Pujols shines in Angels’ debut

Associated Press

PHOENIX — His first time up to bat for the Angels, Albert Pujols hit an RBI double.

So far, so good.

The new Angels slugger finished 2 for 3, ending his spring debut by popping up with the bases loaded in the third inning of Los Angeles’ 9-1 win over an Oakland Athletics split squad Monday.

“That was fun,” Pujols said of batting in each of the first three innings. “Hopefully we get to do that a lot this season.”

Left-hander C.J. Wilson, the Angels’ other big free-agent acquisition, also debuted. He gave up a hit and walk in two innings.

Pujols agreed to a $240 million, 10-year deal over the winter, leaving the St. Louis Cardinals after 11 seasons.

Now he’ll routinely face AL pitchers after hammering the senior circuit for more than a decade.

“When I made the ballclub in ‘01 I didn’t know anyone in the National League,” Pujols said. “You are your own scouting report.”

Athletics starter Brad Peacock had to leave after getting five outs. He was scheduled for two innings. Pujols helped him reach his pitch count early.

“I tried not to look at him,” Peacock said. “I was trying to hit my spot but left a curveball up for him and he crushed it.”

Wilson, who came to California from the Texas Rangers, said he used to play fantasy baseball when he was in the minors — and drafted Pujols at least once.

“It’s kind of funny,” Wilson said. “He came up there and drive in the run and we all looked at each other in the dugout and said ‘Yep, that’s Albert.’ That’s what he does.

“I’m happy to be in the Albert Pujols fan club.”

TIGERS 4, BLUE JAYS 2

LAKELAND, Fla. — AL MVP Justin Verlander pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut, leading the Tigers to the victory.

Verlander gave up one hit and struck out one. He was the unanimous AL Cy Young Award winner last year after going 24-5, including a no-hitter at Toronto.

A day after launching nine home runs against Atlanta on a windy day, the Tigers were held to a pair of extra-base hits — a double by Delmon Young and a triple from Quintin Berry.

Collin Balester pitched a scoreless ninth for a save.

Colby Rasmus doubled and singled for the Blue Jays.

MARLINS 4, CARDINALS 3

JUPITER, Fla. — Josh Johnson retired the first five batters but failed to make it through the second inning in his first game since May for the Marlins, who beat the Cardinals in the spring training opener for both teams.

After a smooth start, Johnson gave up a single, a double and a walk, and departed with the bases loaded. He threw 41 pitches, including third strikes to Jon Jay and Matt Holliday in the first inning.

Johnson made only nine starts last year before right shoulder inflammation ended his season.

Kyle Lohse, who led the Cardinals last year in victories and ERA, pitched the first two innings and allowed only one runner — Greg Dobbs, who homered.

PHILLIES 9, YANKEES 3

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joe Blanton threw two shutout innings for Philadelphia, and third baseman Placido Polanco drove home the game’s first run.

For both Blanton and Polanco, it was their first chance to get on the field after injury-plagued 2011 seasons.

The 31-year-old Blanton allowed two hits and struck out one.

The Yankees got their first look at offseason acquisition Michael Pineda, who allowed one hit one in two scoreless innings. The 23-year-old right-hander was acquired from Seattle in a trade that sent catching prospect Jesus Montero to the Mariners.

BRAVES 10, ASTROS 5

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Jason Heyward hit a two-run single and Jair Jurrjens pitched two innings to help Atlanta get the win.

Heyward is trying to bounce back after he hit just .227 with 14 homers and 42 RBIs last year. Jurrjens gave up two runs and three hits in his first game since his season was cut short by a balky right knee.

Dan Uggla homered and Brian McCann had two hits for Atlanta, which scored six runs in the last three innings.

Houston starter Jordan Lyles gave up two runs and four hits in two innings. Jed Lowrie, Matt Downs and J.B. Shuck each had two of the Astros’ 11 hits.

REDS 12, INDIANS 7

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Joey Votto and Jay Bruce each drove in a pair of runs against Justin Masterson, powering the Reds to the victory.

Bruce singled, doubled and walked.

Masterson retired only four batters, allowing six runs and five hits. Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto pitched two innings and gave up one run. Both have been selected to start on opening day.

Michael Brantley, who is moving to center field to replace the injured Grady Sizemore, opened the game with a triple. He also doubled off Mike Leake in the exhibition opener on Saturday.

Derek Lowe, acquired from Atlanta in a trade on Oct. 31, pitched two scoreless innings in his first appearance for the Indians.

MARINERS 13, PADRES 7

PEORIA, Ariz. — Dustin Ackley had three hits to help Seattle get the win.

Hitting in the leadoff spot, Ackley doubled to left-center against Dustin Moseley in the first inning. Ackley, who scored two runs, singled to right in the third and also tripled to center to start the fifth.

Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin doubled, singled and walked in his spring debut.

Moseley yielded two runs and two hits over two innings in his first start since July 26. The right-hander had surgery on Aug. 3 to repair the capsule in his left shoulder and missed the rest of the season.

Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma allowed a run and three hits in one inning.

ROYALS 7, RANGERS 6

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Elvis Andrus went 3 for 3 and scored three times in the Rangers’ loss.

Derek Holland, who won 16 games for Texas last season, allowed one run and three hits over two innings in his first spring start.

Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer to trim Texas’ lead to 6-3 in the fifth. Derrick Robinson added a two-out, two run single in the sixth, and pinch-hitter Kevin Kouzmanoff delivered a two-run double with two out in the ninth to give the Royals the victory.

Kansas City left-hander Bruce Chen gave up five runs and seven hits in 1 2-3 innings. One run was unearned after second baseman Johnny Giavotella’s throwing error.

ORIOLES (SS) 3, RAYS 1

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Wade Davis got off to a strong start in his campaign to keep his spot in Tampa Bay’s rotation, pitching two scoreless innings.

Alfredo Simon and three other Orioles pitchers combined to limit the Rays to one hit until the ninth inning, when Pedro Strop allowed a leadoff single to Jeff Salazar and Stephen Vogt’s one-out RBI double.

Davis won 11 games in 2011, helping Tampa Bay to its third playoff berth in four years. But with as many as eight pitchers likely to get a shot at starting games some time this season, the 26-year-old’s spot in the rotation could be at stake in the coming weeks.

The right-hander allowed one hit and struck one in a sharp spring debut.

ATHLETICS (SS) 8, CUBS 7

MESA, Ariz. — Josh Reddick collected two more hits and Brandon Allen drove in another run for Oakland.

Reddick has at least one hit in each of his three exhibition games, and Allen already has eight RBIs this spring.

Non-roster invitee Yordy Cabrera led off the ninth inning with a home run against right-hander Tony Zych, lifting the Oakland split-squad to the victory.

Blake DeWitt hit a three-run homer off A’s starter Bartolo Colon in the second inning. Jeff Baker added two hits, including a double, and scored two runs for Chicago.

DODGERS 6, WHITE SOX 4

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chad Billingsley pitched two scoreless innings for the Dodgers.

Billingsley, likely to be the Dodgers’ No. 2 starter behind NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, gave up only a single to Alexei Ramirez.

Dodgers star Andre Ethier hit a double in his first at-bat of the spring against Philip Humber.

Led by prospect Scott Van Slyke’s two-run homer, the Dodgers scored five times in the sixth off White Sox prospect Nestor Molina, acquired in the offseason trade that sent closer Sergio Santos to Toronto. Van Slyke is the son of former major leaguer Andy Van Slyke.

Ramirez had two hits and drove in a run.

ROCKIES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Gerardo Parra led off the game with a double and later hit a solo home run in the Diamondbacks’ loss.

Parra, a Gold Glove winner in 2011, is now the fourth outfielder for Arizona behind newcomer Jason Kubel. Parra homered off Jhoulys Chacin.

The Rockies won in the bottom of the ninth when Ben Paulsen hit a solo home run off Jonathan Albaladejo.

The game included six errors, four by Arizona. Colorado first baseman Chad Tracy, son of Rockies manager Jim Tracy, had a misplay in the first inning that allowed two runs to score.

Ryan Roberts and Chris Owings homered for Arizona.

Nolan Arenado and Jonathan Herrera, a late lineup addition in place of the ill Troy Tulowitzki, each hit RBI doubles off Arizona starter Daniel Hudson.