Posted on 03/24/2002 2:23:55 AM PST by Dales
New York Mets: Catcher Mike Piazza was forced to leave Saturday's game in the first inning after being hit by a pitch in the left thigh, and was listed as day-to-day.
The Montreal Expos beat the Mets 3-2 on Michael Barrett's single in the ninth inning.
Piazza, hit by Britt Reames' pitch, was driven off the field on a golf cart at the end of the inning.
Piazza was iced down and, after being examined by team physician Dr. Andrew Rokito, walked out of the clubhouse, got into a car and headed back to Port St. Lucie.
"It looked like it hit him on the hipbone and sent a stinger down his leg," Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "He'll probably play tomorrow unless he's sore. It's a bruise, which is probably better than if he was hit in a muscle or a joint."
Boston Red Sox: Pedro Martinez will cut back his pitch total in his next spring start as a precaution, manager Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little said Saturday.
Little indicated Martinez is still working through some discomfort as he returns from a shoulder injury.
Martinez is scheduled to throw 55 to 60 pitches in his start Wednesday, Little said.
Martinez threw 79 pitches against St. Louis on Thursday, allowing four runs in five innings and striking out eight. After the game, Martinez said he felt strong and wanted to increase his pitch count in his next start.
But on Saturday, Little said it was best to cut back the pitch count because Martinez would be working on five days' rest on Wednesday against Cincinnati. Little plans to work Martinez on six days' rest his first few starts of the season.
San Diego Padres: San Diego right-hander Kevin Jarvis will start the Padres' season opener against the defending World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks on April 1.
Jarvis was 12-11 with a 4.79 ERA last year, his first with the Padres. Only 15-23 in six previous seasons, Jarvis set career highs for victories, innings (193 1-3) and strikeouts (133).
"The way he threw last year, he deserves it," manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday. "He made every start. He was our most consistent. And he didn't get suspended."
Though Bochy hadn't made it official, Jarvis actually had the assignment before Bobby Jones drew a seven-game suspension for throwing inside against Anaheim's Troy Glaus on March 9, triggering a second brawl between the teams in the same inning.
Jarvis is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four exhibition outings.
Cincinnari Reds: Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. returned to Cincinnati's lineup, and Reggie Taylor hit a solo homer in the ninth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Reds 4-3 Saturday in Sarasota.
Larkin had a single in two at-bats and fielded two grounders at shortstop without problem. He hadn't played in nine days because of discomfort in his lower abdomen, where he had a hernia fixed last August.
Griffey, who missed two games with a sore knee, struck out, hit into a double play and fouled out.
"It was encouraging," manager Bob Boone said. "We'll give them tomorrow off and see how they come out of it."
Larkin and Griffey were hobbled last season by injuries. Larkin had torn groin muscles and the hernia, and Griffey tore his hamstring in spring training.
Doctors concluded that Larkin's discomfort was caused by mesh used to reinforce the hernia. He felt so good during batting practice Saturday that he convinced Boone to let him play a few innings, two days ahead of schedule.
"I had to talk him into letting me play," Larkin said. "He said, 'Are you all right?' I said yeah. He said, 'Are you sure?'
"It felt fine. There was no problem. Everything was nice and easy."
New York Yankees: Ted Lilly did not allow a hit over five innings as the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Saturday in Tampa.
Lilly struck out three and walked two. The left-hander threw just 58 pitches.
"He was terrific," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "That was very encouraging for us."
Lilly will start the season in the bullpen and also be available for spot starts.
Juan Rivera and Gerald Williams hit solo homers for the Yankees, who have won 10 of their past 11 games.
Indians starter C.C. Sabathia gave up four runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.
"He didn't have his good fastball today," Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel said. "He wasn't sharp, but he stayed out there and he battled."
Detroit Tigers: Jeff Weaver had his best outing of the spring, pitching six shutout innings of three-hit ball as the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-4 on Saturday in Dunedin.
Weaver (2-2), the Tigers' Opening-Day starter, struck out six -- one in each inning.
Bobby Higginson led off the game with a home run. Mike Rivera also homered off Roy Halladay (0-3).
Halladay allowed four runs on eight hits in 6 1-3 innings.
"I thought Roy threw some real good pitches today," manager Buck Martinez said. "He wasn't as sharp as he will be, but at the same time he got his work in and he'll be OK."
Philadelphia Phillies: Brett Myers' bid to go from Double-A to the Phillies' starting rotation ended Saturday in Sarasota when he was sent back to the minors.
Myers, the organization's top pitching prospect, was reassigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after showing the organization that he's a lot closer to the majors than expected. In four spring training games, Myers was 0-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 17 innings.
"I told Brett to go down, work hard, have the same attitude, same work ethic and he'll be in the big leagues before he knows it," Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "He's a legitimate No. 1 in a rotation if he continues to progress."
The Phillies also reassigned pitcher Amaury Telemaco to the minor-league camp and sold the contract of outfielder Felipe Crespo to the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League. With 33 players in camp, the Phillies must make eight more cuts before their April 1 season opener at Atlanta.
Myers, 21, was the Phillies' biggest surprise of the spring. The Phillies' No. 1 draft choice in 1999 was expected to stay in camp only about two weeks, but pitched his way into becoming a candidate for the club's No. 5 starter.
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