Phillies’ pitching prospects shine

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The World Series champions have more arms on the way.

Top pitching prospects Carlos Carrasco and J.A. Happ each tossed two shutout innings for the Philadelphia Phillies in their 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.

“These are two kids that want to show everybody they’re hungry. They want to be in the big leagues,” Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz said. “That’s good. I like it. I like how comfortable they looked on the mound.”

Carrasco dazzled, retiring all six hitters he faced. Happ, a lefty, followed with two quick innings of his own. Both are competing for the fifth spot in the rotation with Chan Ho Park and Kyle Kendrick.

“They did pretty good,” manager Charlie Manuel said. “That’s what (pitching coach Rich) Dubee and I want to see.”

Two right-handed relievers fighting for a roster spot didn’t fare as well. After Carrasco and Happ handed over a 1-0 lead, Justin Lehr gave up back-to-back home runs in the fifth to Travis Snider and Jason Lane.

In the eighth, with the score tied 2-all, Toronto scored four times off Blaine Neal. Scott Campbell’s three-run double keyed the decisive rally, dropping the World Series champs to 0-2 in Grapefruit League competition.

Mets 9, Marlins 0

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Dropped from the leadoff spot to No. 3 in the order, Jose Reyes hit a grand slam, a solo homer and drove in six runs as the Mets routed Florida.

New York also scored nine runs in its spring training opener, beating Baltimore 9-3 on Wednesday. New leadoff man Luis Castillo was a star in that one, with four RBI and two hits.

Braves 8, Astros 7

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Roy Oswalt was sharp in his first outing of the spring for Houston, picking up right where he left off last season when he won 10 of 13 starts after the All-Star break.

Oswalt allowed just one hit in three innings against the Atlanta Braves, who were encouraged by the debut of top prospect Tommy Hanson and won on an RBI double by non-roster catcher J.C. Boscan in the eighth.

Oswalt made one bad pitch — a fastball left over the plate — that Braves catcher David Ross hit for a two-run homer. Otherwise, the right-hander was better than expected for this time of spring.

Nationals 2, Tigers 1

VIERA, Fla. — Collin Balester, Jordan Zimmermann and Terrell Young each pitched two scoreless innings and Washington beat Detroit.

The 22-year-old Balester is the only of the trio with major league experience, having started 15 games for the Nationals last year. He and Zimmermann are vying for spots in the rotation and Young is a Rule 5 draft pick who must either make the team out of camp or be offered back to the Cincinnati Reds.

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

FORT MYERS, Fla.— Boston’s Jon Lester is working on his changeup. Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell wants to change his fortunes.

Both took another step along those paths when they started against each other in the Pirates’ exhibition win over the Red Sox.

The 6-foot-2, left-handed Lester, who emerged as Boston’s best starter last year, pitched two scoreless innings. The 5-foot-11, right-handed Snell allowed two unearned runs in two innings in his only appearance before leaving to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic.

Twins 10, Reds 4

SARASOTA, Fla. — Micah Owings used his first opportunity to show Cincinnati he can pitch as well as he hits by working three scoreless innings in a loss to Minnesota, the final opener at Ed Smith Stadium for the Reds.

Owings was limited to pinch-hitting duties after being acquired by the Reds on Sept. 12 because of a sore shoulder. Regarded as one of the top hitting pitchers in the game, Owings is trying to win the fifth starter’s spot after struggling in 2009. He gave up only two hits.

Orioles 11, Cardinals 3

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Danys Baez allowed three walks and two runs in one inning, but Baltimore bounced back to beat St. Louis.

Baez hadn’t pitched since mid-September 2007. He underwent ligament replacement surgery the following month and missed last season. Now he’s trying to win a job with the Orioles as a starter, a role he hasn’t held since starting 26 games for Cleveland in 2002.

Mariners 4, Padres 4, 10 innings

PEORIA, Ariz. — Felix Hernandez dodged a flying piece of wood on a groundout by Brian Giles to end a quick first inning. Then Hernandez allowed four hits, including a two-run homer by Henry Blanco, in the second during the Mariners’ exhibition tie with the San Diego.

The 23-year-old Hernandez wasn’t ruffled by the shaky outing, his only real tuneup before he starts the opener of the World Baseball Classic for his native Venezuela against Italy on March 7 in Toronto.

Angels 3, Athletics 1

TEMPE, Ariz. — The Los Angeles Angels got their first look at the team’s new closer and a peek at a potential future starter.

Closer Brian Fuentes worked a scoreless inning, allowing two hits and struck out one in an inning.

Royals 7, Rangers 2

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Kyle Davies pitched two scoreless innings and Ross Gload hit a bases-loaded triple to help Kansas City beat Texas.

The win snapped the Royals’ six-game spring training losing streak to the Rangers, who defeated Kansas City 12-7 on Wednesday in both teams’ exhibition opener.