Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Giants’ Hunter Pence out for 6-8 weeks with broken arm

Hunter Pence broke his left forearm and will be sidelined six to eight weeks after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning of the San Francisco Giants’ 8-6 win over a Chicago Cubs split-squad on Thursday.

One of the clubhouse leaders for the World Series champions, the quirky Pence has played in 383 straight games — the longest active streak in the majors — since the Giants traded for him in July 2012. He hit .277 with 20 homers and 74 RBIs last year.

He was hit by a pitch from the Cubs’ Corey Black and went to first base before being removed for a pinch runner.

“It didn’t look good,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “You hate to see it but these things do happen. Guys work so hard to get ready.”

X-rays showed Pence has a non-displaced fracture in his left forearm.

Kershaw perfect in spring debut

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw retired all six batters he faced in his spring debut against the Chicago White Sox.

Kershaw struck out three, including White Sox slugger Jose Abreu looking on a slow curve.

Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, at age 26, was 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA for the Dodgers last year when he also won National League MVP.

Marlins’ Stanton returns to batter’s box

Despite not getting a hit, Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was pleased with his first at-bats of the spring.

Stanton went 0 for 2 in his first game since being hit in the face by Mike Fiers’ fastball in September.

The at-bats also marked the debut of Stanton’s new batting helmet, which features a football facemask-like guard that protects his left cheek and jaw.

Clearing the bases

Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish left his spring training debut with tightness in his right triceps after pitching a scoreless first inning against Kansas City. … Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee pitched two scoreless innings against Houston in his first spring start, the first time since he’s pitched since being sidelined by an elbow injury on July 31. … Tampa Bay has selected right-hander Alex Cobb as their opening day starter. … Left-handed reliever Phil Coke has agreed to a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.