Baseball notes: Struggling Drew Stubbs sent to the minors

Struggling outfielder Drew Stubbs has been optioned to triple-A Albuquerque by the Colorado Rockies, who recalled outfielder Brandon Barnes from the Isotopes.

Stubbs was hitting .118 with two home runs and five runs batted in in 24 games and had struck out 31 times in 51 at-bats.

Rockies Manager Walt Weiss said he believes Stubbs, who is making $5,825,000, needs to work on his rhythm and timing at the plate. Because Stubbs has five years of major league service, his consent was needed for the minor league assignment.

Etc.

Josh Hamilton homered in his last at-bat for double-A Frisco of the Texas League, his first home run in 10 minor league games while working his way back to the Texas Rangers. ... Wearing a black brace on his sprained right knee, New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury said he has not been told how long he might be sidelined — and doesn’t expect to know a prognosis until seeing a team doctor Friday. Ellsbury was put on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, a day after getting hurt during an at-bat in New York’s 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Washington Nationals. “It’s not something that requires surgery,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said, adding: “This is not doom and gloom.” ... Pitcher John Cornely has been traded from the Atlanta Braves to the Boston Red Sox. The 26-year-old right-hander made one big league appearance this year, giving up four runs in one inning against Washington on April 29 in his major league debut.

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Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and Manager Matt Williams were ejected in the bottom of the third inning against the Yankees. Harper, who hit 10 homers in his previous 12 games, was batting with two outs in the third when Adam Warren’s first pitch was called a strike by plate umpire Marvin Hudson. Harper stepped out of the batter’s box, leading to an animated back-and-forth with Hudson.