PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Sitting in front of his locker at Charlotte Sports Park on Sunday, Ken Takahashi hung his head and was ready to forget about his first taste of Major League baseball. Takahashi's own evaluation of his performance said enough.

"Not good at all," Takahashi said through an interpreter.

Takahashi's outing ended when he suffered a strained right calf and limped off the field, and his status going forward is unknown for now. The Japanese left-hander injured his leg during the fourth inning, when he sprinted off the mound to field a bunt by Tampa Bay's Fernando Perez. Takahashi made a quick throw to home plate for an out, but came up lame after the play.

"They just said it's a strain, and they'll know more tomorrow," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "I guess he's had a history of it."

Takahashi, who turns 40 in April, didn't fare much better on the hill. In 1 2/3 innings of work -- his first big league action since leaving Japan for the Jays -- Takahashi allowed two runs on four hits, including three extra-base hits. He nearly allowed a third-inning home run to Tampa Bay's Pat Burrell, but a strong wind kept the ball in the stadium for a flyout to the warning track in left field.

Takahashi admitted that nerves played a role in his showing.

"I had trouble concentrating," Takahashi said.

The Jays, who inked Takahashi to a Minor League contract on Feb. 6, are being patient in evaluating the left-hander, considering the circumstances.

"It's so early," Ricciardi said. "I think the Japanese guys, they usually come late with their stuff, so we'll let him pitch. We'll know more probably at the end of Spring Training than we do now."

Toronto manager Cito Gaston noted that the pitcher is also behind the rest of the arms in camp at the moment due his unanticipated trip back to Toronto last week to clear up some visa issues. He was originally scheduled to pitch on Thursday, but Takahashi missed that appearance and returned to Florida on Saturday.

That being the case, the Jays want to see Takahashi pitch a few more times to better determine how he might fit within the organization. The only issue is that it's not clear how long it will be before Takahashi -- 66-87 with a 4.23 ERA in 433 games over a 14-year career with the Hiroshima Carp -- will be able to take the mound again.

"It's his first time out," said Gaston, shrugging off Takahashi's outing. "I guess I'll have to wait to see him again, if it's possible. I don't know how bad his injury is right now."

Sidelined: Left fielder Travis Snider was originally slated to start for the Blue Jays on Sunday, but he missed the road trip after coming down with a stomach virus. Gaston said the flu bug has been making its way around Toronto's clubhouse, and he told Snider to stay home to help avoid having more players fall ill.