Rose back in Philly for 1980 celebration

Pete Rose dismissed questions Sunday about his first appearance on the field in Philadelphia since the franchise scrapped 2017 plans to honor him because of a woman’s claim she had a sexual relationship with baseball’s hit king when she was a minor.

“It was 55 years ago, babe,” Rose told a female baseball writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rose, though, had no trouble reminiscing about the 1980 World Series champion Phillies team — it was 42 years ago, Pete — that was honored before Sunday’s game.

After initially getting booed lightly, the 81-yearold Rose received a standing ovation from Phillies fans — many not even born or too young to remember baseball’s hit king in his prime — when he walked onto the Citizens Bank Park field for the first time since he received a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball in August 1989.

“They made me feel real good today,” Rose said of the cheers. “I don’t want to say I expected it. I guess I did expect it from Philly fans. That’s the way they are. They love their sports heroes.”

Rose’s already stained reputation suffered another blow in 2017 when the Phillies called off a planned induction into the team’s Wall of Fame because of the sexual misconduct accusations levied against him. Rose brusquely responded to the reporter’s question before the game — and later apologized to her following Sunday’s ceremony after initially saying, “will you forgive me if I sign 1,000 baseballs for you?” — and was just as combative on the topic after the pregame celebration.

“I’m going to tell you one more time: I’m here for the Philly fans, I’m here for my teammates, OK,” Rose said. “I’m here for the Philly organization and who cares what happened 50 years ago.”

The woman, identified as Jane Doe in 2017, said Rose called her in 1973, when she was 14 or 15, and they began a sexual relationship in Cincinnati that lasted several years. She also alleged Rose met her in locations outside Ohio for sex.

Rose’s lawyer had said the woman’s claims were unverified.

Rose acknowledged in 2017 that he did have a relationship with the woman, but he said it started when she was 16. He also said they never had sex outside Ohio.

At the time, Rose was in his mid-30s and was married with two kids.

Rose was among many former Phillies — including Hall of Famer Steve Carlton, and fellow World Series champions Bob Boone, Greg Luzinski and Larry Bowa — honored for the 1980 team.

Braves option starter Anderson to Triple-a

The Atlanta Braves optioned struggling righthander Ian Anderson to Triple-a Gwinnett.

Anderson allowed four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings with four walks against the New York Mets on Friday.

The 24-year old Anderson has been a key member of the Braves’ rotation over the last three seasons, posting a 21-13 record with a 3.99 ERA in 51 starts. He also has been a force in the postseason, going 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA over eight playoff starts, including a win over the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series.

This season, he has a 5.11 ERA over 21 starts, tied for the major league lead with 53 walks and not getting through seven innings in a game.

“It’s tough,” Anderson said. “I haven’t thrown the ball all that well.”

Anderson will remain on Atlanta’s taxi squad and serve as the 27th man for the Braves’ doubleheader in Miami on Saturday. Braves manager Brian Snitker indicated that Anderson would start one of the two games.

“We need to get him right,” Snitker said. “He’s a big part of what we’ve got going on. Hopefully he can take a step back and reassess things and get himself going.”

Twins' Kirilloff slated to have wrist surgery

Minnesota Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff will undergo season-ending surgery on his right wrist.

Kirilloff, a 2016 first-round draft pick, is scheduled for ulnar shortening surgery on Tuesday.

“Any time you’re talking about shaving a bone down or shortening a bone, I mean that’s a substantial procedure,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “But we’re hopeful that by getting it done now gives us a chance to use the offseason to get right.”

It’s the second time in Kirilloff’s short career in the majors that he’s had a season end early because of a wrist injury. A procedure last July on the same wrist ended his rookie season. He landed on the injured list twice this season, in April and June, because of issues with the wrist.

Kirilloff, 24, has played 104 games in two years and collected 11 homers and 55 RBIS.