ST. LOUIS: Chen-Chang Lee, a promising Triple-A reliever who impressed manager Manny Acta in spring training, will do no more pitching this season.
He underwent elbow reconstruction surgery this week and won’t return until next year. At Columbus, he was 2-0 with one save and a 2.57 ERA in five appearances.
“We were expecting to see him up here at some point this year,” Acta said. “Tommy John surgery has become so routine that now we expect to see him here next season. We looked at him for a long time in spring training and knew if he threw the ball well in Triple-A, he’d be up here.”
Lee will be 26 when he returns to the mound.
EXTRA REST NOT THE KEY — Ubaldo Jimenez had several extra days of rest between starts in his last outing and limited the Detroit Tigers to one run in 6⅔ innings. Did the time off benefit him?
“No, that had nothing to do with it,” Acta said, “and we’re not planning to pitch him every eight days, either.”
FARM FACTS — Corey Kluber (4-6, 4.14 ERA) gave up one earned run (three total) and 11 hits in six innings, as Columbus fell to Buffalo 3-2. … Tyler Cannon had three hits, including his first homer of the season, and drove in five runs, as Carolina routed Wilmington 12-1 in Class A. Ronnie Rodriguez had three hits and one RBI, and Anthony Gallas tripled and singled. … Michael Goodnight (2-6, 4.55 ERA) gave up one run and two hits in six innings. … Luigi Rodriguez had a triple and two singles in Lake County’s 4-3 loss to Dayton in Class A. Shawn Morimando gave up one run and three hits in five innings.
— Sheldon Ocker
