U.S. team dazzles
A pair of big swings and a parade of strong arms got the United States off to a successful start in the World Baseball Classic.
Derrek Lee and Chipper Jones homered, and Jake Peavy and six U.S. relievers combined on a four-hitter as Team USA beat Mexico 2-0 Tuesday at Phoenix.
Lee connected off starter Rodrigo Lopez and Jones homered on the first pitch he saw in the tournament – off Oscar Villarreal in the seventh.
That was plenty of offense for the pitching-rich U.S. team.
Peavy allowed one hit – an infield single by Karim Garcia to start the game. The 24-year-old San Diego Padres right-hander struck out three, throwing just 23 pitches.
“I’ve never had a better feeling in my life,” Peavy said. “It was the coolest thing I have ever done when Team USA took the field today.”
Mike Timlin, Chad Cordero, Dan Wheeler, Todd Jones, Joe Nathan and Brad Lidge each threw an inning of relief for the U.S. squad, which has 11 relievers on its roster.
The U.S. pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and no walks, shutting out Mexico in 2 hours, 6 minutes.
No Mexican hitters got beyond first. Three baserunners were erased on double plays.
Dominicans drop Venezuela
A lively sellout crowd, two All-Star lineups and a couple of Cy Young Award winners.
This is exactly what commissioner Bud Selig had in mind when he pushed for the World Baseball Classic, and the Dominican Republic and Venezuela made the concept look brilliant.
David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre each homered twice, leading the powerful Dominican Republic to an 11-5 victory at Kissimmee, Fla., in the opening game of Pool D, a tough grouping that also includes Australia and Italy.
Bartolo Colon, the 2005 American League Cy Young winner for the Los Angeles Angels, pitched three scoreless innings for the win. Johan Santana, the 2004 A.L. Cy Young recipient, took the loss.
Brewers batter M’s ace
Felix Hernandez’s first official spring training game as a Seattle Mariners starting pitcher looked nothing like his dominant 2005 debut.
The Seattle sensation from last season allowed a two-run homer to Corey Hart during a three-run second inning in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 15-5 exhibition win at Phoenix. Hernandez, 19, gave up four hits and struck out two during his two-inning, 35-pitch outing.
Clearing the bases
The District of Columbia Council voted 9-4 to approve a contract for construction of the new Washington Nationals ballpark. … Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in Los Angeles and was expected to rejoin the team today. … Boston catcher John Flaherty retired, ending his 14-year career with the team with which he started. Flaherty, 38, who signed last December as a free agent after three seasons with the New York Yankees, did not give a reason for his decision. … Pittsburgh expects to have right-hander Kip Wells in the rotation by the All-Star break after his operation to correct a blocked artery. … Richard Hidalgo’s brief career with Baltimore ended before he played a single game. Hidalgo signed a minor league contract on Feb. 26, reported two days later and spent four days in uniform before leaving the team Saturday to be with his ailing wife. He never returned, and the Orioles released him.