Giants put a delay in L.A.’s plans
Kirk Rueter pitched seven strong innings and the San Francisco Giants defeated Los Angeles 4-2 on Friday night at Los Angeles, preventing the Dodgers from clinching their first National League West title since 1995.
The Giants remained tied with the Astros in the wild-card race. Houston defeated Colorado 4-2.
J.T. Snow homered and former Dodger Marquis Grissom doubled home two runs for the Giants. The Giants need a sweep of the three-game series to either force a one-game playoff or win the division based on a 10-9 season record against the Dodgers – if Houston loses at least once.
Rueter (9-12) gave up homers to Olmedo Saenz in the fifth and Steve Finley in the seventh, but allowed just one other hit, struck out one and walked one in seven innings to beat the Dodgers for the first time in four games this season.
Dustin Hermanson recorded three outs for his 17th save.
Stone’s comments anger Cubs
WGN-TV analyst Steve Stone met with Chicago Cubs president Andy MacPhail, general manager Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker after the broadcaster questioned managerial strategy and criticized the team’s approach.
During a postgame TV show Thursday, Stone wondered about Baker’s moves in the 12th inning of a 2-1 loss to the Reds.
Later that night, he went on a talk show on WGN radio and criticized the team for making excuses. WGN and the Cubs are both owned by the same company, Tribune Co.
Stone, in his 20th year as a Cubs broadcaster, is a former pitcher with the Cubs who won the Cy Young Award for Baltimore in 1980 when he went 25-7.
His comments have angered several players during the season. Reliever Kent Mercker called the booth during one August game to complain.
Man who ended up with Bonds’ 700th can sell it
A judge declared Steve Williams – the man who ended up with Barry Bonds’ 700th home run ball – the lawful owner, freeing him to sell it immediately.
San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Ronald Quidachay’s decision came after a 90-minute hearing, which included six lawyers repeatedly replaying footage of the home run and the 80-second melee at SBC Park for the ball, valued by analysts at more than $100,000.
“I’m going to sell it as soon as possible,” Williams, a 26-year-old mortgage-broker assistant from Pacifica, told reporters after the hearing.
Angels, Guillen reach financial settlement
Outfielder Jose Guillen and the Anaheim Angels reached a financial settlement to resolve the grievance filed after the team recently suspended him without pay for the rest of the season.
The sides agreed that Guillen will not rejoin the Angels for the remainder of the regular season. Guillen’s penalty was reduced from seven days without pay to two days without pay, according to two people in baseball with knowledge of the settlement who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Guillen had a salary of $2.2 million this season, so seven days would have cost him $84,153.01. Now he will lose $24,043.72.
Giambi expected to make postseason roster
New York Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi likely will make the postseason roster.
It would be a “long shot” that Giambi would be left off, manager Joe Torre said before a game with Toronto.
Torre also said right-hander Kevin Brown will start today. Brown missed three weeks after breaking his left hand when he punched a clubhouse wall Sept. 3.
Brown returned last Sunday at Fenway Park and was hit hard by the rival Boston Red Sox, giving up four runs and six hits in the first inning.