Diamondbacks Lose Williams

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ bid to repeat as National League West champions suffered a severe jolt Tuesday when all-star third baseman Matt Williams broke a bone in his right foot in an exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners at Tucson.

Williams fouled Frankie Rodriguez’s pitch off the foot in the second inning, but completed his at bat, lining out to center field. He was replaced by Lenny Harris in the top of the third inning.

The Diamondbacks lost the game, 12-3.

A break in the same bone sidelined Williams for 68 games with the San Francisco Giants in 1995.

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The Chicago Cubs are not sure when Kerry Wood will be ready to pitch. Now, they’re uncertain about projected No. 1 starter Ismael Valdes, as well.

Andy MacPhail, the team president, said Valdes’ return from the disabled list is uncertain and the Cubs aren’t sure when he’ll be able to join the rotation.

An MRI revealed that Valdes has tendinitis in his right shoulder. Valdes gave up 17 hits and 10 runs in 8 1/3 innings this spring. He was placed on the disabled list last week.

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Boston Red Sox reliever Rod Beck was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of an irritated nerve in his neck. Beck has been sidelined since March 20. The move is retroactive to nine days from the end of spring training, meaning Beck won’t be available until after the first six days of the regular season. . . . Red Sox Manager Jimy Williams was given a one-year contract extension through 2001.

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The Yomiuri Giants completed a sweep of their exhibition games against American teams by beating the New York Mets, 9-5, at Tokyo a day after beating the Chicago Cubs, 6-0.

At Tokorozawa, Japan, the Cubs got ninth-inning home runs from Mark Grace and Damon Buford and beat the Seibu Lions, 6-5. Sammy Sosa again went hitless and finished spring training with an 0-for-15 slump.

At 2 a.m. PST this morning, the Mets and Cubs were to play the first regular-season major league game in Japan.

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The latest trade rumor regarding Atlanta reliever John Rocker, who was supposedly headed to the Montreal Expos for closer Ugueth Urbina, did not sit well in the Expos’ camp.

Hung in the clubhouse were pictures of Rocker, his image circled in red with a line drawn through it.

Meanwhile, Rocker received a warm reception from Cleveland fans in Winter Haven, Fla. Rocker, Atlanta’s closer, pitched an uneventful seventh inning as the Braves beat the Indians, 7-6, on Keith Lockhart’s inside-the-park homer. Before the game, Rocker signed dozens of autographs.

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The Philadelphia Phillies, in a cash deal with the Montreal Expos, reacquired second baseman Mickey Morandini, a catalyst on their 1993 National League championship team. . . . Baltimore Oriole owner Peter Angelos has offered pitcher Mike Mussina an additional $10 million, increasing his offer to $60 million over five years, the Baltimore Sun reported. About $2 million of the $12 million for each year, however, would be deferred without interest, which may be a significant roadblock to completing a deal. . . . Baltimore’s Will Clark, looking to change his luck, has changed uniform numbers. He’ll wear No. 23, the number he wore as a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team. Clark, while wearing No. 12 last season, missed 31 games because of an elbow injury and this spring he suffered a broken thumb. . . . Branch Rickey III, the president of the Pacific Coast League, said the PCL is committed to helping bring another triple-A team to Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Dukes, the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate, will move to Portland after the season.