Saito gets good news about family in Japan

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After several tense hours, former Dodger pitcher Takashi Saito has managed to account for all of his family members following Friday’s deadly earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Saito’s family lives outside Sendai, the northern coastal city that was among the hardest hit by the disaster. The pitcher, now with the Milwaukee Brewers, was in contact with his wife and knew she and the couple’s three children were safe. But it wasn’t until Friday afternoon, more than 12 hours after the quake hit, that Saito reached an uncle who told him the rest of his immediate family was safe.

Saito was given permission to leave the Brewers’ camp Friday. He is scheduled to pitch Saturday but the Brewers said they may skip his turn.

-- Kevin Baxter in Tempe, Ariz.