Pirates outfielder Brian Giles took the field with a heavy heart Thursday night.
Giles was in the lineup one night after learning his infant niece had died of complications following an infection. The baby girl, who weighed one pound and was born 26 weeks premature, died less than three weeks after birth.
The infant, named Lundyn Mae Giles, was the first child of Atlanta Braves second baseman Marcus Giles and his wife, Tracy. Marcus is Brian Giles' younger brother.
"They are doing the best they can," Giles said. "Obviously, it's a difficult situation. I can't imagine what they are going through. I have two kids myself. But we have a strong family and a close family, and we will get through this."
Marcus and his wife plan to bury the infant in their native San Diego on Monday. Brian Giles will fly home following the Pirates' game Sunday and will return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Pirates have a scheduled day off Monday.
Giles learned at 3 p.m. Wednesday that his niece was having complications. His wife, Doddie, received word of the baby's death at 6 p.m. She elected not to tell Brian until after the game.
"It was an emotional night for him," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "But he's doing a little better today."
Giles decided against leaving the team this week to be with his family.
"I'm grieving for him, his wife and the baby, but I've got a job to do," he said. "If he needed me there now, he would tell me. He knows I need to be here and play. I'll see him Sunday."
BEIMEL BUMPED
Left-hander Joe Beimel "in all likelihood" will have his next turn in the rotation skipped, McClendon said. The decision is a byproduct of the scheduled off day Monday and isn't necessarily related to performance. Beimel allowed two runs in five innings Wednesday night. In three starts, he is 1-0 with a 3.60 earned run average.
McClendon decided yesterday that he wanted to keep the other four starters on a regular schedule. Beimel, scheduled to start Tuesday, will be replaced by Kris Benson, who will be working on his customary fifth day. Benson will be followed by Kip Wells and Jimmy Anderson in the home series against the Montreal Expos.
Beimel will be available to pitch out of the bullpen either Saturday or Sunday, McClendon said.
MANZY ON THE MOUND
Right-handed reliever Josias Manzanillo could begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in a few days after seeing rapid improvement in his velocity yesterday while throwing a bullpen session before the game.
Manzanillo said he threw between 25 and 30 pitches.
"I'm a happy man," he said. "I see a better sign."
Manzanillo had a bone chip removed from his right elbow May 7. He had his throwing program curtailed by a dead-arm phase that robbed some life from his fastball.
"This one was a lot better," he said. "It was good, extremely good."
TAKING WHAT'S LEFT
For the first time since he was asked to abandon switch-hitting June 1, Adrian Brown batted from the left side Wednesday night during a ninth-inning pinch-hitting appearance. He grounded out to short.
Brown batted left-handed upon McClendon's recommendation. The order was given because Oakland Athletics right-hander Chad Bradford, a submarine-style pitcher, traditionally is not a good match for right-handed hitters.
"I've never said AB is done hitting from the left side," McClendon said. "I just gave him a break. It was becoming overwhelming. I thought his at-bat was OK. He hit the ball with some authority."
