Associated Press
From around spring training…
JUPITER, Fla. ó Tony La Russa and Jim Riggleman had to be separated when both benches cleared Monday during a testy spring training game between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals.
The scuffle broke out after three batters were hit by pitches, but no punches were thrown and St. Louis reliever Miguel Batista was the only player ejected. The Nationals went on to a 7-2 victory.
With his team trailing 4-2 in the seventh inning, Batista plunked Ian Desmond in the back. While making his way to first, Desmond jawed with Cardinals catcher Tony Cruz, who was walking behind him. Upon reaching first base, Desmond turned to the mound and yelled at Batista ó the two were teammates last season with Washington.
Players from both teams poured onto the field, gathering around first base in front of the St. Louis dugout. La Russa, the Cardinalsí 66-year-old manager, and Riggleman, his counterpart, had to be separated during the fray.
Phillies 4, Red Sox 1
CLEARWATER, Fla. ó Roy Halladay looked ready for opening day and beyond, pitching into the eighth inning to lead Philadelphia past Boston.
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner flirted with a rare spring training complete game. He held the Red Sox to one run and five hits before being relieved by Ryan Madson with two outs in the eighth.
The 33-year-old Halladay, who pitched a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter in his first season with the Phillies last year, struck out six and walked three.
Halladay is 3-0 with a 0.48 ERA in four Grapefruit League games. He will make one more start in Florida before the Phillies break camp next week.
Twins 4, Pirates 1
BRADENTON, Fla. ó Joe Mauer had two hits and an RBI to help Minnesota beat Pittsburgh.
Mauer, who had knee surgery in the offseason, started at catcher for the second time this spring and played six innings. Brian Duensing pitched five innings for the Twins, allowing an unearned run and three hits.
Tigers 9, Astros 1
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó Victor Martinez had three hits and Detroit roughed up Houston starter Brett Myers.
Austin Jackson also had three of Detroitís 18 hits and Phil Coke pitched five strong innings. Alex Avila drove in three runs.
Mets 8, Braves 7
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. ó Jason Bay drove in three runs and New York, after a messy inning by opening-day starter Mike Pelfrey, scored four times in the bottom of the ninth to beat Atlanta.
Kenshin Kawakami, making his first start this spring, allowed one earned run and three hits in three innings for Atlanta.
He struck out three.
All four candidates for the Metsí second base job contributed to the ninth-inning rally. Pelfrey was charged with seven hits and seven runs ó four earned ó in 3 1-3 innings.
1:Rays 3, Yankees 1
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (AP) ó Bartolo Colon made another strong bid for a spot in the Yankeesí rotation, allowing one run over six innings in New Yorkís loss to Tampa Bay.
Colon gave up two hits and struck out five during his 64-pitch outing. In four exhibition starts, the burly right-hander has allowed four runs over 15 innings. He is competing with Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia and Sergio Mitre for two openings behind CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes.
The Associated Press
03/21/11 22:08
Pelfrey was charged with seven hits and seven runs ó four earned ó in 3 1-3 innings.
The Associated Press
03/21/11 20:27