Pujols, Perez feud comes to end
Albert Pujols feels he made his point to Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Oliver Perez when he homered against him last week.
When Pujols homered in a 12-4 loss at Pittsburgh on April 18, the St. Louis Cardinals’ star flipped his bat with disdain. When he hit his major league-leading 12th homer on Monday, another drive off Perez, Pujols set his bat down and sprinted around the bases
Pujols said his theatrics in Pittsburgh had been a reaction to Perez making a celebratory dance after retiring him in the previous at-bat.
“I got real upset and I told the guys, ‘I’m going to hit the next ball and I’m going to hit it a long way, but don’t look at the ball, look at where the bat is going to land,’ ” Pujols said Tuesday. “He’s disrespecting the game when you start pointing and looking when you strike somebody out.”
Both players considered the matter behind them.
“I don’t think I need to show him up again,” Pujols said. “If anybody in the game shows me, be ready because I always remember that. I just believe if you do it, don’t try to look at the player, don’t try to look into the dugout, just do your thing.”
Perez said he meant no harm in Pittsburgh.
“I just have fun in the field, I don’t try to intimidate anybody,” Perez said. “So some people, they think I do something against him or something.
“That’s how I play my baseball.”
“St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen was not in the Cardinals’ starting lineup after visiting a doctor for a bout of bronchitis.
Helton diagnosed
Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton, who was hospitalized last week with stomach cramps and a fever, has been diagnosed with an intestinal problem.
The team said the slugger has acute terminal ileitis, an inflammation near the end of the small intestine. Team internist Dr. Allen Schreiber said he has prescribed more rest for the five-time All-Star before having Helton begin light exercise.
Helton was placed on the disabled list retroactive to April 20 and will not be eligible to return to the active roster until May 5.
Mitchell interviews under way
Baseball investigators have started interviews in the steroids investigation headed by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
“We’ve begun the process,” Mitchell said before a speech at the University of Southern Maine on globalism and its impact on America. “A team of lawyers and investigators are in the process of conducting interviews. We’re going to follow the evidence wherever it leads.”
Clearing the bases
Nationals right-hander John Patterson will miss his next scheduled start because of a strained flexor muscle in his right forearm. … Devil Rays left fielder Carl Crawford missed Tuesday night’s game against the New York Yankees to attend his grandmother’s funeral in Houston. … Brad Eldred, among the Pirates’ top hitting prospects, will be sidelined at least four months after surgery for injuries to his left thumb. … Blue Jays minor league pitcher Edward Rodriguez was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.