Brian Wilson has elbow checked out

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ATLANTA -- San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson flew to Florida on Wednesday to have his ailing right elbow checked out by the same doctor who performed surgery eight years ago.

Wilson has some inflammation but no serious damage, manager Bruce Bochy said before the injury-plagued Giants faced the Atlanta Braves.

The right-hander was not available for the game. He could return to the mound Thursday.

"He just felt a little tenderness," Bochy said. "We're just being cautious. The results came out well. They showed a little inflammation in the elbow, so we're going to give him a couple days off."

Wilson gave up three runs in the ninth inning Monday night, a 5-4 loss to the Braves. He headed to Pensacola, Fla., to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, who performed Tommy John surgery on Wilson in 2003.

Wilson is 6-4 with a 3.19 ERA and 35 saves this season.

"He just wanted to get it checked out by the man who did it," Bochy said. "We didn't want to risk putting him back out there without having it evaluated."

Bochy also gave a positive report on left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who left Tuesday's start in the third inning after spraining his left ankle fielding a bunt.

"He's actually feeling much better," the manager said. "We are not ruling him out for his next start."

Reliever Sergio Romo flew to San Francisco to have his right elbow examined by team doctors. He was cleared to resume throwing and will begin his rehab in Arizona.

The Giants placed Romo on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 10.

"We expect him to be ready as soon as his time is up," Bochy said. "It didn't show any issue with the elbow, so that's good news for us."

The Giants were still without infielder Jeff Keppinger for another day or two. He's bothered by a sprained right wrist, sustained Monday in a collision with Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman.

But outfielder Nate Schierholtz was back in the lineup after sitting out a game recovering from a painful bruise to his right foot from a foul ball.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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