Navarro Back; Dan Johnson Arrives

Posted Apr 22, 2008 by Aaron Knox

Updated Apr 22, 2008 at 03:55 PM

C Dioner Navarro is in the lineup after missing three weeks with bad cuts on his right middle and ring fingers. C Mike DiFelice, as anticipated, was designated for assignment to make room for Navarro. Navarro said right-handed hitting isn’t a problem because he was able to release his injured right hand while swinging. Hitting left-handed isn’t an issue any more, either, but he hasn’t gotten as much work from the left side as the right during his rehab stint. In four games with Class A Vero Beach, Navarro went 4-for-10 with six walks, a double, a HR and four RBIs. He also was hit by two pitches, stole a base and threw out an attempted base stealer.

Also, 1B/DH Dan Johnson is here but not in the lineup against the Blue Jays. Johnson said he took a redeye flight from California late Sunday and arrived in Florida early Monday. He said he spent his two week down period after being designated for assignment by the A’s actually taking hitting lessons at an Oakland-area cage. He also told the tale of spending two weeks prior to spring training in the hospital with a strange bone infection that stemmed from a sinus infection gone crazy. More on that weird episode later.

Here’s the Rays lineup for tonight’s game against former Rays batboy Jesse Litsch and the Frank Thomas-less Blue Jays:

Iwamura, 2B
Crawford, LF
Upton, CF
Pena, DH
Longoria, 3B
Hinske, 1B
Navarro, C
Haynes, RF
Bartlett, SS

Shields, P

And here are the Blue Jays (no Alex Rios):

Eckstein, SS
Hill, 2B
Stairs, DH
Wells, CF
Overbay, 1B
Stewart, LF
Zaun, C
Scutaro, 3B
Inglett, RF

Litsch, P