Cory Lidle’s widow seeking $1.05 million

The widow of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle has sued MetLife Inc., claiming she is owed more than $1 million under baseball’s benefit plan.

Lidle died in the crash of his small plane Oct. 11 and was covered by the benefit plan of Major League Baseball and its players’ association, which had a $450,000 life insurance benefit and an accidental death benefit of $1.05 million.

However, the plan – which applies to all players with major league contracts – contains an exclusion for “any incident related to travel in an aircraft … while acting in any capacity other than as a passenger.”

New York-based MetLife paid Melanie Lidle $450,000, but “has refused to pay the entirety of the policy” despite demands, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The family lived in suburban Glendora during the offseason

In the complaint, lawyers for Melanie Lidle said they anticipate MetLife will try to claim Lidle’s death occurred while he was acting in the role of pilot, crew member or another capacity and not a passenger.

Melanie Lidle is entitled to the $1.05 million payout because the life insurer can’t prove that Cory Lidle was piloting the single-engine Cirrus SR-20 plane that crashed into a Manhattan high-rise, said her lawyer, Stacy King.

Mariners defeated

The Mariners got a scare in the first inning when No. 3 starter Miguel Batista took a line drive off his ribs, but he stayed in the game to go six innings, giving up 12 hits and six runs, as Texas beat Seattle 10-6 in Surprise, Ariz.

Batista said he was OK.

Texas collected 17 hits, including Mark Texeira’s first home run of the spring, a two-run shot in the eighth inning.

Kenny Lofton and Michael Young each had three singles for Texas. Young drove in two runs.

Knee sprain confirmed

Infielder and N.L. batting champion Freddy Sanchez, frustrated with a slow-to-heal knee injury as opening day approaches, sought a second opinion that confirmed the Pittsburgh Pirates’ evaluation of a sprained right knee ligament.

Wood suffers setback

Kerry Wood’s chances of being ready for opening day were dashed by another injury.

The Chicago Cubs’ former ace hurt his right shoulder pitching in relief Sunday and was experiencing more stiffness than usual Monday, one week before the Cubs open the 2007 N.L. season in Cincinnati.

Wood will not be ready for the first game.

Clearing the bases

Jake Peavy will be the opening-day starter for the San Diego Padres. … The Washington Nationals acquired infielder Wade Robinson from the Houston Astros for catcher Danny Ardoin, and purchased infielder Matt Rogelstad from the Seattle Mariners. … The San Diego Padres plan to release infielder Todd Walker today. … Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez has a broken bone in his pitching shoulder and is expected to be sidelined until at least midseason. … First baseman Chris Shelton was sent back to the minor leagues by the Detroit Tigers. Infielder Ramon Santiago and right-hander Zach Miner were also sent down.

The Texas Rangers claimed right-hander Ezequiel Astacio off waivers from the Houston Astros and designated right-hander Rick Bauer for assignment. … The Florida Marlins acquired Jorge Julio and cash from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit. … Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Masumi Kuwata badly sprained his right ankle while colliding with plate umpire Wally Bell during a game against Toronto.