Monday, September 10, 2001
Pirates worry about pitcher's injury
The Associated Press
PITTSBURGH — Losing another game and leaving 15 men on base were the least of the Pittsburgh Pirates' worries Sunday. They were far more concerned with the condition of right-hander Ryan Vogelsong, who injured his pitching elbow in the fourth inning of the 5-3 loss to the Reds.
“It felt like somebody stuck a knife in my elbow when I followed through on the pitch,” Vogelsong said.
The Pirates still aren't sure exactly what happened on the pitch Vogelsong delivered to Corky Miller. Trainer Kent Biggerstaff said the medical staff was setting up a schedule for tests on Vogelsong's elbow. The process could start as soon as Monday.
Vogelsong had the elbow heavily wrapped and was dejected as he struggled to pull on his shirt.
“It's hurting pretty good right now,” he said. “I've never had any elbow problems before so this is all new to me. Frightening? Definitely, because we don't know exactly what's going on in there right now.
“It would be a little easier if I knew what was wrong. It's going to be a long night tonight, not knowing what the future holds for my arm right now.”
Biggerstaff said Vogelsong had two areas of discomfort, one over the flexor tendon mass and one over the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow.
“He has pain on certain stresses and certain resistance movements,” Biggerstaff said. “The tests will tell us the extent of the damage.”
Vogelsong (0-5) was making his second start for the Pirates, who acquired him from San Francisco with outfielder Armando Rios on July 30 for pitcher Jason Schmidt and outfielder John Vander Wal.
Rios tore a ligament in his left knee in his second game with Pittsburgh and had season-ending surgery. He is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.
Vogelsong started the game by walking Todd Walker and Aaron Dunn. After Ken Griffey Jr. and Sean Casey struck out, Aaron Boone doubled in two runs. Robin Jennings then hit an RBI double to make it 3-0.
Dunn doubled in the fifth, advanced on an out and scored on Damaso Marte's wild pitch. Miller and pinch-hitter Wilton Guererro hit consecutive doubles in the sixth off Mike Lincoln.
Dennys Reyes (2-6) allowed one run in five innings for the win. He had been 0-4 with a 7.54 ERA since his recall from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 13.
Danny Graves got four outs for his 26th save, striking out Aramis Ramirez with the bases loaded to end the eighth.
“They made the pitches when they had to,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “We had the situation we wanted with Ramirez up. He made a good pitch and got one of the hottest hitters in the league.”
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Pirates worry about pitcher's injury
