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Tampa Bay Devil Rays: Right-hander Rob Bell allowed one run over two innings in an extended spring training game Monday, his first since being placed on the 15-day disabled list because of what the team called "personal and psychological issues."

Bell went on the disabled list May 14, four days after he pitched against the White Sox. He faced one batter and walked him on five pitches, including two that reached the backstop.

In Monday's game against Toronto minor-leaguers, Bell allowed two hits. He walked three, including two on close 3-2 pitches.

"I felt comfortable," Bell said. "You still feel a little bit rusty going out there and competing in a game situation. I feel like it was a step in the right direction."

Bell threw 20 of 35 pitches for strikes. He is scheduled to pitch in another extended spring game Saturday.

"I feel pretty happy about the way things went," Bell said. "I wasn't as sharp as I wanted to be physically. Mentally, I felt a lot more sharp and a lot more at ease with myself."

Bell is 1-1 with an 8.28 ERA this season. He has been a long reliever since being dropped from the rotation April 20.

Texas Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals: The Rangers have traded right-handed pitcher Vladimir Nunez to St. Louis for a player to be named.

Nunez, a seven-year major-league veteran, appeared in 17 games for Triple-A Oklahoma this season. He was 1-1 with four saves and a 4.91 ERA before being traded Sunday.

In seven seasons with Arizona, Florida and Colorado, Nunez had a career record of 20-32 with a 4.83 ERA in 229 games, most of those as a reliever. He appeared in 22 games for the Rockies last season.

Nunez signed as a free agent with the Rangers in November.

Milwaukee Brewers: Ned Yost Jr. donned his dad's jersey to field groundballs after signing a free-agent contract. The 22-year-old son of the Brewers' manager will report to the club's extended spring training camp in Phoenix on Thursday to prepare for a stint at Helena, Mont., of the rookie Pioneer League following next month's amateur draft. Yost Jr., a catcher-turned-first baseman, took his father's advice to forget about the draft and get a jump-start on his professional career.

"I told him, like I would tell any young man, 'If you wait for the draft and you're not talking about that much money, then you might as well go ahead and play. Or you can sit and wait another month before you go and get started,'" Yost Sr. said.

Yost Jr. wasn't signed as a favor to his father. He had the Reds and Marlins wooing him, too.

"It has nothing to do with me," the manager said. "He earned his own way here."

The Brewers plan to try him out at first base, catcher and the outfield.

Neither Yost had any trepidation about him signing with the Brewers and following in his father's footsteps.

"No, because nothing's certain for any of us here," the manager said. "I mean, this isn't anything predicated on what I'm doing. It's what he's doing. And he did have other teams interested in him, but the Brewers stepped up and they gave him a cheeseburger and french fries for a signing bonus and he ate it up and was happy."

Houston Astros: The team called up left-hander Wandy Rodriguez from Triple-A Round Rock and sent right-hander Mike Burns back to the minor-league club.

Rodriguez started Monday night's game against the Cubs in place of Andy Pettitte, who has tightness in his left forearm.

Rodriguez, the third pitcher to make his major-league debut for Houston this season, was 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA in eight starts for Round Rock.

Burns was 0-0 in four relief appearances with a 10.13 ERA.

Colorado Rockies: Right-hander Shawn Chacon left the Rockies' game against the Brewers in the top of the fifth inning with a sprained ankle.

Chacon, who reached on a fielder's choice bunt, jammed his right ankle on the first base bag during a pickoff attempt by Milwaukee pitcher Chris Capuano that was ruled a balk, allowing a runner to score.

Chacon went to second base but summoned the trainer and was replaced by pinch-runner Jamey Wright.

Right-hander Blaine Neal replaced Chacon in the bottom of the inning.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press