The player, who witnessed the June altercation but spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to talk publicly about an incident between other players, said Christiansen was frustrated with Harvey Shields, Bonds' personal stretch man now employed by the team.

"I don't think punches were thrown," the player said. "It was more grabbing. It was regarding one of Bonds' trainers, Harvey."

Christiansen was traded to the Angels last week. Once Christiansen joined his new team, he told reporters he was eager for a fresh start - and to get away from Bonds.

"It's good to get out of there," Christiansen said. "You pitch a good game and they come over and they ask, 'Hey did you guys miss Barry today?' I mean, life goes on without that guy coming out to the ballpark."

BUCS AX MCCLENDON: Lloyd McClendon was fired yesterday as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates with the team only one defeat away from a fifth consecutive losing season. Bench coach Pete Mackanin is set to serve as interim manager for the rest of the season.

The Pirates, who averaged 91 losses in McCLendon's four seasons, have not had a winning season since winning the NL East in 1992.

The Bucs dropped Mackanin's debut in a 4-2 12-inning loss to visiting Arizona on catcher Ryan Doumit's errant throw.

With the score tied at 2 and Chad Tracy on second, Chris Snyder singled to right. Tracy, realizing he would be out, started back to third, but Doumit's throw struck him in the lower left shoulder, allowing him to score.

ASTROS 2, PHILLIES 1: Pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett stole second and third and then scored the go-ahead run on Jason Lane's RBI single in the ninth inning, lifting NL wild-card leading Houston to a victory over host Philadelphia.

The Astros moved 1-1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia in the wild-card race.

CUBS 5, CARDS 2: Glendon Rusch was perfect for six innings and pitched into the eighth in visiting Chicago's win.

Derrek Lee hit his 40th homer on his 30th birthday and drove in two runs.

MARLINS 4, NATIONALS 2: Luis Castillo went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI to lead Florida past host Washington.

REDS 2, BREWERS 1 (10): Javier Valentin's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave host Cincinnati a victory.

ROCKIES 6, PADRES 5: Colorado's Todd Helton reached base five times and scored twice, as the visiting Colorado beat the NL West leader.

GIANTS 4, DODGERS 2: Jeff Kent hit a two-run homer with two out in the 10th inning to help Los Angeles beat visiting San Francisco.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

INDIANS 6, TIGERS 1: Cliff Lee allowed four hits over eight shutout innings and visiting Cleveland beat Detroit.

Grady Sizemore, Coco Crisp and Aaron Boone homered to account for all of Cleveland's runs.

MARINERS 3, A'S 2: Mike Morse hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh and Joel Pineiro pitched eight innings in visiting Seattle's win.

The Mariners tied the game at 2 on Jose Lopez's RBI single to center in the seventh, then Morse followed with a single for the go-ahead run.

ORIOLES 5, BLUE JAYS 0: Daniel Cabrera came off the disabled list to throw seven innings of four-hit ball to lead host Baltimore past Toronto.

WHITE SOX 6, ROYALS 5: Paul Konerko homered for the third straight game, and Juan Uribe hit one for the second night in a row to lead host Chicago to its sixth consecutive victory.

RANGERS 10, TWINS 7: Mark Teixiera's three-run homer in the ninth inning made him just the fifth player in major league history to hit 100 in his first three seasons and led visiting Texas to a win.