Knee Sidelines Dukes

CINCINNATI - Washington left fielder Elijah Dukes was carted off the field after injuring his right kneecap in the seventh inning of the Nationals' game at Cincinnati on Saturday night.

Dukes, the former Hillsborough High star, slammed into the left-field wall backward after catching Jay Bruce's fly ball.

Dukes held his right knee while laying on the ground and being carted off. He was being evaluated by the Reds' medical staff.

ASTROS: Starter Roy Oswalt returned to Houston on Saturday after experiencing more discomfort in his strained left hip.

Oswalt will try to throw on flat ground again on Monday and throw in the bullpen on Tuesday. The Astros did not announce results of Saturday's examination and have not announced when Oswalt will return to the rotation.

ATHLETICS: Shortstop Bobby Crosby went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained left hamstring, giving the Athletics seven players on the DL.

Crosby had started Oakland's first 84 games this season before he was sidelined Thursday.

INDIANS: Free-agent pitcher Jeff Weaver signed a minor-league contract on Saturday, giving the veteran a shot at making his sixth big-league team. He will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

PIRATES: Starter Tom Gorzelanny was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, a day after the lefty gave up five runs in the fifth inning in a 9-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Gorzelanny has struggled all season after a breakout campaign last year when he went 14-10.

ROCKIES: This trip for the 15-day disabled list cuts a little deeper for Troy Tulowitzki.

Just three weeks after returning from a torn thigh tendon that cost him 46 games, the Rockies' enigmatic shortstop sliced his right palm when his pounded his maple bat into the ground in frustration and it shattered Friday night.

WHITE SOX: Closer Bobby Jenks underwent an MRI and a CT scan on Saturday to determine the cause of soreness below his left shoulder in his upper back. The tests came back negative.