Left-hander Sean Burnett reached another milestone in his return from reconstructive left elbow surgery when he threw off a mound Monday. Burnett warmed up with 10-15 tosses before throwing 20 pitches to the catcher. He will throw off the mound again today. "You feel like you're a baseball player now," said Burnett, who had "Tommy John" surgery performed in September. Burnett will build up his pitch count before being sent to extended spring training in Bradenton, Fla. "It's a big relief to get back out on the mound," he said. "I'm looking forward to going to Florida and facing hitters again."
Left-hander Mike Gonzalez was cleared to pitch yesterday after being unavailable the previous three games because of left knee soreness. Gonzalez protected his knee with a brace. In 2002, he had surgery on the same knee and missed nearly two months of the season.
Rain cut short Jose Castillo's workout with the team, which was going to determine when he would be able to begin an injury rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis. Castillo, who has been out since the second game of the season with a left oblique strain, took batting practice indoors. General manager Dave Littlefield expects to reach a decision on Castillo today.
Infielder Tom Evans was reinstated to the Class AA Altoona roster yesterday after serving his 15-game suspension for violating the minor-league drug policy. Evans, 30, batted .308 in 33 games with the Curve last season and went 10 for 23 in the playoffs.
The paid crowd of 8,413 Monday night was the smallest in the five-year history of PNC Park.
