Commissioners in Miami approve Marlins ballpark
Miami’s City Commis-sion has pushed a $639 million Florida Marlins ballpark a step closer to reality.
Commissioners approved plans Thursday to build the 37,000-seat stadium on the site of the demolished Orange Bowl.
Dozens of residents spoke both for and against the ballpark during the public hearing; many in favor said it would bring jobs to the area’s hard-hit construction industry.
The Miami-Dade County Commission also must approve the project before it goes forward. Its vote is scheduled Monday.
Cardinals 9, Rays 7: A shaky spring training outing didn’t faze Scott Kazmir.
Although Tampa Bay’s All-Star left-hander gave up a three-run homer to Ryan Ludwick and a solo shot to Rick Ankiel in a loss to St. Louis, he didn’t view his latest start as a setback.
The 25-year-old said he was affected by a stomach virus and was satisfied to get in four innings, even though the Cardinals got to him for five runs and eight hits.
“It felt like every pitch I threw, I had to take a step back and kind of catch my breath,” Kazmir said. “It was not a good feeling out there, but I still got my work in.”
Phillies 5, Marlins 1: Joe Blanton had his best start of spring training, allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings for Philadelphia in a win over Florida.
“He threw strikes,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “(Pitching coach Rich) Dubee said he threw 19 first-pitch strikes out of 20. That’s unreal. That’s super.”
Florida All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez hasn’t played since Saturday because of mild tendinitis in his right shoulder. Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he hoped Ramirez could play Saturday against the Red Sox in Jupiter.
“I’ll be ready to go for opening day,” said Ramirez, who took swings in the batting cage Thursday. “It’s not worry about that, for sure.”
Blanton, the Phillies’ No. 4 starter, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter, lowering his ERA to 2.30. But he still wasn’t completely satisfied.
Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing two hits and striking out a batter.
Marlins right-hander Chris Volstad allowed one hit over four scoreless innings, giving him a string of nine shutout innings over two starts. He worked five scoreless against the Mets on March 15. Both starts came on short rest.
Deadline near: Andruw Jones’ time with the Texas Rangers could end Friday.
Jones, who turns 32 on April 23, is in camp on a minor league contract that includes a provision stating that if he is not on the major league roster by March 20, he would be released if requested or added to the roster within 24 hours.
He hit 51 home runs with 128 RBI in 2005 with the Atlanta Braves, but has only a .205 batting average the past two seasons. Jones hit .158 with three home runs in 75 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, when he went on the disabled list three times last and had right knee surgery.
Brewers 7, Indians 5: Milwaukee starter Manny Parra allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over four innings, but the Brewers rallied from an early three-run deficit to beat Cleveland.
After starting the spring with six scoreless innings over two appearances, the left-hander has allowed six runs on 12 hits with three walks in seven innings over his past two starts.
J.J. Hardy was 2-for-2 with a double, triple and two RBI and Corey Hart homered for the Brewers, who won for the fourth time in five games.