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KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Kirk Nieuwenhuis went 4 for 4 and scored a run, leading the New York Mets to an 8-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.
Dillon Gee started for the Mets in their spring opener and allowed two runs in two innings. He also walked two.
Wandy Rodriguez, who came to camp looking for a spot in the Atlanta rotation, allowed run and walked two in one inning. Rodriguez’s chances improved when Braves General Manager John Hart said after the game that Mike Minor, who made 25 starts last season, is out indefinitely with tightness in his left shoulder.
Braves newcomers Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski both had RBIs in their debuts with Atlanta.
Tigers 5, Orioles 4
SARASOTA, Fla. — Matt Wieters and Manny Machado each were hitless in three at-bats in their first game since their seasons were cut short by injuries last year, and Baltimore lost to Detroit.
Wieters had Tommy John surgery in June and Machado underwent knee surgery in August.
“They do miss it. They miss the competition,” manager Buck Showalter said.
Machado, the 22-year-old third baseman, played seven innings and made a neat backhand play, throwing out Detroit’s Hernan Perez from foul ground in the fourth inning. He also made a throwing error.
“Manny needs to play in some games,” Showalter said.
Wieters, a Gold Glove catcher, served as Baltimore’s designated hitter and was removed after his third at-bat. He expects to catch on March 17 and hopes to be ready for the season opener.
Detroit’s Alex Castellanos hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run fifth inning. Anthony Gose scored the other run on a botched rundown.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Alfredo Simon, obtained over the winter from Cincinnati, will start for Detroit against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Orioles: Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez start for Baltimore in a split squad games on Thursday. Chen pitches at Tampa Bay Thursday afternoon, Gonzalez goes against Toronto Thursday night.
Blue Jays 4, Pirates 1
BRADENTON, Fla. — Marcus Stroman looked sharp in his first spring training outing and Kevin Pillar hit an RBI double as Toronto beat Pittsburgh.
Stroman worked the first 1 2-3 innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits. The right-hander struck out one and threw a wild pitch.
“It was just good to get back out there and compete against another team,” Stroman said. “It was a little rough in the first inning, but my body and my arm feel great. I was pretty pleased with it.”
Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole allowed a run on one hit in two innings. Cole walked one batter and struck out three.
Vance Worley, who is vying for the No. 5 spot in the Pirates’ rotation, gave up two runs over two innings.
Pirates third baseman Josh Harrison left the game in the first inning due to left ankle discomfort. Harrison tweaked the ankle while running the bases. The injury did not appear to be serious as Harrison walked off the field.
Athletics 9, Giants 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Buster Posey got off to a strong start as he doubled in two runs and walked in his first appearance of the spring.
But Josh Reddick had three hits and drove in a pair of runs in leading Oakland.
“There’s always that anxiousness to the first time,” Posey said. “Everything felt good. To me, it’s about mentally being there more than anything, try to get something out of it and not go through the motions.”
Jake Peavey worked an inning for the Giants, giving up two runs and four hits. Casey McGehee added two hits.
Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 2
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Paul Goldschmidt walked and struck out in his first major league action since a broken hand cut short his 2014 season, and Arizona beat Colorado.
Rockies prospect Jon Gray fanned Goldschmidt with a 97 mph fastball in the third inning. The two-time All-Star drew a walk against Rockies starter Jordan Lyles in the first.
Goldschmidt was sharp at first base a day after he singled in his only at-bat in an exhibition against Arizona State. He had been out since getting hit by a pitch on his left hand in August.
“He’s all the way back,” new Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. “He’s fine, he’s game-ready, he’s confident. He’s not worried about his hand, his wrist.”
Rubby De La Rosa threw two scoreless innings in his Arizona debut on his 26th birthday, getting out of a second-inning jam when Rockies newcomer Nick Hundley flied to right.
Arizona prospects Aaron Blair and Braden Shipley each threw two scoreless innings, and Jordan Pacheco had an RBI double.
Indians 4, Reds 2
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Francisco Lindor’s time is coming. Maybe soon.
The top prospect in Cleveland’s organization, Lindor got two hits and showed off his glove as the Indians beat Cincinnati.
The 21-year-old Lindor rose to Triple-A last year and the smooth shortstop will likely begin the season in the minors. However, it may not be long before he’s in Cleveland on a more permanent basis. Lindor singled twice, made a leaping catch to take away a hit and turned a slow roller in the infield grass into an easy out.
Not a bad spring debut for the polished and poised Lindor, who certainly acts as if he belongs in the big leagues.
“I feel a lot more comfortable, relaxed,” Lindor said, comparing how he felt in camp a year ago. “Last year it was something I was trying to learn. This year I am learning, but last year I was trying to get to know the guys who I didn’t know. In a way, I was trying to prove myself the first time in a big-league camp. I know what I have to do and go out there and continue working, continue to be the best player and learn so that when I go to the big leagues I can help the Indians win.”
The Indians won’t rush Lindor. Because of how well starting shortstop Jose Ramirez played last season, the club can afford to be patient with Lindor — and all their minor leaguers.
“We’re not trying to develop guys to get to Cleveland,” manager Terry Francona said. “We’re trying to get guys to Cleveland that can help us win.”
Another Indians prospect, Carlos Moncrief, had four hits and scored twice as Cleveland bounced back after being thumped 10-0 by their southern Ohio neighbors in the exhibition opener on Tuesday.
Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton homered leading off the first against Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin, who is competing with four others for the No. 5 starter’s job.
Cincinnati starter Anthony DeSclafani struck out two in two innings as he tries to lock down a rotation spot. The right-hander was acquired in December in the trade that sent starter Matt Latos to Florida.
Mariners 4, Padres 3
PEORIA, Ariz. — Justin Upton homered and Matt Kemp went hitless in three at-bats in their debuts with the San Diego Padres.
Kemp and Upton, each two-time All-Stars, were two of the main acquisitions in a busy offseason for the Padres. Upton, the centerpiece of a trade with the Atlanta Braves, was 0 for 2 until he hit a towering home run to straightaway center field in the seventh.
“That was a good start to spring,” Upton said. “At the end of the day if you’re taking good swings and you’re on time, the hits will start coming.”
Kemp, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December, grounded into a double play with runners on first and second to end the top of the sixth inning.
“Just getting work in. Just trying to get in a rhythm,” Kemp said. “First game of spring training, you’re just trying to work on your timing and see pitches and try to make something happen if you can.”
D.J. Peterson, a top prospect in the Mariners organization, hit a solo home run in the first.
Royals 13, Rangers 2
SURPRISE, Ariz. — Eric Hosmer and Royals newcomers Kendrys Morales and Alex Rios hit consecutive first-inning homers, and AL champion Kansas City routed Texas in the spring training opener for both teams.
Hosmer hit a three-run shot off Rangers starter Colby Lewis that landed on the grassy berm well beyond the centerfield fence. Morales went deep to right field and Rios went to left, giving Kansas City a 6-0 lead before Lewis had even recorded an out.
The last time Kansas City hit three consecutive homers during the regular season was May 2006, when Tony Graffanino, Angel Berroa and Doug Mientkiewicz did it against Detroit.
“It’s something you don’t get to see every day, even during the regular season,” said Rios, who spent the past couple seasons with Texas. “It just happened.”
Lewis recorded three straight outs after the Royals’ early home run binge, but the veteran starter still needed 36 pitches to get through his only inning of work.
“I actually felt great, threw a lot of strikes,” said Lewis, a notoriously poor starter in spring training. “Of course, the results aren’t what you want, but it is what it is.”
White Sox 6, Dodgers 4
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jose Quintana pitched two perfect innings, Alexei Ramirez drove in three runs and the Chicago White Sox beat Los Angeles in the exhibition opener for each team.
Ramirez, Jose Abreu, Adam Eaton and Avisail Garcia had two hits apiece for the White Sox, who are looking for a big year after a productive offseason. Adam LaRoche, who agreed to a $25 million, two-year contract with Chicago in November, had a two-run double in his first game with his new team.
Quintana struck out two while throwing 20 of his 26 pitches for strikes.
“My mind is fresh,” he said. “I’m focused on the spring and preparation. Last year I had the bad spring, and this time I want to do the best for me and get ready to make it a good season.”
Joc Pederson, one of the majors’ top prospects, had two hits for Los Angeles, and Jimmy Rollins singled in the third for his first hit with the Dodgers. Rollins was acquired in a December trade with Philadelphia.
“Just glad it wasn’t a home run, because you can only go down from there,” Rollins cracked. “But no, you want to do it for yourself. I mean this time of year, you know you can still play but you always want to feel like you can still play, and part of that is being able to hit the ball and it’s like ‘Yes, OK.’”
Erik Bedard allowed one run and two hits in two innings for Los Angeles. The veteran left-hander is in camp on a minor league deal and likely will begin the year at Triple-A Oklahoma City.