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Area camps

By Times staff writers
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 14, 2002

Burrell continues to spray around ball

CLEARWATER -- Pat Burrell has had productive spring trainings. Maybe this time it will carry over into the regular season.

Burrell extended his hitting streak to six in a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday, improving to 7-for-18 (.388) over that stretch. He went in with six straight extra-base hits, two doubles and four homers, that had generated 11 RBIs.

He settled for a single Wednesday, but only because he hit a Josh Fogg pitch so squarely down the third-base line it smacked against a padded wall and stayed out of the corner.

Burrell, a Florida State product, has been zeroed in since Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt focused much of an 11-day hitting instruction on him.

THUMP: It was hard to tell if Dave Coggin was hit hard, but the Pirates sure were running around the bases a lot. Adrian Brown homered in the first and Craig Wilson had a two-run shot in the fourth, but both flew out on a strong gust to right.

In five innings, his longest outing of the spring, Coggin (1-1, 6.43 ERA) allowed three runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

"He had a home run and a flyball," manager Larry Bowa said. "The wind was blowing. He really only gave up one."

-- BRANT JAMES

One lapse spoils outing

ST. PETERSBURG -- After four spring training starts, Ron Halladay's curveball is sharper than his judgment.

With a runner on second and two outs in the fourth, the Blue Jays right-hander decided to pitch to the Rays' Steve Cox. Instead of pitching around the lefty to face right-handed Russ Johnson, Halladay unleashed a forkball.

Cox laced the pitch down the leftfield line for his second double of the game, driving in Brent Abernathy to give the Rays a 1-0 lead. It turned out to be the only run of the game.

"I think for the most part I got the results I wanted," Halladay said. "I hung a forkball, which isn't really what I wanted to do. And I felt like I made a good pitch ... but that's probably not a situation where I need to pitch to that guy."

PARRIS TO THROW: Right-handed pitcher Steve Parris' rehabilitation takes another step today when he is scheduled to throw off a mound. Parris had right shoulder surgery Sept. 25.

TODAY'S GAME: The Blue Jays travel to Port Charlotte to face the Rangers at 1:05. Right-hander Brandon Lyon makes his third start and faces Dave Burba.

-- JOHN ASHLEY

Thurman may fill pen hole

TAMPA -- Mike Thurman decided when he signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees on Jan. 28 he wasn't going to project where he would fit on the roster. He's leaving that to other people.

Thurman pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three Rangers.

It may have been his roughest outing of the spring, but the right-hander continued to impress.

Thurman has a 1.50 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks. With Ramiro Mendoza still out with a stiff neck, he might be looking at a relief role.

"You never know if (Mendoza) is going to be ready," manager Joe Torre said. "There could be a spot available, temporarily anyway."

NO BREAKS: X-rays on Roger Clemens' right ankle were negative and he is should start Sunday in Vero Beach.

CLOSE TO NORMAL: Left-hander Andy Pettitte threw for 10 minutes in the bullpen as he recovers from a slight strain in his elbow. Pettitte missed his start Wednesday but will throw in a minor-league game Friday.

-- MIKE READLING

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