Ken Griffey Jr. grounded out as a pinch-hitter Tuesday night in the Cincinnati Reds’ 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, his first game since he dislocated his right shoulder April 5 against the Cubs.
“I had one shot and that was it,” Griffey said. “I don’t like pinch-hitting. Fortunately this is just to get me back in there so I can go out there and play.”
Manager Bob Boone said Griffey will likely start every other day for a while.
“We’ll have to baby him pretty much in the early going,” Boone said. “He’s got to see some pitches.”
Meanwhile, Reds shortstop Barry Larkin reinjured his left calf while running the bases in the second inning and was removed for a pinch-runner. He will be evaluated Wednesday.
Giants score on bizarre play
The San Francisco Giants scored a run on an infield fly during a four-run fifth inning against Montreal. With Montreal ahead 4-3, the bases loaded and one out, Giants slugger Barry Bonds popped up the ball between the mound and home plate.
Plate umpire Jim Joyce signaled an infield fly, meaning Bonds was out and runners could advance at their own risk after the ball either was caught, or dropped and touched. The ball fell on the infield grass in front of home plate, between catcher Michael Barrett, pitcher Dan Smith and third baseman Fernando Tatis.
Neifi Perez tagged up at third and ran home after Tatis picked up the ball and touched home, apparently thinking it was a force play. The Expos were chatting, with their backs to the plate, as Perez scored.
Marrero on DL, out 2 months
The Cardinals placed outfielder and backup catcher Eli Marrero on the 15-day disabled list. Marrero had surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his right ankle Tuesday and will be out at least two months, team physician George Paletta said.
TUESDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Arizona 6 at Philadelphia 1
W: Koplove (1-0)
L: Mesa (1-3)
Quinton McCracken hit 2-out RBI single off Jose Mesa that drove in go-ahead run in 5-run 9th. Phillies starter Kevin Millwood struck out 11 in 7 innings. Since April 17, he is 3-0 with 1.80 ERA.
Houston 6 at Pittsburgh 3
W: Munro (3-1)
L: Williams (0-2)
S: Wagner (9)
Richard Hidalgo hit 3-run double just out of reach of RF Rob Mackowiak in 9th. Astros, who beat Pirates for 10th straight time, have 57-17 scoring edge in 8th and 9th innings this season.
Cincinnati 7 at St. Louis 2
W: Wilson (2-3)
L: Simontacchi (1-3)
Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn each hit 2-run homers in 1st inning. Reds have won 7 of 8 to move above .500 for the first time since last Aug. 21. Edgar Renteria leads NL with 19 multihit games.
N.Y. Mets 8 at Colorado 9
W: Reed (3-1)
L: Cerda (0-1)
S: Jimenez (9)
Todd Helton scored go-ahead run on wild pitch by Jaime Cerda to cap Rockies’ improbable comeback. They trailed 7-0 after 6 innings but scored 4 runs in 7th and 5 in 8th.
Florida 5 at San Diego 6
W: Herges (1-0)
L: Looper (3-2)
Ramon Vazquez singled in winning run in 10th inning. San Diego’s Matt Herges worked out of bases-loaded jam in 10th. Mike Lowell homered twice for the Marlins, including tying shot in 8th.
Atlanta 3 at Los Angeles 1
W: Ortiz (5-2)
L: Quantrill (0-2)
S: Smoltz (16)
Gary Sheffield hit tie-breaking homer in 8th inning and Russ Ortiz outpitched Kazuhisa Ishii. The Braves have won the last 70 games in which John Smoltz has pitched, a major-league record.
Montreal 6 at San Francisco 4
W: Smith (2-1)
L: Ainsworth (3-1)
S: Biddle (10)
Vladimir Guerrero broke 0-for-13 slide by going 3-for-4 with tie-breaking, 2-run homer. Expos 9 games over .500 for 1st time since July 1997. Montreal turned 5 double plays, tying team record.
