Cruz Takes Big Step Toward Job With M’S

Rookie Jose Cruz Jr. didn’t wait long to make an impression on the Seattle Mariners.

In the second intrasquad game of spring camp Wednesday in Peoria, Ariz., Cruz had a single, a home run and a liner to the right-center gap that bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double.

It’s early, the pitchers don’t have much confidence in their breaking stuff and nothing counts. That established, Cruz helped himself to a head start in his battle to leave camp with the left-field job.

“I’ve still got a long way to go,” he said, “but I feel better than I did yesterday.”

The best pitching in the eight-inning game, called with the score 5-5, was the three-up, three-down inning by left-hander Jason Brosnan, a 29-year-old career minor leaguer who last summer won three of four decisions for Tacoma. Middle reliever Tim Davis struck out two of the three batters he faced.

Mariners ace Randy Johnson, still nursing a surgically repaired back, was not scheduled to throw. He has yet to make a pitch to a batter. Greg Hibbard, attempting a comeback after spending two years on the disabled list with a left rotator-cuff tear, was scheduled to pitch and didn’t. His shoulder is sore.

Around the majors

The Anaheim Angels agreed to a four-year contract extension with outfielder Tim Salmon, keeping one of their best young hitters in the fold through the 2001 season… . Gary Sheffield and the Florida Marlins are negotiating a six-year contract extension that could be worth $60 million to $65 million, sources said… . New York Yankees outfield prospect Ruben Rivera will probably have arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, which would sideline him 2-3 months… . A day after hurting his right hip while falling down a flight of stairs, Barry Bonds returned to practice. Bonds was cleared to work out after the chief radiologist at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Memorial Hospital reviewed an MRI and found no damage.