Giants Send Down Rapp, Add Cruz

Stocked with pitchers but short on position players, the San Francisco Giants sent pitcher Pat Rapp to triple-A Phoenix and recalled outfielder Jacob Cruz on Saturday.

The West-leading Giants had carried 13 pitchers on their 25-man roster for the last week, since claiming left-hander Terry Mulholland off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. That left Manager Dusty Baker with only four bench players at any given time, so he announced the move after Rapp took the loss in the 8-5 defeat to the Montreal Expos.

“We needed another position player,” Baker said. “We’ve been short on the bench. And with the possible [Jeff] Kent suspension, it was even more critical.”

National League President Len Coleman suspended Kent for three games for his fight last Wednesday with Cub catcher Tyler Houston. Kent has appealed the suspension, and a hearing on the matter could be held this week.

“I was pretty surprised about the whole thing, but they’ve got to do what they’ve got to do to win and I was the only option they had,” Rapp said. “They needed another hitter and it came down to me.”

Cruz was batting .364 at Phoenix.

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Montreal’s F.P Santangelo missed the Giant game to be with his wife, who was due to deliver the couple’s second child. . . . Kirt Ojala of the Florida Marlins will make his major league debut Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ojala will be recalled from the minors to replace Al Leiter, who went on the disabled list because of a pulled groin muscle. Ojala might make only one start because the Marlins are off Thursday and Leiter is expected to return the following week.