In a suit filed late Friday in New York Supreme Court in the Bronx, lawyers for Rodriguez say he was given an MRI on Oct. 11, 2012, that revealed an injury to his left hip joint. The suit said that Yankees physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad did not inform him of the tear and cleared him to continue playing, and accused them of medical malpractice.

As a result, the suit claims, Rodriguez further injured himself and also "sustained great pain, agony, injury, suffering, disability, hospitalization, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress." The suit also names New York-Presbyterian Hospital as a defendant.

The hospital and Ahmad may claim that the proper forum for Rodriguez's complaint is either Workman's Compensation or the grievance process of Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.

The union is attempting to overturn the 211-game suspension given to Rodriguez by MLB on Aug. 5 for alleged violations of its drug agreement and labor contract. The penalty was stayed pending a grievance filed by the union, and a hearing began Monday before arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, who is chairman of the three-man arbitration panel that includes a representative of management and the union. Barring a settlement, a decision is not expected until winter.


BENOIT CLARIFIES COMMENTS


Tigers closer Joaquin Benoit insists he meant no disrespect to the Oakland Athletics when he said he felt Detroit was "already on the verge of the World Series again" after a 3-2 victory in Game 1 of the AL division series.

Benoit said he clarified his comments with manager Jim Leyland, an old-school skipper who is all for confidence but also one for players keeping their mouths shut and handling their business with class.

"That message was taken the wrong way," Benoit said in the dugout before Saturday night's Game 2. "We went to the World Series last year, and what I was trying to say is, this is the feeling that we would like to have if we can go back to the World Series."

Nobody could have blamed Benoit for being a bit excited after Friday night's game. He retired the final four batters with three strikeouts on the way to his first career postseason save in front of a towel-waving sellout crowd of 48,401 in Oakland.


LONG TIME, NO SEE


The last time the Braves were at Dodger Stadium was nearly four months ago, while Los Angeles right fielder Yasiel Puig was completing his amazing first week in the majors. Atlanta second baseman Dan Uggla had three homers and five RBIs in the final two games of that four-game series to help the Braves earn a split.

At the time, Atlanta was 71/2 games up in the NL East, while the last-place Dodgers were 71/2 games off the pace in the West. Needless to say, the clubs took different routes to winning their respective division titles.

Game 3 in their best-of-five playoff series is set for Sunday in Los Angeles.

"I don't think there's ever been another season where one team in a series has been seven up and one's been seven down," Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. "But it's a long season and there's so many games that if you would have asked me at that point, I could have said: 'Yeah, that's pretty possible.'"

Dodgers fans will get their first opportunity Sunday to boo Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who beat out Puig for the final NL All-Star spot in online fan voting. Freeman had the better second half, batting .335 with 14 homers and 48 RBIs while Puig hit .273 with 11 homers and 23 RBIs in an identical 66 games after the break.

"He's made a lot of adjustments. Maybe he hasn't shown it numbers-wise, but he's made a ton of adjustments and he's become a much better ballplayer," Dodgers infielder Mark Ellis said. "He helps us win a ballgame every day by doing something. He can do so many things on the basepaths and so many things with his bat."


BYRD IS THE WORD


The Pirates were hoping for a key bat and a veteran presence when they acquired well-traveled outfielder Marlon Byrd just before the waiver deadline in August. The 36-year-old has proven to be even better than advertised.

Byrd hit .318 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 30 games for the Pirates and has kept it going in the playoffs. He hit a home run in the wild-card win over Cincinnati and scored twice in Game 2 of the NL division series against St. Louis.

Byrd's play has been so steady he's forced Jose Tabata and Garrett Jones to the bench. Tabata filled in capably in left field when Starling Marte was injured down the stretch and Jones hit .321 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 17 games against St. Louis this season.


TRAVEL TIME


Neither the Oakland Athletics nor the Detroit Tigers planned workouts for Sunday at Comerica Park given the overnight travel challenges awaiting them.

Game 2 of the AL division series was set for Saturday night in Oakland. Game 3 was Monday afternoon in Motown.

The A's were scheduled to land in Detroit sometime around 6 a.m. EDT on Sunday, depending on how long Game 2 took.

Oakland manager Bob Melvin will alter his club's typical pregame routine for a day game by taking batting practice Monday at Comerica.


YANKS REPORTEDLY OFFER GIRARDI


A person familiar with the negotiations says the New York Yankees have made a contract offer to manager Joe Girardi.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the offer was not announced.

Girardi's contract expires at the end of the month. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met with Girardion Monday and with the manager's agent, Steve Mandell, on Wednesday.

Girardi replaced Joe Torre after the 2007 season and was given a $7.8 million, three-year contract. He is completing a $9 million, three-year deal.

He has led the Yankees to a 564-408 record and a World Series title. Crippled by injuries, New York had its poorest season since 1992, missing the playoffs for the second time in 19 years and finishing tied for third in the AL East at 85-77.

Contributor: The Associated Press