Royals claim Kinney from Milwaukee

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals claimed pitcher Matt Kinney off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Kinney will join the Royals today in Oakland and be used in relief. To make room on the 40-man roster for the 27-year-old righty, Kansas City designated catcher Mike Tonis for assignment.

Kinney was 3-4 with a 5.78 ERA in 32 games for the Brewers this season. As a reliever, he was 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA.

Last year, Kinney was 10-13 with Milwaukee in his first full major-league season. He is 17-26 lifetime with a 5.18 ERA for Minnesota and the Brewers.

Mets put Reyes on DL

New York — The New York Mets placed Jose Reyes on the disabled list Friday night after an MRI revealed a stress fracture of his left fibula, the latest setback for the promising infielder.

The Mets recalled left-handed pitcher Pedro Feliciano from Norfolk. Feliciano had been sent down earlier this week.

Reyes originally hurt the leg in Philadelphia in the first week in July. “It’s been getting worse every day,” he said. Reyes played through it until this week.

Martinez, president exchange autographs

Seattle — President Bush and Seattle Mariners designated hitter Edgar Martinez exchanged signed baseballs Friday.

“We talked about all the years I beat on the Rangers,” Martinez told reporters before the Mariners’ played the New York Yankees at Safeco Field.

Bush is a former managing partner of the Texas Rangers.

Mariners president Chuck Armstrong, who told Martinez that the president wanted to see him during his Seattle visit, accompanied the player to Boeing Field, a general aviation airport in Seattle, to greet Bush.

Martinez announced this week he would retire at the end of the season end after an 18-year career with the Mariners. He said the president congratulated him on his retirement.

Martinez refused to discuss his presidential preference.

“No politics!” he said.

Cubs’ Hawkins begins serving suspension

Chicago — Chicago Cubs reliever LaTroy Hawkins began serving a three-game suspension Friday after his appeal was rejected. His fine was reduced from $3,000 to $2,000.

After giving up a tiebreaking homer in the ninth to the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols on July 20 at Wrigley Field, Hawkins was ejected after he started yelling at plate umpire Tim Tschida as he walked to the dugout. The reliever had to be restrained by manager Dusty Baker and several Cubs coaches from going at Tschida.

“Do I regret it? No,” Hawkins said at the time, adding that he and Tschida had a feud dating back two years.

In 2002 when Hawkins was with the Twins, Tschida ejected him from a game in a disagreement over the positioning of the reliever’s chair in the bullpen.

Garner suspended for Friday’s game

New York — Houston Astros manager Phil Garner was suspended for Friday night’s game at Montreal because of a run-in last week with umpire Brian Knight. Garner was ejected during the Expos-Astros game in Houston last Saturday. Jose Vizcaino had jumped over Montreal pitcher Jon Rauch to beat out an infield hit, and was walking back to first base when he was tagged by catcher Einar Diaz. Knight called Vizcaino out for making a move toward second base. Vizcaino said he never intended to advance, and Garner and Knight argued.