MARINERS

Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre might reconsider not wearing a protective cup.

Beltre was put on the 15-day disabled list with a severely bruised testicle yesterday, one day after taking a hard one-hopper off the bat of Chicago's Alexei Ramirez to his groin area in the ninth inning.

Beltre remained in the game and singled in the 14th inning, scoring the winning run in a 1-0 Seattle victory.

Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said the Gold Glove infielder is out indefinitely, and could need surgery because of bleeding in a testicle.

TIGERS

Detroit pitcher Rick Porcello has dropped his appeal of a five-game suspension for hitting Boston's Kevin Youkilis with a pitch.

Porcello and Youkilis were both given five-game penalties for Tuesday night's brawl, which began when the Tigers pitcher hit Youkilis in the back and he charged the mound.

TWINS

A second MRI on the shoulder of Minnesota left-hander Glen Perkins has revealed no structural damage.

Perkins, who is 6-7 with a 5.89 ERA, said that the exam showed that he has a strained rotator cuff, an injury that will not require surgery.

CUBS

Jeff Samardzija, hit hard in his first major league start a night earlier for the Cubs, has been optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Samardzija lasted 3 1/3 innings Wednesday in a 12-5 loss to the Phillies, when he allowed seven runs.