Beckett tosses three scoreless for BoSox

Posted Mar 8, 2010 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 8, 2010 at 09:13 PM

FORT MYERS — Josh Beckett pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three, and Che-Shuan Lin hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning to lift Boston.

Chris Carpenter, making his first appearance of the spring, went two innings for St. Louis. He gave up a run on four hits with a strikeout and no walks.

Three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols did not make the cross-state trip because of discomfort in his back. He is not expected to play Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins.

Yankees (ss) 7, Phillies 5

TAMPA — Javier Vazquez settled down after allowing a first-pitch homer to Jimmy Rollins, striking out four of his last five batters for a New York split squad.

Nick Swisher was 2 for 3 with 3 RBI, and Robinson Cano knocked in two runs for the Yankees.

Ryan Howard ended an 0 for 9 spring start with a single for the Phillies, and Kyle Kendrick pitched one-hit ball for three innings.

Yankees (ss) 6, Pirates (ss) 0

BRADENTON — Alfredo Aceves tossed four perfect innings for New York, which put its first four batters on base and scored two runs off left-hander Paul Maholm.

In two outings this spring, both against the Pirates, Aceves has retired all 18 batters he’s faced. The right-hander struck out three.

Maholm worked two innings, allowing three hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Rays 4, Pirates (ss) 3, 10 innings

PORT CHARLOTTE — Matt Garza pitched three scoreless innings, allowing three hits with five strikeouts, and Fernando Perez hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay pushed across two runs in the seventh to tie it at 3. Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez had RBI singles.

Pittsburgh grabbed a 3-1 lead on Brian Friday’s two-run homer off Jeff Bennett in the seventh.

Mets 11, Marlins (ss) 2

JUPITER — John Maine struck out four of the eight batters he faced in his spring debut, and Chris Carter hit two ninth-inning homers for New York.

Maine allowed one run, two hits and one walk in 1 2-3 innings.

Carter began the ninth with a pinch-hit homer, then hit a three-run drive with two out.

Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla committed two errors on one play in the first inning, and Ryan Tucker gave up two runs in two innings.

Blue Jays 4, Astros 1

KISSIMMEE — J.P. Arencibia hit a solo homer and left-hander Ricky Romero pitched three shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out two.

Lyle Overbay and Brad Emaus had RBI doubles for Toronto.

Bud Norris allowed two hits and struck out two in two innings, and J.R Towles drove in the lone run for Houston.

Marlins (ss) 11, Nationals 2

VIERA — Jorge Cantu hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and right-hander Ricky Nolasco worked three innings, allowing a run on four hits with five strikeouts.

Ronny Paulino had four hits for the Marlins.

Scott Olsen, making his first start since season-ending shoulder surgery last July, threw two innings for the Nationals and allowed seven hits and three runs.

Josh Willingham and Ryan Zimmerman homered for Washington.
- The Associated Press