Ashley has big day against BoSox

Posted Mar 29, 2010 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 30, 2010 at 03:50 PM

FORT MYERS — Evan Longoria homered, Jeff Niemann threw six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 9-3 on Monday night.

Nevin Ashley went 3 for 3 with a solo homer for Tampa Bay. Niemann allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out six.

Josh Beckett pitched six innings for Boston in his last spring outing before facing the New York Yankees on Sunday night in the major league opener. He allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Mike Lowell went 2 for 3 for Boston.

Yankees 11, Orioles 7

SARASOTA — David Winfree replaced injured Mark Teixeira and hit a three-run homer, one of four launched by the Yankees in the win.

Teixeira left in the second inning with a bruised right elbow after being struck by a fastball from Jeremy Guthrie. X-rays were not taken, and Teixeira said he should be fine.

With a 24 mph wind blowing out toward center field, Robinson Cano hit a three-run drive off Guthrie in the first inning. Marcus Thames hit a solo shot off Matt Albers in the seventh.

Adam Jones and Luke Scott homered for the Orioles.

Pirates 13, Astros 1

BRADENTON — Andrew McCutchen hit one of Pittsburgh’s four home runs and the Pirates unveiled their new-look batting order in a 13-1 romp over the Houston Astros.

Pirates manager John Russell plans to begin the season with his pitcher hitting eighth, a move that will shift McCutchen from leadoff to second in the batting order.

With pitcher Paul Maholm in the No. 8 spot, Akinori Iwamura hit leadoff, McCutchen was in the No. 2 spot and shortstop Bobby Crosby batted ninth. Iwamura hit a three-run homer and McCutchen, Brandon Jones and Andy LaRoche had two-run shots.

Braves 5, Phillies 4

CLEARWATER — Braves backup Eric Hinske hit a solo home run in the ninth inning off Ryan Madson and Atlanta beat the Philadelphia Phillies.

Madson will start the season as the Phillies’ closer while Brad Lidge continues to rehab from offseason knee and elbow surgeries. Hinske connected on a 3-0 pitch.

Cardinals 5, Twins 3

JUPITER — Jaime Garcia kept up his bid for a spot in the St. Louis rotation, pitching six innings Monday as the Cardinals beat the Minnesota Twins.

Garcia gave up two runs and eight hits without a walk.

Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick homered off Twins starter Kevin Slowey. Minor leaguer Daniel Descalso hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it.

Tigers 2, Blue Jays 2, tie, 9 innings

DUNEDIN — Rick Porcello pitched 5 1-3 hitless innings against Toronto before allowing two runs as the Detroit Tigers and Blue Jays played to a nine-inning tie.

Toronto starter Dana Eveland, with an outside chance to earn a spot in the rotation, pitched six shutout innings and struck out eight. He allowed four hits and a walk.
-The Associated Press