Marlins’ Sergio Mitre exits with elbow stiffness in 16-3 rout of Orioles
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP)—Sergio Mitre began his first spring training start with a four-pitch walk. He also walked the third batter he faced. Then the Florida Marlins right-hander somberly walked off the mound with a stiff elbow.
“It’s disappointing. It’s something I wasn’t expecting at all. It came out of nowhere,” Mitre said in the middle of Florida’s 16-3 win over Baltimore on Thursday. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow and then we’ll deal with it.”
Mitre could only hope for the best after an abbreviated performance in which he failed to retire a batter, sandwiching two walks around a grounder that was misplayed for an error. The 27-year-old Mitre is looking for a big season after going 5-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 2007, but this wasn’t exactly the way he envisioned getting started.
“I threw a changeup and felt it stiffen up real bad. Then I tried to throw a couple more pitches. It wasn’t happening, wasn’t working,” he said.
Mitre had no lingering soreness, but he didn’t dismiss the possibility of missing a turn or two.
“I want to pitch,” he said. “But if I have to get it shut down for a little bit, then so be it.”
Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez said, “We’ll give it a couple of days and see what it is. It’s the spring; it’s the first time out. It might be nothing.”
Orioles starter Adam Loewen avoided injury, but his results weren’t much better. Returning from elbow surgery that cut short his 2007 season, Loewen issued four walks in 1-plus inning. He left with the bases loaded in the second and was charged with three runs, even though he did not allow a hit.
“Next time is going to be better. It’s the first spring training game and I haven’t pitched for a while,” he said. “I feel like I can make the adjustments I need.”
It was the exhibition opener for the Orioles, who lost many lopsided games last season. Florida had 15 hits, including a grand slam from Alejandro De Aza and a three-run shot from Cory Ross.
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