Line Drive Knocks Earl Out of Action

Left-handed pitcher Ryan Earl (Thousand Oaks High) got knocked around in his second professional outing, but unfortunately the bashing was more literal than a couple of line drives to the gaps.

Earl, a 22nd-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers last month, had a bone below his left knee broken by a line drive and will be sidelined an undetermined length of time.

Earl, who pitched a scoreless inning in his first appearance, retired the side in the first inning of his second appearance and gave up an infield single to begin the second inning. The next batter drilled a low, outside pitch through the box, causing the injury.

Before exiting, Earl threw one pitch to the following batter, who tripled against Earl’s successor.

“His stats say he gave up three hits and his ERA went from zero to 9.00, which is a little deceiving, but the important thing is that he’ll be all right,” said Ron Earl, Ryan’s father.

The Tigers haven’t decided if Earl, 17, will return home while he recovers or remain in Lakeland, Fla., with the Tigers’ Gulf Coast League rookie team.

Scanning Monday’s box scores:

Triple-A--Adam Kennedy (Cal State Northridge) had two hits for the Memphis Redbirds and is batting .321 in seven games since being promoted from double-A. In 28 at-bats, Kennedy has two doubles, two triples, a home run and six runs batted in.

Double-A--Jon Tucker (Chatsworth, Alemany) hit two doubles for San Antonio, improving his Texas League-leading total to 26. Tucker is batting .310 with eight homers and 55 runs batted in. . . . Robert Fick (Cal State Northridge, Ventura College, Newbury Park) had four hits, for Jacksonville, lifting his batting average to .301. He hit his team-high 24th double.