01:00 AM EDT on Monday, June 12, 2006

The Kansas City Royals turned a triple play -- with the help of an appeal call -- in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays yesterday at Kansas City, Mo.

With Aubrey Huff on third and Rocco Baldelli on first, Russell Branyan flied out to David DeJesus in shallow center. Huff came home on the play and Baldelli attempted to take second on the throw home, but was thrown out by pitcher Scott Elarton, who was backing up the throw to the plate.

Angel Berroa tagged out Baldelli and then threw to Mark Teahen at third base as the Royals claimed Huff had left early. Third base umpire Bob Davidson agreed with the appeal and ruled Huff out.

"He left a step early," Teahen said. "It wasn't even close. He definitely left early."

It was the Royals' sixth triple play in franchise history, and the first since April 3, 1996 at Baltimore. It was the first triple play turned against the Devil Rays, who are in their ninth season.

Huff disputed the call.

"I didn't realize that was a triple play," Huff said. "That's how umimpressive that was. It's a joke. You've got to make sure, it has to really be obvious. It cost Branyan an RBI."

Devil Rays manager Joe Maddon argued with Davidson, but to no avail.

"Huff didn't do anything wrong," Maddon said. "He tagged appropriately and did not leave early. That triple play totally stands out because of the uniqueness. I can't imagine there has ever been a triple play like that with that combination of numbers (8-1-6-5 in the scorebook)."

ROUNDUP HANLEY GETS HURT: Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez had to be helped off the field after he tumbled into the stands while chasing a ball in the fifth inning of yesterday's game against the San Diego Padres. Ramirez, left fielder Cody Ross and third baseman Miguel Cabrera converged on Josh Bard's single, which bounced just inside the left-field line. Ross fielded it on one hop, then his feet got tangled with Ramirez's, and their bodies bumped. Ramirez hit the short wall and tumbled backward into the stands. He was tended to for a few minutes, then helped off the field.

DEJEAN IS DONE: Colorado Rockies reliever Mike DeJean will have season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to be sidelined six to eight months. The announcement came yesterday after Colorado's medical staff exhausted other means to treat the 35-year-old right-hander's shoulder. "My arm was sliding and I can feel it slide now," DeJean said. "The quickest way for me to get back on the mound is to have my shoulder fixed now."

BURNETT BEGINS REHAB: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher A.J. Burnett will make a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse today instead of Single-A Dunedin because rain is expected in Florida. Burnett will pitch for the SkyChiefs against the New York Yankees' top affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. Burnett, who is on the 60-day disabled list with a right elbow injury, will be limited to 70-80 pitches in the rehab start, his first time throwing in a game since April 21. The right-hander will then be eligible to come off the DL and make his next start for the Blue Jays in Atlanta on June 22.