Bruised eye to keep Iwamura out for 4-5 days

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA
Published June 4, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - The shiner didn't look too painful Sunday afternoon, hours after Akinori Iwamura was hit by a bouncing baseball.

But manager Joe Maddon said his third baseman, injured in the eighth inning Saturday, will be out 4-5 days with a bruised left eye.

"He got hit in a bad spot, and just like when you get a bruise on your arm ... except this is on your eye, " Maddon said. "So we need to be a little more watchful. He's pretty much in cheerleading mode right now. I don't think we can use him at all."

Stress on the eye is a concern, he said, so much so that Iwamura won't be available as a pinch-runner or pinch-hitter and won't take batting practice. Iwamura wore sunglasses when he spoke to Japanese reporters after Sunday's game to protect the eye from the bright TV camera lights.

"I was told it's very crucial to be precautionary with it, " he said through interpreter Maya Koyanagi. "I would have liked to play in the game (Sunday), but I understand what the doctor is explaining."

He said his vision hasn't been affected, joking: "My eyesight is as good as my batting average."

Iwamura, hitting .370, has missed 30 of the Rays' 54 games because of injuries, including a strained left oblique. He was 8-for-17 since coming off the disabled list May 28.

STAYING IN THE DARK: Maddon said he has heard about the different names the Rays are targeting in Thursday's draft from the scouting department, but his involvement ends there.

"I believe in the separation of power, " he said. "It's not my job. I'm so uninvolved in that, and I don't see a reason why I should be involved in that."

MISCELLANY: CF Elijah Dukes returned to the starting lineup a day after sitting out against a left-handed starter. Dukes hits 61 points higher against lefties. ... Carlos Pena's team-high 11th homer was his third in his past nine home games. ... The Royals' Scott Elarton, who allowed four runs on six hits over 52/3 innings, is 0-6 against the Rays, the most losses against Tampa Bay without a win. ... It was the Rays' first home win on a Sunday. ... After 172 career games without a triple, C Dioner Navarro has two in his past seven. ... The Rays won for just the fourth time in 25 games decided by three or more runs this season. ... The Tampa Spartans, who won the NCAA Division II national title Friday, took batting practice before the game.

Eduardo A. Encina can be reached at eencina@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 4, 2007, 07:10:10]