Rays/MLB

Norton's family involved in hit-and-run

By MARC TOPKIN
Published July 9, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Infielder/outfielder Greg Norton said his wife and two young children were involved in a hit-and-run auto accident after Friday's game that left them shaken and sore and him frustrated.

It is the second such accident involving members of the Rays' family in less than a week. Catcher Dioner Navarro and his wife and young son were hit by an unknown driver Tuesday near their Tampa-area home.

Jaena Norton, driving a GMC Denali SUV with 13-month-old Jace and 1-month-old Ciana aboard, was stopped at the intersection of Gandy Boulevard and U.S. 19 at about 11 p.m. when a woman driving a mid sized car made a U-turn and hit them, Norton said.

The woman said she was willing to exchange information, but Norton said when his wife told her the police had been notified by her On-Star service, the driver took off. Jaena Norton was able to provide police with a description and part of the woman's license plate.

Norton, who was driving ahead of the family in his rental car, received a frantic call from his wife and immediately returned to the scene. He said the kids seemed to be okay and his wife's only injury appeared to be a sore neck, though they likely will be checked by the Rays medical staff.

"We're just very fortunate," Norton said. "What's scary and frustrating is that you have an older woman that leaves the scene of a mother by herself with two screaming kids in pretty much an alley at 11 o'clock, that she leaves the scene because the police are coming.

" I hope to God the information we gave them is correct and she can face the punishment. Hopefully, she is charged with felony hit-and-run."

Pinellas Park police said Saturday they could provide no details on the case.

ON THE MEND: Closer Tyler Walker said he wasn't surprised he needed Tommy John surgery last week to repair "a pretty significant tear" in his elbow because he knew the injury was worse than he let on.

"I kind of had a feeling based on how it felt playing catch with (trainer Ron Porterfield) in Washington. After a couple of throws, I realized I was kidding myself really," he said. "When I first went on the DL (June 14), I didn't think it was that serious. But then coming back and throwing, I told them I was feeling okay, but I was probably lying to everybody, and to myself."

Walker, who will be out about 12 months, figures the tear was the result of cumulative damage but the final incident occurred in the June 12 game at Detroit. But because it initially felt better after rest and rehab, it wasn't until he started playing catch two weeks later that he realized the severity of it.

"After throwing for four days in a row, it was pretty evident I couldn't go," he said.

PITCHING IN: Depending on whether and how much he pitches in Tuesday's All-Star Game, Scott Kazmir will start either the second-half opener on Friday at Anaheim or Saturday. Jae Seo - whom manager Joe Maddon has taken to calling Junior after NFL star Junior Seau - will start the other game with the rest of the rotation not set.

With a four-day All-Star break starting Monday, Tim Corcoran was moved back to the bullpen Saturday, and James Shields will be available in relief today.

MINOR MATTERS: Doug Waechter got roughed up again at Triple-A Durham on Friday, allowing nine runs on 13 hits in 4¹/₃ innings. In five starts, he has allowed 28 runs in 24¹/₃ innings. ...The Bulls drew 11,048 for a salute to the NHL champion Hurricanes. ... Delmon Young improved his average to .368. ... First-round draft pick Evan Longoria hit seven home runs in his first 15 pro games and had a .383 average and 19 RBIs at Hudson Valley and Visalia. ... Josh Hamilton was 1-for-8 in the first three games of his comeback at Hudson Valley.

MISCELLANY: The Rays lost their seventh straight to the Yankees at Tropicana Field. ... Scott Kazmir's string of 20 straight strikeouts on swings ended when Jason Giambi looked at strike three in the third. ... Carl Crawford notched his 57th triple, 11th most by a player younger than 25. ... Maddon said he would check with Rocco Baldelli before deciding whether to play him today. Baldelli usually doesn't play day games after night games to limit wear and tear on his legs. ... Julio Lugo has reached base in the first inning in his past five games.

[Last modified July 9, 2006, 02:34:21]