Last Updated on May 29, 2007 8:55 pm by admin
MILWAUKEE (AP) -Atlanta right-hander John Smoltz left his start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night in the fourth inning.
After a brief mound visit, Smoltz left – the reason he left the game was not immediately announced, but he shook his right hand gingerly after his at-bat in the fourth and was looking at his fingers. He was replaced by Oscar Villarreal. It was Smoltz’s shortest outing since June 23 when he left after straining his groin.
Smoltz dislocated his right pinky May 14 while making a tag against Washington.
Smoltz hadn’t been sharp before exiting, but was still effective. He threw 40 of his 58 pitches for strikes, but gave up eight hits and three runs.
In the top of the fourth, Smoltz, who had won five of his previous six starts by pitching seven innings in each, easily ran out a chopper that bounced off first baseman Prince Fielder’s glove for a single. He broke his bat on the play and looked at his fingers at first for a few minutes afterward.
The Braves’ starting rotation hasn’t been healthy since spring training. Mike Hampton tore a flexor tendon in his left elbow in March and Lance Cormier (strained triceps) still hasn’t made an appearance this season, but is expected to start next Tuesday.
Smoltz, 7-2 with a 2.82 ERA, picked up his 200th win last Thursday and came into the start against the Brewers with a 14-inning scoreless streak.
That ended in the second off Corey Hart’s RBI single. Fielder added a long, two-run homer in the third.