More injuries hit several teams

Another bad day for injuries as several players tried to shake off the rust from the week layoff.

Hillsborough beat D.C. 7-6 but lost 1b/DH Dmitri Young. With starting first baseman Ryan Howard already on the shelf, this will leave the Hitmen very thin at the position. Billy Butler is expected to take over full time until Howard returns later this week.

The most injury-plagued team in the league this year is Las Vegas, who can't seem to keep their squad healthy. The latest casualty is third baseman Chone Figgins. The Rats picked up journeyman Scott Spiezio who will split duties with rookie Alex Gordon at the hot corner. The Rats have a league-high four players on the DL now (David Eckstein, Jeff Keppinger, and Orlando Hernandez are the others).

Philly took a 12-9 victory over first-place Vancouver to move to within two games of the Fist, but the Animals lost outfielder J.D. Drew for a week.

Finally the Blue Ridge Bombers lost shortstop Edgar Renteria, also for a week. Rafael Furcal will assume full-time duties.

Brian Giles hit his first homer in a Cutters uniform since the summer of 2004, prompting a standing ovation for the Hoboken icon. Giles pinch hit for third baseman Brandon Inge in the eighth inning and delivered a three-run blast. The Cutters ended up losing the game to Sardine City 9-5.