Rupe to test knee as surgery looms

ST. PETERSBURG -- Ryan Rupe's season could be over soon.

The pitcher said Wednesday that season-ending knee surgery is possible if the pain from patella tendinitis and torn cartilage in his right knee doesn't subside in the coming days.

"Probably the end of this week we're going to make a decision whether to shut it down and have surgery or keep fighting for the rest of the season and then have surgery at the end," said Rupe, who is scheduled to throw in the bullpen Friday.

On the disabled list since July 16 with right patella tendinitis, the right-hander said he aggravates the injury when he pushes off the mound to throw a pitch.

Surgery would keep Rupe, who is arbitration-eligible after this season, out of action for at least six weeks.

"It would be tough," he said. "I wanted to get back and pitch. If I didn't, I would've said let's have the surgery a month ago. But I've been wanting to pitch. I wanted to finish the season as strong as I can for a lot of reasons."

After winning a spot in the rotation during spring training, Rupe went 5-5 with a 4.88 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 11 walks through the first two months. He is 0-5 with a 7.24 ERA since and twice has been on the disabled list with this injury.

"I had a couple of really bad games," Rupe said. "But I threw some really good games in my opinion that showed I could still pitch effectively at a real good level here.

"It's just a matter of if I can get my knee right."

HELLO AGAIN: In his first appearance out of the bullpen at Tropicana Field, Wilson Alvarez received a lukewarm welcome from fans.

The left-hander received a smattering of boos upon introduction as he trotted to the mound and was booed by what was left of the crowd at the end of the inning after allowing a three-run double to Karim Garcia that made it 6-2 Cleveland.

"They can say whatever they want," said Alvarez, who entered with a 1.29 ERA in two relief appearances since coming off the disabled list Aug. 5 and pitched a scoreless ninth. "That's what they pay for. They pay to say whatever they want to say. It doesn't bother me. ... They only see the money."

Alvarez is in the final year of a five-year, $35-million deal.

QUESTION MARK: The Rays still don't have a solution for Garcia.

The Indians centerfielder went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and is batting .400 (8-for-20) with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBIs in five games against the Rays this season.

BELIEVE IT: Designated hitter Aubrey Huff has more hits than any player in the majors since July 19. Huff has 41 hits in his past 26 games and is followed by Yankees centerfielder Bernie Williams (38) and Anaheim outfielder Garret Anderson (37 through Tuesday).

MR. MILESTONE: Ellis Burks' longevity is paying off.

The Indians designated hitter got his 2,000th career hit off Rays starter Paul Wilson in the first inning. He is the 222nd player all-time and 14th active player to reach the milestone.

"It's definitely a milestone and something that I never thought I would make," Burks said. "But I never thought I would be a big-leaguer for a while. Now I'm at 2,000 and it's definitely a pleasure."

MINOR MATTERS: The Rays activated Josh Pressley at Triple-A Durham, placed Bulls pitcher Gerardo Garcia on the disabled list and promoted catcher Mike Figga from Double-A Orlando to Durham.

Catcher Pete LaForest, who batted .258 with 28 strikeouts in 17 games at Durham, was transferred to Orlando. Nathan Kaup moved from Class A Bakersfield to Orlando.

ODDS AND ENDS: Indians centerfielder Milton Bradley went on the 15-day disabled list after having an emergency appendectomy at St. Anthony's Hospital. ... Rays pitchers are on pace to hit 98 batters by the end of this season. The major-league record (93) was set by the Red Sox in 2001.