MLB Notebook | Ineffective J. J. Putz has sharp pain in elbow

PITTSBURGH — New York Mets reliever J.J. Putz will leave the team and return to New York to be examined by team doctors today after experiencing "sharp pain" in his right elbow while pitching in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

Putz, acquired in an offseason trade with the Mariners to be a dominant eighth-inning presence, has given up eight runs and nine hits in a combined 1-1/3 innings during his past three outings, seeing his earned-run average climb to 5.22.

"It doesn't appear as though it's getting any better," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "He's getting ahead in the count but not being able to put people away. We're going to have to sit down and really evaluate his situation and see if physically there's something that's hindering him from doing what he needs to do."

Manuel demoted Putz to the seventh-inning role after Monday's game when he gave up four runs and didn't retire a batter. The reliever is 1-4 with two blown saves.

Also in Mets injury news, the team was awaiting word on shortstop Jose Reyes, who was being evaluated by team doctors in New York after coming out of a rehabilitation game at extended spring training in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Reyes has been on the disabled list since May 21 with right-calf tendinitis. Manuel said before Thursday's game that Reyes would need to play in some rehab games before rejoining the Mets.

Notes

• Colorado C Yorvit Torrealba's 11-year-old son and brother-in-law were released by kidnappers a day after being abducted in Caracas, Venezuela. The two were abducted while driving to the boy's school along with a relative of the boy's mother, Venezuelan authorities said. The kidnappers demanded $466,000 in ransom, but none was paid. As police closed in on six suspects, they left the three along a highway outside Caracas. No arrests have been made.

• New York Yankees RHP A.J. Burnett was suspended six games for throwing high-and-tight to Texas' Nelson Cruz earlier this week. Burnett appealed the penalty, which had been set to take effect immediately.

• The Atlanta Braves have cleared a spot for OF Nate McLouth by optioning OF Brian Barton to Class AAA Gwinnett.

• DH Travis Hafner (shoulder) rejoined the Cleveland Indians and declared he was ready to return from the disabled list.

• Slumping Red Sox DH David Ortiz said he's going to have his eyes checked. Ortiz is hitting .187 with just one home run.

• Kansas City Royals activated OF Coco Crisp from the bereavement list and optioned IF Tug Hulett to Class AAA Omaha.

• Tampa Bay Rays 3B Evan Longoria (hamstring) is likely to return to the starting lineup by Saturday.

• The Florida Marlins placed RHP Anibal Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list because of shoulder discomfort.