Mark

Hendrickson

He will take the place of Scott Kazmir who has been pushed back until Sunday due to a blister on his middle pitching finger.

The Jays need an off-day to make the break and don’t have one until June 2. The move could be a small help to Hendrickson (5.37 ERA), whom opponents see the day after facing Davis’ similar style.

Hendrickson missed his second spring start with pain in his left side. Hendrickson is a candidate for the Rays No. 3 spot in the rotation. Lou Piniella wants a lefty to break up the anticipated RHPs Victor Zambrano, Jeremi Gonzalez and Paul Abbott.

The final three runs scored in the sixth, but Hendrickson wasn’t very good before that. He ended up allowing nine hits and striking out none.

Hendrickson actually pitched rather well, but he spoiled his effort when he failed to cover first on a two-out Derek Jeter grounder that should have ended the fifth. After that, he walked the impatient Robinson Cano and grooved a 3-1 pitch to Gary Sheffield, who responded with a three-run homer. It wasn’t the last time the Rays tried to hand the Yankees the game, but the Bombers just wouldn’t take it and ended up losing 7-6.

Hendrickson was 0-4 in six starts with the Dodgers entering today. His 4.83 ERA since joining the club isn’t anything exciting, but he was unfortunate to have such a poor record. NL-only leaguers could do worse than using him against the Giants next time out.

He gave up eight hits and walked two while striking out four. Hendrickson’s ERA remains a solid 4.01 on the season, but 15 April innings without allowing an earned run are keeping that number respectable. Still, he can be used against the lowly Royals in AL-only leagues next week.

The plan is for Hendrickson to make two starts for Syracuse and rejoin the the Toronto rotation on July 20.

The run was unearned. Hendrickson was removed after nine innings and 123 pitches. He’s without a win in his last five outings, even though he’s turned in three quality starts during that time. On the year, he’s 3-7 with a 3.62 ERA.

Hendrickson might have tweaked an ankle while trying to field a comebacker from Coco Crisp. He was charged with five runs in 5 2/3 innings before departing, a performance that actually lowered his career ERA against Boston.