PHILADELPHIA - Phillies manager Larry Bowa will retain his job through the end of the season, but general manager Ed Wade wouldn't address whether he would return.
"As is the case at the end of every season, we will sit down at that point to review and address the status of our players, our manager and his staff," Wade said in a statement Saturday. "Until that time, our sole focus will be on our performance on the field."
After a flurry of offseason moves the past two years, including the acquisitions of closer Billy Wagner and starter Eric Milton last offseason, the Phillies were the favorite in the NL East. They were 44-37 on July 5 and led the division by three games, then went 19-28 and fell 12 games behind first-place Atlanta going into Saturday's night game.
Wade repeatedly has been asked about Bowa's status.
LOAIZA TO PEN: After five mediocre starts, right-hander Esteban Loaiza lost his job in the Yankees rotation and was sent to the bullpen. Loaiza failed to make it out of the fifth inning in Friday's 8-7 victory over Toronto.
"I'm not disappointed. I'm not surprised because I know I haven't been pitching well since I got here," Loaiza said.
CARDINALS: Left-handed reliever Steve Kline went on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury.
CUBS: Reliever Kyle Farnsworth went on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained and bruised right knee one day kicking an electric fan that sits in the runway from the dugout. He's expected to miss at least six weeks. The struggling right-hander had a tantrum after giving up six runs in the ninth to the Astros.
DODGERS: Right-hander Hideo Nomo, out since July 1 with rotator cuff inflammation, is expected to rejoin the rotation this week in place of injured left-hander Wilson Alvarez. ... Pleased with the work of manager Jim Tracy and the coaching staff, first-year general manager Paul DePodesta said he probably would offer the group contract extensions.
MARINERS: Rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki got his 50th hit in August with an infield hit in the doubleheader nightcap, giving him three months this season with at least 50 hits.
METS: Manager Art Howe acknowledged that former Devil Rays right-hander Victor Zambrano, out with a flexor muscle strain in his pitching elbow, is unlikely to pitch again this season.
