Originally published Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 12:00 AM

M's Miguel Batista pitches through back pain

Miguel Batista, a man seemingly always on a quest to find out more about himself, discovered something else Tuesday afternoon. He is much more...

By José Miguel Romero

Seattle Times staff reporter

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STEPHEN DUNN / GETTY IMAGES

Mariners right-hander Miguel Batista threw three innings Tuesday, the last two with tightness in his lower back.

PHOENIX — Miguel Batista, a man seemingly always on a quest to find out more about himself, discovered something else Tuesday afternoon.

He is much more able to pitch in pain than ever before.

The Mariners' fifth starter took the mound Tuesday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics in a spring-training game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and got his three innings of work in. For two of those, he battled lower-back tightness on his left side, which he began feeling after the first inning.

"I couldn't finish my pitches in the second inning," Batista said, then was asked why he stayed in the game.

"I wanted to prove a point to myself. I think I can honestly say I'm in the best shape of my career," Batista said. "I can pitch when I'm hurt. I don't think I'm ever going to be stronger or better prepared to pitch like I am now. I might get wiser, but never stronger than I am."

Mariners manager John McLaren said he wasn't aware of Batista's back problem until the third inning, but was told by a trainer that the injury seemed minor. Batista isn't scheduled to pitch for another four days.

Batista, 37, said that as he hit the ground and shifted his weight, he felt a sharp pain above the left hip joint and it affected his pitch location. He thinks it's probably a muscle strain.

Batista gave up two hits, two runs and a walk in the second inning as he dealt with pain. He came out for the third and set the A's down in order, which he also did in the first. Batista threw 41 pitches, 27 for strikes.

He said his back had been tightening up for the past week or so.

"It should be fine if we take care of it," he said.

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