CARDINALS
Wainwright has tendon surgery
ST. LOUIS -- Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright has had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon, an injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
"Everything went well," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said after Thursday's operation. "No surprises, which was probably the best news, and didn't have to use any extra material to reattach the tendon. So now it's rest and recovery for probably the next 6 to 8 weeks."
Wainwright was injured while batting in Milwaukee last Saturday.
ROYALS
Ventura begins serving suspension
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura began serving his seven-game suspension on Thursday, dropping his appeal to Major League Baseball.
That means Ventura's next start will be in the series opener at Detroit on May 8.
"We only had to find one spot start instead of two," Manager Ned Yost said before the Royals played the Tigers on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium.
That spot start will be today's game against the Tigers, and Chris Young will likely make his first start of the season. The Royals have an off day Monday.
Ventura was one of four Royals suspended after an on-field incident at Chicago on April 23. The fracas started when White Sox hitter Adan Eaton hit a comebacker to Ventura and the players jawed at each other as Eaton ran to first.
The benches emptied. Also suspended were pitcher Edinson Volquez, for five games, and pitcher Kelvin Herrera and outfielder Lorenzo Cain, for two games each.
Volquez dropped his appeal and began serving his suspension on Monday. He's slated to start against the Tigers on Saturday.
Herrera and Cain have not dropped their appeals.
ANGELS
Pujols leaves with tight hamstring
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols left Wednesday night's game against the Oakland Athletics with tightness in his left hamstring after running to first base in the sixth inning.
Pujols blooped a single to center leading off the inning but pulled up about 15 feet from the base and walked the final few steps. He clutched at the back of his left leg as a team trainer came out from the dugout. The two talked briefly before Pujols walked slowly off the field.
Grant Green replaced Pujols as a pinch-runner and stayed in the game playing first base.
The Angels won 6-3.
CUBS
Banks' wife seeks more information
CHICAGO -- The attorney for Ernie Banks' wife says the late Chicago Cubs great's longtime caretaker hasn't turned over all pertinent financial information about his estate.
The Chicago Tribune reported that Elizabeth Ellzey Banks' attorney Thomas Jefson told a Cook County judge Wednesday that caregiver Regina Rice hasn't disclosed all assets in Banks' estate. That includes a joint bank account Banks had with Rice and a trust.
Elizabeth Ellzey Banks is challenging a will signed by Ernie Banks that gives all his assets to Rice. A judge ordered Rice to compile an accounting of his estate after she estimated his known assets at $16,000.
Rice's attorney, Linda Chatman, says she doesn't believe the accounts are part of Banks' estate.
The judge gave both sides more time to work out the differences.
TIGERS
Nathan has surgery; season over
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Detroit Tigers closer Joe Nathan underwent season-ending Tommy John and flexor repair surgery Wednesday.
Nathan, who is in the final season of a two-year $20 million contract with the Tigers, confirmed the surgery Thursday. He logged 35 saves in 2014 for the Tigers.
Nathan, 40, logged one save this year in the season opener at Minnesota, but went on the disabled list the next day with elbow pain. He exited after 10 pitches with a sharp pain in his right arm on a minor league rehab assignment on April 22 with Toledo.
He was diagnosed with an ulnar collateral ligament tear and a flexor pronator tear. Dr. Keith Meister, the Texas Rangers team physician, performed the surgery.
With Nathan out, Joakim Soria has an American League-leading nine saves in as many opportunities. The nine saves is a Tigers' record for April.
TWINS
Fien on DL with bad shoulder
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins have put right-handed reliever Casey Fien on the disabled list because of a right shoulder strain.
Fien was hurt in Wednesday's game against Detroit. He was 1-2 with a 4.35 ERA in nine appearances.
Right-hander Michael Tonkin was recalled Thursday from Class AAA Rochester, where he was 0-1 with five saves and a 2.45 ERA in eight relief appearances.
-- Democrat-Gazette Press Services
Sports on 05/01/2015