Cincinnati pitcher Mike Leake arrested for shoplifting

CINCINNATI — Reds pitcher Mike Leake was arrested on a shoplifting charge at a downtown department store Monday, accused of trying to steal six shirts with a total value of $59.88.

The 23-year-old starter was booked at the Hamilton County Justice Center on a first-degree misdemeanor charge of shoplifting. It carries a maximum of 180 days in jail.

He was arrested about two hours before Cincinnati pitchers were expected at Great American Ball Park to take batting practice before the final game of a series against Pittsburgh. Leake started and got the victory in an 11-2 win over the Pirates on Saturday.

The Reds were trying to get details of the arrest and said the matter would be handled internally after the legal process is complete.

Police arrest reports said Leake removed the price tags from six American Rag T-shirts at a Macy's store and tried to leave without paying for them.

Leake makes $425,000 in his second season in the majors.

Notes

• Struggling reliever Mark Lowe was optioned to the minor leagues by the Texas Rangers, clearing a roster spot to reinstate Colby Lewis from Major League Baseball's paternity leave list.

• Detroit has moved reliever Joel Zumaya (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list, meaning the hard-throwing right-hander won't be available to pitch until at least the end of May.

• The Colorado Rockies jumped out to the best start in baseball, and now they're getting their best pitcher back.

Ace Ubaldo Jimenez comes off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday, and he'll face the San Francisco Giants and lefty Jonathan Sanchez in the middle of a three-game series that night.

Jimenez went on the DL after an awful opener, the culprit a cut cuticle on his pitching thumb that prevented him from getting oomph on his heater and spin on his breaking pitches.

• Oakland has put left-hander Dallas Braden (shoulder stiffness) on the 15-day disabled list and transferred right-hander Rich Harden (strained right shoulder) to the 60-day disabled list.

• Right-hander Homer Bailey thinks he could be back in Cincinnati's rotation after one more rehab start. Bailey's pitching shoulder felt good, a day after he threw 62 pitches in five scoreless innings for Class AAA Louisville.

• Tampa Bay designated hitter Johnny Damon was out of the lineup against the Chicago White Sox because of an injured left hand.

• New York Yankees left-hander Pedro Feliciano will put off shoulder surgery for at least 1 ½ months. Feliciano was examined Monday in Pensacola, Fla., by Dr. James Andrews, who recommended a six-week program of a shoulder strengthening.