Baseball

Giles' return to be later than expected

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates won't have leftfielder Brian Giles back as soon as they hoped.

Manager Lloyd McClendon said Wednesday it's unlikely Giles, out with a sprained right knee, will be ready to play during a 10-game road trip that begins Tuesday in San Diego.

Giles has been out since hurting his knee sliding into second base April 10 against Milwaukee. He is yet to resume batting practice or running with the quick starts and sudden stops required to run the bases or play the outfield.

The impact of Giles' absence on the offense has been obvious, even though he had no homers and four RBIs when he was hurt. Pittsburgh hit two homers during the first 10 games of his layoff, though it won four times.

"I know he's eager to get back in there, but we're going to be careful," McClendon said. "We're not going to rush him back two or three games early and run the risk of losing him for two-to-three weeks. He'll come back when he's 100 percent healthy."

Giles could be ready to resume some onfield work this weekend.

A'S: Former Rays reliever Jim Mecir was activated from the 15-day disabled list. The right-hander had offseason surgery on a tendon in his left knee.

CUBS: Closer Antonio Alfonseca is scheduled to go to Triple-A Iowa on Friday to begin a rehabilitation outing and could be activated next week. The right-hander has been on the disabled list since March 21 with a strained right hamstring.

EXPOS: Second baseman Jose Vidro apologized for making an obscene gesture to a TV cameraman recording the team's bus before Montreal's home opener. Videotape of Vidro raising both middle fingers Tuesday night was shown repeatedly on two networks in Quebec.

GIANTS: With right-hander Jason Schmidt away from the team following his mother's death, San Francisco purchased right-hander Luis Estrella's contract from Triple-A Fresno.

METS: Right-hander David Cone and outfielder Jeromy Burnitz were placed on the 15-day disabled list and centerfielder Roger Cedeno was benched. Cone, 40, came out of Tuesday night's loss to Houston after two innings because of a sore left hip. Burnitz was hit on the left hand by a pitch from Billy Wagner and will be sidelined four to six weeks. Cedeno will be replaced by a platoon of Tsuyoshi Shinjo and Timo Perez.

ORIOLES: Outfielder Marty Cordova will have surgery to have bone chips removed from his right elbow and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.

RANGERS: Centerfielder Doug Glanville had surgery to repair a ruptured hamstring tendon behind his right knee and will be sidelined about four more weeks.

REDS: Cincinnati claimed left-hander Eric Cyr off waivers from the Angels and optioned him to Double-A Chattanooga. Right-hander Josias Manzanillo and left-hander Jimmy Anderson also accepted outright assignments to the minors.

YANKEES: Closer Mariano Rivera had his second extended spring training start pushed back one day to today. Rivera, who started the season on the disabled list with a right groin strain, allowed one hit during a scoreless inning in an extended spring game Monday against Toronto. The right-hander said his body ached a bit one day after his first outing in almost a month. ... Shortstop Derek Jeter made throws to first base for the first time since dislocating his left shoulder. He is set to begin swinging a bat Friday. ... Right-hander Antonio Osuna joined fellow relievers Rivera and Steve Karsay on the disabled list a day after straining his right groin. New York purchased the contract of right-hander Al Reyes from Triple-A Columbus.

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