Astros' Springer, Garner Are Suspended

Astros RHP Russ Springer was suspended for four games yesterday after throwing several times at Barry Bonds and eventually hitting the Giants slugger earlier this week.

Astros Manager Phil Garner was suspended for one game and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball.

The strange sequence on Tuesday began when Bonds led off the fifth inning of the Giants' 14-3 win. Springer's first pitch went behind the seven-time NL MVP's back, drawing a warning from plate umpire Joe West .

The next three pitches all came inside, including one that hit Bonds's bat handle for strike one. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Springer hit Bonds in the right shoulder. Springer and Garner were then ejected, and Bonds took his base without incident.

Giants Manager Felipe Alou said he thinks the suspension sends a message.

"I'm glad some people thought the guy was throwing at Barry," Alou said. "The guy behind the plate thought he was throwing at him and ejected him. And now the league office thinks so. Anything was enough."

· BRAVES' STATUS: Stephen Greenberg , the point man for Time Warner's negotiations to sell the Braves, says talks are progressing with "no hang-up whatsoever."

Greenberg would neither confirm nor deny that Time Warner is in exclusive talks with Colorado-based Liberty Media, though he spoke positively about the company that could become the Braves' next owner.

-- From News Services