Associated Press
The spring training roundup …
BRADENTON, Fla. ó Daniel Cabrera was happy with the way he pitched Thursday for the Washington Nationals in a 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
It was his hitting that made him giddy.
Cabrera, who struck out 14 times with the Baltimore Orioles over the past five seasons, singled to right in his first spring training at-bat with Washington.
The right-hander sent the ball into right field with an awkward swing and almost fell as he loped to first base. Cabrera then scored on a two-run double by teammate Ryan Zimmerman, nearly getting run over by Lastings Milledge, who was scoring behind him.
“A base hit, the first time in my life,” Cabrera said. “Once I got to first, I was so excited, I really wanted to score.”
The Nationals signed Cabrera this winter to a one-year, $2.6 million contract, expecting him to be a key part of their upgraded starting rotation and knowing they would have to spend some time teaching him to hit, bunt and even slide.
“I think he just threw his bat at the ball,” Braves starter Jair Jurrjens said.
Jurrjens, expected to be No. 3 or 4 in the Braves’ rotation, allowed three hits and two runs in four innings. For the Braves, left fielder Brandon Jones had two hits and two RBIs. Jason Heyward hit his second homer of the spring in the seventh inning.
Rays 3, Phillies 2
At Port Charlotte, Troy Percival pitched a hitless inning in his first action of spring training, and the Tampa Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 Thursday.
The 39-year-old closer is coming back from an injury plagued season.
Marlins 16, Mets 8
At Port St. Lucie, Johan Santana was glad to finally get his spring debut over with.Held back because of elbow tightness for two weeks, the Mets’ ace gave up four hits and three runs.
Pirates 6, Twins 4
At Bradenton, Fla., Craig Monroe homered three times against his former team to power Pittsburgh. Monroe hit solo shots in the second and third innings off Scott Baker. In the sixth, he hit a two-run homer off reliever Kevin Mulvey.
Japan 3, Cubs 2
At Mesa, Ariz., Japan’s Kosuke Fukudome drove in a run against his big league team.
Carlos Zambrano, who earlier in the day was selected as Chicago’s opening day starter, allowed two runs ó one earned ó and three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings.
Padres 10, Brewers 10, 10 innings
At Phoenix, Milwaukee’s Jeff Suppan gave up a towering three-run homer to Kyle Blanks and a two-run double to Emil Brown. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer for San Diego.
Rockies 6, Angels 4
At Tempe, Ariz., Ian Stewart hit a three-run homer off John Lackey, and Franklin Morales allowed two runs in four innings for the Rockies.
Athletics 6, Diamondbacks 1
At Phoenix, Arizona’s Dan Haren walked three in three innings, but only gave up one run and one hit, and struck out four against his former team.
Rangers 9, Mariners 1
At Peoria, Ariz., Marlon Byrd had two hits and three RBIs, Ian Kinsler added two hits and scored twice and Hank Blalock went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Texas.
Ken Griffey Jr. went hitless in four at-bats and is batting just .125 in the Cactus League.
Cardinals 4, Red Sox 2
At Jupiter, Fla., St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter and Boston’s Josh Beckett each pitched two-hit ball four innings.
Joe Mather hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning.