Police Baffled Over Missing Girl

San Francisco police remained confused Monday by a possible abduction involving a five-year-old girl during a San Francisco Giant game Sunday.

There were some reports that the girl, initially identified as Kristy Loverdi, was safe at home Monday with her uncle, but police Sgt. Jim Leach said those reports were premature.

“Someone had called here earlier today indicating the girl was fine. We are still trying to validate that,” Leach said.

“It would be nice to say, ‘Yes, she’s been found, she’s safe,’ and then move on. But we can’t do that. We have to see the people, confirm who they are.”

A man identified as Frank Loverdi, the girl’s uncle, told police at the ballpark Sunday that his niece never returned from a trip to the bathroom.

Police checked every car leaving 3-Com Park at Candlestick Point on Sunday and some fans waited two hours to exit as a line of cars snaked through the lot.

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Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones left Monday’s game against the Cardinals with a pulled groin muscle.

Jones, who was batting .299 with two home runs and 21 runs batted in after going hitless in at-bats Monday, might miss two or three days. He was replaced by Mike Mordecai.

With one out in the fourth, Jones pulled up lame after fielding a hit by Dmitri Young.

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Gary Gaetti returned to the St. Louis lineup after missing six games with a groin injury but Brian Jordan sat out for the third consecutive game with a back injury. Jordan had 10 RBIs against Atlanta pitching last season.