One fan’s attempt at a different sort of cycle
Charlie Hamilton, the Boston Red Sox fan who’s cycling to every major league ballpark this summer to raise money for cancer research, reached No. 7 on his list Monday when he rolled into Petco Park.
Hamilton had been in San Diego for a few days, but the Padres were on the road. They returned Monday to play host to the Colorado Rockies.
“I took the tour a couple of days ago,” Hamilton said. “It’s pretty nice. The thing that struck me is that I’ve taken the tour at Fenway and the guy’s going, ‘This is where Ted Williams hit his final home run.’ Here, there’s no history yet.”
Petco Park opened on April 8, and the Padres played just their 23rd game there Monday night.
Hamilton has cycled 3,772 miles. His trip, which started at Atlanta’s Turner Field and will end at Fenway Park, is scheduled for 11,000 miles.
He hopes to net $125,000 for the Jimmy Fund, which raises money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. So far, he’s raised $5,000.
His trip is scheduled to end Sept. 26 at Fenway Park for Boston’s final home game, against the New York Yankees.
• The Red Sox collected money to buy food and medicine for flooding victims in the Dominican Republic, the homeland of stars Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.
More than 1,000 have been killed by floods near the Haitian border, and thousands more have been left homeless.
The team set aside an area inside the main gate for fans to contribute.
Prior to start Friday
Mark Prior will make his first start with the Chicago Cubs on Friday after spending the first two months of the season on the disabled list.
Prior, who’s been sidelined with an inflamed right Achilles’ tendon and sore right elbow, was impressive in his third rehab start Sunday when he allowed three hits and two runs while striking out 10 in 51/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa.
• Kerry Wood said Monday his injured triceps feels “pretty good” and that he expects to start throwing again by the end of the week.
Wood, who has been out since leaving a Cubs game May 11 in Los Angeles, said he had no timetable for his return.
Pettite back on DL
Andy Pettitte went back on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left forearm.
The Houston left-hander was hurt Wednesday during a game against the Chicago Cubs. He’s eligible to be activated June 11.
Pettitte also was disabled from April 7-29.
Garciaparra does well in rehab start
Nomar Garciaparra went 2 for 4 for Triple-A Pawtucket in his second minor league rehabilitation game.
Garciaparra singled in the first and third innings, walked in the fourth and left the game after fouling out in the sixth.