Ramirez makes solid debut in loss
Jake Peavy allowed two hits in two scoreless innings and the San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 Thursday in the annual charity game between the teams to open the spring training schedule at Peoria, Ariz.
Trevor Hoffman, baseball’s career saves leader, pitched the seventh for the Padres. He allowed a double off the right-field wall to Mike Morse and another double by Michael Wilson before retiring the next three batters.
Horacio Ramirez, acquired by Seattle in a December trade from Atlanta, pitched two scoreless innings.
Ramirez, one of three new Mariners starters, allowed a hit and walk but got Todd Walker to hit into an inning-ending double play. He pitched a perfect second inning.
Mariners reliever Chris Reitsma, pitching in a game for the first time since June following elbow surgery, allowed four earned runs in the fourth inning on three walks – one with the bases loaded – and three singles.
Reitsma did not complete the inning. He is expected to take the setup job of Rafael Soriano, whom Seattle traded to get Ramirez.
“Well, first game in eight months … it’s not the end of the world,” Reitsma said. “I can’t expect to come out of the gate that quickly.”
Rangers extend Young
Shortstop Michael Young has agreed to a contract extension worth about $80 million over five seasons with the Texas Rangers.
“We accomplished a great deal over the past four days,” Young said after spring training workouts in Surprise, Ariz. “This puts me here through the 2013 season and represents a great leap of faith on their part.”
Young is a bargain for the Rangers at about $3.5 million this season, the last of a $10 million, four-year contract for the three-time All-Star. The Rangers will pick up a team option for $5 million next season before the extension begins.
“Right-hander Matt Cain and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $9 million, four-year contract that includes a vesting club option for 2011.
Sheffield meets with MLB
Gary Sheffield met with a Major League Baseball executive to discuss recent comments by the Detroit slugger on whether he would cooperate with former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s investigations into steroids.
Sheffield and Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president for labor relations, declined to comment on the meeting, which also included Bob Lenaghan of the players’ union.
Baseball wants more info
Baseball has some questions for Gary Matthews Jr., too.
MLB officials want more information on allegations the Los Angeles Angels outfielder received human growth hormone from a pharmacy that’s part of a widespread steroid investigation.
“We’re looking into it,” baseball spokesman Rich Levin said. “I know our people are going to contact the Albany district attorney.”
Four more people are expected to surrender in Albany, N.Y., on Monday as part of the investigation into an illicit steroid distribution network that may be responsible for Internet sales of performance-enhancing drugs nationwide. Though Matthews, former baseball star Jose Canseco and former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield were reportedly among the customers, district attorney P. David Soares has repeatedly said physicians and distributors, not users, are his focus.
Eight people in three states already have been arrested, and as many as 24 could face felony charges by the time the investigation is over.