Twins pitcher Nick Blackburn might not have to miss a start after being hit in the nose and upper lip with a line drive from the Yankees’ Bobby Abreu in Sunday’s 5-1 victory.

“I would doubt it,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhrie said, when asked if Blackburn would miss any time. “He’s just got a big lip out there. He seems pretty upbeat. He’ll be pretty sore the next couple days. I think he’s going to be fine. He’s a pretty tough guy.”

Blackburn’s upper lip is swollen, and his nose is red. But under the circumstances, he was very lucky.

Asked if he thinks the scary moment will affect him next time he pitches, Blackburn said, “I don’t think so. You can’t let it bother you. You’ve gotta go back out and keep pitching the way you were before. I might be a little gun-shy. I don’t think I will. We’ll see. That’ll be something that gets answered next time I go back out there.”

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