NL notes: Wendell upset by racism accusation

A headline in Sunday's New York Post accused Phillies reliever Turk Wendell, a former Met, of being a racist for remarks he made about Danny Almonte, the pitcher from the Bronx whose records in the Little League World Series were erased when a birth certificate from the Dominican Republic revealed he was 14.

Wendell's quote: "I thought it was kind of funny. Here's a kid playing in the Little League World Series for an American team, holding an American flag, and he can't even speak English. I was like, `No way, he can't speak English?' "

In the column reacting to those remarks, Tom Keegan wrote that "Wendell pulled a John Rocker ... and he got away with it."

Wendell was offended.

"Anybody who knows me knows I'm not a racist," Wendell said. "That's stupid. I thought it was kind of funny that this was a team representing the U.S. and the kid only speaks Spanish. I think if there was a team representing Venezuela, and none of the kids on that team spoke Spanish, that it would make people curious. I don't know how you get racism out of that.

"Now I have to prove myself innocent and I didn't do anything. It's ridiculous."

Accounts from those close to the Mets said Wendell was one of the first players to befriend Masato Yoshii, a Japanese pitcher whose career in the United States started in New York in 1998. Wendell said that he was also close with Mets outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo, another Japanese player, and that he considered the Mets' Dominican-born closer, Armando Benitez, to be among his best friends.

Atlanta: Tom Glavine's parents — Fred and Millie — drove to Montreal from their home in Billerica, Mass., a five-hour trip, to watch him pitch. He threw a complete game shutout.

Cincinnati: The Reds called up C Corky Miller from Class AAA Louisville to fill in for Kelly Stinnett, who has a sore elbow.

Colorado: Bay Area baseball fans are familiar with two of the Rockies' starters yesterday. Jose Ortiz and Mario Encarnacion couldn't crack the Oakland A's roster this season, and both were traded to Colorado in the three-team deal that sent Jermaine Dye to Oakland in July. ... The Rockies salvaged a split of their four-game series with just their fourth victory in 22 games in San Francisco.

Florida: Marlins 3B Mike Lowell missed the game awaiting the birth of his first child. ... Four Marlins pitchers combined to walk nine. ... Florida's Kevin Millar extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the eighth. ... Cliff Floyd is hitless in his last 22 at-bats.

Houston: Villone was making his second spot start for the Astros. This time, he filled in for Carlos Hernandez, who has a stiff shoulder and neck. ... Moises Alou went 0 for 2 with two walks, lowering his average to .346.

Los Angeles: Manager Jim Tracy said the Dodgers are considering going to a four-man rotation for the stretch run. RHP Eric Gagne would be dropped from a rotation of Brown, Terry Adams, Chan Ho Park and James Baldwin, all right-handers.

Milwaukee: Richie Sexson tied his career high with four hits. He is 9 for 16 (.562) with 9 RBI in four games against Pittsburgh since Aug. 27.

Montreal: The Expos will purchase RHP Bob Scanlan's contract from Class AAA Ottawa today, and C Brian Schneider and LF Brad Wilkerson will be recalled. Ottawa pitching coach Randy St. Claire also will join the Expos' staff.

Philadelphia: The Phillies had been 62-0 when leading after the eighth inning before blowing a two-run lead yesterday. ... Three days after saying he would not rest Bobby Abreu unless he was hurt, Bowa sat the slumping right fielder against lefthander Bruce Chen.

Pittsburgh: Aramis Ramirez had four singles against Milwaukee.

San Francisco: Barry Bonds' home run was the 552nd of his career, putting him 11 behind Reggie Jackson for seventh place on baseball's career list.

— Times news services