Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 7, 2008 22:16:30 GMT -5
The Toronto starter allowed a run in three innings of the Blue Jays' 4-0 loss to a Minnesota Twins split squad on Friday.
Burnett allowed four hits and struck out two without using his curveball because of the nail.
"I can start the season the way it is if need be," Burnett said. "Worst case is I will glue on a fake one."
Manager John Gibbons isn't too concerned about the nail.
"He'll have it (curve) by the time the season starts," said Gibbons, "He'll be good to go then."
Twins left-hander Glen Perkins is making a solid case to join the club when it breaks camp.
He worked three shutout innings Friday, allowing one hit and walking one. He threw 32 of his 43 pitches for strikes.
"If you get behind guys it limits your options," said Perkins, who struck out two. "So I just make it a point of throwing first pitch strikes.
"Rotation or the bullpen," Manager Ron Gardenhire said of Perkins, "He definitely has a chance to make the team."
Randy Ruiz homered off Jeremy Accardo in the sixth and was 3-for-4 for Minnesota. Carlos Gomez went 2-for-4 for the Twins with an RBI and two runs scored with a stolen base.
Adam Lind had three of Toronto's five hits including a double.
OF Matt Stairs played in his first game since Sunday and was 0-for-3. He sprained his left ankle on Monday in the batting cage.
Notes: INF Hector Luna finally arrived in Toronto's camp from the Dominican Republic. He had paperwork problems. ... DH Frank Thomas delighted the fans after BP when he spent 10 minutes signing autographs, including one woman's baseball-shaped earrings. ... With the wind gusting upward of 40 km/h in from right both team's right-fielders played half way between the fence and infield.
