Church Hurting

Lower Back Strain Benches Him

RYAN CHURCH has spent the past week serving as a capable replacement for Nate McLouth in center field for the Atlanta Braves.

But the versatile outfielder found himself as a member of the growing list of injured Braves players, who were unavailable for Saturday night's game again the Marlins.

Church played through the lower back discomfort caused by an aggravated his sacroiliac joint during Friday night's series opener against the Marlins. But when he returned to Turner Field on Saturday afternoon, he found himself battling spasms and a discomfort level that could keep him sidelined until at least Tuesday.

"It was coming on during one of the games in New York and I was just trying to grind through it," Church said. "But it's starting to (spasm) now.

"It's one of those things that's just a day-to-day type of thing," said Church, who like Garret Anderson has dealt with this ailment in the past.

With Church, Anderson and McLouth unavailable, the Braves starting outfield on Saturday consisted of Reid Gorecki in center, Omar Infante in left and Matt Diaz in right. Infante, who hadn't previously started in the outfield this year, was replaced at second base with Kelly Johnson.