— PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — John Lackey is off to a nice start with the Red Sox.

The right-hander threw three shutout innings in Boston’s 8-2 victory over Jason Bay and the New York Mets on Thursday.

Lackey allowed three hits in his second spring outing and has yet to allow a run since he finalized an $82.5 million, five-year contract with the Red Sox in December.

After Lackey was finished on the field, he got some work done in the bullpen before showers caused a 30-minute delay after the fourth inning.

Bay, playing in his first game against his former team, went 0 for 2 before leaving during the delay.

Mike Pelfrey allowed three runs and four hits — all in the first — over three innings for New York. He struck out four and walked one.

The Mets again were without speedy shortstop Jose Reyes, who has been told to rest and refrain from athletic activity for two to eight weeks until his thyroid levels normalize. The diagnosis puts him in doubt for opening day.



Mariners 6, Giants 2

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Ryan Garko hit a two-run single off struggling Giants ace Tim Lincecum in the first inning, helping Seattle to the victory.

Lincecum, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed four runs, two earned, and six hits in 2 2-3 innings. The 25-year-old right-hander struck out four and walked two in his 59-pitch day.

Seattle starter Ian Snell was pleased with his fastball location and tempo in his second outing. The right-hander allowed one hit in three scoreless innings with a walk.



Twins 8, Orioles 3, 8 inn.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — AL MVP Joe Mauer collected two hits before leaving the Minnesota’s win with a sore right shoulder.

Before hitting his second single in the third inning, Mauer fouled a pitch off his shoulder and manager Ron Gardenhire replaced him with Drew Butera in the fourth.

Gardenhire said he would hold Mauer out of Friday’s game against the New York Mets as a precaution but he thought the All-Star catcher would be fine.

The game was called after eight innings because of rain.

Kevin Millwood, in line to be Baltimore’s opening-day starter, was hit hard again. He was charged with five runs and nine hits over 2 2-3 innings and has a 29.70 ERA this spring.

Scott Baker, slated to start on opening day for Minnesota, worked three effective innings.



Reds 3, Brewers (ss) 1

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Joey Votto homered for his first hit of spring training, leading Cincinnati to the win.

Votto hit a solo shot off left-hander Chris Capuano, who is trying to resume his career after reconstructive elbow surgery. Votto was 0 for 9 before he homered in the sixth inning.

Capuano gave up a pair of runs, three hits and two walks in 2 1-3 innings for Milwaukee, including an RBI triple by Chris Dickerson. The 31-year-old Capuano missed the last two seasons because of elbow problems.

Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto pitched three scoreless innings.



Diamondbacks 4, Angels 1

TUCSON, Ariz. — With the uncertain status of Brandon Webb, newcomer Edwin Jackson’s performance thus far this spring must be comforting for Arizona.

The right-hander, acquired in a trade with Detroit in the offseason, allowed one hit over three innings in the Diamondbacks’ win. He has yet to give up a run in five innings this spring.

Jered Weaver regrouped from a rough first outing for the Angels, yielding one run and three hits in three innings.

Los Angeles’ lone run came on Mike Napoli’s third homer of the spring, off Leo Rosales. Chris Snyder homered for Arizona.



Phillies 4, Tigers 0

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Joe Blanton used a mix of fastballs and changeups to shut down Detroit.

Blanton has focused solely on the fastball-changeup combination in his first two spring starts before he incorporates breaking pitches into his repertoire. So far the results have been promising: Blanton held the Tigers to three singles in four innings of work.

Detroit ace Justin Verlander also pitched four innings, yielding two runs and six hits.

Raul Ibanez hit his first homer of the spring for Philadelphia.



Athletics 7, Brewers (ss) 3

PHOENIX — Milwaukee’s biggest offseason acquisition is working on a nice spring with his new team.

Randy Wolf struck out four in three scoreless innings, but Gabe Gross hit a two-run triple in the seventh and Michael Taylor added a three-run homer in the eighth to power Oakland to the victory.

Ryan Braun had a two-run homer for Milwaukee.

Wolf agreed to a $29.75 million, three-year deal during December’s winter meetings and has not allowed a run in five innings this spring.



Rays (ss) 16, Pirates 15

BRADENTON, Fla. — Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro was struck by a pickoff throw in the third inning and departed with an injured left thumb.

Navarro was hit when Jack Taschner threw over. It was diagnosed as a contusion, and Navarro returned to the Rays’ complex in Port Charlotte for further evaluation.

Winds were gusting up to 35 mph toward left field at the start of the game, and both teams took advantage.

Carl Crawford and Pat Burrell homered in the fifth inning for Tampa Bay, which has won nine straight. Justin Ruggiano and Angel Chavez hit consecutive drives during the split-squad’s seven-run seventh.

Ronny Cedeno, Neil Walker and Delwyn Young connected for Pittsburgh.



Rays (ss) 4, Blue Jays 1

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Andy Sonnanstine pitched four scoreless innings to lead a Tampa Bay split-squad to the victory.

Sonnanstine rebounded from a poor outing in his spring debut, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Evan Longoria and Jason Bartlett had RBI singles, and John Jaso homered in Tampa Bay’s three-run fifth.

Toronto starter Shaun Marcum gave up one hit in three scoreless innings.

Joey Gathright drove in Toronto’s run with a fifth-inning single off Dan Wheeler.



Rangers 16, Rockies 5

TUCSON, Ariz. — Colorado’s Aaron Cook was hit hard in his second spring start, allowing nine hits and nine runs, five earned, in 2 2-3 innings.

Chris Davis went 4 for 4 with three RBIs for Texas, which finished with 23 hits. Michael Young was 3 for 3 and Taylor Teagarden knocked in three runs.

Cook was hoping to throw 40 pitches or less but ended up throwing 73, leaving after a double by Young during a five-run second inning for Texas. Four of those runs were unearned due to a throwing error by third baseman Ian Stewart on an attempted force play.



Cubs 8, Padres 7

PEORIA, Ariz. — Carlos Silva threw three scoreless innings, helping the Cubs get the win.

Silva, acquired from Seattle for Milton Bradley and cash in December, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out none.

Starlin Castro, one of Chicago’s top prospects, had two hits and scored three times. The shortstop hit his first homer of the spring in the fifth.

Jon Garland pitched 1 2-3 innings for the Padres, yielding four runs and three hits.



Dodgers 6, Royals 4

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Russ Ortiz pitched three scoreless innings, and Andre Ethier and Casey Blake homered for Los Angeles.

Ortiz, a non-roster invitee, gave up two singles, struck out three and walked none. The veteran right-hander has worked five scoreless innings and yielded four hits in his bid to make the Dodgers’ rotation.

Ethier hit a three-run homer in the third off Gil Meche, and Blake connected in the fifth against rookie left-hander Edgar Osuna.

Scott Podsednik had two hits, including a two-run homer in the third, for the Royals.



Cardinals 5, Marlins 3

JUPITER, Fla. — Florida got another strong start from ace Josh Johnson but a bad ending from its closer.

St. Louis roughed up Leo Nunez during a five-run ninth to pick up the win.

Nunez, who saved 26 games last season, allowed four hits before leaving with two outs and runners at second and third. He was charged with five runs, three earned.

Johnson, the Marlins’ opening-day starter, struck out the side in the first, mixing in a changeup with a fastball that hit 94 mph. He finished with four strikeouts over three scoreless innings.

Kyle Lohse tossed four scoreless innings for St. Louis, throwing 33 of his 44 pitches for strikes.

 

Indians 5, White Sox 5, 10 innings

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Brian Horwitz hit a run-scoring single in the ninth inning for Cleveland, and the game was called after a scoreless 10th.

C.J. Retherford hit a two-run homer during a three-run eighth that put Chicago ahead 5-4.

Cleveland, the only unbeaten team in spring training, scored three runs in the second against Freddy Garcia, who allowed five hits and struck out three over three innings in his second spring start.