Just a few days after walking out on his teammates, San Francisco pitcher Salomon Torres was in the middle of another controversy.
Torres hit Charlie Hayes in the face, fracturing his left cheekbone, in the Colorado Rockies' 6-4 win Saturday. Torres hit Andres Galarraga in the left arm one pitch earlier to open the fourth inning."When you start to throw the ball up and at somebody's head, maybe it's time to go back to Double-A and learn how to throw strikes," said Rockies manager Don Baylor, who had to restrain Hayes from charging the mound.
Hayes left the game and was taken to a hospital. He was to be re-evaluated Saturday night.
Torres (2-7), who left the Giants without approval earlier this week, said he didn't mean to hit either Galarraga or Hayes.
"I had pretty good control, except for the two guys I hit," he said. "I didn't mean to hit them, but that's part of the game. I don't regret anything. There's nothing I can do about it."
Hayes was down on the ground for about two minutes while the Rockies attended to him. He then popped up and tried to get at Torres, but was held in a bear-hug by Baylor. Hayes was escorted by Baylor to the clubhouse down the left-field line.
"I did all I could to get him out of there," Baylor said of Hayes. "If Charlie is running around after Torres, he could have gotten into more trouble. I wasn't going to turn him loose."
Galarraga, who later hit his 21st home run of the year to finish Torres, said he didn't think he was being thrown at intentionally but questioned the pitch to Hayes.
"You don't have to throw it that high," Galarraga said. "A guy could die."
Torres said he understood Hayes' reaction, but maintained his innocence.
Torres lost his fifth straight decision, giving up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. Torres failed to take a team flight to Cincinnati on Monday, and rejoined the team Friday night and apologized for his absence.
Torres apparently was having a difficult time blending his lifestyle as a professional baseball player with his life as a devout member of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Cubs 3, Cardinals 1
At Chicago, Kevin Foster held St. Louis hitless for 61/3 innings and pitched the Chicago Cubs past the Cardinals.
Foster (2-1), traded from Philadelphia to the Cubs on April 12 for Shawn Boskie, gave up two hits in 71/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.
Randy Myers pitched the ninth for his 15th save. Vicente Palacios (1-6) lost despite allowing only three hits and striking out eight in seven innings.
Padres 6, Reds 0
At Cincinnati, Joey Hamilton pitched a six-hitter for his first major-league shutout as the Padres ended Cincinnati's six-game winning streak.
Hamilton (4-2) walked two, hit two batters and struck out one as he shut down the NL's top-hitting team.
The Padres rocked Pete Schourek (3-1) for eight hits in two-plus innings.
Pirates 3, Mets 1
At New York, Orlando Merced hit a three-run homer and Zane Smith allowed only four hits in eight innings as the Pirates won their fifth straight.
Smith (8-6) struck out four and walked none to win for the fourth time in five decisions. He needed just 75 pitches to get through eight innings.
Phillies 7 Braves 1
At Philadelphia, pitcher Bobby Munoz's first major-league homer gave him enough runs to collect his fourth straight win.
Munoz hit a three-run homer off Kent Mercker (6-2) in the second as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak. Munoz (4-2) struck out four and allowed six hits and one run in 52/3 innings.
Expos 7, Marlins 3
At Montreal, Lou Frazier drove in three runs and Moises Alou hit a two-run homer as the Expos handed the Marlins their sixth straight loss.
The Expos capitalized on a two-out error by shortstop Kurt Abbott to score five runs - four unearned - against Charlie Hough (5-6) in the second inning.
Dodgers 4, Astros 2
At Houston, Pedro Astacio allowed seven hits in 82/3 innings and Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers.
Astacio (6-5), who struck out eight, was within one out of his fourth complete game when he was lifted after giving up his first walk. Todd Worrell came on for his fifth save.