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Baseball notebook

Pedro's ills a concern for Bosox

NEW YORK -- With fewer than four weeks left in the season, the Red Sox still aren't sure when their ace will return to the mound.

Right-hander Pedro Martinez, who missed his turn in the rotation Tuesday night against the Yankees because of an injury, played catch Monday for the first time since starting against the Yankees on Aug. 28.

"He played catch a little bit and still was really sore in his hip," manager Grady Little said. "I'm not sure when he'll be able to pitch. Hopefully, by his next start, but it's not clear right now."

It's also not clear what Martinez's injury is. He said his groin is bothering him, even when he walks. But Little said the injury is originating in the hip.

Martinez, 17-4 with a major league-leading 2.22 ERA, is tentatively scheduled to pitch Sunday against Toronto.

TOSCA GETS EXTENSION: Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca and his coaching staff received contract extensions through the 2004 season.

Tosca, a Valrico resident who played at Brandon High and coached at King, South Florida and Eckerd, took over the team after Buck Martinez was fired June 3 and had led it to a 40-44 record going into Tuesday's game.

Also, Blue Jays right-hander Chris Carpenter is scheduled to have season-ending surgery this week to repair a small tear in his pitching shoulder.

RATIFICATION MEETING: Owners plan to meet Thursday in Chicago for a ratification vote on the labor contract agreed to by their negotiators last week.

Lawyers for players and owners still are drafting the agreement and hope to complete their work by the end of the week. The deal must be ratified by most of the 30 major-league teams, and the part of the agreement dealing with the revenue sharing changes must be approved by at least 23 teams.

EXPOS TURN 3: Montreal turned the 11th triple play in its 34-year history in the eighth against Philadelphia.

With Travis Lee on third and Placido Polanco on first, Marlon Anderson struck out swinging as Polanco broke for second. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera took catcher Brian Schneider's throw and ran Polanco back toward first before throwing to Andres Galarraga.

Galarraga chased Polanco to second before throwing back to Cabrera, who tagged Polanco for the second out. Cabrera quickly threw to third baseman Fernando Tatis, who tagged out Lee as he dived back.

CUBS-GIANTS TRADE: San Francisco reacquired infielder Bill Mueller from Chicago for minor-league right-hander Jeff Verplancke. Mueller, who is batting .266 with seven homers and 37 RBIs in 103 games, played for the Giants from 1996-2000.

CARDINALS: Closer Jason Isringhausen had an MRI and took a cortisone shot in his right shoulder and will be sidelined at least a few more days.

PIRATES: Rightfielder Armando Rios was pulled from the lineup Monday because he missed a sign, manager Lloyd McClendon revealed.

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