The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS - A former superintendent at the Metrodome admits he tried to help the Minnesota Twins by adjusting the ventilation system during the late innings of close games in an attempt to get baseballs to carry farther.

"If they were down two runs and you're still hoping for them to have the advantage, you'd want to be blowing all the air out and up as much as you can," Dick Ericson told the Star Tribune for Sunday's editions. "I don't feel guilty . . . It's your home-field advantage. Every stadium has got one."

Virgil Ophus, who worked under Ericson and is still employed at the stadium, said he recalls being in the operations center and watching Ericson come in and turn on various fans in hopes of affecting the game.

"He'd start the fans and he thought it'd help," Ophus said.

Twins officials said they had no knowledge of the air flow in the stadium being manipulated and have doubts about whether it actually happened.

GIANTS: Barry Bonds rejoined the team on Saturday, one day after missing a game to be with his father Bobby, who underwent open-heart surgery on Friday.

"He's doing OK," Giants manager Felipe Alou said. "We're just worried about his dad's health. We heard it was a successful surgery."

Barry Bonds, who declined comment, spent most of his time before the game alone by his locker, where there were flowers and cards scattered around.

Bonds left to be with his 57-year-old father for the operation.

TIGERS: Detroit optioned left-hander Steve Avery to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday and recalled Eric Eckenstahler from the Mud Hens.

Avery, the 1991 NL championship series MVP with Atlanta, was 2-0 with a 5.63 ERA in 19 outings for Detroit since his contract was purchased from Toledo on May 9.

SHORT HOPS: With flashing lights and a fireworks display, the Houston Astros on Saturday unveiled the logo for the 2004 All-Star game at Minute Maid Park.

It will be the third All-Star game in Houston following ones at the Astrodome in 1968 and 1986. The 75th All-Star game is July 13, 2004.

• Houston's Jeff Bagwell, the Cubs Sammy Sosa, Texas' Rafael Palmeiro and San Francisco's Bonds are the only active players with 20 or more homers in 11 consecutive seasons.

• Minnesota's Shannon Stewart entered Saturday hitting .469 (15-for-32) since he was acquired from Toronto.

• Texas placed pitcher Ismael Valdes on the 15-day disabled list with patella tendinitis in his left knee. He was 7-7 with a 6.27 ERA.