NATIONAL LEAGUE Simon sorry about 'Sausage-gate'

Meanwhile, the Pirates held off the Brewers 5-4.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The sausage saga ran its course as the Pittsburgh Pirates left Milwaukee a couple of bats lighter.
Pirates first baseman Randall Simon did not play in Pittsburgh's 5-4 victory Thursday, but left behind two autographed bats for the mascots he sent tumbling a day earlier.
Wednesday at Miller Park, Simon swung his bat and hit a 19-year-old woman in an Italian sausage costume during the Brewers' popular sausage races. A 21-year-old woman in a hot dog costume also fell, and both were treated for scraped knees.
Simon said he had not talked with the women but had left them messages and wished to apologize to them.
"You have fun with the mascots," Simon said. "I just wanted to tap the mascot and then have her finish. I did not have a plan to hurt her because I am not that kind of person."
Simon was cited for disorderly conduct and fined $432. Prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges. Simon said he was considering challenging the fine.
Precaution
Pirates players moved to the back of the dugout before Thursday's sausage race, but Pittsburgh manager Lloyd McClendon said he gave his players no special instructions to do so.
"They're rounding the Pirates dugout -- they've made it safely," said public address announcer Robb Edwards, to the wild cheers of fans on their feet. The Italian sausage won the race.
Pirates teammates described Simon as a prankster who was trying to have fun with the mascot and the crowd.
"It was an unfortunate incident," third baseman Aramis Ramirez said. "Randall was not trying to maliciously hurt the young lady, although it transpired that way."
Strong showing
Jeff Suppan (8-7) pitched a complete game for the victory Thursday. He gave up eight hits, walked none and struck out nine to help the Pirates win two of four games in the series.
McClendon said he didn't like that Suppan threw a season-high 133 pitches to go the distance, but was happy he was able to give his bullpen some rest.
"It was [Suppan's] game to win or lose," he said.
Richie Sexson led off the Brewers' ninth with a home run. Milwaukee put a runner on second with two outs, but Suppan struck out Royce Clayton to end the game.
Suppan got most of his run support from Ramirez's three-run home run in the fifth.
Keith Ginter hit two solo home runs for the Brewers.
"It feels good but the goal is for the team to win," Ginter said. "In both situations, he left breaking balls over the plate and I was able to take advantage of it."
Rookie Matt Ford (0-2) lasted only 41/3 innings in his third career start.
"He didn't really have a bad outing," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "He threw one bad pitch down the middle [to Ramirez]. You are talking about a 22-year-old kid. He's learning. You are developing a young pitcher for the future."
Reggie Sanders hit a solo homer for the Pirates in the second. Pittsburgh added a run in the sixth when Jeff Reboulet scored on shortstop Clayton's throwing error.
"I was just bad," Clayton said. "I hurt us in every way possible. I basically stunk all day."