Baseball briefs

Bonds breaks record for intentional walks

San Francisco Barry Bonds received his 46th intentional walk Saturday, breaking Willie McCovey’s single-season record.

The Pittsburgh Pirates intentionally walked the San Francisco star three times, and the third free pass in the seventh loaded the bases. Benito Santiago followed with a grand slam that put the Giants up 8-3.

Bonds also drew intentional walks in the fourth inning though only the last pitch was purposely wide and the fifth.

McCovey received 45 intentional walks in 1969 while with the Giants.

Salmon leaves game after being hit by pitch

Toronto Anaheim Angels right fielder Tim Salmon left Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays after being hit on the left hand by a pitch from Steve Parris in the fourth inning.

X-rays taken at an area hospital were negative, and Salmon is listed as day to day with a bruised left hand.

After being hit, Salmon went to first base, but he did not take the field for the bottom half. Alex Ochoa took Salmon’s place in the outfield.

Mets place Alfonzo on 15-day disabled list

St. Louis New York Mets third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday because of a strained muscle in his left side.

The Mets made the move retroactive to last Sunday. Alfonzo was hitting .323 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs.

Infielder Marco Scutaro was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Alfonzo.

Lieberthal hits three homers against Dodgers

Los Angeles Philadelphia Phillies catcher Mike Lieberthal hit three home runs Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the second big league player to do it in one day.

Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa hit three homers at Colorado, tying Johnny Mize’s record of six career three-homer games.

Lieberthal connected in three successive at-bats. He led off the fourth and sixth innings with home runs against Hideo Nomo, then added his 12th of the season in the seventh against Giovanni Carrara. The Phillies and Dodgers were tied 8-8 at press time.

It was Lieberthal’s first career three-homer game.

Indians activate closer, send reliever to minors

Cleveland The Cleveland Indians activated closer Bob Wickman from the disabled list Saturday and optioned right-hander Sean DePaula to Triple-A Buffalo.

Wickman was sidelined with a strained muscle in his right forearm. It was his first stint on the disabled list in 11 seasons.

The right-hander is 0-3 with a 4.59 ERA and 20 saves in 22 chances this season.

Yankees’ Hernandez released from hospital

New York Yankees pitcher Orlando Hernandez was released from the hospital Saturday, diagnosed with a pinched nerve in his neck a day after he was forced to leave a start against Oakland because of numbness in his left leg.

Hernandez is expected to throw on the side today. The Yankees do not anticipate him missing a turn in the rotation.