NEW YORK (AP) -Tests determined that Marcus Giles has a healthy heart and he can keep playing baseball, a huge relief to the Atlanta Braves and their second baseman after he was told he might have a heart defect.
Giles was en route to Shea Stadium on Monday evening to rejoin his teammates, who played the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game series.
On Saturday, the scrappy infielder missed a doubleheader against the Phillies and visited a Philadelphia hospital, where he said he was told he might have a heart defect. He returned to Atlanta on Sunday for medical tests, and was cleared to play.
Braves manager Bobby Cox said doctors think the problem is related to acid reflux, a common condition that is easily treatable. No surgery is required.
``He checked out fine,'' Cox said. ``He was pretty worried. All the indications were a partially open valve. ... Scared him to death, which it should.''
Cox said he hadn't seen Giles yet and wasn't sure when his second baseman would be able to return to the lineup. Giles, an NL All-Star in 2003, was batting .268 with nine homers and 51 RBIs.
Pete Orr started at second base and batted leadoff against New York.
It's been a frightening year of health issues for Giles and his wife, Tracy. He missed 10 days in spring training following the premature birth of his daughter, Sawyur Rae, who struggled with lung problems after she was born.
Giles and his wife have another daughter, Arringtun Mae, but lost a baby following a premature birth.
On the field, the Braves were also without longtime Mets nemesis Chipper Jones, sidelined by a sore oblique muscle on his left side. Cox doesn't expect the third baseman to be able to play in the series at Shea, where Jones has had a tremendous amount of success throughout his career.
Jones was on the disabled list last month with the same problem and has been bothered by the injury much of the season. He is batting .318 with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs.
Willy Aybar started at third base in place of Jones again.
The Braves also optioned right-hander Anthony Lerew to back Triple-A Richmond, two days after he was called up.
Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
