Associated Press
The baseball notebook …
CLEARWATER, Fla. ó Kyle Kendrick’s bid to win a spot in Philadelphia’s was set back with an awful outing against the Atlanta Braves.
The 24-year-old right-hander was pounded for eight runs and 10 hits in three-plus innings Wednesday during a 12-10 loss to Atlanta, allowing a pair of two-run homers to Clint Sammons.
Kendrick, who has 21 regular-season wins as a starter since June 2007, is competing with Chan Ho Park, J.A. Happ and Carlos Carrasco to be the No. 5 starter.
“It’s in my mind,” Kendrick said of the competition. “Next time I just have to have better results.”
Sammons, hitting .462 in spring training, homered in the second and fourth innings. He connected on a slider and a fastball.
Tigers 7, Yankees 4
At Lakeland, Fla., CC Sabathia was roughed up in his second start for the New York Yankees, allowing five runs and six hits in New York’s 7-4 loss . He failed to make it through the second inning.
Reds 8, Astros 2At Sarasota, Fla., Aaron Harang took another step in getting beyond his dismal 2008 season, pitching four scoreless innings for Cincinnati.
Cardinals 8, Marlins 4
At Jupiter, Fla., converted St. Louis outfielder Skip Schumaker committed his fourth error of the spring at second base.
Twins 4, Orioles 3
At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Ty Wigginton had three hits for Baltimore, including an RBI single off Twins closer Joe Nathan.
Japan 6, Giants 4
At Scottsdale, Ariz., NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings. He walked three and struck out five in a 49-pitch outing. Edgar Renteria homered for San Francisco.
Royals 9, Mariners 2
At Surprise, Ariz., Gil Meche’s back feels better, which is great news for Kansas City. Meche threw 55 pitches in his second Cactus League start after being slowed by back spasms. He tossed 2 1-3 innings, allowing two runs, five hits and two walks.
White Sox 6, Brewers 2
At Phoenix, opening day starter Mark Buehrle looked to be in midseason form, throwing three scoreless innings with four strikeouts for Chicago.
Pirates 2, Blue Jays 2, 11 innings
At Dunedin, Fla., Roy Halladay pitched four innings Wednesday to stretch his shutout streak to nine.
Craig Monroe homered in the ninth for Pittsburgh.
NOTESTAMPA, Fla.ó Alex Rodriguez is pleased with his recovery from arthroscopic hip surgery.
“He left me a message,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday. “He sounded good. Said: `I’m doing well.’ Good to hear from him.”
Girardi exchanged telephone messages with the star third baseman on Tuesday night.
Rodriguez had arthroscopic surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in his right hip, and doctors said they found nothing that would keep him from returning to the lineup in May.
– TORONTO ó Henry Blanco homered and made a key throw in the ninth inning as Venezuela beat the United States 5-3 on Wednesday night to win Group C at the World Baseball Classic.
Gregor Blanco added three hits for Venezuela, which avenged a 15-6 loss to the Americans on Sunday night. Both teams are headed to the second round of the tournament in Miami, where the U.S. will open against Group D winner Puerto Rico (3-0) on Saturday night.
– Manny Ramirez is set to make his spring training debut today for the Los Angeles Dodgers in an exhibition against South Korea’s World Baseball Classic team. Also, the slugger will have his own bobblehead this season, a dreadlocked doll that will be given to the first 50,000 fans in attendance July 22 against Cincinnati.