After Son’s Death, Wilson in Lineup

Center fielder Preston Wilson rejoined the Florida Marlins and was in the lineup Friday, 2 1/2 weeks after the death of his infant son.

Wilson had been sidelined since July 2, when he was placed on the disabled list because of a thumb injury. His first child was born three months premature July 13 and died 10 days later.

“It’s good to look over and see his face and know he’s here,” teammate Cliff Floyd said. “I don’t care how he plays. As long as he can stay healthy, come to the park and get his mind away from the real-world stuff, I’m happy with that.”

Wilson said he didn’t want to talk about his son’s death. He said he’s glad to rejoin the team and hoping to spark a surge by the Marlins, who are third in the National League East.

Wilson has struggled much of this season, batting .268 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs going into Friday’s game against Houston. Last year he was the only major league player with both 30 homers and 30 stolen bases, and he set a team record with 121 RBIs.

To make room for Wilson on the roster, the Marlins sent outfielder Chad Mottola to Calgary.

Jose Vidro will sit out at least one week with concussionlike symptoms resulting from a beanball thrown by Astro right-hander Roy Oswalt in Houston last week, Expo General Manager Jim Beattie said.

“The doctors who examined him in Houston didn’t think he had a concussion,” said Beattie before the Expos’ game Friday. “He didn’t lose consciousness, so he may not have one. It may be other things, we’re not sure.”

Beattie said Vidro could go on the disabled list if the symptoms continue, and that Vidro would need three consecutive symptom-free days before returning to the lineup.

Oswalt hit Vidro in the head with a 94-mph fastball on Aug. 4, leaving two cracks in his batting helmet.

Vidro played on Tuesday and Wednesday before sitting out Thursday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals with a headache.

“He’s a gamer, I’ll tell you,” Expo Manager Jeff Torborg said. “He tried to play through that, he didn’t want to tell anybody.”

The Expos are 7-21 when Vidro, who is hitting .334 with 14 home runs and 48 RBIs, does not start. He will be reevaluated and will not travel to California with the Expos on Monday.

Infielder Miguel Cairo was claimed by the St. Louis Cardinals off waivers from the Chicago Cubs. Cairo is expected to join his new team today for the second game of the series against the New York Mets.

Cairo, 27, hit .285 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 66 games for the Cubs this season. He is a .274 hitter in a 480-game career that began with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1996.

Baltimore Oriole shortstop Mike Bordick will find out next week whether he needs surgery on his ailing right shoulder. The Baltimore Orioles placed Bordick on the 15-day disabled list on June 14 with a separated shoulder. He was close to returning until suffering a setback last week during a rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Delmarva.