Associated Press
Associated Press
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Pablo Sandoval gave the San Francisco Giants something to smile about with a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to defeat Kansas City 4-2 on Monday.
Sandoval had three hits, including a double, and scored twice.
But what occurred in the first 2 2/3 innings was even more important for the Giants.
Ryan Vogelsong, expected to be a key part of the rotation, made his first Cactus League start after twisting his back at the start of the spring.
Vogelsong, a right-hander who was 13-7 in 30 games (28 starts) in 2011, gave up a run and two hits and struck out two in 2 2/3 innings. He threw 39 pitches, one short of the team’s goal.
“It wasn’t bad in the first inning (when the run scored), but it was definitely better in the second and third,” Vogelsong said. “It was good that I got to sit down, get back up, sit down, get back up, sit down, get back up for three innings.”
He said he hasn’t been worried about his back this spring.
“I was confident that I would be OK,” he said. “You guys (reporters) were more worried about it than anyone else. It has been a non-issue.
“I had Tommy John surgery (in 2001), so I have been through the rehab process before.
“I haven’t thought about it (back) at all. I just try to pitch. I don’t hear the crowd, I don’t hear the music, I just focus on hitting the (catcher’s) glove as much as I can.”
He also was pleased that he was able to throw out of the stretch, and even fielded a bunt.
The Giants might not be able to get Vogelsong into the rotation to start the regular season. With a little more than a week to go before opening day, it is likely he will start on the disabled list until he is able to log more innings.
The team has some concerns about young right-hander Eric Surkamp, one of their top prospects. He has been experiencing soreness in his elbow and had an MRI earlier Monday. He had pitched in five games (three starts) with a 3-1 spring record.
Closer Brian Wilson, who had been out since March 17 because of arm soreness, pitched a scoreless fifth.
Until Vogelsong and Surkamp are healthy, the rotation likely will be right-handers Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, left-handers Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito and perhaps right-hander Yusmeiro Petit, who will start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Kansas City’s rotation is expected to be bolstered by right-hander Luis Mendoza. He has not been officially selected by manager Ned Yost. However his efforts this spring, including the one on Monday, could make Yost’s decision easier.
Mendoza gave up three hits in five innings, walked two and struck out four. His ERA is 0.54 and his opponents are hitting .180.
After being acquired from Texas in 2010, Mendoza was the Pacific Coast League’s Pitcher of the Year with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate in Omaha, Neb., and the PCL’s postseason MVP.
“I’m just doing my job. They (management) have the decision,” Mendoza said. “I have felt great all spring long. I am making my way, pitching with a purpose, trusting my pitches.”
Mets 6, Cardinals 3
JUPITER, Fla. — David Wright singled and made a fine fielding play in his first spring training game, helping the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals.
Wright had missed the entire Grapefruit League schedule because of a torn abdominal muscle. He lined Jake Westbrook’s full-count pitch into left field in the first inning. He grounded out to short in the fourth.
In the second inning, Wright dived to his right to snag Rafael Furcal’s one-hopper behind third base, popped up and threw to first in time.
Johan Santana walked three of the first four Cardinals — two scored. Coming in, Santana had walked just four in 13 1-3 innings.
Matt Holliday extended his hitting streak to 13 games with an RBI single. Tyler Greene’s sacrifice fly to right brought in the second run.
YOMIURI GIANTS 9
MARINERS 3
TOKYO — Hisashi Iwakuma had a shaky return to Japan, giving up six runs over four innings in Seattle’s loss to the Yomiuri Giants.
Dustin Ackley hit a solo homer to left in the top of the first off Yomiuri’s D.J. Houlton at Tokyo Dome. Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder John Bowker tied it with a solo shot off Iwakuma in the bottom of the first.
Iwakuma spent 12 seasons in Japanese professional baseball before signing with the Mariners in the offseason.
The Mariners are in Japan to open major league season against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday.
HANSHIN TIGERS 12, A’S 6
TOKYO — Kurt Suzuki hit his second home run in Japan in Oakland’s loss to the Hanshin Tigers.
Cliff Pennington led off the fourth inning with a solo homer and Suzuki, who hit a two-run home run in Oakland’s win over the Yomiuri Giants on Sunday, connected for a three-run shot at Tokyo Dome to cut Hanshin’s lead to 7-4.
The Athletics are in Japan to open the season against Ichiro Suzuki and the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday and Thursday.
RED SOX 6, PHILLIES 0
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Dustin Pedroia homered in the first then declared himself ready for opening day, Jon Lester struck out 10 in seven innings and Boston beat Philadelphia.
The home run off Joe Blanton was Pedroia’s second of the spring.
The 31-year-old Blanton, who missed the majority of the 2011 season with an elbow injury, allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings.
Lester gave up two hits and didn’t allow a walk.
NATIONALS 7, ASTROS 4
VIERA, Fla. — John Lannan allowed two runs and two hits over five innings and Washington defeated Houston.
Roger Bernadina homered for the second consecutive day for the Nationals, this one a two-run shot in the fifth inning. He also singled in three at-bats.
Lannan was named the Nationals fifth starter on Monday with Chien-Ming Wang expected to start the season on the disabled list. He struck out five.
Chris Johnson hit his fourth home run of the spring for the Astros, a solo shot off of Lannan.
RAYS 10, TWINS 4
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Scott Baker gave up a grand slam to Ben Zobrist and a two-run shot to Elliot Johnson in his return from an injury, and Minnesota lost to Tampa Bay.
Baker has been out with elbow tendinitis that flared up in a “B” game on March 10. On Monday, he gave up seven runs and seven hits in 2 2-3 innings.
Zobrist went 3 for 3 to spark the Rays’ 14-hit attack after the team came into the game with a .222 batting average in spring training.
Jeff Niemann, competing for the fifth spot in the Rays’ rotation, gave up two runs on six hits through five innings, striking out five.
TIGERS 3, MARLINS 3 (10)
LAKELAND, Fla. — Rick Porcello pitched seven strong innings and Mark Buehrle was solid for six as Detroit and Miami played to a tie.
The game was stopped after 10 innings.
Porcello allowed one earned run and five hits. He walked one and struck out four in his longest exhibition outing.
Brennan Boesch and Jhonny Peralta homered off Buehrle, making his third spring start for the Marlins after signing a free agent deal in December. Buehrle gave up three runs and six hits, walking none and striking out five.
BREWERS 6, INDIANS 5
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Ryan Braun drove in two runs, doubling his spring training total, and Milwaukee beat Cleveland.
Norichika Aoki broke a 5-all tie in the ninth with an RBI triple for the Brewers.
Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for Cleveland. Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan hit two doubles in his first at-bats since March 15. He had been out with a sore back.
Braun went 1 for 4. He’s hitting only .120 with four RBIs.
Indians opening-day starter Justin Masterson gave up five runs over six innings.
CUBS (SS) 2, PADRES 0
MESA, Ariz. — Paul Maholm pitched five impressive innings, Bryan LaHair and Reed Johnson drove in Chicago’s runs and a Cubs split squad beat San Diego.
Maholm allowed four hits, walked two and struck out six. He has allowed only one earned run in 10 innings.
Padres starter Tim Stauffer yielded two runs in five innings. He gave up seven hits, a walk and struck out three.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, CUBS (SS) 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ian Kennedy pitched seven strong innings, leading Arizona past a Chicago Cubs split squad.
Arizona’s opening-day starter gave up one run, five hits, walked two and struck out two.
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a solo home run and right fielder Justin Upton had two doubles, an RBI and scored a run for Arizona.
Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
Cubs starter Jay Jackson went four innings and allowed three runs and seven hits.DODGERS 4, WHITE SOX 3
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers leadoff man Dee Gordon stole two more bases and Los Angeles beat the Chicago White Sox.
The Dodgers trailed 3-2 when Gordon led off the sixth inning with a bunt single, swiped second, continued to third on a throwing error by the catcher and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jerry Hairston Jr. Gordon has 10 steals in spring training.
Jerry Sands hit an RBI single in the ninth to win it.
White Sox starter John Danks allowed two earned runs and five hits in seven innings. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley gave up 11 hits and three runs in 5 2-3 innings.
ROCKIES 6, ANGELS 2
TEMPE, Ariz. — Drew Pomeranz made a solid case for a spot in Colorado’s rotation while Garrett Richards might have wasted a chance to impress the Angels.
Pomeranz allowed four hits and a run over four innings in his fourth spring training start. Pomeranz, acquired in the deal that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland, has a 0.82 ERA but he’s been limited because of a tight glute. He last pitched on March 21 in a minor league game.
Richards came in with a 2.00 ERA in three starts but he gave up six runs — four earned — and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run double for the Rockies.