SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds won a big legal victory Friday that could put his long-delayed perjury trial back on track.
A divided three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that prosecutors may not present positive urine samples and other vital evidence the government claims shows that the slugger knowingly used steroids.
The appeals court ruling upholds a lower court decision made in February 2009 barring federal prosecutors from showing the jury any evidence collected by Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson. Bonds’ perjury trial, which was scheduled to start in March 2009, has been delayed pending the outcome of this appeal.
The government could ask the appeals court to reconsider its decision, ask an 11-judge panel of the court to rehear the case or petition the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue. Prosecutors could also accept the decision and go to trial without the evidence or drop the case entirely.
A-Rod out with hip flexor tendinitis
NEW YORK — Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez had an MRI that revealed tendinitis in his right hip flexor.
Rodriguez was out of the lineup for the opener of a weekend series against the Astros, but his latest ailment was in a different area than the injury that required hip surgery last year.
Footnotes.
The Braves placed outfielder Nate McLouth on the 15-day disabled list with a head injury and recalled outfielder Jordan Schafer from Triple-A Gwinnett.
• Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis was scratched from Boston’s lineup against Philadelphia because of back spasms, and outfielder Jeremy Hermida was placed on the 15-day DL because of fractured ribs.
• Right-hander Jeff Suppan, released by the Brewers on Monday, is rejoining the Cardinals, whom he helped win the 2006 World Series.
• Giants fifth starter Todd Wellemeyer was placed on the DL with a strained right quadriceps muscle, and right-hander Joe Martinez was recalled from Triple-A Fresno.
• Reds right-hander Homer Bailey had a sore pitching shoulder, a setback in his plans to return from the DL on Sunday.
• Mariners reliever Mark Lowe is likely out for the season while he awaits back surgery. The Associated Press
