New-look Phillies impress

By ROB MAADDI

AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — With a new-look lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies showed they can play small ball.

Jimmy Rollins drove in two runs, Freddy Galvis hit a tiebreaking triple in the seventh inning and the Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 Monday night in their first of two exhibition games back home.

Minus injured sluggers Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, the Phillies have tried different ways to replace their Nos. 3-4 hitters this spring. Rollins, batting third instead of leadoff, hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning and lined an RBI double in the third. New leadoff hitter Juan Pierre scored two runs.

“I think we’re going to have more lineups (this season), for sure,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “In the last couple years, we’ve had guys hurt and had a couple different lineups, but we’re going to have more this year. Definitely more different styles of lineups. But at the same time I want to put the team on the field that I think that day is going to win the game.”

Andrew McCutchen hit a solo homer for the Pirates, who used seven pitchers. All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan was the only one not to allow a hit. He tossed a perfect fourth, striking out Hunter Pence.

“We are going to take what we feel are the seven best pitchers for our bullpen,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “And that’s part of the evaluation process. You don’t want to make it all about spring training. But you want to get guys who are sharp on the back end of spring training to start the season for you.

“We want the best seven, but we’re still having the conversation of what we want to do. That’s the edge we’re on right now. We still have to decide if we want the extra bat or the extra reliever.”

Phillies starter Joe Blanton allowed two runs and three hits in 4 2-3 innings. Blanton retired the first 10 batters he faced.

The teams will open the season at Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Rollins has always preferred batting first and he struggled last year when he hit third while Utley was sidelined during the first month of the season. But Rollins planned to approach Manuel about moving down in the lineup before the manager beat him to it and put him third a few days ago.

“Jimmy knows how to play and he’s a tremendous hitter,” Manuel said. “He’s never given me any trouble about it. He’s very professional.”

Pierre led off the bottom of the first with a double to left. He advanced to third on Placido Polanco’s flyout to center and scored on Rollins’ sacrifice fly.

Shane Victorino lined a triple leading off the second and scored on Ty Wigginton’s groundout for a 2-0 lead.

Pierre got things going in the third when he was hit by a pitch. He scored on Rollins’ opposite-field double down the right-field line. Rollins was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Pierre signed a minor league deal in January and wasn’t guaranteed a roster spot until last week. Now he’ll likely get a chance to be the regular left fielder. The left-handed hitter has a .296 career batting average, with a .305 mark against lefties.

“He’s been getting on base and he makes things happen,” Manuel said. “He’s the kind of guy that kind of ticks off the other team. He’s pesky. He uses the whole field, he puts the ball in play, he’s a very important part of the club.”

Blanton retired his first 10 batters before running into trouble in the fourth. Neil Walker hit an RBI single and Garrett Jones followed with an RBI double.

McCutchen homered off Pat Misch in the sixth to tie it at 3.

Galvis, the rookie who moved from shortstop to replace Utley at second base, ripped a triple to right-center that scored Wigginton to make it 4-3.

Blanton is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he made just eight starts. He’s healthy now and ready to be the No. 5 starter on a staff of aces.

Blanton, though, hasn’t heard when he’ll pitch yet. Because of days off early on, his spot might get skipped at least once.

“They haven’t said anything to me,” Blanton said, adding that he’s fine with pitching out of the bullpen the first week or so. “I can do whatever. Getting outs is getting outs. I’ll try to help the team win no matter what.”

Jim Thome got a standing ovation when he was introduced as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning in his first game in a Phillies uniform in Philadelphia since 2005. Thome was a very popular player when he played here for three seasons, and received loud ovations whenever he returned as a visiting player. The 41-year-old veteran is back to help fill in for Howard and provide pop off the bench.

MARINERS 7

ROCKIES 2

PEORIA, Ariz. — Ichiro Suzuki broke a scoreless tie with a run-scoring double in the third and Felix Hernandez pitched four shutout innings, leading the Seattle Mariners over the Colorado Rockies.

Mariners catcher Jesus Montero was hit in the helmet by a pitch from Edgmer Escalona. An angry Montero had to be escorted off the field by manager Eric Wedge. On Sunday, Cleveland’s Ubaldo Jimenez hit former Colorado teammate Troy Tulowitzki. Jimenez was suspended five games and is appealing.

Brendan Ryan was 3 for 4 with an RBI single for Seattle, which had 14 hits.

Jamie Moyer gave up a run and nine hits in five innings for the Rockies. He struck out five.

YANKEES 5

MARLINS 2

MIAMI — Alex Rodriguez drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly, and New York completed a two-game exhibition sweep in Miami’s new ballpark.

The game was the last of spring training for the Marlins, who open the season at home Wednesday night against the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.

With the retractable roof open for the first time, the Yankees again made themselves right at home. They’ve lost only two of their past 14 games.

Hiroki Kuroda allowed one run in three innings and threw 52 pitches. He finished spring training with a 2.92 ERA in six games.

Marlins newcomer Carlos Zambrano walked seven and gave up five runs in four-plus innings.

BREWERS 13

WHITE SOX 7

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zack Greinke struggled in his final outing of spring training, allowing six runs over three innings in Milwaukee’s win over Chicago.

Five of the six runs were earned against Greinke, who gave up five hits, struck out two and walked three.

Gavin Floyd allowed four runs in 4 2-3 innings for Chicago in its final game in Arizona before the White Sox play two exhibition games in Houston. Floyd allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked two.

Dayan Viciedo homered off Greinke for his second long ball in two days.

Brooks Conrad hit a solo home run for Milwaukee — his fourth of the spring.

GIANTS 4

ATHLETICS 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Buster Posey took another big step in his comeback just by playing at home again after an injury-shortened season last year, and the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year didn’t even need to do much in San Francisco’s exhibition win over Oakland.

His mere presence on the field mattered most. Fans cheered when he stretched out in left field, then again and again at every opportunity.

Melky Cabrera earned his own share of praise from his new supporters when he connected for a solo home run in the sixth to put San Francisco on the board. He then added an RBI single in the seventh for his third hit.

Brian Wilson ran out for the ninth to roars of his own. He struck out the side in order for his first spring save and showed no ill effects from the elbow problem that sidelined him late last season.

Eric Sogard hit a two-run homer to the elevated right-field arcade in the third after entering the game to replace shortstop Cliff Pennington, who left after the first inning because of tightness in his left groin.

ANGELS 12, DODGERS 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dan Haren pitched 5 2-3 solid innings in his final spring tuneup, Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer, and the Angels beat the Dodgers in the opener of a three-game series that will end the exhibition schedule for both Los Angeles teams.

Haren (3-0) threw 94 pitches, striking out five and walking none while finishing his spring with a 2.05 ERA in six starts.

The three-time All-Star right-hander is scheduled to make his season debut next Saturday against Kansas City.

Albert Pujols was 0 for 3 with a bases-loaded walk in his first game at Angel Stadium in a Halos uniform.

REDS 2, INDIANS 1

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Cleveland closer Chris Perez pitched a perfect inning but the Indians lost to Cincinnati in the Cactus League finale for Ohio’s two teams.

Perez missed nearly a month with a strained left oblique. An All-Star a year ago, the right-hander worked three times in the last week, not allowing a hit or walk over three innings.

Reds starter Bronson Arroyo gave up seven hits and one run over 6 1-3 innings.

Josh Tomlin allowed three hits and one run in his final start for Cleveland.

CUBS 8, D-BACKS 3

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Geovany Soto hit a two-run homer and Chicago roughed up young Arizona left-hander Patrick Corbin in a rough ending to his impressive spring.

Corbin, who had allowed one earned run in 15 2-3 innings going into the game, gave up seven runs — six earned — and six hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Starlin Castro doubled twice for the Cubs and Kerry Wood pitched a perfect inning. Chris Young hit his fifth homer of the spring for the Diamondbacks and second in two games.

RED SOX 4, NATIONALS 2

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Aaron Cook pitched five solid innings and Adrian Gonzalez had two hits in Boston’s victory over Washington.

Cook allowed only two hits, including Danny Espinosa’s leadoff homer in the fourth. He struck out two, walked one and finished the spring with a 1.88 ERA.

Boston signed the veteran right-hander to a minor league contract in the offseason to provide pitching depth and another option at the back of the rotation. He is headed to Triple-A Pawtucket.

TWINS 6, RAYS 6

9 INNINGS

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — David Price struck out six over four shutout innings in his final spring tuneup and Tampa Bay tied Minnesota.

Price, who will start the second game of the season Saturday against the New York Yankees, gave up one hit and needed just 42 pitches to get through four innings.

Danny Valencia, Lance Ray and Luke Hughes each homered off Tampa Bay relievers, but Cody Rogers’ two-out, two-run shot tied it for the Rays in the bottom of the ninth.

For Hughes, it was his sixth home run of the spring.

Evan Longoria had two hits for the Rays and Sean Rodriguez hit his first home run.

TIGERS 11, BLUE JAYS 8

LAKELAND, Fla. — Drew Smyly started fast and then faded in his first outing since winning a job in Detroit’s rotation, but the Tigers got home runs from Prince Fielder and Delmon Young to beat Toronto.

Smyly has only one year of professional experience and has never pitched above Double-A, but he beat out Andy Oliver and Duane Below for the final spot in the rotation. The 22-year-old lefty, handed a 9-0 lead after two innings, carried a shutout into the fifth before giving up four runs — including a homer by Omar Vizquel.

Smyly was charged with four runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Brett Cecil was ineffective for the Blue Jays. He gave up nine runs, seven earned, and 11 hits.

in four innings.

METS 8, BRAVES 2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Tim Hudson made his first appearance of the spring, allowing an infield single over two innings for Atlanta in a loss to the New York Mets.

Ruben Tejada hit a three-run homer and Bobby Parnell yielded two hits over three innings for New York.

Hudson went 16-10 with a 3.23 ERA last season, but had back surgery during the offseason and isn’t expected back until May. He said he felt fine after his outing and could have gone further.

Freddie Freeman and Jordan Parraz homered for the Braves. Brandon Beachy allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.