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After five subpar performances for the Salt Lake Bees, the Los Angeles Angels released left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir on Wednesday.
Kazmir, who lasted only an inning and a third against Sacramento, allowed six runs. He was 0-5 with a 17.02 earned-run average in 151⁄3 innings pitched.
"The progress we needed to see, we hadn't," said L.A. Angels general manager Tony Reagins, in Salt Lake City. "He feels the same way. He's not comfortable on the mound right now. Really, to go out and see him, hadn't seen him pitch in a while. You can just tell he's not comfortable on mound. We made a decision as an organization today to give him his release."
The 27-year-old Kazmir, 66-61 lifetime for the Tampa Bay Rays and Angels, was 9-15 in 2010 with a 5.94 ERA. His was traded to Los Angeles late in 2009.
Barry Bonds wants acquittal or new trial
Barry Bonds' attorneys filed a motion Wednesday asking a judge to change Bonds' obstruction of justice conviction to an acquittal or schedule a new trial.
Bonds was convicted of obstructing a grand jury's steroids investigation by giving an evasive answer during questioning in 2003. The trial ended in April with a hung jury on three perjury counts along with the conviction on the single obstruction count.
His lawyers argue he was unfairly convicted of "unauthorized rambling" in discussing being a celebrity child when asked whether his trainer ever injected him with a syringe. They insist Bonds answered the question directly during further questioning.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston scheduled a hearing for July 1.
Staff and wire reports