Radke leaves team for rehab assignment

Minneapolis Minnesota starting pitcher Brad Radke left the team Tuesday to begin a rehabilitation assignment with the Twins’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla.

Radke, who hasn’t pitched since reaggravating a groin pull, was placed on the disabled list on May 31.

The right-hander is scheduled to start Friday for the GCL Twins and July 24 for Class A Fort Myers.

The Twins have seven pitchers on the disabled list.

Erstad second Angel to have foot infection

Minneapolis Anaheim center fielder Darin Erstad had an infected blood blister on his foot drained at a Minneapolis hospital Tuesday morning and was available for the Angels’ afternoon game against Minnesota.

Erstad, who has just one hit in 20 at-bats since the All-Star break, was not scheduled to be in the lineup Tuesday. He is batting .295 with 51 runs, 51 RBIs and a team-high 15 steals.

Pitcher Rupe placed on disabled list by Rays

St. Petersburg, Fla. Tampa Bay Devil Rays right-hander Ryan Rupe was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday, his the second time there this season because of tendinitis in his right knee.

Rupe left Monday’s 4-0 loss to Oakland after just 213 innings when he re-injured the knee. It was his first start since June 19.

Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Brandon Backe from Double-A Orlando.

Torre fined $500; Hernandez may be next

Toronto Joe Torre already has received an automatic $500 fine and Orlando Hernandez could face a fine and more for throwing at Carlos Delgado on Monday.

Bob Watson, Major League Baseball’s dean of discipline, said Tuesday he is investigating Hernandez’s actions in a start against the Blue Jays.

“There is an automatic fine for the manager in this case and we’ll determine if any disciplinary action is warranted against the pitcher,” Watson said. “I’ll review the tapes and confer with my staff.”

Former All-Star DiSarcina retires

Pawtucket, R.I. Former All-Star shortstop Gary DiSarcina, playing for Triple-A Pawtucket in a bid to return to the majors with his hometown team, retired Tuesday.

The Boston Red Sox signed the Billerica, Mass., native to a minor league contract in February after the Anaheim Angels did not keep him.

DiSarcina, 34, made his retirement announcement before Tuesday’s game. He was hitting .243 with one homer and nine RBIs in 35 games for Pawtucket.

DiSarcina had a career .258 average with 28 homers and 355 RBIs in 1,086 major league games. He made the AL All-Star team in 1995 when he hit .307 and put together a 54-game errorless streak.

Texas activates two, sends two to minors

Kansas City Mo. The Texas Rangers activated outfielder Gabe Kapler from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and inserted him into the starting lineup for their game against the Kansas City Royals.

The Rangers also activated right-handed reliever Danny Kolb, who had been out all season with a partial tear of his rotator cuff.

To make room for Kapler and Kolb, the Rangers optioned Joaquin Benoit, 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA, to Triple-A Oklahoma and designated rookie Randy Flores for assignment.