Associated Press
Saturday’s roundup …
NEW YORK ó Mark Teixeira and the New York Yankees felt right at home in their new house. As soon as they got settled, though, it was time to say goodbye.
Flashing the power stroke that earned him a $180 million contract this offseason, Teixeira homered twice and drove in four runs to lead New York over the lethargic Chicago Cubs 10-1 on Saturday.
Derek Jeter added a three-run shot and the Bronx Bombers opened their glitzy new ballpark by sweeping a pair of exhibition games from Chicago. They made the $1.5 billion palace look like a Little League band box, hitting seven home runs in two days.
“I hope it’s a sign of things to come,” Teixeira said. “A lot of the balls that were hit out the last few days would have gone out on any day in any park, but I think this is going to be a good hitter’s park.”
Now, the Yankees have to leave for a while. They begin the season with a nine-game road trip before their home opener April 16 against Cleveland.
METS
NEW YORK ó Citi Field will be neither a pitchers’ nor a hitters’ park if no one throws strikes.
Oliver Perez made his first appearance at the New York Mets’ new home and was as inconsistent as he was at Shea Stadium.
The left-hander failed to make it out of the first inning, walking four and giving up a grand slam to Jed Lowrie in a 9-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday that completed a two-game exhibition series.
Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka also walked four, including two in a 35-minute first inning, but won the spring-training finale for both teams by allowing one hit in four innings.
With a crowd of 38,695 milling through the stands on a blustery afternoon, the fresh sod was as littered with wrappers as Shea used to be from 1964 through last year.
New York planned to work out at Citi Field today before flying to Cincinnati for the traditional NL opener Monday. The Mets don’t return home until the ballpark’s official opener against San Diego on April 13.
Former East Rowan High and Rowan Legion player Bobby Parnell is on the Mets’ roster as a reliever.
OTHERSAt Philadelphia, Pat Burrell hit his first homer at Citizens Bank Park since he left the Phillies in the offseason and Carlos Pena also went deep for Tampa Bay.
Philadelphia hosts the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night in the 2009 major league opener.
Tigers 8, Braves 4
ATLANTA ó Rick Porcello, making a bid to be more than a fill-in starter for Detroit, pitched two scoreless innings and the Tigers beat the Atlanta Braves 8-4 in each team’s final exhibition game.
The 20-year-old Porcello, making the jump from Class A, gave up only one hit. He has been named Detroit’s No. 4 starter with Jeremy Bonderman opening the season on the 15-day disabled list.
Armando Galarraga followed Porcello and gave up two runs, one earned, in 52/3 innings.
Twins 7, Pirates 6
At Fort Myers, Fla., Justin Morneau wrapped up a big spring, doubling and driving in three runs. The former AL MVP hit .394 with three home runs in 14 exhibition games for the Twins.
Indians 4, Astros 3
At Houston, Carl Pavano tossed five solid innings for Cleveland, surrendering one run and four hits. The right-hander struck out four and walked none.
Royals 5, Rangers 4
At Arlington, Texas, Kris Benson pitched five effective innings for Texas in the final exhibition game for both teams. He allowed three runs, one earned and eight hits.
Mike Jacobs and John Buck each hit solo homers for Kansas City.
Marlins 1, Blue Jays 1
At Jupiter, Fla., Anibal Sanchez threw three scoreless innings for Florida. The right-hander allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one.
Athletics 3, Giants 2
At Oakland, Calif., Brett Anderson allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings, and Eric Chavez and Jack Cust hit back-to-back homers for the A’s.
Rockies 6, Mariners 5
At Las Vegas, Seth Smith hit a bases-loaded RBI single off the left-field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Colorado the win.
Kenji Johjima and Yuniesky Betancourt homered for the Mariners. Ken Griffey Jr. went 1-for-2 with an RBI, ending spring training on a nine-game hitting streak.
Reds 9, Futures 6
At Dayton, Ohio, Edwin Encarnacion and Jerry Hairston Jr. each hit a two-run homer for Cincinnati. Johnny Cueto allowed one run and four hits in four innings.
Cardinals 7, Redbirds 3
At Memphis, Tenn., Rick Ankiel and Khalil Greene each hit a two-run homer to lift St. Louis to the win. Joel Pineiro allowed three runs, two earned, and three hits in seven innings.