RAY MILLER RETURNS TO ORIOLES BENCH

Ray Miller returned to the Baltimore Orioles as their new pitching coach Saturday. He replaces Mark Wiley, who was reassigned after his beleaguered staff compiled the worst ERA in the American League. Miller has been out of baseball since the end of the 1999 season. He was in uniform for Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. Miller was Baltimore’s pitching coach from 1978-85 and in 1997 before being hired as manager in 1998. He lasted two seasons, going 157-167 before being replaced by Mike Hargrove.

A’S PUT HUDSON ON DISABLED LIST

The Oakland Athletics placed RHP Tim Hudson on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left stomach muscle that isn’t considered serious. In fact, Hudson, Oakland’s opening day starter the past two seasons, said he could have pitched through it, but the team had to make a move to clear a roster spot for new closer Octavio Dotel, acquired Thursday from Houston in a three-team trade. Hudson expects to miss two starts. This is his first stint on the DL in five major-league seasons. Dotel joined his new teammates Saturday, still carrying a large Astros duffel bag.

REDS BRING BACK PITCHER HARANG

The Cincinnati Reds activated RHP Aaron Harang from the 15-day disabled in time to make his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates. INF Felipe Lopez was optioned to Class AAA Louisville to make room for Harang. Harang was 4-2 with a 5.43 ERA in 11 starts when he was placed on the disabled list June 4 with a sprained ligament in his right elbow. The Reds sent Lopez down after SS Barry Larkin showed in pregame workouts that he’d recovered from the strained abdominal muscle that kept him out of the last six games. Larkin was placed in Saturday’s starting lineup.

RANGERS SIGN TOP PICK DIAMOND

Thomas Diamond, the Texas Rangers’ hard-throwing No. 1 draft pick, agreed to terms. The right-hander got a $2 million signing bonus and will report next week to Class A Spokane. He was the 10th overall pick in this month’s draft. Diamond was 11-11 with a 3.27 ERA over three seasons at the University of New Orleans. He was the Sun Belt Conference pitcher of the year this spring.

LIGTENBERG ACTIVATED BY BLUE JAYS

The Toronto Blue Jays placed OF Frank Catalanotto on the 15-day DL with a strained right groin. The Blue Jays activated RHP Kerry Ligtenberg. Ligtenberg, 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA, missed 13 games with a strained hip.

PIRATES LOSE WARD TO THUMB INJURY

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed 1B Daryle Ward on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained ligament in his right thumb, and recalled OF Tony Alvarez from Class AAA Nashville.