Hot corner a sore subject for Dodgers

March 08, 2008|Associated Press

In one day, the Dodgers' competition for the third base job ended with both potential starters needing X-rays. Nomar Garciaparra was fortunate to end up with only a sore right wrist, and likely the job by default after rookie Andy LaRoche suffered a torn ligament in his right thumb that will need surgery that could sideline him for 8-10 weeks.

Garciaparra homered in the second inning of the Dodgers' 6-4 loss to the Cardinals in Vero Beach, Fla., but exited in the fourth, when he was hit on the wrist by a pitch from St. Louis's Kyle McClellan. He isn't expected to miss much time.

One inning later, LaRoche suffered a freak injury while he was fielding a pickoff throw from Danny Ardoin. The ball ricocheted off the helmet of Cardinals base runner D'Angelo Jimenez and struck LaRoche on the base of his right thumb, causing a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.

Hampton has setback

The Braves' Mike Hampton left his start in the second inning with a strained right groin, but the veteran lefthander said his latest injury during his comeback from two elbow operations is a mild strain and that he came out of the 9-6 loss to the Tigers in Kissimmee, Fla., mainly as a precaution . . . A sore right shoulder is expected to limit the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez to DH duties until early next week . . . The Mets' Pedro Martínez threw 53 pitches in a simulated game in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and declared himself on schedule for the start of the season . . . Padres center fielder Jim Edmonds is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a strained right calf . . . Orioles lefthander Troy Patton will have season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

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