BASEBALL NOTES

Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews, 68, hospitalized in La Jolla for the past month because of a heart problem, has improved enough to be moved out of intensive care . . . Minnesota Manager Tom Kelly has agreed to a one-year contract extension to return for a 15th season with the Twins. Kelly has the longest tenure of any major league manager, even though the Twins have eight consecutive losing seasons. . . . The Dodgers are expected to grant the Kansas City Royals permission to interview minor league manager Tom Gamboa for a coaching position. . . . The Royals will not renew bullpen coach Tom Burgmeier’s contract. . . . Houston outfielder Richard Hidalgo and infielder Bill Spiers underwent minor arthroscopic surgery. Hidalgo had infected tissue removed from his left knee, and Spiers had surgery on a bone spur in his non-throwing left shoulder.