Back on the Mound
Johan Santana and Troy Percival gave fans a glimpse of their overpowering pitches in their injury-delayed returns to the mound.
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Manny Ramirez might have been a bit too antsy about getting back on the field. He was scratched from his first spring start with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday because of tightness in his left hamstring.
Held back because of elbow tightness for two weeks, Santana gave up four hits and three runs, including a homer to Dan Uggla, in 2 2-3 innings of the New York Mets’ 16-8 loss to the Florida Marlins. He struck out two and hit a batter in his first game action since having offseason knee surgery.
“The first time being in a real game situation, I felt pretty good,” Santana said at Port St. Lucie, Fla. “I was able to get everything going right away and throw all my pitches. It was a good sign.”
on track to make that first start in Cincinnati on April 6.
“It’s just I had a little setback,” Santana said. “I worked out and did all the treatment I was supposed to do and got back on track. I knew all along I was fine. It was just a matter of time, getting the game situations and facing hitters, and tonight was the time.”
At Phoenix, Ramirez said he felt the hamstring tighten up as he ran from second base to home during a drill before batting practice. Manager Joe Torre scratched him from the lineup and started Mark Loretta at DH instead.
“He wanted to play today, and I didn’t think there was much sense in doing that,” Torre said after the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory over South Korea.
Ramirez has been showing up before dawn to get in playing shape after missing the first two weeks of spring training and has no doubts about being ready for opening day.
“I think we have time,” he said.
Ramirez also shrugged off criticism from former Boston Red Sox teammate Jonathan Papelbon, who compared Ramirez to cancer in the April issue of Esquire.
ite Thursday.
“Once we saw that, we weren’t afraid to get rid of him,” Papelbon added. “It’s like cancer. That’s what he was. Cancer. He had to go. It sucked, but that was the only scenario that was going to work.”
Ramirez didn’t seemed fazed.
“That’s fine, that’s fine,” Ramirez said. “I’ve already moved on with my life. Like I said, I wish everybody the best. I’m in L.A. now.
At Port Charlotte, Fla., Percival pitched a hitless fifth inning as the Tampa Rays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2, a big step for the closer who was plagued by injuries last season.
The 39-year-old made three trips to the disabled list because of hamstring and knee injuries and missed most of September and the postseason because of a lower back injury that required surgery in November.
On Thursday, he faced Ryan Howard, Geoff Jenkins and Gregg Dobbs.
Howard and Jenkins tapped pitches out in front of the plate that catcher Dioner Navarro easily fielded. Dobbs bounced to first baseman Carlos Pena, forcing Percival to run and cover the bag, which he did with ease.
“It was a step,” Percival said. “I was actually forcing myself to mentally throttle back and throw my pitches, but I’d let a couple go, so the next time I’ll do a little bit more. I’m gonna take it a step at a time.”
hopeful he’ll be able to reorganize his bullpen.
“He looks very good to me,” Maddon said. “I don’t see any kind of hesitation or restriction. So, I think he’s in really good shape.”
Pirates 6, Twins 4
At Bradenton, Fla., Craig Monroe homered three times against his former team to power Pittsburgh. Monroe hit solo shots in the second and third innings off Scott Baker. In the sixth, he hit a two-run homer off reliever Kevin Mulvey.
Japan 3, Cubs 2
At Mesa, Ariz., Japan’s Kosuke Fukudome drove in a run against his big league team.
Carlos Zambrano, who earlier in the day was selected as Chicago’s opening day starter, allowed two runs – one earned – and three hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings.
Padres 10, Brewers 10, 10 innings
At Phoenix, Milwaukee’s Jeff Suppan gave up a towering three-run homer to Kyle Blanks and a two-run double to Emil Brown. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit a two-run homer for San Diego.
Rockies 6, Angels 4
At Tempe, Ariz., Ian Stewart hit a three-run homer off John Lackey, and Franklin Morales allowed two runs in four innings for the Rockies.
Athletics 6, Diamondbacks 1
At Phoenix, Arizona’s Dan Haren walked three in three innings, but only gave up one run and one hit, and struck out four against his former team.
Rangers 9, Mariners 1
, Ian Kinsler added two hits and scored twice and Hank Blalock went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Texas.
Ken Griffey Jr. went hitless in four at-bats and is batting just .125 in the Cactus League.
Braves 6, Nationals 2
At Bradenton, Fla., Daniel Cabrera got his first hit with the Nationals – he struck 14 times with the Orioles – and gave up two runs in 3 2-3 innings. Brandon Jones had two hits and two RBIs for Atlanta.
Cardinals 4, Red Sox 2
At Jupiter, Fla., St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter and Boston’s Josh Beckett each pitched two-hit ball four innings.
Joe Mather hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Marcus McBeth.
At Surprise, Ariz., Horacio Ramirez became the first Royals pitcher to go five innings this spring, giving up three runs and six hits, including Josh Fields’ home run in the second. Kyle Davies gave up just one hit in four scoreless innings for Kansas City.
White Sox reliever Franklyn German faced four batters in the fifth and all scored. Mark Teahen’s three-run homer was the big hit.
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Posted: 3/13/09 1:00AM ET
