Posted at 2:32 p.m., Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Baseball: Clemens gets cortisone shot in right elbow
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Roger Clemens received a cortisone injection in his sore right elbow today.The New York Yankees pitcher was examined in Houston by Astros team physician Dr. Thomas Mehlhoff. Clemens was forced out of Monday's 7-1 loss to Seattle after four innings because of elbow inflammation.
"Talking to him the other day before he went to Houston, he made me feel like: I'll see you shortly in the starting rotation," Yankees manager Joe Torre said.
Because the Yankees have an off day tomorrow, Chien-Ming Wang will take Clemens' turn on Sunday at the Kansas City Royals, pitching on his regular four days' rest. Torre said the Yankees decided not to have Wang, a sinkerballer, wait until the series at Toronto, which has artificial turf.
Wang said his back felt fine, a day after it stiffened in the eighth inning and forced him out after 86 pitches.
Ian Kennedy is to start Friday's series opener against the Royals, followed by Andy Pettitte on Saturday. Mike Mussina, bumped from the rotation last week in favor of Kennedy, likely will start one of the games in Toronto.
Also today, Yankees reliever Luis Vizcaino had an MRI exam on his right shoulder, which felt sore when he pitched against Seattle last night. Torre said Vizcaino wouldn't be available through the weekend.
