Izturis Is Tight, but Voting Isn’t

Problems for Cesar Izturis are piling up nearly as fast as All-Star ballots did for David Eckstein in recent days.

Izturis, the Dodger shortstop, had an MRI test on his right hamstring Friday because he felt tightness and did not play Friday night. Results were negative, but he isn’t likely to play today because he received a cortisone injection.

Maybe he was hurt when the rug was pulled from under his starting All-Star berth.

In the last two days of voting, he went from being 44,413 votes ahead of second-place Eckstein to trailing the Cardinal shortstop by an astonishing 337,131 votes.

The Dodgers -- who ran a strong campaign to drum up votes for Izturis -- tried to get an explanation from Major League Baseball for the huge number of last-minute votes Eckstein received, but were unsuccessful. Fans could cast up to 25 votes online or punch ballots at ballparks.

Izturis would be the last to complain because he knows he has not played well in a month. He is seven for 82 (.085) since getting two hits June 1, his average plummeting from .345 to .275.

He has continued to play strong defense, although he has eight errors after making only 10 all last season.

Eckstein, in his first season with the Cardinals after playing four years for the Angels, is batting .288 and has made nine errors.

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Odalis Perez gave up no runs and one hit in five innings of his last triple-A rehabilitation assignment. The left-hander is scheduled to start Tuesday against Colorado, his first Dodger appearance since going on the disabled list because of shoulder pain May 15.... Outfielder Ricky Ledee (strained hamstring) took batting practice and ran at about 60% speed.... Left-hander Wilson Alvarez (shoulder) threw all his pitches in an encouraging bullpen session and is scheduled to throw against Dodger batters Sunday, then go on a minor league rehabilitation assignment.... Glenn Hoffman was cleared by doctors to return as bench coach. He won’t coach third base until after the All-Star break.... Greg Miller, the 2003 Dodger minor league pitcher of the year, made his first appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery nearly two years ago, pitching two innings for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Dodgers.