”

Lyon has 26 saves in 31 opportunities this season.

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Rangers’ Bradley ejected for arguing.

Texas designated hitter Milton Bradley got ejected, then was held back from a further argument in the fourth inning Saturday against Oakland.

Bradley grounded into a double play, but thought he beat the relay throw. He argued with first base umpire Angel Campos and kept exchanging words while leaving the field.

Texas manager Ron Washington came out to discuss the play and left after a few moments. Moments later, Campos signaled an ejection - it was the fourth time Bradley was ejected this season.

Bradley, who has been bothered by a lower back sprain, sprinted back from the dugout back onto the field and yelled at Campos, and first base coach Gary Pettis stepped between them.

Umpire crew chief Tim McClelland ran down the line from home plate, and Washington came back out to help intercede as Pettis pushed back Bradley.

Bradley eventually left the field as the Oakland crowd booed. The one-time A’s outfielder raised both hands while he walked down the tunnel and to the Rangers clubhouse.

The New York Yankees recalled pitcher Phil Hughes from Triple-A on Saturday. And he could start next week in search of his first win this season.

Hughes was expected to be a key member of New York’s rotation this year, but was 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts before being sidelined with a stress fracture in a rib. He struck out 12 in five innings Friday night to help Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beat Durham 20-2, clinching the International League championship.

Hughes may start Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox.

“His season has been somewhat different because of the injury,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before New York lost 7-1 to Tampa Bay in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. “He hasn’t necessarily thrown a lot of innings so we thought it was important for him to continue to pitch. There are plans for him to continue to pitch, possibly in the Fall League as well.

“But I think it was important for him to pitch the way he was capable of pitching, and he’s done that down in Triple-A.”

Sidney Ponson, who was pushed back to Saturday’s nightcap after Friday’s rainout, also could start Wednesday’s game against the White Sox, but Hughes would be on regular rest.

“We’re going to have to talk about what we do in that situation, but obviously he’s one of the names if we decide not to bring Sidney back early that we would kick around,” Girardi said.

The Yankees also recalled another right-hander, David Robertson.

Alex Rodriguez was in the original lineup for the doubleheader opener against the Rays, but the All-Star third baseman was scratched with a stiff neck. Cody Ransom got the start at third and went 0-for-4 in the seventh spot. Left fielder Xavier Nady moved from sixth to the cleanup spot to replace Rodriguez in the lineup, and went 1-for-4.

Rodriguez was batting fourth and serving as the designated hitter for the nightcap.

“His neck was pretty stiff,” Girardi said. “He slept on it … and there you go. He took treatment during the game.”

Robertson arrived at the stadium during the first game. Hughes isn’t expected to join the team until Sunday’s series finale against Tampa Bay.

Girardi also didn’t rule out adding Ian Kennedy to the roster after Scranton/Wilkes-Barre faces the Pacific Coast League champion Tuesday in Oklahoma City. Kennedy, another young right-hander who struggled earlier in the year, could get the start in the minor league game.

Robertson, who was sent down on August 28, is 3-0 with a 6.31 ERA in 21 games with New York this season.

New York was fourth in the AL East and nine games back of wild card-leading Boston entering play Saturday, putting the Yankees in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

While some of the young talent didn’t live up to expectations this year, Girardi praised his coaching staff before New York began its final homestand at Yankee Stadium. Team co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said Monday that Girardi would be back next year for his second season as Yankees manager.

“The coaches have worked very hard and I don’t anticipate anyone being a scapegoat,” Girardi said. “But, I mean, I think we all understand the pressures of working in New York.”

Seattle Adrian Beltre has decided to undergo thumb and shoulder surgeries next week. And will make his final appearance of the season on Sunday.

He has continued to play despite a torn ligament in his left thumb, and carried a 15-game hitting streak - the longest active streak in the majors - into Saturday night’s game against the Angels.

The Mariners’ third baseman was batting .270 with 25 home runs and 76 RBIs.

He will undergo both procedures on Thursday. An inflamed bursa in his left shoulder will be repaired and the shoulder cleaned out during routine arthroscopic surgery. The operation to replace the ligament in his thumb will be more complicated, and rehabilitation is expected to take up to five months.

Beltre, in the fourth year of a five-year, $64 million contract, said Saturday that he had decided to have the surgery so he can be 100 percent by spring training.

“Everyone I talked to basically asked why I was still playing,” he said.

He tore the ligament in his thumb diving for a ground ball on May 31 of last year. He was back in the lineup in less than two weeks, and the torn ligament wasn’t discovered until the offseason.

He decided to hold off on surgery so he wouldn’t have to miss the start of this season.

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Dodgers activate Saito from 60-day DL.

The Los Angeles Dodgers activated closer Takashi Saito from the 60-day disabled list prior to the game with the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Saito had been out of action since the All-Star break with soreness in his right elbow. He had converted 17 of 20 save opportunities with a 2.18 ERA before going on the DL.

Manager Joe Torre said Saito would not be returned to the closer role right away.

“Part of his success is the fact he is able to command his pitches and that may take a few outings before he is able to do that,” Torre said. “We’ll get him out there for an inning and see what it feels like.”

To make room for Saito on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers placed outfielder Andruw Jones on the 60-day disabled list.

“Andruw has an injured right knee,” Torre said. “After seeing him take groundballs in the infield and then going to the outfield, he indicated to me that he wasn’t feeling well enough to play.

“So we sent him back to LA and told him to get ready for winter ball,” Torre said. “He will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic.”

Torre also said outfielder Andre Ethier went home to Phoenix on Saturday “to deal with personal issues.”

Saturday American League Capsules.

TORONTO 8, BOSTON 1 (1ST GAME)

BOSTON A.J. Burnett gave the Toronto Blue Jays a pulse and his offense gave them life against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

Rookie prospect Travis Snider belted a three-run homer and drove in five runs while Vernon Wells added a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Blue Jays over the Red Sox, 8-1, in the first game of a day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park.

After losing, 7-0, on Friday night in the opener of the four-game series and facing a desperate situation in their race for an American League wild card spot, the Blue Jays moved back to within 6 1/2 games of the Red Sox with the easy victory.

Burnett (18-10) joined teammate Roy Halladay as 18-game winners in the American League. He allowed just three hits and one unearned run over six-plus innings.

Halladay will pitch Sunday on three days rest in the series finale.

The Blue Jays got to Boston starter Paul Byrd (11-12) for 10 hits and five runs over five-plus innings. The Red Sox righthander had his four-game personal winning streak snapped and lost for the first time since making his Boston debut against Toronto on August 16.

Sniders homer came off Byrd in a three-run fifth. He added a two-run double off David Aardsma in the sixth as Toronto expanded its lead to 8-0.

Jacoby Ellsbury stole a pair of bases for Boston, giving him 47 on the season, moving him into third place on the clubs all-time list, one ahead of Tris Speakers 46 in 1913.

The game was the make-up of a rainout between the two teams on August 15 at Fenway.

BOSTON 7, TORONTO 5 (2ND GAME)

BOSTON Jacoby Ellsbury drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning with an infield hit and Jed Lowrie recorded two RBI to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a doubleheader.

With the Red Sox trailing, 5-4, after seven, Jason Bay led off with a double and came in to score on Lowries single. Lowrie moved up on a sacrifice and a groundout before Ellsbury tapped the ball down the first base line.

Lefthander Scott Downs dived to make a play, but the speedy Ellsbury easily made it to first as the ball stopped in fair territory halfway up the line.

Dustin Pedroia and Bay each had three hits and David Ortiz drove in an insurance run for Boston, which earned a split of the twinbill.

LA ANGELS 5, SEATTLE 2

ANAHEIM, California Francisco Rodriguez claimed the single-season record with his 58th save and Juan Rivera had four hits as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim posted a 5-2 triumph over the Seattle Mariners.

Rodriguez worked around a leadoff double and a walk in the ninth to record the final three outs and snap Bobby Thigpens major league record of 57 saves set in 1990 while with the Chicago White Sox. Rodriguez struck out Wladimir Balentien and Raul Ibanez to end the game and clinch the historic mark.

The 26-year-old Rodriguez moved past Jeff Shaw for 36th place on the all-time list with 204 career saves. Coincidentally, Rodriguez just passed Thigpen on the list on Wednesday in the Angels 4-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Thigpen had 202 career saves.

On September 2, Rodriguez became the youngest pitcher to record 200 career saves, joining 37 others in the exclusive club.

Rivera belted a two-run homer in the second inning and finished with three RBI and Torii Hunter scored twice for Anaheim, which has won four straight and six of its last seven games.

Yuniesky Betancourts run-scoring single highlighted a two-run first inning for Seattle, which lost for the seventh time in 10 games.

TAMPA BAY 7, NY YANKEES 1 (1ST GAME)

BRONX, New York Evan Longoria had two hits and two RBI in his return to the lineup and James Shields threw eight scoreless innings as the Tampa Bay Rays captured a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.

Sidelined since August 7 when he had his right wrist fractured by a pitch from Seattle Mariners closer J.J. Putz, Longoria returned to give a big boost to Tampa Bay, which tied its largest offensive output in 10 September games.

Coupled with the Boston Red Soxs loss in the opener of their doubleheader with the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay (88-57) opened up a three-game lead in the American League East.

A candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, Longoria singled and later scored during Justin Ruggianos two-run double in the second inning. In the fifth, the 22-year-old delivered a two-run base hit to extend the lead to 5-0.

Shields (13-8) yielded five hits and struck out six batters without a walk for his fourth win in his last five decisions.

NY YANKEES 6, TAMPA BAY 5 (2ND GAME)

BRONX, New York Derek Jeter had three hits and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on an error by Gabe Gross as the New York Yankees salvaged the second game of doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays with a 6-5 victory.

Four relievers combined to hurl 5 2/3 stellar innings for the Yankees, who suffered a 7-1 loss to the Rays in the first game.

Wilson Betemit homered and Brett Gardner added an RBI groundout to tie the game in the seventh for New York, which played the first two games of its final homestand at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will move across the street to a new park next season.

Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam for first-place Tampa Bay (88-58), which holds a two-game lead over the Boston Red Sox (87-61) in the American League East.

KANSAS CITY 8, CLEVELAND 3 (1ST GAME)

CLEVELAND The Kansas City Royals scored four runs in the seventh inning to take control and post an 8-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the first game of a doubleheader.

Ross Gload and Alberto Callaspo drove in two runs apiece and Mark Teahen recorded three hits as the Royals claimed just their second win in six games.

Zack Greinke (11-10) won for just the second time in his last seven starts, giving up three runs and nine hits in six innings. The righthander struck out five and walked one.

The Royals offense had its way with Fausto Carmona (8-7), who was hammered for seven runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

KANSAS CITY 8, CLEVELAND 4 (2ND GAME)

CLEVELAND Ryan Shealy and Miguel Olivo combined for seven hits and five RBI as the Kansas City Royals completed a sweep of the doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians with an 8-4 triumph in the nightcap.

Mark Teahen recorded his second career multi-homer game with a pair of solo shots for the Royals, who posted an 8-3 victory in the first game.

Shealy opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning and added an RBI single in the ninth to cap his four-hit performance. Olivo highlighted a three-run fifth with a two-run single and drove in his third run of the game with a base hit in the ninth.

The 16-hit effort by Kansas City benefited Robinson Tejeda (2-2), who was making his first start of the season. The righthander worked five innings, allowing one run and two hits with three walks and two strikeouts.

Ryan Garko belted a two-run homer for the Indians.

OAKLAND 7, TEXAS 1

OAKLAND, California Jack Cust belted a two-run homer and Bobby Crosby drove in three runs as the Oakland Athletics cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers.

After Ryan Sweeney led off the fourth inning with a double, Cust launched his 29th homer of the season off Rangers starter Scott Feldman (5-7) to give the Athletics a 2-1 lead.

Aaron Cunningham laced a two-run single in the fifth and Crosby capped the five-run rally with a three-run double to support Josh Outman (1-0), who was making his first major league start.

Outman tossed five stellar frames, surrendering one run and four hits while striking out three and walking two.

MINNESOTA 12, BALTIMORE 2 (1ST GAME)

BALTIMORE Denard Span blasted a pair of homers to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 12-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Span hit his fifth and sixth home runs of the season, a solo blast in the third inning and a three-run shot in the ninth, as the Twins won the opener of a doubleheader. Justin Morneau had four hits, including a pair of run-scoring doubles, and Carlos Gomez added four RBI for Minnesota.

Scott Baker (9-4) allowed one run, four hits and three walks while striking out four to earn the win. After allowing one run on three hits in the first inning, the righthander settled down and allowed just one baserunner to reach second base the rest of the way.

Ramon Hernandez and Nick Markakis each had run-scoring hits for the Orioles.

MINNESOTA 12, BALTIMORE 6 (2ND GAME)

BALTIMORE Justin Morneau and Mike Redmond each drove in two runs as the Minnesota Twins swept a doubleheader and moved into first place in the American League Central Division with a 12-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Saturdays nightcap.

Brendan Harris homered for the Twins (82-66), who are tied with the Chicago White Sox (81-65) atop the division. Chicago had both games of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers rained out Saturday, while Minnesota posted a 12-2 triumph in the opener of its twinbill.

Morneau delivered a two-run single to spark a six-run outburst in the opening frame against Garrett Olson (9-8), who allowed six runs and five hits while recording just two outs. Redmond added run-scoring singles in the second and third to continue the onslaught.

Oscar Salazar hit a three-run homer for Baltimore, which pounded out 12 hits but stranded 10 baserunners.

DETROIT, CHI WHITE SOX, POSTPONED (RAIN)

CHICAGO The weekend series between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox wont get started.

After Fridays game was postponed and rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Saturday, rain continues to hammer Chicago and the doubleheader has been put on hold.

The two teams are tentatively scheduled to play a day-night doubleheader on Sunday, with the first game slated for 2:05 p.m. EDT and the nightcap at 8:05.

There is no official word on when the second game will be made up.

Nursing a stiff back, Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones sat out. The opener of Saturday doubleheader against the New York Mets and expected to miss both games.

Jones hopes to return to the lineup Sunday for his final chance to play at Shea Stadium, one of his favorite ballparks. But even if he can’t go, the trip won’t be a total loss.

A Mets nemesis for years, Jones named one of his sons Shea. The second-youngest of the slugger’s four boys, Shea and his family came out to the stadium Saturday morning to take pictures on the field and let the little guy run around the bases.

“The funny thing is, I don’t really think he knows how famous he is in this town,” said Jones, who hit his first major league home run at Shea Stadium. “Because from the second we got out of the car, walking through the people and here at the stadium, all the people who work here at the stadium, they want to know, `Which one is Shea?”‘

Jones is confident Shea is old enough to remember the experience later in life.

“He’s die-hard baseball. He falls asleep watching our games every night,” Jones said. “He knows what it’s all about.”

The Mets plan to move next year into a new ballpark, Citi Field. Jones wanted some keepsakes from the old place to put in his house, so he paid full price - $869 - to secure a pair of orange, field-level seats.

“I bought ‘em. They’re not giving anything away here,” he said. “I’m sure that a bunch of people who sat in those seats have called me a bunch of names, but they’re going to be residing in my house here before too long. So, just a little memento for my little dungeon down in my basement, my little memorabilia area.

“But I’d still like to find some way to get some sign with Shea’s name on it so I can put it up in his room somewhere,” Jones added. “I’ve already got a real small replica of Shea Stadium that I’ve already given him. I’d like to give him something a little more personal.”

Saturday National League Capsules.

ATLANTA 3, NY METS 2 (1ST GAME)

FLUSHING, New York The New York Mets bullpen again wasted a solid effort from Johan Santana.

Jeff Francoeur had a two-run single and Omar Infante added a sacrifice fly as the Atlanta Braves rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to edge the Mets, 3-2, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Santana appeared to be cruising to his seventh straight victory before allowing a pair of singles in the eighth. But for the seventh time this season, the bullpen squandered a lead for the lefthander.

The Braves had lost a major league record 29 straight one-run games on the road since their last triumph on August 9, 2007 - also at Shea Stadium. Atlanta has won four straight games for the first time since a five-game run from May 18-22.

Santana left after allowing singles to Brian McCann and Yunel Escobar to open the eighth. Scott Schoeneweis (2-4) allowed a single to load the bases and was replaced by Brian Stokes, who promptly allowed a two-run single to Francoeur.

It was the fifth hit in 32 at-bats with the bases loaded for Francoeur this season.

Josh Anderson sacrificed and pinch hitter Greg Norton was intentionally walked before Infante put Atlanta ahead with the sacrifice fly to deep left.

Santana, who has not lost in 14 starts, was charged with two runs and nine hits. The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed a base runner in each of his seven-plus innings.

Braves starter Mike Hampton allowed two runs and six hits with five walks and four strikeouts in six innings.

Jeff Ridgeway (1-0) pitched a scoreless seventh for the win and Mike Gonzalez retired the side in order in the ninth for his 10th save.

The Mets scored twice off Hampton in the fourth.

Carlos Beltran singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and went to second on a single by Carlos Delgado. Fernando Tatis walked and Damion Easley drove in the first run of the game with a single to left. Brian Schneider grounded into a double play to bring home the second run.

NY METS 5, ATLANTA 0 (2ND GAME)

FLUSHING, New York Rookie Jon Niese allowed six hits and the New York Mets pounded three homers en route to a 5-0 win in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

Niese (1-0), who was making his second major league start, struck out seven and walked two in eight innings to earn his first win.

David Wright hit a two-run blast in the first inning and Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran added solo blasts for the Mets (83-64), who increased their advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies (81-67) in the National League East to 2 1/2 games.

PHILADELPHIA 7, MILWAUKEE 3

PHILADELPHIA The Philadelphia Phillies are finally providing Cole Hamels some run support.

Ryan Howard had a two-run single as the Phillies staked Hamels to an early five-run lead and went to post a 7-3 victory over the slumping Milwaukee Brewers.

Jimmy Rollins added a two-run home run and scored three runs for the Phillies (81-67), who moved within two games of the Brewers (83-65) for the National League wild card.

Ryan Braun hit his 35th homer for Milwaukee, which has lost five of its last six games.

FLORIDA 4, WASHINGTON 2

MIAMI Josh Johnson threw six strong innings, setting a new career high with nine strikeouts, to lead the Florida Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Johnson (5-1), who was coming off his first loss of the season in his last start, rebounded by holding the Nationals to two runs and six hits while walking just one. He got the offensive help he needed early, as Jorge Cantu and Hanley Ramirez each belted two-run homers to make it 4-0 after two innings.

Though Washington starter Tim Redding (10-9) settled down thereafter, the damage was already done. He was charged with all four runs, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out five. Elijah Dukes doubled in the Nationals only runs with a deep double off the left-field wall in the sixth.

Matt Lindstrom worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his fourth save.

LA DODGERS 5, COLORADO 1

DENVER Clayton Kershaw tossed six strong innings and Russell Martin drove in a pair of runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted their fourth straight win, a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Entering 0-2 against the Rockies in his brief career, Kershaw (4-5) yielded just one run and four hits in this one. The 20-year-old lefthander walked two and struck out seven.

Angel Berroa snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning with an RBI double and Martin delivered a run-scoring single two batters later. Juan Pierre capped the three-run frame with a sacrifice fly, and Martin plated an insurance run in the sixth with a groundout.

Casey Blake opened the scoring with a solo homer in the second for Los Angeles, which has won 12 of 13.

PITTSBURGH 7, ST. LOUIS 6 (12 INNINGS)

PITTSBURGH Brandon Moss belted a game-winning RBI double in the bottom of the 12th inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals, 7-6.

Adam LaRoche worked a two-out walk and Moss followed with his decisive hit against Cardinals reliever Chris Perez (3-3).

Craig Hansen (1-3) worked around a hit and a walk in the top of the inning to record the victory.

Trailing 6-2, the Pirates tied the score with a four-run fifth. Nate McLouth had a run-scoring double, Ryan Doumit added a two-run double and LaRoche hit a RBI single to cap the rally against Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright.

CINCINNATI 3, ARIZONA 2 (10 INNINGS)

PHOENIX Pinch hitter Micah Owings hit an RBI double in the top of the 10th inning as the Cincinnati Reds dealt another blow to the Arizona Diamondbacks playoff chances with a 3-2 victory.

With two outs and a runner on first in a 2-2 game, Owings - who was sent from Arizona to Cincinnati one day earlier to complete a previous trade involving Adam Dunn, lined a 1-1 offering from Tony Pena (1-2) down the left field line to plate rookie Chris Dickerson all the way from first base.

The loss dropped Arizona (72-75) a season-high 4 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (77-71) in the National League West.

Cincinnati tied the contest in the ninth against Pena as Danny Richar and Javier Valentin opened the frame with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Corey Patterson hit a fly ball to right and Richar bluffed coming home, but right fielder Justin Uptons throw squirted away from catcher Miguel Montero and Richar raced in to even the game at 2-2.

SAN FRANCISCO 7, SAN DIEGO 0

SAN DIEGO Tim Lincecum threw a four-hitter as the San Francisco Giants downed the San Diego Padres, 7-0.

The righthander upped his record to 17-3 while striking out 11 and walking three. He threw 138 pitches, including 86 for strikes.

Lincecum received all the support he needed in the first inning when Pablo Sandoval singled and Bengie Molina followed with his 13th home run.

The Giants added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth and posted three in the ninth to break open the game.

Chris Young (5-6) pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and seven hits while striking out nine and walking one for the Padres.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Derek Lowe left Wednesday night game against San Diego. After getting struck by a batted ball in the sixth inning.

The Dodgers led 5-1 when Kevin Kouzmanoff lined a one-hopper off the right leg of Lowe. He took a few warmup pitches then left the game with one out. He was replaced by Scott Elbert.

Lowe allowed one run and three hits. He struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.

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Padres claim Haeger off waivers.

The San Diego Padres claimed right-hander Charlie Haeger off waivers from the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

Haeger went 10-13 with a 4.45 ERA in 28 games, all but three starts, for Triple-A Charlotte this season. He tied for the International League lead with three complete games. He was designated for assignment by Chicago on Sept. 6.

Haeger, 24, will join the Padres on Friday when they host the San Francisco Giants.

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Dodgers activate RHP Penny off DL.

The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers activated pitcher Brad Penny from the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and plan to use their former ace as a reliever.

Penny went on the disabled list Aug. 14 because of inflammation in his right shoulder. It was his second stint on the DL this year.

Penny is 6-9 with a 6.05 ERA. The righty was a combined 32-13 in the previous two seasons, making the All-Star team both years.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said that Penny would be used initially out of the bullpen, pitching one or two innings. Penny has made two career regular-season relief appearances, and has done it four times in the postseason.

Torre said he would have to see how Penny pitches before deciding when to put him back into the rotation.

Dodgers closer Takashi Saito, who has been on the DL since July 13 with a sore right elbow, threw a simulated game Wednesday.

“I thought he was very good,” Torre said. “He threw a couple of flat breaking balls, but for the most part his fastball had a lot of life to it. And a good number of his sliders were sharp. He said it’s the best he’s felt. And we hope to activate him this weekend.”

Saito is 3-3 with 17 saves and a 2.18 ERA in 39 games.

Paul Konerko has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. And the first baseman isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again as the Chicago White Sox try to hang onto the AL Central lead.

Konerko had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed the mild sprain. He was injured in the fifth inning Tuesday night against Toronto when his foot slipped while making a throw to second base.

Konerko called it “a little quirky play” after getting treatment on his knee Wednesday.

“I have no idea when I’ll get back in,” he said. “It’s different if this happened in April or May. You might wait until there was no pain. I’ll just wait until I can function and if there is some pain, that’s fine. … We’re fighting here for a spot in the playoffs, but you got to be able to function when you hit. The move I got to make with my back knee is the move that would hurt right now.”

Konerko’s injury is the latest in a series of ailments for the White Sox, who led the Twins by one game in the AL Central before Wednesday’s action. AL home run leader Carlos Quentin has a broken right wrist and third baseman Joe Crede a sore back.

When he saw Konerko collapse on the infield writhing in pain, manager Ozzie Guillen said his first reaction was that he would be gone for the season.

“I think he is out for good,” Guillen said. “That happened to me. When I went down like that, I was out for the season.”

Guillen said it was a relief to find out it was only a sprain - the initial finding after a doctor’s exam Tuesday night. X-rays had been negative.

“Hopefully Paulie comes back soon,” Guillen said. “We still have the talent to perform a different way. Crede is not there, Quentin is not there, Paulie is not there. We have to execute better. …Everybody has to step up three notches.”

Konerko, who was on the disabled list earlier this season with an oblique injury, was just starting to shake a season-long slump. He was batting .356 in his previous 28 games to raise his average from .212 to .244. He also had one stretch in which he homered in three straight games.

The White Sox moved Nick Swisher from left field to first Wednesday night and used DeWayne Wise in left field.

“You see guys like Carlos and Joe out of the lineup,” Konerko said. “When those guys went down, I was in the lineup and you don’t think about that. You think about winning the game that night. Guys tonight will think the same, whether I’m there or not.”

Wednesday National League Capsules.

MILWAUKEE 4, CINCINNATI 3

MILWAUKEE The Milwaukee Brewers desperately needed a spark. Mike Cameron provided it.

Camerons RBI single in the eighth inning helped the Brewers avoid a three-game sweep Wednesday with a 4-3 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds.

CC Sabathia did not pick up the win but pitched seven strong innings and helped the Brewers end what had been a disastrous homestand on a high note.

The Brewers finished their 10-game stay just 3-7, but they are still 3 1/2 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League wild card race. Milwaukee also moved within four games of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

In the eighth, the Brewers loaded the bases off reliever David Weathers (2-6) on singles by J.J. Hardy and Prince Fielder and a walk by Ryan Braun.

Tony Gwynn Jr., in the game for the injured Gabe Kapler, grounded into a double play to score Hardy and tie the score at 3-3.

Cameron followed with a line drive hit to left that scored Braun. Milwaukee finished 14-for-84 (.167) with runners in scoring position on the homestand.

Guillermo Mota (5-5) pitched a scoreless eighth in relief of Sabathia and Salomon Torres, who blew a save Monday, struck out the side in the ninth for his 27th save.

Sabathia, who is 9-0 in 13 starts with Milwaukee, allowed three runs and eight hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts. He gave up a three-run home run to Jerry Hairston in the the fifth inning, the fifth homer the 28-year-old lefthander has allowed as a Brewer.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo allowed two runs - none earned - and five hits with four walks, leaving with a 3-2 lead.

Sabathia was responsible for all of the Brewers offense through the first six innings when his RBI groundout off Arroyo scored Craig Counsell from third base in the bottom of the third.

The Brewers added another in the seventh when Cameron scored on shortstop Jeff Keppingers throwing error.

FLORIDA 7, PHILADELPHIA 3

PHILADELPHIA Luis Gonzalez belted a two-run home run and Ricky Nolasco continued a string of solid outings, leading the Florida Marlins to a 7-3 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Gonzalez had a pair of hits, including a two-run homer off Brett Myers (9-11) in third inning. Josh Willingham hit a go-ahead ground-rule double in the eighth to give the Marlins a 4-3 lead.

Nolasco (14-7) pitched 7 2/3 stellar innings, allowing three runs, seven hits and walk, while striking out eight to win his third straight decision.

Ryan Howard hit his league-leading 42nd home run for the Phillies, who have dropped four consecutive series against the Marlins.

The Phillies (79-67) dropped to 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets (82-63) in the National League East standings. The Mets defeated the Washington Nationals, 13-10, on Wednesday.

SAN FRANCISCO 4, ARIZONA 3

SAN FRANCISCO Eugenio Velez poked a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel the San Francisco Giants to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Bengie Molina smacked a one-out single and Aaron Rowand walked with two outs to set up Velezs game-winning hit against Arizona reliever Brandon Lyon (2-5).

Chris Young smacked a two-run triple with two outs in the top of the ninth to give Arizona a 3-2 lead against Giants closer Brian Wilson. Alex Hinshaw (2-1) got Adam Dunn to pop out to first to get out of the jam and notch the win.

Velez laced a two-run double in the third to give San Francisco a 2-1 lead after Stephen Drew opened the scoring in the top of the inning with a solo homer.

ATLANTA 9, COLORADO 5

ATLANTA Kelly Johnson homered twice and Chipper Jones collected three hits and scored three times as the Atlanta Braves posted a 9-5 triumph over the Colorado Rockies.

Johnson opened the scoring with a solo blast in the first inning and ignited a five-run rally in the seventh with a leadoff shot off Luis Vizcaino (1-1). It was Johnsons first multi-homer game of the season and the fourth of his career.

Jones followed Johnsons second homer with one of his own, giving Atlanta a 6-4 advantage. It was the 407th blast of Jones career, tying him with Duke Snider for 42nd place on the all-time list.

In adding two singles, Jones raised his average to .363. He entered the day trailing St. Louis Albert Pujols (.361) in the National League batting race.

Ian Stewart homered and Jeff Baker drove in a pair of runs for Colorado, which has lost four in a row.

NY METS 13, WASHINGTON 10

FLUSHING, New York - The New York Mets gave away one comfortable lead and nearly blew another. Now they can try to enjoy their biggest cushion of the season in the National League East.

David Wright homered and drove in three runs and Brian Schneider had a two-run single in a four-run seventh as the Mets outlasted the Washington Nationals, 13-10, to complete a sweep of their two-game series.

Carlos Delgado had a key sacrifice fly in the seventh and Fernando Tatis had a two-run double for the Mets, who have won seven of their last nine games to open a 3 1/2 game bulge over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies lost to the Florida Marlins, 7-3, on Wednesday afternoon.

Cristian Guzman had the first multi-homer game of his career and drove in five runs for the Nationals, who had rallied from a 7-1 deficit to tie the game by the sixth.

HOUSTON 7, PITTSBURGH 4

HOUSTON Miguel Tejada blasted a grand slam as part of a five-run sixth inning as the Houston Astros cruised to their fifth straight victory, a 7-4 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

Two batters after Darin Erstad lifted a sacrifice fly to score Jose Castillo and put Houston ahead, 3-2, Tejada hit his 11th career grand slam off Denny Bautista (4-4) to extend the Astros advantage to five.

Hunter Pence belted a two-run homer in the second inning for the Astros, who have won 13 of 14.

Brian Moehler (11-6) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings to notch the win. Three relievers bridged the gap to Jose Valverde, who worked the ninth for his National League leading 42nd save of the season.

Adam LaRoche hit his 19th home run of the year for the Pirates.

CHICAGO CUBS 4, ST. LOUIS 3

ST. LOUIS Ted Lilly pitched eight superb innings as the Chicago Cubs downed the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, in a critical National League Central Division battle.

Lilly (14-9) yielded just one run and five hits while striking out five without a walk. Kerry Wood picked up his 29th save despite allowing a two-run homer by Ryan Ludwick in the ninth.

The win helped the Cubs (87-58) maintain a 4 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee (83-63) in the NL Central and dropped the Cardinals (78-67) five games back of the Brewers in the wild card race.

Lilly got all the support he needed in the second inning, when Chicago rallied for four runs. Felix Pie and Aramis Ramirez had RBI singles, while two more scored on third baseman Felipe Lopezs throwing error.

LA DODGERS 7, SAN DIEGO 2

SAN DIEGO Manny Ramirez launched a pair of two-run homers, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-2 victory over the San Diego Padres.

Ramirez launched his first blast in the fifth inning before sealing the win in the ninth with another, his 14th homer since being acquired by Los Angeles from the Boston Red Sox on July 31.

James Loney also homered, swatting his 12th of the season to lead off the second inning.

The power surge helped Derek Lowe (13-11) notch his third win in as many starts. The righthander allowed one run and three hits in 5 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out three.

Lowe was forced to leave the game early, however, as he was struck in the back of his right knee by a grounder off the bat of Kevin Kouzmanoff in the sixth inning.

St Louis Cardinals third baseman Troy Glaus will miss at least a handful of games after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday. And getting a second cortisone injection for a strained right shoulder.

The Cardinals were missing three players for Wednesday night’s game with the Chicago Cubs. Outfielder Rick Ankiel was resting his lingering abdominal injury, and right-hander Kyle Lohse decided to drop his appeal of a five-game suspension for an incident against Cincinnati.

The team’s medical report on Wednesday said pitcher Chris Carpenter was also unavailable and was scheduled for “further diagnostic tests” Thursday to determine his status.

The Cardinals entered the game four games behind NL wild-card leader Milwaukee.

Ankiel was the starting center fielder before he got hurt in late July. He saw limited duty in 14 games before returning to the everyday lineup in left field to minimize the risk of aggravating the injury.

Manager Tony La Russa wasn’t sure how much Ankiel, batting .264 with 25 homers and 71 RBIs in his first full year as a starting position player, would play the rest of the season.

“We’re definitely going to back him off,” La Russa said. “He’s going to get examined and we’ll decide what’s best.”

Lohse’s suspension for throwing high and tight to pitcher Edinson Volquez in the fifth inning on Aug. 17, a half-inning after he saw the same type of pitching, won’t be felt until Sunday, his next scheduled turn in the rotation. He worked 5 1-3 innings and gave up three runs in Tuesday’s 4-3 victory over the Cubs.

When the penalty was announced, including a fine, Lohse said the ruling was “pretty weak.”

“We looked at what’s ahead and we didn’t want to run the risk of it interfering with later in the year,” La Russa said. “We’re going to have to find a starter for that day.”

Glaus, removed from Tuesday’s game after striking out in the third inning, said the MRI showed no significant problems. He said it would be two or three days before the effectiveness of the cortisone shot can be assessed.

“Everything on the MRI showed structurally, no problems,” Glaus said. “That’s not even a concern or a conversation at this point.”

Glaus had a cortisone injection in the back of his shoulder on Sunday, more of a general attempt at healing the injury. The latest injection was more in the front of the shoulder.

“This time, they know exactly where it is,” Glaus said. “It’s hurt for a while and we tried to get through it but at some point we couldn’t calm it down enough.”

Felipe Lopez started at third base on Wednesday and batted second, Glaus’ spot in the order, while Josh Phelps started in left field and batted sixth.