Apr 25, 2002 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Pirates, already without suspended third baseman Aramis Ramirez, put second baseman Pokey Reese on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a strained right hamstring. Reese’s injury has been slower to heal than the Pirates hoped, and manager Lloyd McClendon said it was better not to take any chances so early in the season.

“There’s still some tightness in there,” McClendon said Wednesday. “Pokey is the kind of kid that if you asked him to play, he would probably go out there. But that’s not the way to do it, so let’s give him another seven or eight days of treatment and get this behind us.”

Reese was injured while running out a ground ball in the first inning Friday against the Phillies, shortly after play started following a nearly two-hour rain delay. It was initially thought the injury was minor and would sideline Reese for only a day or two.

Reese was placed on the disabled list retroactive to Saturday, meaning he could return May 5 at San Diego. To replace Reese on their 25-man roster, the Pirates called up infielder Mendy Lopez from their extended spring training camp, where he was recovering from a chipped bone in his thumb.

The Pirates, off to their best start in 10 years, already were without Ramirez as he sits out a seven-day suspension that began Tuesday for charging the mound April 17 in Milwaukee. He sprained his right ankle during the ensuing fight and is still wearing a protective boot.

Ramirez’s suspension ends May 1, but he may need another day or two after that before he returns.

“Those two guys have been a big part of our offense,” McClendon said. “They’ve driven in runs, and they’ve found a way to get it done.”

Reese, trying to rebound from an off-season a year ago when he hit .224 for Cincinnati, is hitting .317 with no homers and seven RBIs and doesn’t have an error. Ramirez has a .348 average with no homers and five RBIs.

“A 162-game season is a long haul and you’re going to have injuries,” general manager Dave Littlefield said. “You’re always walking that tightrope.”

So far, the Pirates’ replacements have been more than adequate. Abraham Nunez had five hits and four RBIs and scored seven runs in his first four starts at second base. Rob Mackowiak has at least one RBI in every game he has played at third.

Lopez hit .233 in 22 games with Pittsburgh last season after being claimed on waivers from Houston.

Meanwhile, Littlefield is expected to meet shortly with infielder Pat Meares’ agent, Steve Comte, to decide what to do about the left hand injury that has badly affected Meares’ hitting since 1999. Meares has two years left on his $15 million, four-year contract.

A hand specialist recommended by the Pirates recommended surgery, but a University of Massachusetts doctor consulted by Meares said it would not help him regain any strength or flexibility.

“We want to get Pat Meares on the field,” Littlefield said. “But he’s not healthy enough to play at the level he needs to be a competitive major league player. We have a doctor who says that, in his professional opinion, he can help improve the hand and help him be a better major league hitter than we’ve seen.”

Meares, currently on the disabled list, hit .211 in 87 games last season.

Also, right-hander Kris Benson’s next rehabilitation start at Triple-A Nashville will be Saturday, tentatively followed by a May 2 start and another May 7 for Double-A Altoona. After that, the Pirates will evaluate his status and decide if he’s ready to rejoin their rotation.

Benson missed his last two scheduled starts due to minor irritation in his triceps, and his return to Nashville was further delayed for several days for procedural reasons. The Pirates had to recall him, then reassign him so he would not violate the 30-day limit for a pitcher’s rehabilitation assignment.