TOKYO, Aug. 5 Kyodo

Yakult's Beverlin restricted from pitching for 3 weeks

TOKYO - Yakult Swallows right-hander Jason Beverlin will be out of action for three weeks after an MRI revealed minor ligament damage in the elbow of his throwing arm, club officials said Tuesday.

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Beverlin, formerly of the Detroit Tigers, was removed from the active roster on Saturday after injuring the elbow in a game against the Yokohama BayStars a day earlier. Yakult chief trainer Saburo Horiuchi said the 29-year-old Ohio native will be unable to pitch this month.

Hanshin's Igawa, Imaoka get CL MVP awards for July

TOKYO - Hanshin Tigers lefty Kei Igawa and infielder Makoto Imaoka received the monthly MVP awards for July to highlight a stellar season for the front-running Central League club closing in on its first league pennant in 18 years, baseball officials said Tuesday.

In the Pacific League, Daiei Hawks right-hander Nagisa Arakaki was named the top player among pitchers and Orix BlueWave outfielder Roosevelt Brown received the accolades for position players.

FC Tokyo defender Jean injures knee, out for a month

TOKYO - FC Tokyo defender Jean on Tuesday was diagnosed with damaged ligaments in his right knee and will be sidelined for three to four weeks, officials of the J-League first division side said.

The 25-year-old Brazilian sustained the injury during Saturday's game against Jubilo Iwata.

Jubilo Iwata midfielder Fujita leaves for Netherlands

NARITA, Japan - Former Jubilo Iwata midfielder Toshiya Fujita left Japan on Tuesday for the Netherlands, where he will play for FC Utrecht of the Dutch first division.

''I'm excited thinking about all the future possibilities. I want to see how much of what I've accomplished in the J-League I will be able to do over there also,'' said the 31-year-old Fujita.

Scan shows Dodgers' Ishii has sprained knee ligament

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list over the weekend because of a pain in his left knee, was diagnosed Monday as having a sprained ligament in the knee, club officials said.

The injury was determined by an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan, but the 29-year-old Ishii should be expected back Aug. 14, team spokesman John Olguin said.