Braves beat Tigers; Kawakami misses start

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Braves pitcher Kenshin Kawakami was scratched from a start Thursday because of “right shoulder fatigue,” which the team and the pitcher said was not a problem that would hinder him as opening day draws closer.

“We wanted to be on the safe side,” manager Bobby Cox said. “If we’re in the [regular[ season, he would start — easily.”

Javier Vazquez replaced Kawakami and held the Detroit Tigers to one run, four hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings Thursday night in a 5-2 Braves victory. Vazquez got back to camp Wednesday after his Puerto Rico team was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic.

“I felt sharp all night,” said Vazquez, who threw 52 strikes in 79 pitches. “I threw all my pitches, and threw most of them for strikes. I felt good all the way around.”

Kawakami, a 33-year-old former Japanese league star, said through an interpreter that “something wasn’t right” after his Wednesday bullpen session. When he was tested Wednesday by Braves trainers, his pitching shoulder showed some weakness.

The decision was made then to scratch Kawakami, though the Braves didn’t announce it until Thursday afternoon. Kawakami passed the same strength test Thursday and said his arm felt normal.

“We’ll let him skip one start,” Cox said. “We have a long spring, so it’s not going to set him back.”

Kawakami said he felt no apprehension about his shoulder. “No concern at all,” he said. “We just want to be in the best condition before the regular season starts.”

Kawakami lost Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing seven hits and two runs in 4 2/3 innings, after giving up six hits and five runs in a March 9 intrasquad game against minor-leaguers. He said Thursday that his shoulder felt normal during those starts.

He signed a three-year, $23 million contract with the Braves in January.

Etc.

Outfielder Garret Anderson (strained calf) is expected to begin light jogging today and could play at some point next week, Cox said. … Matt Diaz went 2-for-3 with three RBIs as the Braves won for the 14th time in the past 15 games, including 12 wins in 13 Grapefruit League games in that stretch. Diaz is hitting .400 with a team-high 11 RBIs. … Several Braves have been out in recent days with flu-like symptoms, including first baseman Casey Kotchman, catcher Clint Sammons and reliever Kris Medlen, who lost six pounds in the two days after he took ill. He has since regained four pounds.