BoSox’ Pedroia leaves early with strained wrist

Posted Mar 23, 2010 by TBO.com

Updated Mar 24, 2010 at 12:16 AM

Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz and second baseman Dustin Pedroia got roughed up during a 7-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night.

Pedroia strained his left wrist in the first inning while diving for a ball hit by Denard Span. The 2008 AL MVP was charged with a throwing error on the same play. He finished the inning but did not return.

Boston manager Terry Francona said he thinks Pedroia will be fine but he could be a little sore on Wednesday.

Buchholz threw three wild pitches, hit a batter, walked three and gave up six runs, five earned.

Twins starter Carl Pavano gave up two hits in five scoreless innings. Catcher Joe Mauer went 1 for 4 with a double the day after signing his $184 million, eight-year contract extension.

Phillies 4, Rays 3

CLEARWATER — Ryan Howard hit two solo homers to power Philadelphia to the win.

Shane Victorino also connected for the Phillies, and Brian Schneider had a game-ending sacrifice fly.

Howard went deep against Matt Garza in the fourth and sixth innings. The big first baseman is batting .356 with three homers and eight RBIs in 16 games this spring.

Evan Longoria had a two-run double for the Rays. Matt Garza yielded three runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Joe Blanton pitched 5 1-3 innings for the Phillies, yielding two runs and four hits.

Tigers 6, Nationals 2

LAKELAND — Max Scherzer pitched five solid innings to lead Detroit to the victory.

Brandon Inge and Gerald Laird homered for the Tigers. Rookie Austin Jackson had three hits, including two doubles, to boost his spring average to .375.

Scherzer, who allowed one run and four hits, was acquired from Arizona in a three-team deal in December.

Scott Olsen, trying to rebound from an injury-filled 2009 season, yielded six runs and 12 hits in 4 1-3 innings for Washington.

Marlins 5, Orioles 2

JUPITER — Ricky Nolasco pitched six sharp innings and Florida beat Baltimore.

Nolasco allowed one run and six hits, struck out three and walked none. He has 21 strikeouts and no walks in 20 innings over five spring starts, to go along with a 2.50 ERA.

Jeremy Guthrie, projected to be Baltimore’s No. 2 starter, allowed two runs and six hits in five innings.

Adam Jones homered for the Orioles.

Astros 11, Pirates 1

BRADENTON — Houston’s Felipe Paulino gave up one run and seven hits. He struck out six and walked just one in five innings.

Paulino and veteran Brain Moehler are vying for the last rotation spot.

In his worst outing of the spring, Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf labored through 3 2-3 innings. He allowed seven runs and nine hits.
-The Associated Press