Astros Acquire Reliever Gordon

The Chicago Cubs are back to only one closer, trading Tom Gordon to the Houston Astros on Thursday for a minor league pitcher and two players to be named.

“This is a good team, a good organization,” Gordon said before the teams faced each other. “This will be good for me to be in this situation. I’m just glad somebody wanted me.

“I’m sure I’ll miss my teammates. But this is more of a positive for me.”

Gordon was one of the Cubs’ more consistent relievers, going 1-1 with a 3.42 earned-run average since coming off the disabled list July 2. He had not allowed a run in 8 2/3 innings in his last six outings.

But he wants to be a closer, and the Cubs have another in Antonio Alfonseca. The Cubs traded for Alfonseca at the end of spring training after Gordon tore a muscle in his right shoulder. He missed most of the first half of the season.

“I think that Gordon’s desire to close has been dramatically overblown,” Astro General Manager Gerry Hunsicker said. “He seems very excited to be here. He’s got a chance to win a pennant and I think he’ll fit in great.”

In exchange for Gordon, the Cubs got left-hander Russ Rohlicek, 9-5 with a 2.98 ERA at Class-A Michigan.

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The Miller Park design firm and construction manager must develop and pay for a plan to fix the roof leaks that have plagued the Milwaukee Brewers’ home since it opened two seasons ago, the executive director of the stadium board said.

Mike Duckett, executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District, said the leaks that sent several hundred fans scurrying in the fifth inning Wednesday night “was a watershed” moment.

HCH Miller Park Joint Venture, the construction manager, and Dallas-based HKS, the design firm, have tried a half-dozen changes in the flaps between the seams of the five-panel roof to try to fix the leaks since the stadium opened in March 2001, Duckett said.

But high winds and heavy rains have caused leaks on several occasions, and Wednesday night’s downpour sent water onto the playing field near home plate and the pitcher’s mound.

“We were willing to listen to their design improvements until last night,” Duckett said. “Last night, we said we really have to go in a different direction.”

Duckett termed it a “conditional action” to require HCH and HKS to fix the problems. He said no legal action would be taken, but taxpayers would not pay for the repairs.

“It’s unacceptable,” Duckett said. “We paid a lot of money for a roof and want it to work as intended. It has not ensured the fans the comfort that it was intended to.”

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Boston center fielder Johnny Damon dislocated his finger sliding back into first base in the first inning of Thursday’s game against Texas and was listed as day to day.

Damon led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. Ranger left-hander Dennys Reyes then tried to pick him off and Damon dove headfirst into the bag with his hand outstretched.

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Oakland reliever Jim Mecir was suspended for three games for hitting Royce Clayton of the Chicago White Sox Saturday with a pitch after a warning had been issued.

A team spokesman said Mecir will appeal the decision. The suspension won’t begin until after a hearing.

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Detroit Tiger outfielder Bobby Higginson must pay $6,000 per month in child support to his former fiancee, Judy Morgan, an Oakland County Circuit Court judge ruled in Pontiac, Mich.

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The Oakland Athletics sent minor league right-hander Jeremy Bonderman to the Detroit Tigers to complete a three-team trade made last month.