MIAMI (AP) -- Four Florida Marlins players, including starting third baseman Mike
                   Lowell, plan to miss Tuesday night's game against San Francisco to honor a call by
                   Cuban-Americans for a work stoppage over the Elian Gonzalez case.

                   Marlins general manager Dave Dombrowski said the team will respect the decision of any
                   of its employees to support the protest. He said the club's front-office workers, players
                   and coaches would be excused with pay for the day.

                   "I agree with it 100 percent," Marlins manager John Boles said. "The skids
                   were greased when I recommended them to do it. There are more important
                   things in the world than our game with the San Francisco Giants. Not a lot,
                   but this is one of them."

                   Lowell, whose parents are Cuban exiles, will miss the home game along
                   with pitcher Alex Fernandez, Vladimir Nunez and Michael Tejera, who's
                   on the disabled list.

                   Third base coach Fredi Gonzalez, infield coach Tony Taylor and bullpen
                   Luis Perez also plan to be absent, as does Cuban-American Hall of Famer
                   Tony Perez, an assistant to Dombrowski.

                   Cuban-Americans in the Miami area are protesting how the 6-year-old
                   Gonzalez was taken from his great-uncle's home during the weekend. The
                   Marlins will close their downtown Marlins en Miami Store for the day.

                   Lowell, born in Puerto Rico, is married to a Cuban woman.

                   "It really hits home," Lowell said. "It's a sensitive issue and I have to be
                   responsible. It's a little more important than one baseball game. Thank god,
                   it's not the seventh game of the World Series."

                   Fernandez started Monday night against Philadelphia and was the winning
                   pitcher.

                   "I wouldn't have pitched (tomorrow)," he said. "I'm making it a point as a
                   Cuban-American, and I'm proud to say that. You won't be seeing me here
                   tomorrow."

                   Said Dombrowski: "Anyone who's passionate about the situation, we will
                   respect their wishes."

                   "We have also alerted the Giants of the situation because they'll be flying
                   into this. They also have Livan (Hernandez) and we wanted to make them
                   aware."

                   Nunez will start Wednesday night against former Marlins hero Hernandez.
                   Both pitchers were born in Cuba.

                   In March 1999, Marlins owner John Henry joined a protest outside
                   Baltimore's spring training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after the Orioles
                   announced their intention to play an exhibition game against a Cuban team
                   in Havana.