Millar Hit on Hand by Pitch, Will Miss a Couple of Days

JUPITER, Fla., March 21 -- Baltimore Orioles first baseman Kevin Millar survived a scare on Friday when X-rays came back negative on his left hand, injured when he was hit by a Russ Springer pitch in the fifth inning of a 7-4 Grapefruit League loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Millar is expected to miss two days, though he said he might be able to take swings Saturday.

"If we were playing the Yankees tomorrow, I'd probably tape it up," Millar said.

The seam of the ball caught Millar on the inside of his left pinkie finger, opening a gash that needed a stitch to close.

"He got lucky," Orioles Manager Dave Trembley said.

Millar caught another break because the pinkie doesn't play a key role in how Millar holds a bat. Still, the incident gave him a scare.

"Anytime you get hit in the hand, you get worried," said Millar, whose finger remained swollen after the game. "You just don't know. There are so many bones."

Coming Soon: Opening Day Decision

Trembley did not name the Opening Day starter, but a decision is expected on Saturday -- nine days before the Orioles open the season against the Tampa Bay Rays at Camden Yards. The Orioles are expected to choose either Jeremy Guthrie or veteran Steve Trachsel, both of whom pitched on Friday.

Guthrie allowed four runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Cardinals. But he recorded five strikeouts without a walk and threw 80 pitches, a sign that he is close to being stretched out enough to start the season.

"Guthrie got better as the game went on," Trembley said.

Trachsel remained at the team's spring training complex in Fort Lauderdale, where he pitched in a simulated game. . . .

Trembley expects to play most of his regular starters for a full nine innings Saturday for the first time this spring. Catcher Ram¿n Hern¿ndez will be the only exception. He is scheduled to play seven innings.