Cardinals Start Without Mathews

National League President Len Coleman said Monday he has upheld the six-game suspension of St. Louis Cardinal reliever T.J. Mathews for intentionally hitting Bret Boone with a pitch during an exhibition game March 12.

Mathews, normally the right-handed setup man for reliever Dennis Eckersley, will miss the Cardinal opener today and won’t be eligible until the team’s home opener, against the Montreal Expos on April 8.

Coleman met with Mathews for 50 minutes on Friday in St. Petersburg, Fla., listening to an appeal of the suspension and accompanying fine.

*

Houston, seeking to solidify its infield, acquired Tim Bogar on a waiver claim from the New York Mets in exchange for infielder Luis Lopez.

Bogar started at all infield positions last season for the Mets and had only one error, fielding at a .994 percentage.

Lopez had been acquired earlier this month from San Diego.

*

Cincinnati obtained backup outfielder Ozzie Timmons from the Chicago Cubs in a trade that involved two minor league pitchers.

The Reds sent right-hander Curt Lyons to the Cubs for Timmons and right-hander Jayson Peterson, 21, who was Chicago’s first-round draft pick in 1994. Peterson was assigned to Class A Burlington.

Timmons, 22, batted .200 during two stints with the Cubs totaling 65 games last season.