p16_Layout 1 4/14/14 11:27 PM Page 1 TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 SPORTS Pro sports becoming more open to paternity leave NEW YORK: Tony Perez was on the road with the New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy union recognized this trend a few years ago. At the ly. In 1993, Houston Oilers offensive line coach Bob Cincinnati Reds in 1966 when he got the call that was criticized on sports talk radio this month for GM meetings in 2011, a rule was drafted to allow a Young said right tackle David Williams “let the guys his first child was on the way. There was no discus- taking three days, which is provided for in base- team to place a player on the paternity leave list for down, and he let hundreds of thousands of fans sion about leaving the team to attend Victor’s birth, ball’s rules, to spend time with his wife and new- three days and call up a replacement from the down” when he chose to miss a game against New no such thing as paternity leave. born son Noah. But in the days that followed, minor leagues. England to stay by his wife’s side while she gave “They didn’t give you any time off when I was Murphy received wide support from players and “When you have a policy, it just makes it easier birth to their son. In Murphy’s case, sports talk playing,” the Hall of Fame slugger said, recalling coaches who say the times have changed. for clubs and players,” said Dan Halem, MLB’s execu- radio hosts Mike Francesa and Boomer Esiason that he got the news about noon before going to “That’s a negotiated right that is a win for every- tive vice president for labor relations who helped questioned him for missing two games at the start the ballpark. “We played that night. We got a day body,” said Marlins infielder Ed Lucas, who missed draft the policy. “Everybody knows what the rules of this season. off in Chicago the next day and I flew home on my one game last September for the birth of his son. “It are and it’s automatic. You place the player on the “One day I understand. And in the old days they own.” shows compassion on the side of the team. It’s the list and he goes and everybody knows when he’s didn’t do that,” Francesa said. “But one day, go see These days, more pro athletes are taking time only major sport that has paternity leave. But we’re coming back.” the baby be born and come back. You’re a Major off to be with their families in the delivery room. also the only sport that plays every day.” Halem said the measure received universal sup- League Baseball player. You can hire a nurse to take Yet Major League Baseball remains the only one of Players in the NFL, NBA and NHL all have several port among owners and union leaders. In the first care of the baby if your wife needs help.” the four major professional leagues in North off days a week in most cases and rosters stocked three years of the policy, 73 players were placed on Esiason quickly apologized after a host of ath- America to have a standardized paternity leave pol- with extra players, giving the teams and the ath- the list. letes, coaches and family groups came to Murphy’s icy. The NFL, NBA and NHL leave the matter up to letes the freedom to work on a case-by-case basis. NASCAR recently made changes to be more defense. Rollins, Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford individual players and their teams. In baseball, a three-day absence usually means accommodating. Until this season, a driver could and Twins reliever Brian Duensing have missed “There is stress on both sides,” said Phillies man- three games missed, so the burden on the team, not miss a race without giving up the chance to games already this year for child birth. Minnesota ager Ryne Sandberg, who watched shortstop and the potential guilt felt by the player, is much win a championship. This year, under the new for- Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson missed Jimmy Rollins miss a game against Texas this sea- higher. mat, a driver can miss a race and still make the three days of training camp in 2011 for the birth of son to fly home to be there for the birth of his sec- “I think, traditionally speaking, I think some guys Chase for the Spring Cup championship. Matt his son. Little attention was paid to any of those ond child. “Job stress and stress from the family were afraid to ask,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle Kenseth and Paul Menard had standby drivers this absences. Then there is Oakland reliever Dan Otero, side. So I think this being in place takes care of that, said. “So many guys didn’t want to ask because of season, with their wives due to give birth. who missed one game while attending the birth of just makes it’s a done deal for the player, and the job security. It was almost like a standard way of Both said they were willing to miss a race, if daughter Kinsley in September. Did he get any team deals with it. It takes the pressure off the play- doing it that you didn’t leave.” needed. Neither had to because both women gave grief? “Not at all,” Otero said. “They were mad at me er.” Baseball’s general managers and the players’ birth on weekdays. It doesn’t always go so smooth- I came back early.” — AP Brewers defeat Pirates MILWAUKEE: The Milwaukee Brewers won their ninth in a row, with Kyle Lohse coming within one out of a complete game Sunday in a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. At 10-2, the Brewers are off to their best start since going 13-0 to start the 1987 season. This is Milwaukee’s longest winning streak since a nine-game string last April. Lohse (2-1) gave up four hits and struck out nine in 8 2-3 innings. He fanned five straight in the seventh and eighth innings. Lohse was pulled with two outs in the ninth after giving up a single to Andrew McCutchen. Will Smith struck out Pedro Alvarez on three pitches to record his first career save. Charlie Morton (0-1) pitched seven innings as the Pirates lost for the fourth time in five games. GIANTS 5, ROCKIES 4 Brandon Crawford led off the 10th inning with a splash homer to lift the San Francisco Giants over the Colorado Rockies. Pablo Sandoval homered and Angel Pagan drove in two runs for the Giants. Wilin Rosario and Justin Morneau homered for the Rockies, who have lost 15 of their last 18 games in San Francisco. Crawford turned on the second pitch thrown by Rex Brothers (1-1) and drove it into McCovey Cove for his first career walkoff homer and first splash homer. Sergio Romo (1-0) pitched a score- less 10th for the win. MILWAUKEE: Brewers’ Carlos Gomez (right) is tagged out at home by Pittsburgh Pirates’ Tony NEW YORK: Boston Red Sox Grady Sizemore watches his ninth-inning flyout to center field Sanchez during the seventh inning of a baseball game. —AP in the Red Sox 3-2 loss to the Yankees in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. — AP DODGERS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 6 Adrian Gonzalez homered for the fourth consecu- Harang (2-1) allowed one run in six innings. Gonzalez Max Scherzer, and Jedd Gyorko and Xavier Nady tive game and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the gave up six runs, nine hits and four walks in six innings. homered as the San Diego Padres beat the Detroit Yankees, Athletics roll Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game sweep. Tigers to take two of three. Gonzalez’s three-run shot off Trevor Cahill (0-4) in CARDINALS 6, CUBS 4 After two shaky opening starts, Ross (1-2) struck NEW YORK: Carlos Beltran hit a two-run Oberholtzer (0-3). Alexi Ogando worked a the third inning gave him 10 RBIs in the series. Matt Matt Carpenter drove in three runs, leading out seven and held the Tigers to one run and six hits in homer, Ivan Nova rebounded from a rough perfect ninth to convert his first save chance. Kemp and Juan Uribe also homered for the Dodgers. Michael Wacha and the St. Louis Cardinals over the seven innings. He also hit an RBI single. Scherzer (0-1) outing and the New York Yankees beat Dan Haren (2-0) allowed three runs in 5 2-3 innings. Chicago Cubs. Carpenter hit a two-run single in the allowed four runs and four hits in five innings, struck Boston 3-2 Sunday night with the aid of BLUE JAYS 11, ORIOLES 3 Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth second inning and added a sacrifice fly in the fourth out 10 and walked three. The Tigers have scored three another disputed replay ruling that led to the Mark Buehrle allowed one run over seven save. Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer and Eric that put St. Louis ahead to stay at 4-3. runs for Scherzer in his three starts. ejection of Red Sox manager John Farrell. innings to win his third straight start, and the Chavez had a solo shot for the Diamondbacks. Dee Wacha (2-0) allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1- The Tigers have lost four of six under rookie man- Beltran had three hits and was pressed Blue Jays hit three home runs and had a sea- Gordon stole a career-best four bases for the Dodgers.