NL Wire Notes | La Russa expects Molina to face discipline for act

The St. Louis Cardinals are expecting Yadier Molina to be disciplined for his antics.

After the catcher was ejected for complaining about a ball called on Milwaukee's Corey Hart during the fifth inning of an 8-3 loss Monday night, Molina protested by taking off his gear and leaving it in a pile at the feet of plate umpire Paul Schrieber.

"We'll hear something," manager Tony La Russa said Tuesday before the Cardinals began a six-game homestand. "It's not going to go unnoticed."

Molina, the youngest of three catching brothers in the major leagues, declined to revisit the matter.

"Well, I thought it was a pretty good show," said pitching coach Dave Duncan, a former catcher who said he was never ejected during his playing career.

Cincinnati: Ken Griffey Jr. joked about his absence from the Reds' starting lineup. "It's a good, solid benching after a dropped ball, from what I understand," he said in mock anger. "Let's not call it a day off." The 38-year-old Griffey, hitting .250 with 18 runs batted in, is without a home run in 63 at-bats since connecting against Houston's Chris Sampson on April 23.

Los Angeles: Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 6 because of a lower back strain. The Dodgers said Furcal received a cortisone shot Tuesday and would rejoin the team this weekend in Anaheim, where it faces the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game interleague series. The club purchased the contract of infielder Luis Maza from Class AAA Las Vegas to take Furcal's spot on the roster and transferred infielder Tony Abreu from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.

New York: Claudio Vargas was called up from AAA New Orleans as part of a flurry of Mets moves and will start tonight against Washington. Also, Angel Pagan (left shoulder contusion) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, infielder/outfielder Fernando Tatis was called up from New Orleans and reliever Matt Wise was activated off the disabled list.

Pittsburgh: Pirates C Ryan Doumit left Tuesday night's game after one inning, not long after injuring his left thumb while muffing a high strike for a passed ball. The Pirates also purchased the contract of right-handed reliever Marino Salas from AAA Indianapolis.

St. Louis: Cardinals LH reliever Tyler Johnson, sidelined since spring training by a shoulder injury, will undergo arthroscopic surgery today. The 26-year-old Johnson was 1-1 with a 4.03 earned-run average in 2007, his first full season in the majors. He was part of a surprisingly effective bullpen minus injured closer Jason Isringhausen in the Cardinals' World Series run in 2006.

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