Pittsburgh Pirates: Kris Benson will miss a scheduled start for the second time in just over a month, the Pittsburgh pitcher disagrees with manager Lloyd McClendon on the reason.

McClendon said Monday that Benson is having mechanical troubles. The right-hander said his shoulder is hurting and he needs to rest it.

Benson (5-9) was roughed up for six runs in a season-low two innings Thursday in a 7-5 loss to Milwaukee. He was slated to start Tuesday against Houston, the NL Central leader.

"I'm still experiencing some discomfort in my shoulder and decided to give it some rest. I really haven't taken any rest,'' Benson said. "Even when I skipped the last start, I was throwing every day. I'm going to take a few days off and see how it feels after that.''

Benson also said his shoulder didn't feel right after a 13-8 loss in Toronto on June 10 and his skipped a start that weekend in Tampa Bay. He returned to the rotation June 21 against Cleveland, but is 0-2 with a 3.79 ERA in his last four starts.

Pirates call up Cota: With catcher Jason Kendall facing a possible suspension, the Pirates recalled catcher Humberto Cota from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Cota, joining the Pirates for the second time in a month, was hitting .201 with eight homers and 26 RBI with the Sounds.

Kendall's appeal of his three-game suspension for fighting during the Pirates-Devil Rays' game on June 13 will be heard Wednesday, and he could have to start serving his penalty later in the week.

Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks recalled infielder Junior Spivey on Monday from the 15-day disabled list.

He had been out since June 15 with a left ankle sprain and was on rehab assignment with Triple-A Tucson. Spivey was hitting .255 with nine homers and 30 RBI.

To make room for Spivey, Arizona optioned outfielder Luis Terrero to Tucson.

Colorado Rockies: Rockies pitcher Denny Neagle is heading to the disabled list after inflammation in his left elbow surfaced again Sunday, the Denver Post reported Monday.

"All I can say is that I am really frustrated. I feel like I have worked too hard for this to happen again," Neagle said to the paper. "Because of the injuries, my performances, I know I am better than this and I go out there and get (shelled) and let the team down."

Neagle left Sunday's game in San Francisco in the fifth inning.

Seattle Mariners: The Mariners have signed their first draft pick, shortstop Adam Jones, the team announced Monday.

Jones was the 37th player chosen overall in the first-year player draft. The Mariners, without a first-round pick, selected Jones in the "sandwich'' round between the first and second rounds.

Terms were not disclosed.

Jones graduated in June from Morse High School in San Diego -- the same school Mark McLemore graduated from in 1982.

As a senior, Jones, 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, batted .406, with four home runs and 27 RBI in 29 games. He also had six doubles, four triples and 15 stolen bases.

Jones has reported to the Mariners training camp at Peoria, Ariz., and will begin workouts Tuesday in the Arizona League.

Texas Rangers: Texas recalled left-hander Erasmo Ramirez from Triple-A Oklahoma on Monday and purchased the contract of right-hander Robert Ellis.

Ramirez and Ellis were in uniform for Monday night's game at Baltimore.

The Rangers designated left-hander Tony Mounce for assignment and optioned right-hander Ryan Drese to Oklahoma. Both pitchers had rough outings Sunday in Texas' 15-4 loss at Tampa Bay.

Mounce (1-4, 6.38 ERA in eight starts) gave up six runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings as the Texas starter Sunday. Drese (2-2, 9.53) then allowed seven runs on nine hits, including three home runs, over 2 2/3 innings.

Ramirez has had two other stints with Texas this season, and has a 6.52 ERA in eight appearances. He was 2-1 with 1.53 ERA and four saves in 22 appearances for Oklahoma.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles purchased the contract of catcher Robert Machado on Monday from Triple-A Ottawa.

The move came one day after Baltimore sent backup catcher Geronimo Gil to Ottawa. It's Machado's second stint with the Orioles this season; he went 1-for-4 in May after joining the team when Brook Fordyce was placed on the bereavement list.

Machado was batting .335 with eight homers and 38 RBI in 59 games with Ottawa. He was in uniform for Monday's game against Texas.

To make room for Machado on the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated shortstop Ed Rogers for assignment.

Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers put left-hander Matt Ford on the 15-day disabled list Monday after a test found that he had a sprained left elbow.

The Brewers called up infielder Bill Hall from Triple-A Indianapolis to take his place.

Ford gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings of a 6-3 loss to Pittsburgh on Sunday. He hadn't lasted longer than 4 1/3 innings in any of his four starts.

Hall was hitting .287 with five homers at Indianapolis. Hall, the Brewers' minor league Player of the Year in 2000, made his debut in Cincinnati last Sept. 1.

Minnesota Twins: The Twins have yet to finalize their contract with first-round pick Matt Moses because of a heart condition that turned up in a routine post-draft physical.

"There was an abnormality on the EKG,'' general manager Terry Ryan said Monday. "We're going to follow up on it and make sure it's fine before finalizing the deal.''

Ryan said the tests were sent to a heart specialist in Miami for a diagnosis. Moses is in Fort Myers, Fla., waiting for clearance to begin playing with the Twins' team in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

Moses, a third baseman from Mills Godwin High School in Richmond, Va., was taken by the Twins with the 21st overall selection last month. He agreed to terms July 7 on a minor-league contract with a $1.45 million signing bonus.