Times wires
Friday, March 25, 2011
CLEARWATER — Phillies closer Brad Lidge was shut down with right shoulder soreness and could begin the season on the disabled list, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said Friday.
The 34-year-old right-hander made his first appearance in nearly two weeks Thursday. He started the ninth against the Twins with two outs but was pulled after giving up a homer and back-to-back walks.
"We're going to have to rest it for a while," Lidge said, "and it's basically up to them how long they want to rest it for."
Lidge will have an MRI exam when the team arrives in Philadelphia on Monday.
Ryan Madson and Jose Contreras both had experience saving games last season.
"We've used them before, they can get it done," manager Charlie Manuel said, declining to say who may get the job.
Short hops: RHP Joe Blanton blanked a Braves split squad for six innings en route to a 3-1 win. … RHP Roy Oswalt played catch and had no ill effects from getting hit with a line drive below his right ear Wednesday. He is scheduled to pitch in an exhibition against the Pirates this Wednesday.
Yanks: Nova shines
TAMPA — RHP Ivan Nova all but locked up a spot in the Yankees rotation, pitching six impressive innings in a 6-4 victory over the Astros.
"Figured out a way to get through six innings when his stuff was not extremely sharp," manager Joe Girardi said. "That's actually maturing, and that's a good thing because you're not always going to have great stuff and be sharp."
Girardi is expected to announce today that Nova will fill one of two open spots in the rotation. Nova, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon were all but assured spots on the pitching staff earlier in the day when RHP Sergio Mitre was traded to the Brewers for OF Chris Dickerson.
Garcia is the frontrunner for the second starting spot. If Colon is not a starter, he will likely replace Mitre as the long man out of the bullpen.
Dickerson, 28, is insurance if CF Curtis Granderson (strained muscle on right side), is not ready for opening day.
Just in case: The Yankees reached agreement on a minor-league deal with RHP Kevin Millwood. The 36-year-old was 4-16 with a 5.10 ERA last season with Baltimore.
Jays: New guy up top
DUNEDIN — John Farrell took over the Blue Jays with zero experience as a manager anywhere in the major or minor leagues.
But the fact that Cito Gaston's replacement was Boston's pitching coach for the past four seasons has been beneficial for the hitters, some players say.
"It's very exciting when you get to talk to him about what he's seen in the way that (opposing pitchers) attack you," LF Travis Snider said. "He can see the strengths and weaknesses that you can work on."
Hitfest: RHP Jesse Litsch, a Pinellas Park native, gave up four earned runs over 4 2/3 innings and 11 of Boston's 17 hits, but the Jays had seven extra-base hits among their 15 in an 11-8 win. Litsch later went to a hospital because of dehydration.