Today’s Games, March 7, 2006

INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4
at Lakeland, Fla.
Starter C.C. Sabathia allowed a run on three hits and a walk, while striking out four in three innings.  “He was better today than in his first outing, and he’ll continue to get better,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. “He’s still working to command his fastball and get a feel for his secondary stuff.” In three innings, Cliff Lee yielded solo homers to Josh Phelps and Brent Clevlen, on outside sinkers.  “I’m trying a different grip on my sinker,” Lee said. “I threw it a lot [Tuesday], but two of those went out of here, so whatever.” Steve Karsay, Scott Sauerbeck and Danny Grave combined to strike out four while allowing only one hit over three innings.  Travis Hafner blasted a Roman Colon splitter for a two-run home run.  Hafter also singled and doubled, on a ball that just missed being a homer.  Rookie Ryan Garko continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-3 day with a walk.  Prospect Ryan Mulhern homered (off Kevin Hodge) and walked in two plate appearances.  Todd Hollandsworth hit a solo homer in three at bats. 

The red hot Brent Clevlen hit his second homer in two days and doubled in four times up.  “He’s the real deal, there’s no question about that,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “[O]ver the years every now and then—but not very often—you see a player in his uniform and you know that guy’s a big league player. It doesn’t happen very often, but he certainly looks the part to me.” Josh Phelps walked twice and hit his second homer of the spring.  Batting leadoff, Brandon Inge singled and walked in three appearances.  Roman Colon fell behind hitters frequently contributing to five hits allowed, but staved off real damage until Travis Hafner hit a two run homer in the third.  “Just one bad pitch,” Colon said about Hafner’s home run.  “Supposed to be a split, didn’t do much, and pow!” Oft-injured allowed three walks, a hit and run before being removed after just 1/3 of an inning to due to a strained oblique muscle.  “It’s not good,” Mantei said. “I can barely breathe.” If you’ve had had this injury, you know that they hurt quite a bit and take awhile to heal. 

In the WBC: Ronnie Belliard singled in a run in his only at bat.  Fernando Cabrera allowed a walk but struck out two in getting a one-inning save.  Ivan Rodriguez was hitless in three at bats.  Playing first base for Venezuela, Carlos Guillen singled in five trips.  Maggilio Ordonez singled in four at bats. Shortstop prospect Tony Giarratano singled, drew two walks and scored while batting lead off for Italy.  Max St. Pierre was hitless in his only at bat.  Todd Jones allowed two singles but got out of trouble, thanks to a double play.  Jason Grilli allowed only one hit and struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings against Australia. 

YANKEES 5, TWINS 0
at Tampa, Fla.
Obviously staggering from the news of Kirby Puckett’s death, the Twins were listless.  “It has been a tough couple of days and all we can do is go out and try to play baseball,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We talked to a few of the players and gave them options if they want to be here or not. They all wanted to go out, because we all believe that Puck would say, ‘Go out and play the game, boys, and play it the right way.’ And that’s what we’re going to try to do.” Starter Brad Radke allowed two runs on two hits and a walk in three innings.  Radke was experimenting with a new pitch, which Jorge Posada hit for a homer, one that might be effective against lefties.  “Spring Training is the time to work on some stuff,” Radke said. “It is my 12th year, I’ve got to start doing something different.” A close friend of Puckett, Torii Hunter tripled in the game.  Terry Tiffee rapped his third double of the spring and is hitting .412.  Gardenhire put Jason Kubel in the outfield for the first time since his knee reconstruction.  “I put him in a situation where I thought nothing would be hit at him and like eight balls in a row were hit out there,” Gardenhire said with a chuckle. “But he did fine.”

In the WBC: Johan Santana allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out five in 3 1/3 innings. Brad Lidge, who pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout, and Jesse Crain, who struck out two and allowed a single, each saved a game.  Justin Morneau doubled, walked and struck out twice in six plate appearances.  He drove in one run but left six runners stranded on base.  Juan Castro was 0-for-3 but teams with Jorge Cantu on a double play.

WHITE SOX 8, A’S 5
at Tucson, Ariz.
After starting the exhibition season with six consecutive losses, the White Sox won their second consecutive game.  Paul Konerko doubled and homered, driving in the go-ahead run twice, on his way to a four RBI day.  “I’m more interested in driving the ball to center field, instead of getting around it, which I’m doing right now,” said Konerko.  “I kind of know what I’m doing mentally, and I know why it’s not happening. The hard part is doing it and getting it right."Backup catcher Chris Widger hit two solo home runs.  Jim Thome singled and drew two walks in three plate appearances.  Prospect Ryan Sweeneey hit his second home run in as many days, while Joe Borchard continued to struggle with a 0-for4 day to drop his average to .154 (2 singles in 13 at bats).  “[W]hen he failed in his first two at-bats, he seemed like he started to put pressure on himself,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “I will continue to run him on to the field, making sure we get the best from him, and see what we are going to do.” Starter Mark Buehrle was perfect with four strikeouts through the first three innings.  “It was a lot of pitches missing spots and they swung and missed,” said Buehrle.  “But any time you get guys out, you are doing good.” In his fourth inning of work, Buehrle allowed four hits and four runs (one earned).  “I was still making good pitches in the fourth, but I was falling behind in the count,” he said.  “I was getting ahead a little bit more but still not where I want to be.  I just kind of hit that wall a little bit.”

In the WBC: Javier Vazquez gave up a run on two walks and three hits over three innings. 

ROYALS 9, ROCKIES 3
at Surprise, Ariz.
Trailing 3-1 in the 8th inning, Chad Allen, Paul Phillips and Esteban German broke the game open with home runs against minor league pitching with home runs by.  NRI OF Kerry Robinson was 2-for-4 to raise his spring average to .421 (8-for-19). Utility infielder candidate Wilson Valdez tripled off Jose Acevedo and drew a walk in three plate appearances.  He is hitting .625 this spring. With two rotation slots now open, Denny Bautista and J.P. Howell made their bids.  Starter Bautista gave up two doubles, a singled and two runs in three innings.  Long shot candidate, J.P. Howell allowed only a single while striking out four in three shutout innings.

In the WBC: Aaron Guiel doubled, walked and struck out twice in four plate appearances.  Matt Stairs doubled, walked and drove in two in four times up.  Justin Huber struck out twice in three at bats.  Elmer Dessens allowed a triple and a single but no runs in two innings.