Martinez’s start pushed back
around the horn
Pedro Martinez had a cortisone shot in his right hip and was pushed back in the New York Mets’ rotation to Sunday’s Subway Series finale against the New York Yankees.
Martinez, who had been scheduled to pitch Friday’s opener, felt soreness in the hip during his last two starts. He was given the shot Tuesday.
“Without a doubt, I felt a little uncomfortable out there,” Martinez said Wednesday. “It was just getting a little worse.”
Victor Zambrano (2-3) will start in the opener against Kevin Brown (2-4). Kris Benson (1-1) will pitch Saturday against Randy Johnson (4-2), and Martinez (4-1) will face Carl Pavano (3-2) on Sunday.
Bonds fights infection
San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds had an IV removed, but will need to keep taking oral antibiotics to fight an infection in his troublesome right knee.
Bonds had been on intravenous antibiotics for two weeks after having a third surgery on his knee to clear out an infection. He switched to oral antibiotics as scheduled after being cleared by Dr. Arthur J. Ting, who performed the latest surgery.
Kolb loses closer job
Danny Kolb (1-4) was moved out of the closer’s role by Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, a day after the right-hander was charged with his third blown save and his fourth loss.
“We’re going to put Kolb in the middle somewhere for a while and let him work on some stuff,” Cox said before the Braves’ game against San Diego. “We’ll do the closing by matchups and whoever’s rested and things like that.”
Clearing the bases
Colorado closer Chin-hui Tsao‘s return date from the disabled list is in doubt after an MRI revealed a possible torn labrum in his right shoulder. … Cleveland outfielder Coco Crisp was placed on the 15-day DL after spraining his right thumb while sliding into third base. Jody Gerut, who hasn’t played in the majors since tearing a knee ligament in September, was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to replace Crisp. … Arizona placed closer Brandon Lyon on the 15-day DL with mild tendinitis.
Associated Press