Notebook: Giants take double shot
Outfielder Fred Lewis and catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, two San Francisco players injured in Friday’s wild game, were placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with injuries that could take significant time to heal.
Lewis has a strained muscle in his right side and was headed for an MRI exam Saturday, while Alfonzo – injured in a collision at the plate with Oakland pinch-runner Donnie Murphy in the 10th inning to save a run – has a sprained ligament in his left knee that could require surgery and end his season.
“Whew,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
When Alfonzo was forced to leave the game with an injury to the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee, Bochy had no remaining position players on the bench. So, he moved third baseman Pedro Feliz to catcher, starting lefty pitcher Noah Lowry to right field and center fielder Randy Winn to third. Dan Ortmeier went from right field to center.
Pierzynski suspended
Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski was suspended for one game by Major League Baseball for his conduct during a game against the New York Yankees earlier this week.
After striking out in the eighth inning Thursday, Pierzynski pounded the plate in disgust with his bat and then said something to home plate umpire Bob Davidson, who ejected him. Pierzynski then flipped his helmet back at the plate.
Pierzynski appealed the suspension and was in the lineup against Houston, but said he might sit out today in the finale of the series.
Navarro returns
Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro was back with the team and was in uniform, one day after being hit in the throat by an errant pitch and taken to a hospital.
Navarro was released from Broward General Hospital after spending a few hours there following Friday night’s game, the team said.
A sixth-inning pitch from Brian Stokes landed short of the plate and bounced under Navarro’s mask during the game against the Florida Marlins. The catcher dropped to the ground in pain, holding his neck and left on a stretcher.
Clearing the bases
Atlanta Braves veteran right-hander John Smoltz will miss his scheduled start today against the Chicago Cubs with inflammation in his right shoulder. The team recalled pitcher Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A Richmond to start against the Cubs. … The Philadelphia Phillies placed right-hander Freddy Garcia on the 15-day disabled list because of a right shoulder strain and signed Jose Mesa to a major league contract. … Brian Tracy, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from UC Santa Barbara and the son of Pirates manager Jim Tracy, was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 20th round of the baseball draft.