Mariners’ Rodriguez on Disabled List

Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez was put on the 15-day disabled list Friday because of a bruised chest. The move was made retroactive to June 11, when Rodriguez collided with Toronto pitcher Roger Clemens. Rodriguez is eligible to return to the Mariners on June 27 against the Angels.

“It’s possible he might not be back until after the All-Star game,” Seattle Manager Lou Piniella said of Rodriguez, who is hitting .320 with nine homers and 36 runs batted in. “Alex said his chest is still sore and we don’t want to play him until he’s well.”

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New York Yankee outfielder Darryl Strawberry, who has been on the disabled list for more than two months, has decided to have exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week.

Strawberry, 35, played with a noticeable limp while going four for 15 with two homers and six RBIs during a four-game rehabilitation stint with triple-A Columbus last week.

He has been on the disabled list since April 11 because of fluid on his left knee after going hitless in 14 at-bats with the Yankees.

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New York pitcher Hideki Irabu, with his fastball reaching 99 mph, gave up four hits and struck out five in a five-inning outing for the Yankees’ double-AA farm team in Norwich, Conn.

Irabu threw 67 pitches for the Eastern League Navigators over five scoreless innings, consistently keeping his fastball in the mid-90s against the New Haven Ravens, the Colorado Rockies’ double-A affiliate.