Clemens Goes on the Disabled List

Roger Clemens went on the 15-day disabled list Saturday, but the New York Yankees received encouraging news about outfielder Raul Mondesi.

Clemens aggravated his strained right groin Friday night and the six-time Cy Young winner will go to the team’s spring training complex in Tampa, Fla., for rehabilitation. Right-hander Mike Thurman was recalled from triple-A Columbus to take Clemens’ spot on the roster.

“There was no hesitation with Roger, it was the right thing to do,� Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “He won’t throw for five days, but we’re optimistic he’ll be back soon.�

Mondesi was trying to shake off the effects of running into the outfield wall when he chased Omar Vizquel’s RBI triple in the 10th inning that gave the Cleveland Indians a 2-1 victory Friday night.

Chest and neck X-rays on Mondesi were negative. He was not in the starting lineup Saturday night and was not expected to play today.

But Mondesi, acquired July 1 from Toronto, was optimistic that he will return to the lineup soon.

“It shouldn’t take long to get back,� he said. “I want to get out and play.�

For Clemens, it is his sixth stint on the DL in 19 major league seasons and third since joining the Yankees.

“Rest will help, but I’ve got to strengthen it,� said Clemens, who is 8-3 this season but winless in five starts since June 9. “Over the [All-Star] break, I just totally rested. I was going crazy doing nothing. This time, I’ll ice it three or four days, then start working.�

Clemens, 39, gave up only two hits in five scoreless innings, then walked off the mound before the bottom of the sixth. He left his previous start July 2 at Yankee Stadium after five innings with a leg cramp.

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Bobby Bonds remained in the hospital two days after having surgery to remove a tumor from his kidney.

Bonds, the father of San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds and a three-time All-Star during his 14-year major league career, had surgery at Stanford Hospital on Thursday. His condition was not released.

“He’s doing fine,� Barry Bonds said Saturday before the San Francisco Giants played the Colorado Rockies. “I’m going there after the game.�

Barry Bonds said his father could be released next week. He did not know whether the tumor was cancerous.

The elder Bonds, 56, is a special assistant in the Giants’ player personnel department.

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The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder J.D. Drew from the disabled list and put pitcher Woody Williams on it Saturday night.

Drew, on the DL since June 28 because of tendinitis in his right knee, was not in the starting lineup Saturday against the San Diego Padres.

Williams, on the disabled list retroactive to July 7, is out because of a left ribcage strain. He was injured last weekend against the Dodgers and took himself out of the game after throwing warmup pitches in the sixth inning. He is 6-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 76 2/3 innings.

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New York Met reliever Mark Corey was called back up to the majors about two weeks after he collapsed from a seizure.

Corey replaced Grant Roberts, who went on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Corey was hospitalized briefly after the seizure in a hotel parking lot near Shea Stadium on June 26. After going on the DL, he went on a minor-league rehabilitation stint.