Giants fans cheer Posey’s return

Matt Cain walked in from the bullpen and heard the roar of the San Francisco Giants fans at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Stadium.

“I thought everybody really loved me,” Cain said, “and then I looked behind me and saw Buster.”

The return of Buster Posey was the story of the day for the Giants in Friday’s 6-3 Cactus League victory over a Cincinnati Reds split-squad, with infielder Freddy Sanchez’s return a close second.

Posey and Sanchez, both key cogs in the Giants’ championship run in 2010, missed most of 2011 with injuries. Posey tore ligaments in his left ankle in a home-plate collision on May 25, and Sanchez dislocated his shoulder June 10. Neither had played in a game until Friday.

Posey caught two innings and hit a flyout in his only trip to the plate, while Sanchez was 1 for 4.

“It was fun,” Posey said. “I’ve put in a lot of work. Even though it was only two innings, it was nice to be out there.”

Posey admitted to some anxiety before the game, but he felt better after passing the few tests the game provided.

“It was good to see Buster back out there playing again,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I know he was excited. It was great to see the ovation he got when he walked out to the bullpen. There was a little extra energy in the crowd and in the dugout today than you normally feel in a spring training game.”

As for Sanchez, the Giants were happy to get him back into the lineup, but the true test of his surgically repaired shoulder will come when he is ready to play in the field. Bochy said the plan is for Sanchez to DH again on Sunday and play second base on Monday.

“Playing defense will be a big steppingstone for me,” Sanchez said. “I feel like I’m getting a little stronger each day.”

Wainwright returns

Adam Wainwright couldn’t help but flash a big grin. He had plenty of reason to be happy.

Starting for the first time in over a year, Wainwright pitched two scoreless innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, Fla.

“Usually, I am real serious before a game,” said Wainwright, who had elbow ligament replacement surgery last February. “Once I get kind of locked in, usually I don’t have much emotion to show for guys saying, ‘Let’s go,’ or anything like that. Today, when they said … on the mound today, pitcher Adam Wainwright, the crowd kind of applauded, I was out there cheering in the outfield for sure.”

Wainwright struck out two and walked one in his first outing since Sept. 24, 2010.

Halladay hit hard

Roy Halladay gave up two homers to non-roster invitee Eric Patterson and allowed three runs overall in three innings but the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Detroit Tigers 7-5 in Lakeland, Fla.

Halladay wasn’t concerned his ERA was 7.20 in two starts this spring.

He said he was tweaking some of his pitches.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he isn’t looking at any numbers until opening day.

Braves’ Teheran rebounds

Hoping to earn a spot in Atlanta’s rotation, Julio Teheran allowed one run and three hits over three innings as a Braves split squad lost 3-0 to the New York Yankees in Tampa, Fla.

The 21-year-old struck out three, including Robinson Cano, and walked one in his second spring training start.

Teheran was tagged for six home runs in just two innings last Sunday when the Braves were beat 18-3 by the Detroit Tigers.

Freddy Garcia gave up one hit over three innings for the Yankees. The right-hander had two strikeouts and one walk.

McCutcheon sharp for Bucs

Andrew McCutchen had two RBI doubles and also singled in three at-bats for Pittsburgh, and right-hander Shairon Martis opened the game with two scoreless innings as the Pirates defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-4 at Fort Meyers, Fla.