Mets Foil the Plan and Claim Christensen

What the Dodgers feared since last October came to pass Wednesday: Outfielder McKay Christensen, designated for assignment Sunday and out of minor league options, was claimed on waivers by the New York Mets.

Christensen, a 1994 first-round pick of the Angels who was acquired from the Chicago White Sox for double-A pitcher Wade Parrish last July 13, lost out to Dave Roberts in his bid for the center-field job this spring.

But the Dodgers hoped to retain Christensen and add to what little depth they have in their minor league system. The Mets prevented that, adding Christensen to their big league roster Wednesday.

General Manager Dan Evans said the Dodgers signed former Houston outfielder Scott Pose on Tuesday because they didn’t anticipate Christensen getting through waivers. “This is the risk we had all along,” he said. “Since October, we knew if McKay didn’t make the club, we couldn’t send him down. It’s a loss for the organization, but I wish him the best, except against us.”

Christensen batted .286 with a .324 on-base percentage in 20 spring games but seemed to fall out of favor with Dodger coaches after missing a sign early in camp and missing a cutoff man and throwing to the wrong base in mid-March.

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San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds, who hit home run No. 570 in the first inning and No. 571 in the fourth Wednesday night, needs 184 homers to tie Hank Aaron’s record of 755, but he claims reaching the top of the home run chart is not what motivates him.

“I’m not playing baseball to climb totem poles, I’m playing to get to the World Series,” Bonds said. “I saw [teammate and former Arizona outfielder] Reggie Sanders’ World Series ring in the locker room today, and that was kind of emotional for me. I’m hoping one day I can walk around the clubhouse and show mine.”

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Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said Japanese pitcher Kazuhisa Ishii, who has struggled with control problems, will make his scheduled start Saturday against Colorado.... Pitcher Brian Corey, who impressed the Dodgers with a 1.50 earned-run average in 11 spring-training appearances before being sent to triple-A Las Vegas, suffered a fractured jaw Tuesday when he was struck in the face by a line drive during batting practice. Corey will be sidelined for four to six weeks.... There are two right-handed bats with big names available on the free-agent market--Jose Canseco, who was released by the Expos, and Derek Bell, who was released by the Pirates--but Evans said the Dodgers don’t plan to pursue either.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

ODALIS

PEREZ

(7-8, 4.91

ERA in 2001)

vs.

GIANTS’

RYAN

JENSEN

(1-2, 4.25 ERA)

Dodger Stadium, 7

TV--Fox Sports Net 2. Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Update--Perez, who was acquired along with Brian Jordan from Atlanta for Gary Sheffield, won a rotation spot by going 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in six spring games. Tickets--(323) 224-1448.