SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. [bar] San Francisco Giants pitcher Noah Lowry needs surgery and is probably out until the end of April.
Lowry was the Giants' top winner with a 14-8 record last season. The lefty had trouble throwing strikes this spring and the team sent him back to the Bay Area to be examined by a hand specialist.
The Giants said Thursday that Lowry was diagnosed with exertional compartment syndrome. According to MayoClinic.com, it is 'an exercise-induced neuromuscular condition that causes pain, swelling and sometimes even disability in affected muscles of the legs or arms' and seems to affect primarily athletes in their 20s.
The 27-year-old struggled with his control during his first game at spring training, then walked 9 of 12 batters against Texas on Monday.
Lowry could resume throwing in two or three weeks, but manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the lefty probably won't be available to pitch until the end of April.
Reds
Bray signs for 1 year
SARASOTA, Fla. [bar] Cincinnati signed lefthanded reliever Bill Bray to a one-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.
Bray, 24, appeared in only 19 games last season as he was on the disabled list twice with finger and shoulder injuries. The graduate of Ocean Lakes High and William and Mary was 3-3 with a 6.28 ERA and one save in 2007.
RED SOX
closer agrees to deal
FORT MYERS, Fla. [bar] Boston and closer Jonathan Papelbon agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract, nearly doubling his salary.
Papelbon was among 18 Red Sox players who agreed to one-year deals, putting Boston's entire 40-man major league roster under contract.
Papelbon earned $425,550 last season, when he had 37 saves in 40 opportunities and a 1.85 ERA, then saved three of the four World Series games against Colorado. He's eligible for arbitration after this season.
IN OTHER NEWS
Vladimir Guerrero hit his first spring homer and Jered Weaver was sharp in his second consecutive start and the Los Angeles Angels beat San Francisco 9-1 in Tempe, Ariz.
Righthander Vincente Padilla allowed just an unearned run in three innings and the Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1 in Tuscon, Ariz.
Skip Schumaker, Joe Mather and Albert Pujols hit consecutive home runs and the St. Louis beat Florida 5-2 in Jupiter, Fla.
C.C. Sabathia threw three perfect innings and Grady Sizemore tripled and doubled for the Indians, who had 19 hits during in a victory over Houston in Kissimmee, Fla.
Jason Marquis threw three shutout innings and Kerry Wood threw a scoreless inning in the Chicago Cubs' 2-1 victory over Oakland in Phoenix.
Jake Peavy allowed Troy Tulowitzki's solo homer in an otherwise efficient three innings during San Diego's 10-3 win over Colorado in Peoria, Ariz. It was the teams' first meeting since the Rockies 13-inning playoff victory for the NL wildcard last October in Denver.
Petro Martinez's 2008 debut with the Mets was spoiled when New York's game against Washington in Viera, Fla., was rained out.
CAPTION(S):
Ocean Lakes High graduate Bill Bray pitched in just 19 games last season.
