Rays/MLB

NL: Nomar nearly ready to go

By Wire services
Published April 20, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Nomar Garciaparra's long-awaited Dodgers debut may come Saturday.

The team sent the converted first baseman on a two-day rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday night. The plan is to let Garciaparra play about six innings tonight and get at least three at-bats, then play for a longer stretch Friday.

"He hasn't felt any pain whatsoever, and that's why we're turning him loose," manager Grady Little said.

BONDS RESTS: Leftfielder Barry Bonds was not in the Giants' starting lineup against Arizona. Manager Felipe Alou gave Bonds a night off after he played six straight days and said his slugger likely would be back in the lineup in the series finale tonight.

GERUT HEARING: Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield is scheduled to attend an arbitrator's hearing in Pittsburgh today on outfielder Jody Gerut's injury grievance. The team put Gerut on the minor-league suspended list last week after he declined to report to Triple-A Indianapolis, citing a right knee injury. The Pirates aren't paying his $875,000 salary or travel expenses involving surgery.

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 02:08:27]