Baseball briefs

Reds activate Larkin, put Riedling on DL

Cincinnati — Barry Larkin is ready to give it another try — this time with two healthy legs.

The Cincinnati Reds activated the 39-year-old shortstop off the disabled list Friday and put him second in the batting order for a series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.

He took the roster spot of right-hander John Riedling, who went on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right elbow.

Larkin has been on the disabled twice this season with leg problems. He’s in the final year of a three-year, $27 million deal, and hopes to stay with the Reds next year as a backup to Felipe Lopez.

Piniella will dye hair for winning streak

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Lou Piniella is dyeing for a three-game winning streak.

The Tampa Bay manager said Friday he would dye his hair any “legit color” the players want if the struggling Devil Rays put together three straight wins.

“I told the players if they can win three games in a row at any time this year, I’ll dye my hair any color they want,” Piniella said. “How about that one? I told them no purple. It’s got to be a legitimate hair color.”

Tampa Bay started Friday mired in a seven-game losing streak. The Devil Rays have won a season-high two straight games six times.

Devil Rays recall Rolls

St. Petersburg, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Devil Rays recalled infielder-outfielder Damian Rolls from Triple-A Durham Friday. To make room for Rolls, the Devil Rays optioned third baseman Jared Sandberg to Durham. Sandberg, the nephew of former Chicago Cubs standout Ryne Sandberg, is hitting .237 with two homers and 13 RBIs in 23 games.

Sosa doesn’t travel with Cubs to Toronto

Toronto — Sammy Sosa did not accompany the Chicago Cubs to Toronto for their three-game series against the Blue Jays that began Friday night.

Sosa returned to Chicago from Baltimore Thursday night after sitting out the first three games of his seven-game suspension for using a corked bat.

Chicago manager Dusty Baker said Sosa would be able to get more work done in Chicago than on the road, where teams are only allowed 40 minutes to hit on the field.

Nelson out as ump VP

New York — Ralph Nelson has resigned as vice president of umpires in the commissioner’s office. Nelson’s resignation was confirmed Friday by Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president of labor relations. Manfred said Nelson resigned for personal reasons.

D’backs waive Service

Minneapolis — The Arizona Diamondbacks designated former Kansas City Royal right-hander Scott Service for assignment Friday and activated righty Mike Koplove from the 15-day disabled list to replace him on the roster. Service was 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Koplove is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 27 appearances, all in relief.

Padres activate Jarvis

Chicago — The San Diego Padres activated right-hander Kevin Jarvis from the 60-day disabled list Friday and recalled left-hander Oliver Perez from Triple-A Portland. Jarvis made his first start of the season Friday night against the Chicago White Sox.