AL | Evan Longoria joins Rays teammate Carl Crawford on DL

Even with a healthy Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford, the Tampa Bay Rays knew it would be a challenge to stay atop the American League East. Without them, help will have to come from every corner of the clubhouse.

"A lot of guys have helped us get to this point, some with limited playing time," said Andrew Friedman, executive vice president of baseball operations, after All-Star third baseman Longoria joined Crawford on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a broken right wrist.

Longoria, a 22-year-old rookie, was hit by a pitch from Mariners closer J.J. Putz last Thursday at Safeco Field.

The Rays hope Longoria will be able to return to the lineup in two to three weeks. He is hitting .278 with a Rays rookie-record 22 home runs and 71 runs batted in. He also leads AL third basemen with a .971 fielding percentage.

Crawford, a four-time AL stolen-base champion, went on the DL with a right hand injury on Sunday. The two-time All-Star is batting .273 with 57 runs batted in and 25 steals.

The Rays, who have already set a franchise record for victories in a season, have a 4 ½-game lead over second-place Boston. But with Longoria and Crawford sidelined, they face the challenge of trying to stay ahead of the Red Sox and third-place New York Yankees without two of their best players.

Willy Aybar takes over as the regular third baseman, and Eric Hinske, Gabe Gross and Justin Ruggiano figure to share playing time in Crawford's spot in left field.

Boston: Charlie Zink will take fellow knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's start today against Texas. Wakefield is on the DL. Zink, who will turn 29 later this month, was 13-4 with a 2.89 ERA for AAA Pawtucket. ... DH David Ortiz (sore wrist) was not in the lineup for the first time since returning from the DL on July 25.

Chicago: RHP Jose Contreras had surgery to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon and is expected to be sidelined at least nine months.

Cleveland: RHP Fausto Carmona, a 19-game winner a year ago, is 1-2 with a 10.42 ERA in four starts since being activated from the DL July 26.

Detroit: Manager Jim Leyland said he was "flabbergasted" by Gary Sheffield's complaints about being the Tigers' DH, and about being "platooned." Shoulder injuries have limited Sheffield to DH duties, and he was acquired from the Yankees with a mutual understanding that he would fill that role. "I told him that all I had here for him was a DH," Leyland said. The player and manager also disagreed about the definition of a platoon. "Platoon is when you have a left-hand hitter and a right-hand hitter," Leyland said. "One plays against right-hand pitching and one plays against left-hand pitching. That is a platoon." Sheffield disagreed: "I come in some days and I don't play and some days I play. That's platooning to me." Answered Leyland: "Anybody that has a brain knows that's not a platoon." Sheffield, 39, is hitting .219 with 10 homers and 33 RBI.

Minnesota: Twins closer Joe Nathan announced a gift of $500,000 to his alma mater, Stony Brook University in New York, to build a new baseball field in his name.

New York: RHP Joba Chamberlain is scheduled to start a throwing program Friday as part of his rehab for his injured shoulder.

Texas: Rangers closer C.J. Wilson has decided to have surgery on his left elbow and will miss the rest of the season. The operation to clean up bone spurs and bone chips will be this week. Wilson was 2-2 with 24 saves in 28 chances with a 6.04 ERA.

Toronto: OF Shannon Stewart was released, bringing his second stint with the team to a disappointing finish. Signed as a free agent during spring training, Stewart, 34, hit .240 with one homer and 14 RBI.

Seattle Times news services