After watching Juan Pierre play for 1,700 consecutive innings, Marlins manager Jack McKeon figured his center fielder needed a break.
Pierre, who missed most of spring training with a calf injury, was not in Florida’s starting lineup against Washington on Saturday–marking the first time since April 30, 2003, a span of 299 games, that his name wasn’t atop the Marlins’ batting order.
“We figured it was time to give him a day,” McKeon said. “Let’s have him for the whole season. … He wants to play, but we want him for the whole year. We’ve got a good ballclub. We’ll start giving a few of these guys a day off.”
Pierre entered Saturday’s game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning.
Report: Bonds sticks with trainer
Giants star Barry Bonds, sidelined with a knee injury, is working out regularly under the supervision of his longtime friend and weight trainer Greg Anderson, who is awaiting trial in the BALCO steroids case on charges of distributing performance-enhancing drugs to elite athletes, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Bonds’ attorney, Michael Rains, said he has had several conversations with the outfielder in the past year and a half, advising him against continuing to train with Anderson.
Extra innings
The Rockies acquired right-hander Jose Acevedo from the Reds for reliever Allan Simpson and planned to option Acevedo to Triple-A Colorado Springs. . . . The Diamondbacks placed former closer Greg Aquino, currently replaced by Brandon Lyon, on the 15-day disabled list with an ulnar nerve irritation and recalled reliever Oscar Villarreal from Triple-A Tucson.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Philadelphia 10 at St. Louis 4
W: Floyd (1-0)
L: Suppan (0-1)
Phillies rookie Gavin Floyd allowed 1 run and 3 hits in 7 innings and Pat Burrell was 4-for-5 with 3-run HR and 5 RBIs. Cardinals starter Jeff Suppan gave up 10 hits and 6 runs in 4-plus innings.
Colorado 2 at San Francisco 4
W: Eyre (1-0)
L: Dohmann (0-1)
S: Benitez (2)
Michael Tucker hit 1st career grand slam with 2 outs in 8th to lift Giants after Rockies starter Jamey Wright had taken 3-hit shutout into inning. Armando Benitez picked up 2nd save.
Washington 3 at Florida 2
W: C. Cordero (2-0)
L: Alfonseca (0-1)
Jose Guillen hit 2-out HR in 10th and Ryan Church and Vinny Castilla also hit solo HRs for Nationals. Carlos Delgado’s 1st HR in Marlins uniform with 2 outs in 9th off Chad Cordero created 2-2 tie.
New York 3 at Atlanta 6
W: Bernero (2-0)
L: Heilman (0-1)
Braves starter Horacio Ramirez shut down Mets until 5th inning, when Jose Reyes hit HR with 1 out. After 2 more hits scored another run, Ramirez left, 1 out short of qualifying for win.
Cincinnati 3 at Houston 4
W: Lidge (1-0)
L: R. Wagner (0-1)
PH Jose Vizcaino hit RBI double with no outs in 9th, completing Astros’ rally from 3-run deficit. Jeff Bagwell hit Houston’s 1st HR of season in 6th and 2 batters later Jason Lane hit 2-run shot.
Los Angeles at Arizona, late
Starters: Erickson (0-0) vs. Vazquez (0-1)
Diamondbacks’ RH Javier Vazquez trying to bounce back from rough debut Monday vs. Cubs. Vazquez, acquired in Randy Johnson deal, gave up 7 runs and 10 hits in just 1 2/3 innings.
Pittsburgh 3 at San Diego 11
W: Williams (1-0)
L: Perez (0-2)
Xavier Nady had 4 hits, including a home run, and drove in 4 runs as he raised his batting average to .444 with 9 RBIs. Mark Loretta added 3 hits in the Padres’ 13-hit attack.
