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A's Pitcher Leaves Game Against Red Sox

Posted on: Sunday, 5 October 2003, 06:00 CDT

Tim Hudson left Sunday's AL playoff game against Boston after one inning with a muscle strain in his side, ending his first start of the season on three days' rest.

The right-hander pitched a perfect first against the Red Sox, and the Oakland Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the second.

But while warming up before the bottom of the second, he signaled for catcher Adam Melhuse to go to the mound. They were quickly joined by all four infielders, manager Ken Macha, pitching coach Rick Peterson and trainer Larry Davis.

After a few minutes, Hudson walked to the dugout and was replaced by Steve Sparks.

The Athletics announced that he had a strain in his left oblique muscle. The team did not say whether he would be able to pitch in the AL championship series if it advances.

Oakland took a 2-1 lead into Game 4 of the best-of-5 series. A fifth game would be Monday in Oakland, if necessary.

Hudson was making his first start on three days' rest since last season's playoffs, pitching on short rest primarily because lefty Mark Mulder is out for the season with a stress fracture in his right leg, near his hip.

Macha said Saturday he wanted to go with his best pitchers so decided to use Hudson on Sunday.

In the opener against Boston last Wednesday, Hudson allowed three runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings. Oakland won 5-4 in 12 innings.

During the regular season, Hudson was 16-7 with a career-best 2.70 ERA, second in the AL to Boston's Pedro Martinez at 2.22. Hudson also threw a career-high 240 innings.

The last time Hudson started on three days' rest was an 11-2 loss to Minnesota in Game 4 of last year's opening round. Hudson allowed four runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings in the 2002 opener, then gave up seven runs - two of them earned - and five hits over 3 1-3 innings in Game 4. Minnesota went on to win the series 3-2.

After leaving Sunday's game, Hudson sat in the dugout with his head down, running his hands over his head then covering his face with them. Then he went to the clubhouse.

It was the second injury to one of Oakland's starters at Fenway Park this season. On Aug. 19, Mulder left after two innings with the stress fracture.

Three days earlier, Hudson was hit on the pitching hand by a line drive off the bat of Toronto's Dave Berg. Hudson missed his scheduled start against the Red Sox on Aug. 21.

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