Bonds Says He Has Used Creatine

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants says he has used creatine supplements and protein pills, according to a televised interview.

Bonds’ acknowledgment he took the legal supplements comes in the face of much criticism and scrutiny about steroid use among baseball players.

Creatine is an amino acid produced naturally by the liver and kidneys and stored in muscles. Athletes often take supplements to gain extra energy, train longer and bulk up.

“Definitely. I take supplements. I have taken creatine, protein pills and amino acids. To replenish your body is very important,” Bonds told Lisa Guerrero of Fox Sports Net in an interview.

Bonds has repeatedly denied using steroids.

Bonds’ agent and Giant officials could not be reached for further comment on the outfielder’s supplement use.

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Atlanta announcer Skip Caray expects to return to the broadcast booth July 18 after having angioplasty to clear an artery.

The Braves departed Wednesday for a six-game trip to Montreal and Chicago without Caray, who underwent the procedure Monday--one week after the return of fellow team broadcaster Don Sutton, who had surgery to remove a cancerous kidney.

Caray credited Sutton for his decision to have a body scan Friday that revealed an artery that was 96% blocked, putting him at risk for a heart attack. The growth on Sutton’s kidney was detected through a body scan.

“I owe Don a glass of wine, because this wouldn’t have been discovered until after the season,” Caray told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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The Seattle Mariners put right-handed pitcher Rafael Soriano on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right shoulder.

The Mariners recalled left-hander Mark Watson from triple-A Tacoma to take Soriano’s place on the roster. The move was retroactive to July 3.

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Catcher Alberto Castillo cleared waivers and accepted an assignment from the New York Yankees to Columbus, their affiliate in the triple-A International League.

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St. Louis Cardinal pitcher Andy Benes endured a rough outing in a rehabilitation start for the Class-A Potomac Cannons.

Benes, who is on the 60-day disabled list because of an arthritic right knee, gave up seven earned runs, eight hits and six walks in seven innings in Potomac’s 8-7 win over the Salem Rockies on Monday.

Benes is attempting a comeback at triple-A Memphis, but was pitching for Potomac since Memphis is on an All-Star break and it was his day to start.

Benes is a candidate to be called up by the Cardinals this weekend when St. Louis resumes play in San Diego after the All-Star break.

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Former Dodgers Steve Garvey, Ron Cey and Jim Gott, along with several celebrities, are decorating baseball bases in different Americana themes, which will be auctioned off on Yahoo!, at https://auctions.yahoo.com, beginning today.

Proceeds will go to Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) program, which was created in 1989 by Los Angeles-area major league scouts and has grown into organizations in 140 U.S. cities.

A silent auction of bases decorated and autographed by Dodger Manager Jim Tracy and players Shawn Green, Paul Lo Duca and Kevin Brown will be held at Dodger Stadium on July 20, when the Dodgers play host to the Giants.

Proceeds will be split between RBI and the Dodger Dream Foundation, an L.A.-based youth program.

Information: (800) 730-9252.