The Associated Press

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Pitcher Eric Milton is expected to be sidelined four to six months following surgery on his left knee.

"I have to be on crutches for a month, so it's going to be a long road," Milton said Saturday.

The left-hander had arthroscopic surgery Wednesday in Park City, Utah, performed by Dr. Thomas Rosenberg. The operation revealed torn and loose cartilage and inflammation.

Milton, the Twins' No. 2 starter, is 41-26 the past three years. The 27-year-old made the All-Star team in 2001.

The AL Central champions will move left-hander Johan Santana into the starting rotation while Milton is out. Santana went 7-5 with a 3.24 ERA in 14 starts last season.

PADRES: Slugger Phil Nevin will need surgery on his dislocated left shoulder, but the team was still not sure how long he will be sidelined.

Nevin had an MRI exam Saturday in Phoenix, but a Padres spokesman said Saturday night the club did not yet know the results.

"He's looking at surgery," manager Bruce Bochy said. "They won't know how long he will be out until after the surgery. We don't have any targeted time for his return."

YANKEES: Second baseman Alfonso Soriano has returned home to the Dominican Republic following the death of his grandfather.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Saturday that Soriano left spring training late the day before and could rejoin the team today.

Soriano missed games Thursday and Friday because of right shoulder tendinitis. An MRI exam Friday was negative.

CARDINALS: Center fielder Jim Edmonds will be sidelined at least two to four weeks with a calf injury and could start the season on the disabled list.

An MRI exam Saturday showed the Gold Glover severely strained his left calf while playing the outfield during Friday's exhibition game against Florida.

Trainer Barry Weinberg said it would take a couple of weeks before the Cardinals could determine exactly how long Edmonds will be out.

Minus Edmonds, Eli Marrero and Kerry Robinson will take over in center field. The NL Central champions have Albert Pujols in left field and Orlando Palmeiro and Eduardo Perez in right.

PHILLIES: Eight months after being fired as Cleveland Indians manager, Charlie Manuel is still upset.

"I made the decision I had to make, but I'm still not very happy about the way it all happened," Manuel said Saturday before the Indians played his new team, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Manuel, fired July 11 after demanding a long-term contract, was hired by the Phillies as a special assistant in December.

The 59-year-old Manuel said he still has not talked with Indians general manager Mark Shapiro since a meeting between the two during the All-Star break degenerated into a sharp difference of opinion.

"When Mark said I was going to be considered along with a couple other guys, well that's when I knew right then they didn't want me," Manuel said. "I gave him a look like 'Who do you think you're kidding?'

"And I told him, too," Manuel said.

GAME REPORT: Ben Broussard hit his fourth homer in a week to lead the Indians over the Phillies 7-1.

Former Indian Jim Thome went 0-for-2 with a walk in his first appearance against his former team.

Ricardo Rodriguez (1-1) struck out Thome to conclude an impressive four-inning start. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out four, including Thome twice.

"He comes right at you, won't back down and is one of the good young arms over there," Thome said.

• Mo Vaughn and Tony Clark homered as the Mets battered Dustin Hermanson in a 14-2 victory over the Cardinals.

Jose Reyes, considered one of the top prospects in baseball, made his much anticipated debut for New York.

The 19-year-old shortstop, held back this spring because of a left quadriceps injury, went 1-for-2 with a single as the Mets won their sixth straight.

• Curt Schilliing struck out five in four solid innings, and Junior Spivey homered to lift the Diamondbacks past the Padres 8-5.

Schilling, who threw 63 pitches, gave up one run and five hits, walking one. He is 2-0 this spring and has given up two earned runs in six innings.

• Tony Armas Jr. pitched four scoreless innings and struck out seven as the Expos beat the Astros 3-2.

Armas struck out six batters in a row in the second and third innings, including five straight looking.

• Barry Zito allowed one run in five strong innings, and Graham Koonce hit a grand slam during a nine-run seventh in the Athletics' 13-1 victory over the Angels.

• Carl Pavano threw three perfect innings and Andy Fox hit a three-run triple to help the Marlins beat the Dodgers 7-0.

Pavano waited more than a week to work with new catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

"It was nice to finally get to pitch to Pudge," Pavano said. "He's so energetic back there that the ball comes back to the pitcher harder than it is pitched."

Pavano faced nine batters and threw only 30 pitches, 21 for strikes.

• Robin Ventura hit a two-run homer during a three-run sixth inning as the Yankees beat the Pirates 7-4.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte allowed three runs - two earned - and five hits in 22-3 innings.

• Russ Ortiz, one of three new starters in the Atlanta rotation, pitched three scoreless innings as the Braves routed the Tigers 11-0.

Braves starters have allowed only three runs in 28 innings this spring. The shutout also lowered the staff ERA to 2.38, best in the majors.