Tampa adds McGriff for muscle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Fred McGriff is ready to resume his quest to reach 500 home runs.

Hoping to add some offensive pop and depth, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up McGriff from Triple-A Durham on Friday.

The 40-year-old slugger has 491 career homers and is trying to become the 20th player in major league history to make it to the milestone.

"It's more of a personal goal. It's not 755, breaking Hank Aaron's record," McGriff said before Friday night's game against the New York Yankees.

"I played a lot of years. I put a lot into it. So to me, it's a personal thing. Five hundred sounds better than 491."

To make room for McGriff, outfielder Jonny Gomes was optioned to Durham.

3 HIT BATTERS, 1 INNING: Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Clement tied a major league record Friday by hitting three batters in the fifth inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Clement became the 21st pitcher in major league history to hit three batters in one inning and the first Chicago pitcher to do so since Walter Thornton on May 18, 1898.

The last pitcher to hit three batters in one inning was Los Angeles' Kaz Ishii, who did it last July 23.

NOMO ON DL: Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Hideo Nomo was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 20, on Friday with a split fingernail on his right index finger.

The Dodgers also activated left fielder Dave Roberts from the DL. He had been sidelined by a strained right hamstring since May 5.

Nomo is expected to rejoin the team for its series at Boston on June 11. A 16-game winner last season, Nomo is 3-5 with a 7.13 ERA in nine starts this year.

Roberts is hitting .265, and is 15-for-15 in stolen bases.

PETTITTE SIDELINED: Astros left-hander Andy Pettitte will miss his scheduled start Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs to give his strained forearm more time to heal. Team officials said Friday that Pettitte should be ready for his next turn, June 7 at Seattle.

Pettitte hurt his left forearm while pitching in the fourth inning of Wednesday night's game against the Cubs. He was clearly distressed by the end of the fourth, wincing in pain as he walked off the mound to end the inning. Right-hander Brandon Duckworth will start in place of Pettitte on Tuesday.