Baseball notes: Bryce Harper hits three home runs in rehab game

Washington outfielder Bryce Harper hit three home runs and drove in five runs Saturday for double-A Harrisburg in a minor league rehabilitation game against Akron. The Nationals are optimistic the 2012 NL rookie of the year, on the disabled list since April because of a torn ligament in his left thumb, will return early next week.

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Pittsburgh pitcher Gerrit Cole, on the DL since June 4 because of right shoulder fatigue, was activated and started against the Mets, giving up all New York’s runs in four innings as the Pirates lost, 5-3. . . . Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, on the DL since May 11 because of right knee inflammation, allowed two runs and three hits over 2 1/3 innings for Class-A Tampa in his first rehab game. . . . Oakland right fielder Josh Reddick re-aggravated a right knee injury and left Saturday’s game at Miami in the fourth inning. . . . Boston promoted it top prospect, outfielder Mookie Betts, from Pawtucket, and sent right-hander Rubby De La Rosa to the triple-A club. Betts is expected to make his major league debut Sunday night in Yankee Stadium.