Pirates’ Wells to miss second straight start

St. Louis — Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Kip Wells will skip his second straight start after tests Friday indicated rest would help his injured elbow.

An MRI exam showed muscular inflammation in his forearm but the ligaments appeared fine, general manager Dave Littlefield said while the Pirates were in St. Louis for a five-game series against the Cardinals.

Wells will rest today and Sunday, then start strengthening exercises Monday, his scheduled day to pitch.

Wells is 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA in 23 starts.

John Van Benschoten, the Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2001, replaced Wells in the rotation on Wednesday. He was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville after the game.

Reds’ Graves goes on DL because of sore back

Cincinnati — Cincinnati Reds closer Danny Graves was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of lower back spasms that flared up during his last outing.

Graves, an All-Star this season, leads the National League with 37 saves and is 1-5 with a 4.09 ERA.

He had two rocky outings against the St. Louis Cardinals this week, allowing a grand slam to Larry Walker in a loss on Tuesday and two runs the next night while hanging on for a save.

After the game Wednesday, he received treatment for his sore back.

To fill Graves’ roster spot, the Reds recalled right-hander Matt Belisle from Triple-A.

Kennedy, Kendall draw suspensions

New York — Colorado Rockies pitcher Joe Kennedy was suspended Friday for five games and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall four for their parts in a bench-clearing brawl Sunday. Both also were fined an undisclosed amount.

Kendall was batting in the fourth inning of Pittsburgh’s 3-0 win when a pitch from Kennedy hit the protective pad the catcher wears on his upper left arm.

Kendall dropped his bat and started toward first base. Kennedy stepped off the mound and appeared to say something to Kendall, which caused Kendall to abruptly turn and charge the pitcher. After a brief wrestling match that brought players out of both dugouts and bullpens, order was restored.

Mets’ McEwing likely out for year

San Francisco — New York Mets infielder Joe McEwing is likely done for the season after breaking a bone in his left leg. McEwing was placed on the disabled list Friday, a day after getting hurt in the second game of a doubleheader at Colorado. The latest on a long list of injured Mets, McEwing has a broken fibula and been told he’ll be sidelined six to eight weeks. But he said he hasn’t ruled out a return this year.

New York brought up infielder Jeff Keppinger from Triple-A Norfolk to fill McEwing’s roster spot.

“It stinks, it absolutely stinks,” said McEwing, who wore a walking boot and fought back tears.

Cards reliever ejected

for wearing dirty cap

St. Louis — St. Louis Cardinals reliever Julian Tavarez keeps running into trouble with his grimy, dirt-smudged cap. For the first time this season, it got him ejected.

Tavarez lasted one out in a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Friday. Umpire crew chief Joe West conducted a lengthy inspection of the cap before the eighth inning before tossing Tavarez, who made a flamboyant exit.

First, Tavarez put his arm around home plate umpire Ron Kulpa and suggested the two get a beer after the game.

Then he flipped his cap to a fan in the stands behind the dugout on his way off the field.

Glavine ready to pitch despite tender mouth

San Francisco — Tom Glavine has temporary new front teeth and just a little anxiety about getting back on the mound today for the first time since a taxi accident last week.

He’s not expecting to be as sharp as usual, or to have perfect location on his pitches. He might even take out his teeth if they are hurting him or become a distraction.

“It would make a good picture with me on the mound with no teeth, smiling,” he said Friday before the New York Mets opened a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

This is the longest Glavine has gone without a start — he last pitched Aug. 6 at St. Louis, getting the loss in the Mets’ 6-4 defeat.