TAMPA, Fla. – New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter played
the field for the first time in two weeks Friday, but team
officials continue leaning toward having the 2000 World Series MVP
start the regular season on the disabled list.
Jeter also ran the bases for the first time since March 16 for
Triple-A Columbus against Double-A Norwich in a modified intrasquad
game. He left a game two weeks ago against the Atlanta Braves with
a strained right quadriceps.
"He's liable to be ready, but I'm still hesitant to do that,"
said Yankees manager Joe Torre, who watched part of the game with
bench coach Don Zimmer. "I don't have to make that decision until
before we leave here tomorrow (Saturday). We haven't officially
done anything yet, but I'm still leaning on the side of caution."
New York general manager Brian Cashman said Jeter will play
again Saturday in a minor league game and shares Torre's cautious
approach.
"It's a discussion we'll obviously have to have with the
player first," Cashman said. "I know what I want to do, but I
haven't had the discussion with the player."
Jeter reported no problems after playing five innings.
"I thought I ran well, so now we take it tomorrow and see
what happens," Jeter said. "I was just running. I wasn't
thinking to much about what percent I ran. I was just running as it
came."
Jeter fielded two grounders, including a strong play up the
middle. He picked up Andy Morales' fourth-inning grounder
one-handed while running behind the second base bag and made an
accurate off-balance throw for the out at first.
"I really don't think defense was a concern in terms of
testing the leg," Jeter said.
Jeter, who went 2-for-5, had a single in three at-bats off
Yankees' right-hander Ramiro Mendoza. He also slid into second base
on a fielder's choice.
Brewers open Miller Park with victory
MILWAUKEE – While it was only an exhibition game, the
Milwaukee Brewers opened Miller Park with a win.
Ron Belliard scored from second base on first baseman Paul
Konerko's eighth-inning error as the Brewers rallied to beat the
Chicago White Sox 5-4 on Friday night.
It was the first of two exhibitions at the Brewers' new $399
retractable-roof ballpark. They play Boston on Saturday and will
open the stadium officially on April 6 against Cincinnati.
Ray Durham went 3-for-5, including an RBI single in the seventh
off Juan Acevedo that snapped a 3-3 tie.
The Brewers tied it at 4 in the eighth on Geoff Jenkins' two-out
RBI single off Sean Lowe (1-2). Devon White then hit an infield
single to first that Konerko fielded. He tried to flip the ball out
of his glove to Lowe, but the ball sailed over Lowe's head.
David Weathers (1-1) got the victory, and Curtis Leskanic
pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save of the spring.
There were three home runs, all of which cleared the short
"power" 370-foot alley in left-center field. None of them would
have gone out of County Stadium, where the alleys were 392 feet.
Durham led off the game with a double down the right-field line
and an inning later, Sandy Alomar Jr. became the first hitter to
take advantage of short power with a solo homer off Paul Rigdon
into the visitor's bullpen.
Millwood finds old form
ATLANTA – Jacob Cruz hit a solo home run in the 12th inning
Friday night to give the Cleveland Indians a 3-2 win over the
Atlanta Braves, who got an impressive performance from struggling
Kevin Millwood.
Millwood pitched three hitless innings, by far his best outing
of the spring. Only one batter reached base off him -- Einar Diaz,
on an error by shortstop Rafael Furcal.
The Atlanta right-hander lowered his spring ERA to 12.46. He has
given up 35 hits and 24 earned runs in 17 1-3 innings.
"I finally felt like I was pitching the way I was a couple of
years ago, again," said Millwood, who was 35-15 in 1998-98 before
a 10-13 season a year ago.
"All in all, it was a pretty good outing," said Millwood, who
hurried off to the hospital afterward to be with his wife, Rena,
who is pregnant with their first child. Doctors were to induce
labor early Saturday.
Millwood admitted a bit of relief after his performance.
`Yeah, it's nice. I don't guess anybody will be calling me now
and asking what's wrong anymore," he said. "I've been working on
a few things and they finally came together."
McGwire returns to Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. – Mark McGwire drew a standing ovation,
then struck out Friday night in his first at-bat at the Oakland
Coliseum since being traded by the Athletics on July 31, 1997.
McGwire returned to his former ballpark as his St. Louis
Cardinals played an exhibition game against the A's.
"I grew up here, and I treasure the time I spent here,"
McGwire said, "but in my case it was time to move on."
A's first baseman Jason Giambi, the AL MVP, said McGwire had a
big influence on him. Their lockers were next to each other, and
when McGwire was traded, Giambi took his locker.
"I was lucky enough to listen to him," said Giambi. "He
taught me how to train, he gave me a work ethic and he passed on
the game's values. I want to play for him before I retire."
McGwire and Giambi, best friends who talk at least once a week,
embraced before talking with the media.
"We both have the same goals, the same drive to be the best,"
said McGwire. "We always try to improve. It's been phenomenal to
see him develop. He came in as a raw hitter, and now he's one of
the most feared hitters in the American League."
Giambi also said he talked about his contract status with
McGwire and reiterated his desire to remain in Oakland.
"It's a big issue for me to stay here," said Giambi.
Giambi homered in the game, which was won by the A's 2-1. McGwire went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
A-Rod ends Grapefruit League with homer
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. –Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro
homered to lead the Texas Rangers to a 13-5 win over a Minnesota
Twins split squad Friday.
After the game, the Rangers departed for Puerto Rico, where they
will play an exhibition game Saturday and open the major league
season Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rodriguez, who had five hits in his past 25 at-bats, homered off
reliever Johan Santana in the fifth inning. Rodriguez finished the
Grapefruit League with a .373 average.
Two batters later, Palmeiro hit a two-run homer, his second of
the spring.
Royals have a day to Dye for
HAINES CITY, Fla. – Jermaine Dye went 4-for-4 with two home
runs and six RBI Friday to lead the Kansas City Royals over the
Florida Marlins 9-6.
Dye hit a three-run homer in the third off loser Brad Penny and
a solo shot in the sixth off Armando Almanza. Dye also had
run-scoring singles in the first and fourth innings.
"That's a real good day," Royals manager Tony Muser said.
Dye leads the Royals this spring with a .379 average, seven home
runs and 23 RBI.
Kansas City has won six straight and eight of nine, tying the
Mets for Florida's best spring record.
Dreifort runs spring record to 5-0
LOS ANGELES – Darren Dreifort, ready to begin the first
season of his five-year, $55 million contract, ran his spring
record to 5-0 as Los Angeles beat Colorado 5-2 on Friday night.
Los Angeles' Gary Sheffield, playing at Dodger Stadium for the
first time since making trade requests and criticizing teammates
early in spring training, was booed by most of the crowd of 30,369
when the lineups were announced, all three times he came to bat,
and after both of his hits.
Angel Pena made Dreifort the pitcher of record when he batted
for him in the sixth and snapped a 2-2 tie with an infield RBI
single, following a leadoff walk to Paul LoDuca and a hit-and-run
single by Alex Cora off losing pitcher Pedro Astacio.
Greg Olson got his first save of the spring, pitching one inning
and allowing two hits.
Dreifort pitched six innings for the Dodgers in his final spring
tuneup, allowing two runs on 11 hits and raising his ERA to 2.67.
The right-hander scattered eight hits over five scoreless innings
before giving up a game-tying two-run homer to Greg Norton in the
sixth.
Dreifort, who was courted by the Rockies in the offseason before
re-signing with Los Angeles on Dec. 11, will make his season debut
Wednesday at Dodger Stadium against Arizona's Curt Schilling.
Astacio was charged with three runs, two earned, and eight hits
over six innings. The right-hander was 3-1 this spring with a 4.15
ERA, and will make his season debut next Thursday against St. Louis
at Coors Field.
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