Associated Press
From around spring training..,
DUNEDIN, Fla. ó Cliff Lee tossed six effective innings, Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday.
Lee gave up two runs and four hits, including Rajai Davisí leadoff triple in the first inning and Juan Riveraís homer in the third. Toronto touched up Danys Baez for two runs in the ninth before Jonathan Diaz ended the game with a double-play grounder.
Ricky Romero, who skipped his previous start with an inflamed left middle finger, allowed first-inning singles to Ben Francisco and Ryan Howard before Ibanez launched a drive to center. Torontoís opening-day starter has given up 12 runs and 16 hits over 14 innings in four starts.
Also, Luis Castillo reported to the Philliesí spring training camp, four days after the second baseman was released by the New York Mets.
The 35-year-old Castillo signed a minor league deal with the Phillies on Monday and he could earn regular playing time with Chase Utley out because of a right knee injury.
Orioles 6, Yankees 2
SARASOTA, Fla. ó Jake Fox hit his eighth home run, most in the majors this spring, and Zach Britton had another impressive outing for Baltimore.
Britton finally allowed his first run of the spring, but heís making it hard on the Orioles to choose a No. 5 starter. He yielded one run and six hits in five-plus innings, walking two and striking out five. Jason Berken followed and pitched two scoreless innings.
Britton has worked 14 innings in four spring appearances, allowing one run.
Fox, bidding to become the Oriolesí backup catcher, hammered a long homer to left field off Sergio Mitre, giving Baltimore the lead for good at 2-1 in the third.
Marlins 3, Twins 0
JUPITER, Fla. ó Hanley Ramirezís aggressive baserunning ended Carl Pavanoís scoreless innings streak and sparked Florida to the victory.
In a matchup of opening-day starters, Josh Johnson labored through five innings for Florida but did not allow a run.
In other news, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Scott Baker will be the teamís fifth starter. Kevin Slowey will pitch out of the bullpen.
Mariners 9, White Sox 5
PEORIA, Ariz. ó Seattle ace Felix Hernandez pitched five innings in his third spring training start.
The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner allowed two runs and three hits, struck out five and walked none.
A two-base error by Chicago first baseman Adam Dunn led to a four-run sixth for the Mariners, which included a two-run double by Matt Tuiasosopo.
Chicago committed four errors in the game.
White Sox starter Edwin Jackson walked five in five innings. He gave up three runs and six hits, and struck out six.
1:Dodgers 2, Cubs 1, 10 innings
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) ó Chad Billingsley and Ryan Dempster hope they pitch nearly as well in April as they did Tuesday in the Cactus League.
Billingsley, set to be the Dodgersí No. 2 starter, gave up four hits in six shutout innings. He ran into trouble in his final inning, giving up a hit and two walks before a sliding catch in center field by Xavier Paul bailed him out.
Billingsley threw 94 pitches.
Dempster, the Cubsí opening-day starter, continued his excellent spring by giving up one run and six hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked one, lowering his ERA to 1.88.
1:Indians 7, Diamondbacks 3
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) ó Non-roster outfielder Travis Buck hit two of Clevelandís four homers, and Indians star Grady Sizemore returned to center field for the first time since he had microfracture surgery on his left knee in June.
Buck hit a two-run drive off Aaron Heilman in the fifth and a two-out solo shot off David Hernandez in the ninth, giving him four spring homers.
Asdrubal Cabrera and Austin Kearns also homered for Cleveland. Fausto Carmona allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings.
Kelly Johnson went deep for Arizona. Heilman gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Sizemore was 0 for 2 with a strikeout and is hitless in four at-bats on the spring, serving as the DH on Sunday. He is not expected to be ready for opening day.
1:Mets 7, Tigers 4
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) ó Lucas Duda had three hits filling in for Angel Pagan and the Mets roughed up Brad Penny for five runs in the second inning.
Pagan, taking over in center field for Carlos Beltran this season, left because of tightness in his lower back. Duda entered in the second inning, and scored two runs.
Mets starter Jonathon Niese gave up four runs in the bottom of the second, but didnít allow any more in his four innings.
Prior to the game, Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced Will Rhymes had won the second base job and last yearís opening-day starter, Scott Sizemore, was sent to the minors.
Rhymes batted .304 in 54 games last season.
1:Athletics 10, Reds 8
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) ó Coco Crisp and Daric Barton hit home runs off Mike Leake, powering Oakland to the win.
Leake allowed seven runs in his worst spring outing. He also gave up two doubles among six Oakland hits in 2 1-3 innings.
Leake made the Redsí rotation by default when an MRI exam revealed inflammation in Johnny Cuetoís right shoulder.
Brett Anderson, in line to be Oaklandís opening-night starter, gave up four runs and four hits in six innings.
NL MVP Joey Votto and Jonny Gomes homered for the Reds. Votto also doubled and singled and drove in four runs.
1:Brewers 7, Padres 0
PHOENIX (AP) ó Marco Estrada was sharp for 4 1-3 innings, and Ryan Braun doubled and singled for the Brewers.
Estrada, a minor leaguer called across the complex to start for Milwaukee, allowed three hits. He struck out four and walked one.
Estrada is one of a handful of players auditioning for Zack Greinkeís spot in the rotation while the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner recovers from a fractured rib.
Padres starter Clayton Richard went 4 2-3 innings, allowing seven runs and 10 hits.
1:Nationals 3, Astros 1
VIERA, Fla. (AP) ó John Lannan pitched six strong innings and Michael Morse hit a two-run homer, leading Washington to the win.
Lannan allowed one run and two hits while striking out three and walking one.
Michael Bourn singled in the lone run off Lannan in the sixth.
Colin Balester, Doug Slaten and Drew Storen each pitched a shutout inning for the Nationals.
Wandy Rodriguez worked four innings for Houston in his fourth appearance of the spring. He allowed an unearned run and three hits with a strikeout.
Rodriguez had been sidelined since March 10 with left shoulder tendinitis.
The Associated Press
03/22/11 20:41