Snow Hit in Face by Johnson Pitch

San Francisco Giant first baseman J.T. Snow was hit in the face with a pitch by Seattle Mariner left-hander Randy Johnson during an exhibition game Tuesday.

The game was delayed 29 minutes while Snow, who did not lose consciousness, was treated at home plate. He then was taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital in an ambulance, and is expected to be discharged today.

“On initial examination, he told me he did not have any vision problems, but his eyelid was swollen shut,” Giant head trainer Mark Letendre said. “He did not sustain a concussion.”

Snow tried to deflect an inside fastball with his left wrist, but it glanced off and hit him just over the left eye.

X-rays of the wrist were negative. Results of a CAT scan of his left eye will not be released until today.

Snow was Johnson’s last batter. Johnson, who was visibly shaken, was replaced by Paul Menhart and was not available for comment after the game.

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John Valentin was back with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday after his one-day protest over the team’s decision to move him to second base and install Nomar Garciaparra at shortstop.

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Lakewood (Ohio) Police Capt. Alan Clark said his department acted properly by making up a story to lure Cleveland Indian pitcher Jose Mesa from his home so they could make an arrest.

Mesa’s attorneys want a judge to throw out rape, assault and gun charges against Mesa because of the way he was arrested.

Mesa, 31, has pleaded innocent to one count of rape, two counts of gross sexual imposition, one count of felonious assault and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. He is free on $10,000 bond.

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Three Cubans who defected in Chiapas, Mexico, in November agreed to minor-league contracts, two with the St. Louis Cardinals and one with the Tampa Devil Rays. First baseman Robert Colina, 26, signed with the Devil Rays, and outfielder William Ortega and second baseman Jesus Ametller, both 21, signed with the Cardinals.

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Pittsburgh Pirate right-hander Jason Schmidt, who left camp Sunday after he was found to have an irregular heartbeat, has been cleared by doctors to resume all normal activities.