Sports: Baseball briefs

Baseball briefs

By BRANT JAMES, Times wires

Furcal to get second opinion

BOSTON -- The Braves will wait until Dr. James Andrews gives a second opinion on Rafael Furcal's left shoulder Monday before they declare his season over, but the 2000 National League Rookie of the Year spent Saturday afternoon contemplating the rest of the season without baseball.

"I know we'll go to the playoffs," said Furcal, as he sat dejectedly in the dugout watching batting practice with the left sleeve of his jacket dangling, his arm tucked inside in a sling. "I want to play, you know?"

Furcal has partially dislocated his shoulder three times in the past two years, in Class A ball in 1999, over the off-season in the Dominican winter league and three weeks ago.

But Friday night he dislocated the shoulder completely, suggesting that season-ending surgery will be required. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday.

"We'll wait and see, I suppose," manager Bobby Cox said. "But the early indications are he'll probably be out for the rest of the season."

The surgery would require six months to heal, which would put Furcal on track for spring training next season.

The Braves will use Mark DeRosa at shortstop, and Jesse Garcia, who was recalled from Triple-A Richmond, will back him up "until we can figure out what we're going to do," Cox said.

BLUE JAYS: Jose Cruz stole two bases and has a career-high 17 in 17 chances. ... Right-hander Roy Halladay, who replaced the struggling Esteban Loaiza in the rotation, allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings against the Expos. Halladay, recalled from the minors July 1, struck out a career-high 10 and didn't walk a batter in his first start of the season.

CUBS: Delino DeShields made his Chicago debut in the sixth, drawing a pinch-hit walk.

EXPOS: Leftfielder Mark Smith left in the 10th with a jammed left knee. Smith, who is day-to-day, injured the knee while sliding into second.

GIANTS: Shortstop Rich Aurilia extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the fourth. ... Right-handed reliever Brian Boehringer, acquired from the Yankees in a trade for catcher Bobby Estalella, made his debut for the team in the sixth. He pitched two innings and allowed a hit.

MARLINS: Right-hander Brad Penny left the game against the Rays in the sixth with a strained rib muscle and could be headed to the disabled list.

RED SOX: The Pawtucket Red Sox support the decision to bar outfielder Izzy Alcantara from the Triple-A All-Star Game for kicking an opponent. "In no way do we as an organization condone Izzy's actions," team president Mike Tamburro said. On Tuesday, after Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Blas Cedeno brushed him back, Alcantara karate-kicked catcher Jeremy Salazar in the mask and rushed the mound, setting off a bench-clearing brawl. ... Boston placed left-hander Pete Schourek on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his pitching elbow and purchased the contract of right-hander Carlos Castillo from Pawtucket. ... Jimy Williams became the sixth manager in team history to win at least 400 games and the first since Don Zimmer from 1976-80.

ROCKIES: Left-hander Denny Neagle left the game against the Angels after one inning when he aggravated a strained right hamstring. The team said it didn't know how long he would be out. ... Rightfielder Larry Walker likely will not play in the field during Tuesday's All-Star Game because of inflammation in his right elbow.

TIGERS: Detroit placed right-hander Dave Borkowski on the 15-day disabled list with a strained pitching shoulder.