Notebook: Atlanta tips cap to Bonds

Hank Aaron’s team paid tribute to baseball’s new home run king Tuesday night, though the Hammer wasn’t at Turner Field to congratulate Barry Bonds in person.

Before the opener of a three-game series against the Giants, the Braves replayed the videotaped message from Aaron that was shown in San Francisco last week after Bonds hit his 756th homer.

Aaron, a senior vice president with the Braves, was not at the game. The team said he headed out of town Tuesday and would not return to Atlanta until after the series.

Bonds watched Aaron’s tribute from the dugout and waved to the crowd when he was shown on the giant video board in center field.

Martinez progressing

Pedro Martinez pitched three perfect innings in his second rehabilitation start before allowing three runs in the fourth.

Martinez, who has been working his way back from right shoulder surgery in October, threw 60 pitches for the New York Mets’ rookie-level Gulf Coast League team in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and then another 20 fastballs in the bullpen.

Torres drops grievance

Pirates reliever Salomon Torres dropped his grievance that claimed the team induced him into signing a below-market contract last year with a promise to rent his baseball training complex in the Dominican Republic.

Torres argued he accepted less money than he could have made elsewhere because the Pirates led him to believe they would rent one of his two training centers.

He said there was an oral agreement that was not put into writing.

Tigers hit by flu

Second baseman Placido Polanco and outfielder Craig Monroe were sick with the flu and scratched from the Detroit Tigers’ series-opener against the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland.

Clearing the bases

Red Sox reliever Brendan Donnelly underwent “Tommy John” reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, sidelining him at least through most of next season. … Masumi Kuwata, the 39-year-old former Japanese star who finally reached his goal this season of pitching in the major leagues, was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates.