Spring Training Capsules: Giants upend Rangers 8-5
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Despite allowing five runs, Texas Rangers starter Rich Harden was pleased with his performance Monday night.
"It's the best I've thrown in a while," said Harden, who allowed the runs in 3 2/3 innings of the Rangers' 8-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants. "I was throwing strong so it's just a matter of working on the conditioning."
Harden gave up the five runs and five hits, including Fred Lewis' two-run, first-inning home run behind the Rangers' right-field bullpen. The right-hander had allowed four runs and two hits and three walks in his last outing, a 2 2/3-inning stint against Oakland.
"He got a couple balls up in the zone and they hit them," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "But we got him up to 80 pitches, which is good. Now we just need him to get those 80 pitches and get us five (innings)."
More important to Harden than the results is health, given his history of trips to the disabled list.
"There are no questions in my mind," said Harden, who along with Scott Feldman is expected to anchor the Rangers' rotation. "I'm healthy, I'm strong and I'm coming into camp a lot stronger than I've been in a while."
Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left the game in the third inning after he was hit on the top of the left hand by Giants starter Madison Bumgarner.
X-rays of Hamilton's hand were negative and he'll be evaluated Tuesday morning.
"Somebody's out to get me," Hamilton said with a wry smile. "Watch out, boys. Don't stand too close."
Hamilton was on an 8 for 17 run, including his first home run Sunday, after missing several days of camp with a left shoulder contusion.
"I'm ready to roll," Hamilton said. "Like I said before, it's a matter of me being smarter about these things."
Bumgarner allowed three runs and three hits with three walks and the hit batter. He's considered a long shot to earn a spot in the Giants' rotation.
"Fighting for a job isn't as important as getting ready for the season and being ready when the season starts, no matter where that may be," Bumgarner said.
Among the three hits Bumgarner allowed were Nelson Cruz's first home run of the spring onto the grass batters' eye above the center-field fence.
"It was a fastball I got up and he hit it about 500 feet," Bumgarner said.
NOTES: Rangers RHP Warner Madrigal had an MRI performed on his sore right arm Monday. Results are expected on Tuesday. ... Edwar Ramirez, acquired by Texas from the New York Yankees on Wednesday after he was designated for assignment Feb. 28, made his Rangers' debut in the sixth. ... Lewis' home run was his second in as many days. Giants catcher Buster Posey has hit safely in five of his past six games, including four multi-hit games.
Hamilton leaves game after hit by pitch on hand
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left Monday night's game against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning after he was hit on the top of his left hand by a pitch from Madison Bumgarner.
Hamilton skipped halfway down the first base line toward the Rangers' dugout before doubling over a few feet shy of the coach's box. He walked to the bag and was replaced immediately by Brandon Boggs.
Hamilton, who jogged to the clubhouse after the inning, was diagnosed in the dugout with a bruise and was to be evaluated further.
The 29-year-old already has missed a week of training camp with a left shoulder contusion. He hit his first home run of the spring Sunday afternoon and was 0 for 1 against the Giants before leaving.
Mariners 13, Arizona 5
TUCSON, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners ace Cliff Lee was ejected after throwing a pitch over the head of Chris Snyder in a 13-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Lee collided with Snyder in the first inning while trying to back up a play at home plate. Lee denied he was later trying to retaliate.
With two outs in the third, Lee threw an inside pitch to Snyder, then tossed one just over his head. Snyder walked toward the mound, and the dugouts and bullpens emptied. No punches were thrown.
Lee went to a back field and threw another 15 pitches to complete what was supposed to be a four-inning outing. Snyder missed much of last season with injuries.
| Reds 13, Athletics 5 |
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GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Ben Sheets was battered for 10 runs without retiring a batter in his latest poor showing, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Oakland Athletics.
Sheets signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Oakland after missing last season with elbow problems that required surgery. He gave up eight hits and a walk, and another batter reached on an error.
Chris Dickerson ended Sheets' day with a two-run homer in his second at-bat of the first inning. Sheets has allowed 18 runs in 4 1-3 innings over his first three spring outings.
| Phillies 5, Pirates 1 |
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BRADENTON, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Placido Polanco sprained his right knee during a loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Polanco was injured while trying to catch Delwyn Young's pop single that landed in the infield. Polanco's right foot came down hard on the mound as he lost the ball in the sun, and he fell to the ground. Two trainers helped him off the field.
Polanco was examined by the Pirates medical staff, which told him there was a sprain in the back of the knee as well as a slight hyperextension of the upper calf. Polanco said he could return by the end of the week.
Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay gave up his first run in three spring training starts, striking out six and allowing three hits in five innings.
| Dodgers 4, Angels 0 |
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TEMPE, Ariz. — Ramon Ortiz kept up his bid for the fifth spot in the Dodgers' rotation, pitching two-hit ball for four innings in a win over the Los Angeles Angels.
The 37-year-old Ortiz has thrown nine scoreless innings this spring. He has not pitched in the majors since 2007 with Colorado.
Scott Kazmir made his first spring start for the Angels and allowed two runs and five hits in 2 1-3 innings.
| Brewers 5, Indians 4 |
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PHOENIX — Yovani Gallardo wants to start on opening day for the first time. He's making his strongest argument yet.
Gallardo struck out five in four solid innings and rookie Alcides Escobar knocked in his ninth run of the spring, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers over the Cleveland Indians.
| Rockies 5, Cubs 2 |
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TUCSON, Ariz. — The game took less time than the Chicago Cubs' adventurous bus ride.
The usual two-hour trip from Mesa turned into a 3½-hour ordeal when Chicago's bus broke down on the highway. The Colorado Rockies needed just over two hours, which is short by Cactus League standards, to beat the Cubs.
Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano was lucky — his cousin was following the bus in a car, so they drove with catcher Koyie Hill to the park. Zambrano gave up one run and five hits in four innings. He helped himself with an RBI double.
| Mets 6, Cardinals 5 |
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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Francisco Rodriguez looked like the dominant pitcher he was with the Angels.
K-Rod wore prescription sunglasses in a spring training debut delayed by conjunctivitis, the same look he used to have with the Angels. After Rodriguez retired the side on seven pitches Monday, Angel Pagan hit a two-run, ninth-inning homer off Pete Parise to lift the New York Mets over the St. Louis Cardinals.
St. Louis starter Brad Penny was struck on his right elbow by a line drive off the bat of Jason Bay in the first inning. After a few practice tosses, Penny stayed in. He gave up three runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Marlins 5, Twins 4
JUPITER, Fla. — Chris Volstad hurt his chances at solidifying a spot in the Marlins' rotation, allowing four runs in 2 1-3 innings in Florida's victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Volstad gave up five hits and four walks. He has yielded eight runs on 11 hits and five walks in his last two outings.
Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was scratched from the lineup but said he expects to play Tuesday.
Marlins prospect Mike Stanton hit his third homer of the spring, a two-run shot off Francisco Liriano.
| Orioles 8, Red Sox 4 |
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FORT MYERS, Fla. — Mike Lowell made his spring training debut for the Boston Red Sox — at an unfamiliar position.
Lowell, who had surgery Dec. 30 to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb, played first base in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles. It was his first appearance at the position since 1998, when he played four games there for the New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate.
Boston's offseason acquisition of third baseman Adrian Beltre will limit Lowell's time at the position he had manned for the Red Sox since 2006.
Lowell batted second and went 1 for 2.
| Tigers 10, Blue Jays 7 |
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LAKELAND, Fla. — Miguel Cabrera hit his first homer of spring training and Scott Sizemore and Brennan Boesch also homered for the Detroit Tigers against Toronto on a windy day.
Armando Galarraga started for the Tigers and allowed three runs — all earned — in three innings as his spring training ERA jumped to 11.57.
Braves 5, Nationals 2
VIERA, Fla. — Derek Lowe worked four hitless innings and Atlanta beat winless Washington.
Washington is 0-11, the majors' only winless team this spring.
Coming off a one-inning stint March 10 in which he was troubled by a blister on his right foot — and gave up three runs and five hits — the right-hander allowed only one baserunner. Washington's Roger Bernadina reached in the second when first baseman Eric Hinske dropped shortstop Yunel Escobar's throw. Lowe (1-0) struck out six.
Martin Prado and Joe Thurston homered for the Braves.
Padres 7, Giants 1 (ss)
PEORIA, Ariz. — Mat Latos retired the first three batters on seven pitches and San Diego beat a San Francisco split squad.
Latos, competing for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, allowed one run and three hits in four innings while striking out three and walking two.
He struck out leadoff batter Eugenio Velez on three pitches, got Kevin Frandsen to fly out to right with his fourth pitch, then struck out Nate Schierholtz on three pitches.
Tony Gwynn Jr. hit a go-ahead, RBI double and Kyle Blanks added a two-run double to highlight the seven-run fifth inning. The Giants committed three errors that inning.
The Giants used several relievers, with Guillermo Mota getting the start. He allowed one hit and struck out three in two scoreless innings, extending his spring scoreless streak to five innings.
Royals 9, White Sox 1
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke got the best of a matchup with Mark Buehrle and Kansas City beat the White Sox.
Greinke, unscored upon in his first two spring training outings, was effective again, allowing one run and two hits in four innings.
The 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner struck out three and retired the side in order in three innings, throwing 41 of his 61 pitches for strikes.
Buehrle, Chicago's projected opening day starter, gave up three runs and nine hits in four innings in his second start of the spring. The runs were the first Buehrle has allowed.
Yuniesky Betancourt doubled twice, scored three times and drove in a run for Kansas City, and Scott Podsednik had two hits and an RBI to pace a 17-hit Royals' attack.
Chicago's Alejandro De Aza drove in a run with a second-inning triple off Greinke. De Aza is batting .480 with a team-high seven RBIs in the spring.
