HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt is relieved to be healthy and ready to start Houston’s season opener today against San Francisco and two-time National League Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
Oswalt’s left hamstring tightened up during a spring start March 26. He returned to Houston and received an injection in his back, clearing the way for him to extend his club record to eight consecutive opening-day starts.
Giants’ Bowker wins spot
SAN FRANCISCO — Right fielder John Bowker beat out Nate Schierholtz after a big spring, manager Bruce Bochy announced Sunday as the Giants set their opening-day roster.
• Second basemen Freddy Sanchez and Emmanuel Burriss and outfielder Fred Lewis were placed on the 15-day disabled list. Also, the Giants purchased the contracts of fifth starter Todd Wellemeyer and right-handed reliever Guillermo Mota.
Footnotes.
Mariners ace Cliff Lee was placed on the 15-day DL with an abdominal strain. There is “no timetable” for his return, said manager Don Wakamatsu.
Seattle also purchased the contract of designated hitter Mike Sweeney, 36.
• Pitchers Carlos Monasterios and Ramon Ortiz made the Dodgers’ opening-day roster, while Hong-Chih Kuo went on the disabled list retroactive to March 26.
• The Rays placed relief pitcher J.P. Howell (left shoulder strain) on the 15-day DL and reassigned pitcher Joa-quin Benoit and infielder Hank Blalock to the minors.
The Associated Press
