Associated Press
Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Texas outfielder Nelson Cruz was hit in the head by a pitch and taken to a hospital during the Rangers' 11-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers yesterday in Phoenix.

Cruz was batting with the bases loaded in the sixth inning when he was hit on the helmet near an ear by a fastball from Yovani Gallardo.

Cruz stayed on the ground for several minutes, then walked off on his own power. He had an indentation on the side of his face where his helmet had been and looked dazed as he walked to the visitor's clubhouse.

He was coherent when he got in a car and was taken to the hospital. Cruz was released about an hour after the game following a CAT scan and X-rays that revealed he had no concussion and no fracture, team spokesman Gregg Elkin said. Cruz did have a headache. . . .

Reliever Eric Gagne faced hitters for the first time this year, throwing 11 pitches in a "B" game, and did not feel any pain.

"It's the best I've felt in two years," said the right-hander, who has had three operations (two elbow, one back) since his 2002-04 stretch with the Dodgers, when he converted a record 84 straight save chances. He has pitched just 15 1/3 innings since.

· YANKEES: Right-hander Carl Pavano felt "pretty good" after allowing two runs in the first three innings of a 7-5 loss to the Red Sox in Fort Myers, Fla., after returning from a bruised foot and missing a start.

Pavano, in the third season of a four-year, $39.95 million contract, last pitched in the majors on June 27, 2005, before being sidelined by shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow and rib injuries.

Pavano allowed two runs and four hits with one walk and a strikeout.

"He looked like he was free and easy," Manager Joe Torre said. "I really didn't care about results as much as I did just how he pitched."

· CARDINALS: Jason Isringhausen is set to make his spring training debut Thursday, right on schedule.

The right-handed closer missed the World Series after hip surgery in September. He threw to hitters on a back field in Jupiter, Fla., for the third time yesterday and by all accounts was sharp. He expects to be ready for the start of the season.

"I just went out there and threw the ball, and everything was in place where it was supposed to be," said Isringhausen, who had an NL-high 10 blown saves last year while pitching with pain.

Because of Isringhausen's improved health, the Cardinals plan to move postseason closer Adam Wainwright into the starting rotation.

· PADRES: Greg Maddux was scratched from a scheduled start against the White Sox because of a mild lower abdominal strain.

· ROCKIES: Catcher Javy Lopez was released.