Porcello, Eveland duel each other in tie

3/30/2010

DUNEDIN, Fla. - Dana Eveland has done all he can to earn a spot in Toronto's rotation.

Eveland threw six scoreless inning and Detroit's Rick Porcello pitched 51/3 hitless innings before allowing two runs as the Tigers and Blue Jays played to a 2-2 tie in nine innings yesterday.

Porcello did not allow a ball out of the infield before John McDonald singled to center field in the sixth. Jose Bautista then doubled to left and both runners scored on Aaron Hill's drive to left-center field.

Blue Jays reliever Jesse Carlson gave up Alex Avila's run-scoring single in the seventh inning, and Miguel Cabrera hit an RBI double off Jeremy Accardo.

Eveland, who opened camp with an outside shot to land a starting spot, had eight strikeouts and allowed four hits and a walk.

"He's certainly been in the mix all spring because he's done a great job for us," Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston. "He certainly didn't hurt himself the way he pitched today."

Eveland has a 1.23 earned-run average, 19 strikeouts and 21 hits and six walks allowed in a team-high 22 innings over six games.

He went 2-4 with a 7.16 ERA last season for Oakland.

Gaston said the Blue Jays' only definite starters are Shaun Marcum and Ricky Romero. If Eveland doesn't make it as a starter - he's in the mix with Brandon Morrow, Marc Rzepczynski, Brian Tallet, and Brett Cecil - he'll likely have a long relief role waiting for him.

"He's pitched well enough to pitch on this squad," Gatson said. "We just have to wait and see where we're going to put him."

Eveland uses five pitches, a sinker, straight fastball, changeup, curve, and slider. He said he had everything going yesterday.

"Ten percent of your starts you might have everything," he said. "I threw five pitches for that reason, because I know I'm not going to have all of them. On a good day you generally have three."

ROYALS/CALLASPO: Alberto Callaspo may not be ready for the Kansas City Royals season opener April 5 with Detroit because of an irritation in his right side.

Callaspo has been held out of all baseball activities since the injury, which occurred Friday while taking batting practice.

Callaspo hit .300 last season with 41 doubles and 11 home runs. He was slated to bat third and play third base.

ORIOLES/UEHARA: Baltimore Orioles reliever Koji Uehara expects to start the season on the disabled list because of a strained left hamstring.

Uehara hasn't pitched since March 18, when he left a game against Toronto with hamstring tightness. The Japanese native has been slow recovering from the injury, and conceded that he won't be ready for the opener against Tampa Bay on April 6.

He said he was not disappointed, because it's more important he be completely healthy when he finally gets back on the mound.