Another Yankees Starting Pitcher Is Hurt

Starter Jeff Karstens falls after getting hit in the knee by a line drive off the bat of Boston's Julio Lugo at Yankee Stadium. (By Chris Trotman -- Getty Images)

The Yankees lost another starting pitcher yesterday when Jeff Karstens was hit by a line drive, breaking his right leg.

On his first pitch of the game at Yankee Stadium against Boston, Karstens was hit on the side of his knee by Julio Lugo's liner. He won't need surgery and is expected to return this season, team physician Stuart Hershon said.

The right-hander crumpled to the ground in pain after he was hit by the line drive, and Lugo reached first with an infield single. A trainer and Manager Joe Torre came out of the dugout to check on Karstens, who stayed down for a minute or two before getting up and trying to walk it off.

He threw a few warmup pitches and remained in the game -- for the moment.

Karstens (cracked fibula) threw five more pitches, two for strikes. But after he gave up a sharp single to Kevin Youkilis, Torre popped out of the dugout again -- with a trainer, again -- and pulled the rookie.

It was the latest injury for the team's depleted staff. Already missing starters Mike Mussina (hamstring) and Carl Pavano (forearm), the Yankees picked Karstens over Kei Igawa for yesterday's start.

Karstens was 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in eight games, including six starts, for the Yankees last season.

? THUMBED OUT: Detroit Manager Jim Leyland and reliever Wil Ledezma were ejected during the fifth inning of the Tigers' loss to the Twins.

The problems started with the Twins leading 5-3 with runners on the corners and no one out. Torii Hunter grounded back to Ledezma, who caught Michael Cuddyer off third.

During the ensuing rundown, Cuddyer had to check his stride to avoid a collision with Ledezma, who didn't have the ball at the time. Cuddyer was awarded home plate for interference, a call that Leyland and Ledezma argued.

? IN MEMORIAM: Former Virginia Tech baseball star Kevin Barker and his teammates on the Syracuse Chiefs, the Blue Jays' Class AAA affiliate, wore Hokies caps during their home game against the Louisville Bats.

-- From News Services