Indians Tie Rays 4-4

By: Associated Press | NBC4i.com
Published: March 21, 2008

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Even though B.J. Upton left with an injury and Tampa Bay gave up a ninth-inning lead, Rays manager Joe Maddon was upbeat following a 4-4, 10-inning tie against the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.

Upton was hit just above the left elbow by a pitch from Paul Byrd in the first inning.

"We think he's going to be fine," Maddon said. "Injuries happen and you just hope for the best."

A team spokesman said a preliminary diagnosis showed a triceps contusion and that the outfielder returned to the team's training camp in St. Petersburg to be examined by Dr. Koco Eaton, the Rays' orthopedic physician.

Maddon said the club will give Upton all the time he needs to get healthy.

"He's a great young man with a lot of talent and we're eager to see him follow up on an outstanding season last year," Maddon said. "He's just scratched the surface of his abilities. He's learning, improving all the time.

Upton, the second overall pick in the 2002 draft, entered hitting .357 with one homer and nine RBIs in 13 spring games. He was in the lineup as the DH, batting in the cleanup spot.

The 23-year-old Upton hit .300 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs last year.

"I was trying to throw a sinker away and missed by about five feet," Byrd said. "I know he likes to hit fastballs away, so I overthrew it. I hope he's OK."

Byrd allowed eight hits and four runs over six innings and felt so strong afterward that he went to the bullpen and threw another 18 pitches.

"If the season started right now, I'm ready," said the 37-year-old right-hander who took the mound for Cleveland's home opener last April in the middle of a blizzard. "I'm ready for anything from 25 degrees to 85 degrees. Let's go."

Andy Gonzalez's fourth homer, a two-run shot, gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the second off Jason Hammel. Solo shots off Byrd by Dioner Navarro in the third and Jon Weber in the fourth tied it.

The Indians tied it in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by Josh Barfield off Jeff Niemann. It was the first run yielded by the fourth overall pick in the 2004 draft in four spring innings. Notes: The Indians trimmed their roster to 36 by sending eight players to the minor league camp. Manager Eric Wedge said he will make all roster decisions within a week, when the Indians will play their final game in Florida. ... Cleveland OF David Dellucci missed his third day with a strained left forearm. "He's day-to-day and we'll give him time to heal," Wedge said. ... Weber went 3-for-5 and Navarro 2-for-2, accumulating half of the Rays' 10 hits. ... Rays 2B Akinori Iwamura left after four innings because of lower back stiffness. The team said it didn't appear to be serious.