Former CSU ace Swindle called up

ATLANTA — The Philadelphia announced after Tuesday night's game, left-handed reliever R.J. Swindle of Charleston Southern, would be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley today to replace Brett Myers, who accepted a demotion to the minor leagues.

Myers, leading the major leagues with 24 home runs allowed and coming off the shortest start of his career with the Phillies, agreed to be optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Swindle, who pitched at Charleston Southern and was the Big South pitcher of the year in 2003, sports a 1-0 record and 1.93 ERA with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He has struck out 32 and walked five in 23 1/3 innings. He has never pitched in the majors.

Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2004, the junkballer also has pitched in the Yankees organization and pitched for the Charleston RiverDogs in 2006.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he spoke with Myers on Monday about accepting the assignment to work on his delivery. Myers, who has more than five years experience in the majors, had the right to decline the assignment and asked for a day to consider the move.

The Phillies are 1-11 in the last 12 games started by Myers, who is 1-8 in that stretch.

Hall of Fame

The ball Barry Bonds launched for his record-breaking 756th home run took a strange turn on its possible path to the Hall of Fame. First, the Hall announced it wouldn't take the asterisk-stamped souvenir because talks with its owner broke down over whether the ball would be loaned or donated. Hours later, the man who paid $752,467 for the prize presented a different view.

"At this time, the ball is on route to the Hall of Fame," fashion designer Marc Ecko said in a statement. "I hope that they will accept it and honor their commitment to display it at some point in time."

Diamondbacks

Arizona put left fielder Eric Byrnes on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. The move comes eight days after Byrnes came off the DL.

, where he spent a month with injuries to both hamstrings.

Astros

Houston ace Roy Oswalt was hopeful he could make his next start after leaving the game Monday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of a strained left hip.

Oswalt (7-8) struck out nine and allowed one run in six innings of Houston's 4-1 win.

He grounded out in the bottom of the inning, then appeared fine when he returned to the mound for the seventh.