BASEBALL: DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJOR LEAGUES : Marlins’ First Game Will Be Against Dodgers

Barring a lockout or a rainout, the Florida Marlins will play their first game on April 5 at Joe Robbie Stadium against the Dodgers.

The NL expansion team’s schedule, released Saturday, starts with a three-game series against the Dodgers.

The Giants, who might move from San Francisco to St. Petersburg, in the off-season, visit Joe Robbie Stadium for the first time from May 31-June 2. The Marlins’ expansion rivals from Colorado will make their first visit from April 30-May 2.

Though the Marlins requested as many home games as possible in April and May--before Florida’s rainy season begins--the league gave them 15 home games in September, 14 in May, June and August, 11 in July and 10 in April.

Cincinnati Red pitcher Tim Belcher sent pizza and sandwiches to the Riverfront Stadium press box Saturday after his criticism of the team mascot got a writer barred from the stadium dining room.

Cincinnati Post writer Jerry Crasnick was barred from the dining room by owner Marge Schott before the game for a story critical of her dog, Schottzie 02.

“It’s a nice thing to have a mascot,� Belcher told the Post. “She loves her dog and her ballteam. But if you took a poll in this clubhouse, I don’t think you’d find many guys who see the same entertainment value in Schottzie running around the field.�

When Crasnick showed up for the game Saturday, he was told that Schott had barred him from the dining room. He’s the second writer to be barred this year. Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News was the first, but he has since had his privileges reinstated.

Midway through the game, a delivery man arrived in the press box with three pizzas, a bag of submarine sandwiches and a handwritten note from Belcher on Reds’ stationery.

“Your article represented my thoughts very well,� the note said. “I would hate to see you ‘waste away’ without something to eat during the game. Therefore, please accept this food and share it with your ‘scooped’ friends. Belch.�

Next to his name was a paw print and “02.�

The Atlanta Braves put catcher Greg Olson on the 15-day disabled list and recalled left-hander Pat Gomez. Olson sustained a broken right leg, torn ligaments and dislocated ankle in Friday night’s 13-3 loss to Houston and will be sidelined for the season. . . . Plate umpire Terry Cooney had to be taken off the Tiger Stadium field because of a knee injury Saturday. Cooney was struck on the left knee by a pitch from Detroit’s Frank Tanana in the sixth inning, and was taken off on a golf cart.