ATLANTA — Braves manager Bobby Cox benched Brooks Conrad for Game 4 of the NL division series against San Francisco on Monday night, one day after his three errors at second base left Atlanta on the brink of elimination.
Cox said the 30-year-old rookie “needs to get away from it for a day.”
Cox and Conrad each said they didn’t sleep much after three glaring miscues helped the Giants beat the Braves 3-2 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Conrad took batting practice, fielded grounders at second base and tried to keep a positive outlook Monday.
“I’m feeling as good as I can, considering the consequences,” he said. “I don’t know if I got any sleep on it. I didn’t sleep a whole lot. You know, the sun came up again today and we’re here in the playoffs playing baseball. You can’t beat that.”
Burnett gets Game 4 start
NEW YORK — A.J. Burnett will start Game 4 of the AL Championship Series for the Yankees on 2 1/2 weeks’ rest.
General manager Brian Cashman said New York decided against using a three-man rotation against Texas or Tampa Bay, which would have required CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte and Phil Hughes to all start on three days’ rest in the latter part of the best-of-seven series.
“We believe in him every time he takes the mound, but he has struggled, no question about it, here in the second half,” Cashman said. “But that was then. This is now.”
Footnotes.
Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer said he will need arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this offseason.
• Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild exercised his option for next season.
The Associated Press
