Moyer Sharp Against Cubs
Jamie Moyer allowed one hit in four shutout innings Saturday, and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-4.
Moyer, making his third start of the spring, struck out four and walked three.
Seattle scored twice in the third against Mark Clark. Joey Cora hit an RBI groundout and Alex Rodriguez a run-scoring single.
Ken Griffey Jr. made it 3-0 in the fifth with an RBI single off Kurt Miller. Glenallen Hill hit an RBI single in the sixth and Rick Wilkins followed with a two-run homer for a 6-0 lead.
Manny Alexander hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Bob Wells, and Tim Unroe homered for Chicago in the seventh off Damaso Marte.
Mike Timlin got the save, pitching the ninth.
Jeff Fassero’s tender left elbow has cost him more than a week of pitching - it’s apparently going to cost him a start in the second game of the regular season.
Manager Lou Piniella said he may keep Fassero in camp and let him pitch one game against minor leaguers to get some work in and then bring him up in the second week of the season.
For the third consecutive appearance, Wells struggled. Wells is in a fight for the long relief role he’s filled the past two seasons, but in two innings he gave up four hits, two walks and two runs.
Jay Buhner was in a mock rage when he learned that Edgar Martinez wasn’t going on the road for a second consecutive day - sidelined by the National League no-designated hitter rule. “So you’re headed for the pool?” Buhner demanded. “I don’t make out the lineup,” Martinez said good-naturedly. “Where would I play?”
At that point, Griffey jumped in: “We played you one game at third base two years ago and you blew out three ribs. We played you at first base last year and you pulled a muscle - hell, you got hit in the head by a bat last year just sitting in the dugout. Only place we can hide you, Edgar, is in left field - nobody knows who plays out there, anyway.”
Ex-Cy Young winner calls it quits
Mark Davis, the National League’s 1989 Cy Young Award winner, ended his comeback attempt with the Arizona Diamondbacks and announced his retirement Saturday.
The 37-year-old left-hander, a two-time All-Star, missed the entire 1996 season with a shoulder injury.
New controversy for Irabu
Hideki Irabu lost control again, and this time it was off the field.
Irabu, who has had strained relations with Japanese media since joining the Yankees last year, allegedly grabbed a television camera and stomped on a cameraman’s foot after pitching four scoreless innings against Detroit.
Irabu asked freelance Tokyo Broadcasting System cameraman Keiichiro Hoashi to stop videotaping him during what the pitcher apparently thought was an off-the-record session.
Hoashi continued taping, and Irabu demanded the tape.
Ogea has knee surgery
Cleveland Indians pitcher Chad Ogea had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be sidelined six weeks.
Valentin prefers play over pay
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jose Valentin, rather than pocketing $100,000 to stay home, spent his off-season playing winter ball in Puerto Rico.
“A lot of people back home were asking me about how much money I let go away and I said the same thing to everybody: I don’t care about the money, I just want to become a better ballplayer. If you stay at home and do nothing, there’s no way you can get better,” said Valentin, who earned $15,000 for three months of work for Mayaguez.
The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - Spring training notebook