Interleague play led to some interesting greetings Friday night at AT&T Park.
Former Sox outfielder Aaron Rowand playfully called Sox hitting coach Greg Walker a “hillbilly” before hugging Walker and eventually visiting the Sox’s clubhouse before the game.
A.J. Pierzynski was amused to return to San Francisco on the same day that Giants managing partner Peter Magowan announced he was retiring at the end of the 2008 season.
“I know he did introduce himself to me in spring training like I didn’t know who he was, which was kind of interesting,” Pierzynski said with a smirk before the game.
“I guess things didn’t work out for him either.”
Pierzynski managed to get into a tiff with a Giants publicist during batting practice, and then was greeted sharply with boos during pregame introductions and during his first at-bat.
When the game began, the Giants quickly took advantage of the Sox’s failure to hold runners.
Fred Lewis led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second base easily and advanced to third when Pierzynski’s throw sailed into center field for an error.
But Floyd, coming off his worst outing of the season at Seattle, retired the next three batters while stranding Lewis at third with Rowand on deck.
Floyd and Rowand were teammates in Philadelphia in 2006 and Floyd was the pitcher when Rowand crashed face-first into the Citizens Bank Park fence to make a phenomenal catch.
But Floyd gave his former mate a less-than-warm greeting, hitting Rowand in his first two plate appearances.
“I spent eight years in the [Sox] organization and know all these guys so well,” Rowand said.
“I came up with these guys. It’s exciting, not so much to play against them but to see them.”
Rowand wasn’t about to give any advice to former teammate Joe Crede, who is destined to explore free agency at the end of 2008.
“He knows what he’s doing,” Rowand said.
“He’s going to make a ton of money, no matter where he is because he’s one of the best third basemen in the league.”
The Sox were playing short-handed because of second baseman Juan Uribe’s right hamstring strain that probably will sideline him through at least Saturday.
Guillen said he is considering giving seldom-used Pablo Ozuna a start at second.
Jim Thome, the all-time leader in interleague play with 53 home runs, did not start. He likely will be relegated to pinch-hitting in the three games vs. the Giants.
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For Friday night’s late Sox-Giants result, go to chicagotribune.com/sports
