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Hideki Matsui strained his left hamstring during the New York Yankees' 10-7 win over Baltimore on Saturday and could be sidelined until next weekend.

Matsui was hurt running out a squibber in the second inning on a 39-degree day, then was pinch hit for in the fourth by Miguel Cairo. With the Yankees headed to Minnesota for a three-game series that starts Monday, Yankees manager Joe Torre said the left fielder might not play until the start of a series in Oakland on Friday.

''Hopefully, it's only a few days,'' Torre said. ''It's not a full-blown hamstring, but again, it's something you have to keep an eye on.''

After playing in 1,768 consecutive games with the Yomiuri Giants (1,250) and the Yankees (518), Matsui was sidelined from May 11 to Sept. 12 last year with a broken left wrist. He said he would wait to hear his prognosis from the team's medical staff today.

Pirates activate Sanchez

The Pittsburgh Pirates activated NL batting champion Freddy Sanchez off the 15-day disabled list Saturday, reuniting him with the team in time for the final game of a series against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Pirates also optioned Ryan Doumit to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he will be the everyday catcher.

Sanchez, who hit .344 last season, sprained his right knee while turning a double play in a game March 6. The second baseman didn't get back onto the field until the final days of spring training, and wanted to play a few games in the minors to refine his swing.

Sanchez went 1-for-2 with a double and a pair of walks for Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday night, but cold weather wiped out games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

''He's probably got a better chance to play here,'' general manager Dave Littlefield said, following a 7-5 loss to the Reds on Saturday. ''Eventually you've just got to make a call.''

Manager Jim Tracy was noncommittal about whether Sanchez would start today.

Gagne goes back-to-back

Rangers closer Eric Gagne threw 17 pitches in another minor league game Saturday night, the first time in nearly two years the former Cy Young Award winner pitched in games on consecutive days.

Starting for Double-A Frisco for the second night in a row, Gagne faced five Arkansas batters and threw 12 strikes while throwing mostly off-speed pitches. He allowed a solo home run and a single.

''There was a little stiffness, but it felt good the first time throwing back to back in two years,'' Gagne said. ''I was trying to work everything. The curveball and changeup was not as good as [Friday]. I hit some spots and I missed some spots. These were positive outings.''

While the Rangers insisted he was healthy, Gagne started the season on the disabled list to get more time to come back from elbow and back operations that limited him to 15 1/3 innings the past two seasons. Part of their plan was to have him pitch on consecutive days.

Taken aback

New Dodgers outfielder Luis Gonzalez admitted that he has struggled defensively. In the first four games, he dropped a fly ball, didn't get to two others that appeared catchable, and runners have taken extra bases on his soft throws.

Yet he appeared surprised that he would be asked repeatedly about those failings, and that they would be written about.

''It wasn't like this in Arizona,'' he said. ''Are you going to ask me about this every day?''

Then he went on to give every question a thoughtful answer.

''It's one of those spells, like a hitting slump,'' he said. ''I'm embarrassed this week. But I've gone through a lot in my career and I'll be all right.''

Buehrle still hurting

Mark Buehrle's lower left arm was sore and his hand swollen Saturday, but it didn't keep the White Sox southpaw from venturing into the cold to play some catch at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Buehrle was hit in the left forearm by a line drive off the bat of Cleveland's Ryan Garko on Thursday, forcing him out of the game in the second inning. X-rays were negative and he was diagnosed with a bruise.

''My hand is a little swollen, so it felt like I was throwing a softball, but other than that, there were no problems,'' Buehrle said.

Buehrle said he wants to make his next start Wednesday in Oakland.