Spring Training Report: Orioles spoil Lowell’s return
Mike Lowell returned to the Red Sox lineup for the first time since hip surgery, getting three at-bats Tuesday in Boston’s 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
The 2007 World Series MVP had surgery Oct. 20 to repair a torn labrum in his right hip, the same injury that sidelined New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez this spring. Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday and will need another, more aggressive operation after the season.
Lowell was the designated hitter and finished 1-for-3 with a single to left in his final trip to the plate. He is slated to play at third base again Friday against the Yankees.
Braves 7, Astros 4: At Kissimmee, Derek Lowe is getting comfortable with his new team – on the field and off.
Atlanta’s new No. 1 starter, signed in the offseason as a free agent, struck out six in four hitless innings to lead the Braves over Houston.
The 35-year-old right-hander felt like the new kid in school when he first joined the team, but has since shed that status and feels great on the field and at ease in the clubhouse.
Lowe agreed to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Braves in January after going 14-11 with a 3.24 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
Cardinals 5, Tigers 2: At Jupiter, Joe Mather appears increasingly likely to be the opening-day starter at third base for St. Louis.
Mather drew yet another start and went 1-for-3 in the Cardinals’ win over Detroit.
With Troy Glaus still coming back from shoulder surgery, and David Freese and Brett Wallace having been reassigned to the Cardinals’ minor league camp, the job appears to be Mather’s for the April 6 opener against Pittsburgh.
Detroit starter Zach Miner, in a four-way competition to become Detroit’s fifth starter, allowed three runs and seven hits in three innings. Miner, 1-2, allowed a broken-bat single to Skip Schumaker in the first, and Chris Duncan followed with his second homer. Duncan singled in a run in the third.
Mets 5, Nationals 5, 10: At Viera, Jordan Zimmermann’s dominant pitching has been one of the highlights for Washington. Brad Eldred’s powerful swing is drawing attention, too.
Zimmermann, a prized prospect, extended his shutout streak to 8 1/3 innings in Grapefruit League action and Eldred homered for the second consecutive day as the Nationals and Mets played to a 10-inning tie.
After two perfect outings, Zimmermann allowed baserunners for the first time this spring and easily passed that test, demonstrating a veteran’s poise in twice wiggling out of trouble during a stint of 3 1/3 innings.
Zimmermann allowed base hits to Cory Sullivan and Marlon Anderson to open the first, but retired the next three hitters, striking out a pair. After a 1-2-3 second, he allowed a one-out walk to Sullivan and Anderson’s single in the third before getting Rob Mackowiak to bounce into an inning-ending double play.
Cubs 8, Mariners 1: Rich Harden would prefer questions about his health to disappear, but because of arm problems the past few seasons, the issue won’t go away for the Chicago Cubs right-hander.
“I totally understand, that’s just the way it is,” said Harden after pitching two shutout innings in his first Cactus League appearance during the Cubs’ win over Seattle Mariners. “I’m always going to get those questions, even if I’m healthy four years in a row. I just accept it.”
Giants 6, Rangers 4: Rangers starter Scott Feldman had his second consecutive scoreless outing with three innings for Texas in a loss to San Francisco.
Feldman walked two and allowed one hit, following up his previous start when he retired all six batters he faced.
Joe Martinez was flawless through three innings, but four of the first five Texas batters he faced in the fourth reached base, though only one scored.