Spring Training Report
Midway through his final spring training tuneup, Tampa Bay opening day starter James Shields shifted into regular-season mode.
The right-hander worked a perfect third and fourth innings Wednesday, rebounding from a shaky first two innings to help the Rays close the Florida portion of their exhibition schedule with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The defending AL champions broke camp after the game and will play exhibitions in Philadelphia Friday and Saturday before opening the season Monday in Boston against the Red Sox.
Gabe Gross homered and Carl Crawford had a RBI single off right-hander Philip Humber during Tampa Bay’s two-run fifth. Matt Tolbert was 2-for-3 and drove in Minnesota’s only run with a second-inning single off Shields.
The right-hander settled to retire the last nine batters he faced, including a flawless third and fourth.
It was especially important to finish strong with Shields coming off last week’s rocky outing (three homers, three walks, 11 runs and 12 hits in 4 1/3 innings) against the Twins in Fort Myers.
Red Sox 4, Pirates 3: Paul Maholm allowed three runs in four innings of Pittsburgh’s loss to Boston.
Boston’s Chip Ambres hit a pair of homers, including a tiebreaking shot in the ninth inning off Daniel Haigwood. Ambres connected for a three-run drive in the fourth, snapping Maholm’s spring scoreless streak at 18 2/3 innings.
Maholm will make his first opening-day start Monday against the Cardinals.
Marlins 13, Orioles 2: Jeremy Guthrie got knocked around again, allowing eight runs and 10 hits over four innings in a 13-2 loss to Florida.
Jorge Cantu doubled, homered and collected three RBI against Guthrie. Hanley Ramirez and John Baker each had two hits and two RBIs through the fourth inning.
Yankees 8, Phillies 5: CC Sabathia had Jason Ellison’s line-drive RBI single go off his glove in the second inning of New York’s win over Philadelphia.
“Not what to you want to see,” New York manager Joe Girardi said. “I was a little nervous. Got mostly glove.”
Sabathia remained in the game, and allowed two runs and six hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one during a 70-pitch outing.
n Braves 9, Tigers 3: Chipper Jones, Casey Kotchman and Clint Sammons homered to lead Atlanta to victory over Detroit.
Tom Glavine gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings for Atlanta. The left-hander will pitch in two minor league games before making his season debut for the Braves on April 18.