Piniella tells a white lie

Posted March 06, 2008 10:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

PHOENIX -- Kosuke Fukudome returned to the lineup Thursday against Oakland after getting Wednesday off.

He was looking for a scouting report on A's pitcher Gio Gonzalez, so manager Lou Piniella gave him one that was slightly exaggerated.

"Throws 99," Piniella said, referring to the alleged speed on Gonzalez's fastball. "Good change. Good pitcher. Left-hander. Cy Young winner."

Gonzalez looked like a Cy Young winner in the first inning when he got Fukudome looking at strike three.

"I didn't have a good day at the plate because of that," Fukudome said, laughing.

It wasn't all bad. The next time up, he walked against lefty Greg Smith after battling the count to 3-2. Fukudome scored from first one out later when Daryle Ward doubled to left-center.

Fukudome was able to read the ball, pick up third-base coach Mike Quade and use his speed to score. So is Fukudome a fast runner?

"I'm sure I'm not slow," he said.

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