This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Billy Buckner received a not-so-lovely departing gift Sunday. One day after giving up two hits in five scoreless innings of a 7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Angels right-hander was designated for assignment.
"It's a business, and I understand it," said Buckner, who will return to Triple-A Salt Lake if he clears waivers. "They have a lot of guys coming off the disabled list. Someone has to go."
Buckner was replaced by reliever Kevin Jepsen, who was activated after missing six weeks because of a shoulder strain and got Jeff Francoeur to pop to second with two on to end the seventh inning Sunday.
Ace Jered Weaver, out since April 8 because of a broken left elbow, will start Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. And Tommy Hanson, on the restricted list since May 10, threw a five-inning, 75-pitch simulated game in Arizona on Saturday and could return by the weekend.
Around the horn
Red Sox • Right-hander Clay Buchholz was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against Philadelphia because of irritation in his collarbone area. Alfredo Aceves is slated to take Buchholz's place against the Phillies' Tyler Cloyd. Buchholz is off to a splendid start, going 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA. He said if it were later in the season, he'd take the mound.
Nationals • Outfielder Bryce Harper might have to sit a few days to rest a sore knee still feeling the effects of a collision with the Dodger Stadium wall last week. Harper was gimpy for much of Sunday's 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. He aggravated the knee twice with head-first slides in the first inning, then fouled a pitch off the knee in the third. He was removed for a pinch runner in the seventh.