Fellow alum gets Bonds’ 700 ball
The fan who retrieved Barry Bonds’ 700th home run attended the same private Catholic high school as the slugger – Serra High in nearby San Mateo, Calif.
Steven Williams, 25, was one year behind New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Williams, who now lives in Pacifica, Calif., used to be a junior college pitcher before blowing out his knee and being forced “to get a real job.”
He bought a standing-room-only ticket before Friday’s game and retrieved the ball from the bottom of a pile of crazy fans after Bonds’ solo shot in the third inning off San Diego’s Jake Peavy.
“I didn’t catch it. It rolled to me,” said Williams, now working for a mortgage broker. “My heart was thumping. I thought someone else had the ball in the pile. Someone then said, ‘You have to get off my legs, you’re hurting them.’ And the pile began to break up, and that’s when I saw the ball as it rolled by me. It was 4 inches from me, and I grabbed it.”
Martinez not making friends in NYC
Pedro Martinez, scheduled to start today’s series finale for the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees’ Mike Mussina, was both playful and sarcastic when he spoke to reporters following Boston’s 14-4 loss.
Asked whether interviews were challenging for him, he responded: “Yes, especially with the guys in New York, the town that loves to hate me.”
The teams brawled last fall at Fenway Park during Game 3 of the A.L. Championship Series, and Martinez threw 72-year-old Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer to the ground – intensifying an already charged rivalry.
He also got the game against the Yankees on July 2 off to a hot start, hitting Gary Sheffield in the back with a pitch in the opening inning and riling up the sellout crowd. New York ended up winning 5-4 in 13 innings – a game marked by one of Derek Jeter’s greatest plays, hurtling headfirst into the stands at full tilt for a catch that ended the 12th.
Martinez wouldn’t predict whether Boston, which trails the Yankees by 3 1/2 games, would win the A.L. East.
“I’m not sure, to be honest,” he said, smiling. “I don’t even know my numbers, to be honest. That’s how much I’m paying attention.” He did think Boston would make it to the playoffs.
“I think we’re going to clinch the wild card, just like you predicted,” he told reporters. “You don’t think we know how to read or watch TV?”
Francisco begins serving suspension
Frank Francisco, one of three Texas Rangers relievers suspended for their part in a bullpen brawl with fans in Oakland earlier this week, began serving his season-ending ban.
The right-hander had appealed the suspension and pitched one inning in the Rangers’ 9-5 loss to the Anaheim Angels on Friday night.
Francisco’s suspension is still under appeal, but the rookie decided to waive his right to continue playing while he’s awaiting the appeal hearing that will take place next Friday before Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer. Because he pitched Friday night, his suspension would carry over to opening day of next season if upheld.
Indians’ Gerut has torn ACL
Cleveland Indians outfielder Jody Gerut needs surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and could miss the start of next season.
Gerut was hurt in Friday night’s game against Kansas City running down Abraham Nunez’s hit into the right-field corner.
A’s bring up Johnson, Blanton, Lehr
The Oakland Athletics promoted first baseman Dan Johnson and right-handers Justin Lehr and Joe Blanton from Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League.
To make room on their roster, the A’s designated minor league catcher Mike Rivera for assignment.