Blue Jays' Halladay is sidelined with broken left leg

By wire services
Published July 10, 2005

TORONTO - Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay will miss at least a month after breaking a bone in his left leg Friday.

"Hopefully, it will be a month," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.

Halladay, who had a good chance at starting Tuesday's All-Star Game, was struck in the left shin Friday night by a line drive off the bat of Texas' Kevin Mench. The Blue Jays ace was taken to the hospital for X-rays, which revealed the nondisplaced fracture. Initial reports were that it was a bruise, but Ricciardi said they knew Friday that there was a fracture.

"For a month we're going to have to suck it up," Ricciardi said. "We played without him last year. It's not a comforting situation to be in, not having him."

The 2003 AL Cy Young award winner was 12-4 with a 2.41 ERA.

"I'm sure he's as discouraged as we are," Ricciardi said. "We'll just keep our fingers crossed and hope that the other guys pick up the slack, and we keep ourselves in this thing."

Boston Red Sox right-hander Matt Clement will replace Halladay on the AL roster for the All-Star Game.

ANGELS: Rookie third baseman Dallas McPherson went on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his left hip and the team purchased the contract of infielder Zach Soren sen from Triple-A Salt Lake.

ATHLETICS: Outfielder Mark Kotsay signed a three-year contract extension through 2008.

DODGERS: Kelly Wunsch is scheduled for surgery on his right ankle this week and miss the rest of the season. He rolled the ankle throwing a pitch in the bullpen Thursday at Colorado. Team medical personnel determined that the ligament that holds the tendon in place dislodged, causing the tendon to slide over a bone.

INDIANS: Infielder Brandon Phillips was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo.

NATIONALS: Second baseman Junior Spivey could miss eight to 12 weeks after he broke his wrist during a batting drill before Washington's game at Philadelphia. Spivey, acquired on June 10 from Milwaukee, broke his right wrist while hitting off a practice tee.

PIRATES: Craig Wilson returned to the lineup after a two-month layoff with a finger injury.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 23:35:17]