Twins activate Rivas from disabled list

Minneapolis The Minnesota Twins have their infield healthy again after activating second baseman Luis Rivas from the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

Rivas broke a bone in his left wrist when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City’s Dan Reichert on April 3 the second game of Minnesota’s season.

Jay Canizaro, who was batting .214, was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

Phillies sign Woodard to minor-league deal

Philadelphia Right-handed pitcher Steve Woodard signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

Woodard was 0-0 with a 6.62 ERA before being released by Texas. He allowed 20 hits, struck out 14 and walked eight in 1723 innings.

In four-plus seasons, Woodard has also pitched for Milwaukee and Cleveland. He won 10 games for the Brewers in 1998 and was 11-8 in 1999.

Woodard is expected to join Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre in Indianapolis on Thursday.

Brown in hospital with back pain

Los Angeles Los Angeles Dodgers ace Kevin Brown has been admitted to a hospital because of back pain.

Brown, who did not accompany the team on its nine-game road trip, checked in to Centinela Hospital late Monday, team officials said.

Brown has been on the disabled list since May 27 with a sprained right elbow. He stayed home Sunday after experiencing stiffness in his lower back.

Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Brown was injured last Wednesday after lunging to stop his son from falling off a bed.

Brown was scheduled to return from the disabled list next Tuesday, but Tracy said Brown would not be allowed to throw until fluid and inflammation in the back of his surgically repaired elbow is gone.

Seattle’s Suzuki leads AL All-Star voting

New York Reigning MVP and American League batting leader Ichiro Suzuki leads AL players in balloting for next month’s All-Star game.

Suzuki, who won the MVP and Rookie of the Year for the Seattle Mariners last year, has 299,685 votes.

New York Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano has the second-most votes in the AL with 239,477. Boston’s Shea Hillenbrand, another second-year player, leads third baseman.