MLB Notebook: Ivan Rodriguez breaks record for games caught

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ivan Rodriguez was 19 when the Texas Rangers promoted the fresh-faced catcher with a cannon for an arm to the major leagues midway through the 1991 season.

Now he's caught more games than anybody else — and fittingly, he set the record in Texas.

Rodriguez, now with the Houston Astros, caught his 2,227th game Wednesday night against the Rangers, a night after matching Carlton Fisk — a Hall of Fame catcher also nicknamed "Pudge".

Rodriguez got a standing ovation before his first at-bat.

"To be able to play so many games behind the plate, it's unbelievable," Rodriguez said. "I love this game."

Hall gets prison sentence

FORT WORTH, Texas — Former outfielder Mel Hall was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl he coached on an elite basketball team.

Hall, 48, was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault and two counts of indecency with a child. He must serve about 22 ½ years before he's eligible for parole.

His ex-wife and two daughters testified on his behalf.

Hall's 13-year major-league career ended in 1996. He played for the Cubs, Indians, Yankees and Giants.

Canseco plans to sue

NEW YORK — Jose Canseco plans to file a class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball and the players' association, saying he's been ostracized for going public with tales of steroids use in the sport.

The former slugger said he intends to enlist Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro to join in the suit.

Canseco said the basis of the suit would be "lost wages — in some cases, defamation of character."

Meanwhile, investigators for a congressional committee are examining whether Sosa lied under oath when he told the committee in 2005 that he had never taken illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

Notes

• Toronto plans to put RHP Roy Halladay and closer Scott Downs on the disabled list. Halladay (10-1, 2.53 ERA) has a strained groin.

• Free-agent RHP Pedro Martinez, 37, said he has talked with the Cubs and Rays and could sign soon.

• The owner's suite at Rangers Ballpark will be renamed for former President George W. Bush. Bush was managing general partner for Texas from 1989-94.

• Texas SS Omar Vizquel matched Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio for most hits by a player from Venezuela. The 41-year-old Vizquel got No. 2,677.