Key to Have Shoulder Examined

Baltimore’s Jimmy Key will undergo an examination of his left shoulder today to determine why he’s been experiencing stiffness.

“We have no idea how serious his injury is,” Baltimore spokesman Bill Stetka said. “We won’t know until after we have the exam.”

Key, 36, was scheduled to pitch Monday, but was put on the 15-day disabled list after Sunday’s game in Oakland and sent back to Baltimore.

He is 4-3 with 4.06 earned run average in 10 starts.

*

An MRI taken on New York first baseman Tino Martinez’s sore right shoulder was negative and the first baseman might be ready to play in a couple of days.

“The MRI proved to be what the doctor thought: There was some puffiness in there. It’s day-to-day, a situation on how he feels,” Yankee Manager Joe Torre said. “Tino understands where we are in the standings and it would be crazy to rush him.”

Martinez initially hurt the shoulder when he was hit by a pitch from Baltimore’s Armando Benitez last Tuesday, precipitating a brawl between the teams.

Martinez missed two games, returned to get two hits Friday against Boston, then hurt the shoulder again while sliding. After sitting out Monday’s game against the White Sox, he’s missed three in a row.