PHILLIES 3, YANKEES 1
TAMPA, Fla. — Alex Rodriguez returned to the New York Yankees after an absence of more than 17 months, lining a single into short left field in his first at-bat and going 1 for 2 with a walk in a 3-1 spring training loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Greeted by a 10-second mix of boos and cheers from the crowd of 9,673 as he stepped into the batter’s box for his first game following a oneyear drug suspension, Rodriguez was wearing the Yankees’ white uniform with pinstripes for the team’s exhibition season home opener rather than the usual dark blue jersey used in exhibition games.
“Once you hit rock bottom, any time you hear a few cheers these days is a pleasant surprise,” he said.
Rodriguez swung at the first four of 10 pitches he saw in three plate appearances. Batting second as New York’s designated hitter, he swung past a pair of 91-mph pitches from Philadelphia’s Kevin Slowey in the first inning.
“I felt like I was swinging under water,” he said. “I was like, man, it’s been a long time.”
He lined a soft single to left on an 89-mph 0-2 offering that was over the plate. That drew cheers from fans at Steinbrenner Field on a sunny afternoon with a temperature in the low 80s.
“It’s probably the first spring training game in a long time that he’s been a little anxious,” Yankees Manager Joe Girardi said.
Rodriguez has had success against Slowey, going 4 for 9 during the regular season with two doubles and a home run.
When Rodriguez came up again in the third, he grounded a 96-mph fastball from reliever Paul Clemens to the shortstop for an inning-ending forceout. He walked on a full count in the sixth against Ethan Martin, loading the bases with no outs and the Yankees trailing 2-0.
Left-hander Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) makes his spring training debut for the Phillies today against Houston in Kissimmee.
ROYALS 13, RANGERS 2
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Eric Hosmer joined Royals newcomers Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios in hitting consecutive first-inning home runs, and American League champion Kansas City routed the Texas Rangers in the spring training opener for both teams.
Hosmer hit a three-run home run off Rangers starter Colby Lewis that landed on the grassy berm beyond the center-field fence. Morales followed with a shot to right field and Rios went deep to left, giving Kansas City a 6-0 lead before Lewis had recorded an out.
Lewis retired the next three batters after the home run binge, but the veteran still needed 36 pitches to get through his only inning against the Rangers’ campus co-tenants.
MARINERS 4, PADRES 3 (10)
PEORIA, Ariz. — Justin Upton homered and Matt Kemp went hitless in three at-bats in their debuts with the San Diego Padres, who lost to the Seattle Mariners.
Kemp and Upton, each two-time All-Stars, were two of the main acquisitions in a busy offseason for the Padres. Upton, the centerpiece of a trade with the Atlanta Braves, was 0 for 2 until he hit a towering home run to straightaway center field in the seventh.
Kemp, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, grounded into a double play with runners on first and second to end the top of the sixth inning.
WHITE SOX 6, DODGERS 4
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jose Quintana pitched two perfect innings, Alexei Ramirez drove in three runs and the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the exhibition opener for each team.
With Chris Sale recovering from a broken right foot, Quintana could start on opening day.
Ramirez, Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia had two hits apiece for the White Sox. Adam LaRoche had a two-run double in his first game with his new team.
Joc Pederson, one of the majors’ top prospects, had two hits for Los Angeles, and Jimmy Rollins singled in the third for his first hit with the Dodgers. Rollins was acquired in a December trade with Philadelphia.
DIAMONDBACKS 6, ROCKIES 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Paul Goldschmidt walked and struck out in his first major league action since a broken hand cut short his 2014 season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ beat the Colorado Rockies 6-2 Wednesday.
Rockies prospect Jon Gray struck out Goldschmidt with a 97 mph fastball in the third inning. The two-time All-Star drew a walk against Rockies starter Jordan Lyles in the first.
Goldschmidt was sharp at first base a day after he singled in his only at-bat in an exhibition against Arizona State. He had been out since getting hit by a pitch on his left hand in August.
Rubby De La Rosa threw two scoreless innings in his Arizona debut on his 26th birthday, getting out of a second-inning jam when Rockies newcomer Nick Hundley flied to right.
Lyles and Gray combined to throw four scoreless innings for Colorado in its spring opener. D.J. LeMahieu went 2 for 2.
TIGERS 5, ORIOLES 4
SARASOTA, Fla. — Matt Wieters and Manny Machado each were hitless in three at-bats in their first game since their seasons were cut short by injuries last year, and the Baltimore Orioles lost to the Detroit Tigers 5-4.
Wieters had Tommy John surgery in June and Machado underwent knee surgery in August.
Machado, the 22-year-old third baseman, played seven innings and made a nice backhand play, throwing out Detroit’s Hernan Perez from foul ground in the fourth inning.
Wieters, a Gold Glove catcher, served as Baltimore’s designated hitter and was removed after his third at-bat. He expects to catch March 17 and hopes to be ready for the season opener.
BLUE JAYS 4, PIRATES 1
BRADENTON, Fla. — Marcus Stroman looked sharp in his first spring training outing and Kevin Pillar hit an RBI double as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Stroman worked the first 1 2/3 innings and allowed 1 unearned run on 2 hits. The right-hander struck out one and threw a wild pitch.
Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole allowed a run on one hit in two innings.
Vance Worley, who is vying for the No. 5 spot in the Pirates’ rotation, gave up two runs over two innings.
METS 8, BRAVES 2
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Kirk Nieuwenhuis went 4 for 4 and scored a run, leading the New York Mets to a victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Dillon Gee started for the Mets in their spring opener and allowed two runs in two innings. He also walked two.
Wandy Rodriguez, who came to camp looking for a spot in the Atlanta rotation, allowed 1 run and walked 2 in 1 inning. Rodriguez’s chances improved when Braves General Manager John Hart said after the game that Mike Minor, who made 25 starts last season, is out indefinitely with tightness in his left shoulder.
Braves newcomers Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski both had RBI in their debuts with Atlanta.
INDIANS 4, REDS 2
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Hyped shortstop Francisco Lindor, the top prospect in Cleveland’s organization, had two hits and showed off his glove as the Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 in a Cactus League exhibition.
Lindor, 21, rose to Class AAA last year and he’ll likely begin the season in the minors. However, it may not be long before he’s permanently in Cleveland. Lindor singled twice, made a leaping catch to take away a hit and turned a slow roller in the infield grass into an easy out.
Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton hit a home run leading off the first against Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin, competing for the No. 5 starter’s job.
Cincinnati starter Anthony DeSclafani struck out two in two innings. The right-hander was acquired in December in the trade that sent starter Matt Latos to Florida.
ATHLETICS 9, GIANTS 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Buster Posey doubled in two runs and walked in his first appearance of the spring, but Josh Reddick had three hits and drove in two runs in leading the Oakland Athletics to a victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Jake Peavey worked an inning for the Giants, giving up two runs on four hits.
Marcus Semien had 2 hits and drove in 3, giving him 7 RBI in his first two exhibition games, all against Giants’ pitching.
Wednesday’s results
Philadelphia 3, NY Yankees 1 Toronto 4, Pittsburgh 1 Detroit 5, Baltimore 4 NY Mets 8, Atlanta 2 Cleveland 4, Cincinnati 2 Seattle 4, San Diego 3, 10 innings Oakland 9, San Francisco 2 Kansas City 13, Texas 2 Chicago White Sox 6, L.A. Dodgers 4 Arizona 6, Colorado 2
Today’s games
All times Central
NY Yankees vs. Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Atlanta vs. Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Baltimore (ss) vs. Tampa Bay at Port Charlotte, Fla., 12:05 p.m. St. Louis vs. Miami at Jupiter, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Philadelphia vs. Houston at Kissimmee, Fla., 12:05 p.m. Texas vs. Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 2:05 p.m.LA Dodgers vs. Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Chicago Cubs (ss) vs. San Francisco at Scottsdale, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. San Diego vs. Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Cleveland vs. Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Oakland vs. Chicago Cubs (ss) at Mesa, Ariz., 2:05 p.m. Milwaukee vs. LA Angels at Tempe, Ariz., 2:10 p.m. Colorado vs. Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz., 2:10 p.m.NY Mets vs. Washington at Viera, Fla., 4:05 p.m. Boston vs. Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 6:05 p.m. Toronto vs. Baltimore (ss) at Sarasota, Fla., 6:05 p.m.