Times wires
Thursday, March 24, 2011
CLEARWATER — Phillies RHP Roy Oswalt was in good spirits one day after taking a line drive under his right ear.
Oswalt said he had a small lump on the back of his head thanks to the liner by the Rays' Manny Ramirez but didn't have a headache and expects to make his next start.
"I actually slept pretty well," Oswalt said Thursday. "It was a little bit stiff this morning. But overall, it went pretty well."
X-rays and a CT scan taken Wednesday were negative.
"I remember when I was laying on the ground thinking, 'Did I just get hit in the head?' " Oswalt said. "It surprises you more than it does anything.
"You don't know if you need to get up quick or whatever. So I just stayed there and asked (trainer Mark Andersen). And he made me stay down for a little while longer."
Good start, but … : LHP Cole Hamels sailed through three innings against the Twins but allowed three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. After allowing a combined three earned runs in his first three spring starts, Hamels has allowed 16 in his past three.
"I don't know if I've really accomplished much," he said of his six spring starts. "Luckily, I do have one more start. Things are starting to get where they mean something."
Injury report: 3B Placido Polanco is expected to play today after missing eight games with a hyperextended left elbow.
Yanks: Garcia throws
TAMPA — Freddy Garcia, a candidate for the Yankees rotation, allowed one run and four hits over six innings against the Phillies' Triple-A team.
"He did what Freddy does," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "And that's change speeds."
Garcia and Ivan Nova appear to be in position to win the rotation spots behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes. Bartolo Colon and Sergio Mitre also are competing for the starting roles.
Jays: Cecil slower
DUNEDIN — LHP Brett Cecil allowed all five of his runs (four earned) in the sixth against the Braves. More distressing was a drop in velocity.
"I can throw 90. Everybody knows I can throw in the low 90s," said Cecil, who reached only the high 80s. "It's frustrating not to be able to at this point."
Manager John Farrell played down the situation.
"There's no physical issues here," he said. "Each game he's entered or come out of, he's felt good. He has weapons to be effective if the velocity's not there."
Break time: After playing three consecutive games, 2B Aaron Hill, working his way back from a strained right thigh, might be the DH in a minor-league game today.
