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By MARK DIDTLER, GREG AUMAN
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2001
Jeter swings well but isn't likely to avoid DL
TAMPA -- Shortstop Derek Jeter went 3-for-7 with a home run as designated hitter in a Class A game, but he appears headed toward the disabled list with a right quadriceps injury to start the season.
"I'm leaning that way only because it's probably safer to do that for me in my mind," manager Joe Torre said. "I don't want to be sorry."
Jeter has not run at full speed. It was his first game action since March 16.
"You get a little optimism, but I'm still frustrated," Jeter said. "The entire spring has been frustrating."
Jeter has played in five major-league spring games. He has also been sidelined by a right shoulder injury and a viral throat infection.
CHUCKED OUT: New leftfielder Chuck Knoblauch threw out Troy O'Leary, who tried to score from second on a third-inning single by Craig Grebeck. Knoblauch said it was his biggest play of the spring.
ETC.: Orlando Hernandez (right elbow) will pitch in a minor-league game at 1 p.m. today in Tampa. ... Reliever Mike Stanton (wrist) is to follow Sid Fernandez, who was scheduled to start the 7:15 p.m. game at Legends Field against Cincinnati. ... Alfonso Soriano hit his fifth homer in the 11-2 loss to Boston. -- MARK DIDTLER
CLEARWATER -- Blue Jays starter Esteban Loaiza, making his final appearance before opening day, rebounded from his worst outing with a solid six-inning effort in Toronto's 2-0 loss to Philadelphia.
"I thought he threw the ball pretty well," said first-year manager Buck Martinez, who will start the right-hander Sunday in Puerto Rico against the Rangers. "He seems to be getting stronger every time. His velocity is coming on, and he's really getting into shape."
Loaiza, who was shelled for 11 hits and nine earned runs five days earlier, held Philadelphia to four hits and two walks in his longest outing of the spring. Martinez said he threw one bad pitch, an 0-and-2 breaking ball to Scott Rolen in the first that turned into a run-scoring single.
UPCOMING: Right-hander Steve Parris (0-1, 3.75 ERA) was scheduled to start for Toronto in Dunedin for a 1:05 p.m. game against Pittsburgh, which was scheduled to start Brooksville's Bronson Arroyo. -- GREG AUMAN
CLEARWATER -- Right-hander Amaury Telemaco, making a case for the final spot in Philadelphia's rotation, had his best spring outing, scattering three hits in six shutout innings against Toronto.
Telemaco, 27, struck out five and walked none in earning the victory, finishing one out shy of the Phillies' longest spring start.
"It was important for me to pitch well," said Telemaco, who had been competing with Cliff Politte for the No. 5 spot until Politte was sidelined with a stress reaction in his pitching arm this week. "It hasn't been given to me yet, but now they can make the final decision and I will feel good about it."
Manager Larry Bowa said the team won't need a fifth starter until the second week, but when that time comes, Telemaco will be in the rotation.
"Right now he's in the bullpen as a long reliever until I need a fifth starter," Bowa said.
GREAT SCOTT: Rolen's first-inning single gave him 17 hits in his past 34 at-bats, a streak that has raised his average to .392. UPCOMING: Opening day starter Omar Daal (1-1, 2.45 ERA) was scheduled to get his final tuneup in today's 1:05 p.m. game against the Tigers at Lakeland's Marchant Stadium. Detroit was scheduled to start Dave Mlicki. -- GREG AUMAN