Ventura Dislocates Ankle While Sliding

Chicago White Sox third baseman Robin Ventura severely dislocated his right ankle sliding into home plate on Friday night in Sarasota, Fla., and one medic said he could be out for a month or more.

Ventura tried to score from second base on Ray Durham’s single to left, but he was thrown out to end the fourth inning. After Boston catcher Bill Haselman applied the tag, Ventura did not get up, holding his leg in the air with his ankle gruesomely twisted.

His wife, visibly shaken, came onto the field but was escorted away by White Sox personnel while medics attended to the 29-year-old player. Ventura was taken off the field on a stretcher.

“I was walking off and I heard someone say, ‘Oh, man,’ ” said Red Sox pitcher Steve Avery, who was 10 feet away backing up the play. “It looked like he caught his foot on the plate.”

A White Sox spokesman said Ventura’s ankle was realigned inside the clubhouse and he was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital to check for a possible break.

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Randy Johnson won’t be ready for opening day, but he’ll be back right after that. The Seattle Mariners plan to start him in their third game of the season, against Boston on April 4.

“Every time I go out there and I get deeper into the game, it’s encouraging,” Johnson said. “To not have any aches or pains that evening or the next day that don’t go away, it’s been encouraging.”

In his fourth start, Johnson threw 69 pitches in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs--his longest outing this spring. He gave up one earned run.

Johnson won’t be ready for opening night against the New York Yankees on April 1. Jeff Fassero will start in his place.

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David Cone will start for the Yankees when they begin the defense of their World Series title.

Andy Pettitte, who went 21-8 last season, will start against the Mariners the following day.

“David is the leader of the pitching staff and should get that honor,” Torre said. “Guys just look forward to seeing him. They rally around him.”

David Wells and Dwight Gooden will pitch the first two games of New York’s second series at Oakland, although the exact order has not be determined.

Also, the Yankees announced they will retire Don Mattingly’s No. 23 before their Aug. 31 game against the Montreal Expos.

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The St. Paul Saints, who signed Darryl Strawberry last year, are the latest independent team to show an interest in Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu.

In a letter faxed Friday, Saint chairman and co-owner Marvin Goldklang asked Yoshiaki Kanai, the executive secretary of Japanese baseball, if signing Irabu would violate any contractual relationship the right-hander has with the Chiba Lotte Marines or would violate the Japanese Professional Baseball Code.

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Cincinnati shortstop Barry Larkin’s left heel was much improved, two days after he got a cortisone shot. He could be ready by opening day.