Notes: Casey not injured after beaning

03/08/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- In the time it took Cincinnati Reds starter Michael Gosling to throw one pitch in the third inning on Wednesday, Sean Casey's return to Ed Smith Stadium nearly went from heartwarming to heartbreaking.
After Casey got ahead in the count, 2-0, Gosling reached back for a little something extra on a high and inside fastball. The pitch got away from the young southpaw and hit Casey on his batting helmet, just above his right eye.
The stunned crowd gasped and held its collective breath as Casey fell to the ground and lay at home plate. Gosling, obviously upset at the turn of events, walked off the mound toward Casey, hoping for the best.
Fortunately, the helmet took the brunt of the blow, and Casey was not injured.
"Great welcome back. I thought I had some friends in here," Casey joked afterward. "But hey, that's baseball. It happens. The ball got away from him. That's the way it goes. You take that risk every time you go in the batter's box."
Casey returned to his feet soon after being hit and jogged to first base. He didn't want to be helped off the field like he was at PNC Park last season, when as a member of the Reds, he took an elbow in the face from Bucs catcher Humberto Cota.
"I just wanted to get up, get on base and go," said Casey.
Manager Jim Tracy removed Casey for precautionary reasons at the conclusion of the third inning. Gosling apologized to Casey as the first baseman walked off the field.
After meeting briefly with a member of the Pittsburgh training staff, Casey said he felt fine except for a little bump on his forehead.
"I think I'm fine. I just have a little swelling," he said. "It never hit me in the face. Initially, I thought it might have, because you get that initial throb, but it didn't hit me in the face."
Casey's second at-bat stood in stark contrast to his first, when the popular former Reds star received a rousing ovation from the crowd, and fans could be heard shouting, "Get a hit, Sean!"
As he stepped into the batter's box, Casey jokingly asked Reds catcher Jason LaRue, "Is this an intersquad game?"
Casey admitted that he had mixed emotions facing his former teammates, but he was happy to get the first game against the Reds out of the way. Even if it meant taking one on the noggin.
"It was good to be back here," he said. "Hey, I got hit in the head. That's no big deal. I'll be back out there tomorrow."
Little ball, long ball: With the exception of Casey's frightening at-bat, Tracy couldn't have been happier with what he saw in the Bucs' 5-0 split-squad win over the Reds.
The victory was highlighted by strong pitching, spectacular defense, patience at the plate and a good old-fashioned backbreaker of a three-run homer.
Starter Tom Gorzelanny, who is in the mix for a spot in the big-league rotation, blanked the Reds on two hits and a walk in three innings. Relievers Marty McLeary and Scott Strickland also chipped in three scoreless innings.
"I thought Gorzelanny threw the ball great," said Tracy. "There is no question that the stuff is of Major League caliber. The consistency in the strike zone is the important thing. He was in the zone, and he was throwing early-count strikes. If there is consistency with that, then obviously this guy has the stuff it takes to be a big-league pitcher."
Left fielder Ray Sadler was the defensive stalwart for Pittsburgh. He made a diving catch for the first out of the first inning and threw out runner Jacob Cruz at the plate in the third inning.
"I've seen Sadler [be nothing in the outfield but terrific]," said Tracy. "I've seen three terrific throws. I've seen diving catches. The outfield play, in general, from the entire group, has been A-plus and then some."
As if the pitching and defense weren't enough to bring a smile to Tracy's face, the Pirates even had Strickland perfectly execute a squeeze play in the eighth inning.
"We've just done all of the little things the way you like to see them be done," said Tracy, whose team improved to 6-1 with the win.
For all the talk of small ball this spring, it was a big blast that opened the game for the Pirates. Craig Stansberry continued the team's early power surge with a three-run homer run in the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie. It was the 12th home run in seven games for the Bucs.
Tracy was quick to note that Stansberry's home run came after the prospect had worked the count to 3-1.
"That's the kind of swing you like to see a guy take when he gets a pitcher painted into the corner," said Tracy. "Those three-run home runs are damaging. They hurt. They're very painful."
JVB progressing: Right-hander John Van Benschoten, who has been sidelined by a sore right shoulder, will throw his first bullpen session of the spring on Friday.
"It's been real frustrating," said Van Benschoten. "But it's nice to have a set date to focus all my energy on and get ready for. Even if it's just some side work, it's a significant step just to get into the flow of things. Instead of being cooped up in the training room all day, I get to go out there and have some fun."
Van Benschoten spent the entire 2005 season on the 60-day disabled list while recovering from operations on both of his shoulders. The former No. 1 draft pick is not sure if he will be ready for the start of the upcoming Minor League season.
On deck: The Pirates will host the Reds at McKechnie Field on Thursday. Right-hander Ian Snell will start for the Bucs against right-hander Aaron Harang. Mike Gonzalez, John Grabow, Brandon Duckworth and Ron Chiavacci are also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates.

Source: http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/