Braves combine on 10-inning no-no in tie

Cody Martin and eight Braves pitchers combined for a wild 10-inning no-hitter for Atlanta in a 2-2 tie with a Houston Astros split-squad on Sunday in Kissimmee, Florida.

Martin struck out three in two innings. He was followed by Jim Johnson, Josh Outman, Brandon Cunniff, Ian Thomas, Mauricio Cabrera, Lucas Sims, Justin Jackson and Jairo Heredia. The Braves combined to walk nine and Cabrera hit a batter.

“I’ve never seen anything like that – only in spring training” said Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez. “A 10-inning no-hitter and a 2-2 tie. Some balls were hit pretty well, but the wind was blowing in.”

Houston scored twice on groundouts after loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter in the seventh inning.

A.J. Pierzynski had an RBI single in the first off the Astros’ Scott Feldman and Todd Cunningham added a sacrifice fly for Atlanta.

Feldman, Houston’s opening-day starter last season, gave up a run and two hits in his first spring start.

A-Rod plays in field

Alex Rodriguez made his exhibition debut at third base, cleanly handling his only chance, and the New York Yankees beat Washington 3-2.

Rodriguez, the designated hitter in two earlier games, hit a pop-fly double and struck out in five innings.

He made a nice, backhanded grab on Tyler Moore’s grounder and threw him out in the third.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman say Chase Headley will be their starting third baseman. Rodriguez will compete primarily for at-bats at DH as he returns from a one-year drug suspension. He is also going to get limited time at third and possibly first base.

“Game speed is the one thing you can’t emulate,” Rodriguez said. “Being away from the game, that’s the hardest thing to adjust to. I’ll give it a shot.”

Clearing the bases

Phillies right-hander Kevin Slowey followed a solid spring debut with another strong outing, pitching three hitless innings in Philadelphia’s 5-4 victory over Tampa Bay. … The Phillies said earlier in the day that Cliff Lee has soreness in his elbow and will miss his next scheduled start. The 36-year-old had a MRI exam and the club plans to get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrew this week. … Xander Bogaerts homered and drove in four runs, Rick Porcello pitched three innings and Boston beat the New York Mets 6-3. … Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will make his first exhibition start Thursday against Atlanta. … Baseball players’ association head Tony Clark says the union has no problems with the Mets’ voluntary offseason workout program but will continue to monitor it.