Sunday, March 03, 2002
Baseball notebook
Giambi's debut a home run
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — Jason Giambi needed just a few swings to prove what the New York Yankees already knew: He's a perfect fit in pinstripes.
Giambi got off to a smashing debut for his new team, hitting a two-run homer in his first at-bat and later launching a solo shot Saturday in a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
“I set my expectation level a little high today,” he said.
Giambi went 2-for-3 and also made a nifty, backhanded pickup at first base on a throw bounced by shortstop Derek Jeter.
The star first baseman exited after five innings to high-fives from his teammates and a standing ovation from the crowd of 10,205 at Legends Field.
“That's certainly a statement, even if it is just spring training,” owner George Steinbrenner gushed.
RED SOX:
Nomar Garciaparra reached out, swung almost one-handed and hit the ball over the left-field fence.
He felt fine after missing most of last season following surgery on his right wrist.
“It was good to be out there,” said Garciaparra, a two-time AL batting champ who played 21 games last year and none after Aug.26. “It's always nice to get into a game situation.”
• David Chadd was named director of amateur scouting for the Red Sox on Saturday, continuing a shakeup that could involve manager Joe Kerrigan.
There was no word on whether Kerrigan would be retained amid speculation he could be replaced.
DEVIL RAYS:
Facing a major-league lineup for the first time in nearly two years, Wilson Alvarez took a big step in his bid to return from shoulder problems, pitching two scoreless innings in Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory over Atlanta.
Alvarez allowed one hit, struck out three and, more importantly, got through the outing pain-free. He threw 29 pitches, 19 for strikes.
“I'm glad I got it out of my system, but I still have a long way to go. It's only two innings. It's many more games to go and many more innings to go,” Alvarez said.
The 31-year-old left-hander last pitched in a regular-season game Oct.2, 1999.
ledein MARLINS:
Right-hander A.J. Burnett made the best of his first spring start in nearly two years, throwing two scoreless innings in the Marlins' 4-3 loss to the New York Mets.
“I've watched the past two years. To be where I'm at now, healthy and throwing the ball the way I'm capable of, is just nice,” Burnett said.
Burnett made two spring starts in 2000 before rupturing his ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb during a pitcher's fielding drill March 14. He didn't make any starts last spring because of a stress fracture in his right foot that was diagnosed the first week of camp.
Burnett, 25, is projected as Florida's No.3 starter. He went 11-12 with a 4.06 ERA last year, including a no-hitter May12 in San Diego that was notable because he walked nine.
• Pirates 18, Phillies 7, at Bradenton, Fla. — Ron Villone withstood a fierce wind to pitch two scoreless innings for Pittsburgh. Villone, trying to secure a spot in Pittsburgh's rotation, allowed one hit, walked one and hit a batter with 34 mph winds blowing out to left field.
The Pirates had 25 hits, including homers from Chad Hermansen, Craig Wilson and Adam Hyzdu.
• Angels 7, Athletics 4, at Phoenix — A's starter Cory Lidle pitched two perfect innings, with a strikeout.
• Expos 4, Cardinals 2, at Jupiter, Fla. — Howard Battle hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to give Frank Robinson his second win as Montreal manager.
Tino Martinez, in his first appearance with the Cardinals. hit an RBI grounder and struck out twice. Martinez, signed from the New York Yankees to replace Mark McGwire, missed the Cardinals' first two games with a blister on his right hand.
• Astros 8, Royals 1, at Haines City, Fla. — Wade Miller and five relievers combined on a three-hitter for Houston. Miller, a 16-game winner last year, allowed one single, struck out three and walked one in three innings.
• Indians 9, Tigers 8, at Winter Haven, Fla. — Robert Fick, Mitch Meluskey and Dmitri Young all homered for Detroit. Ed Taubensee hit a three-run homer and Russell Branyan a two-run shot for Cleveland, which had 17 hits.
• Orioles 10, Dodgers 6, at Fort Lauderdale — Jerry Hairston homered and walked twice, and Baltimore took advantage of five Los Angeles errors. The Orioles got two shutout innings from Josh Towers, making his first start of the spring.
• Cubs 7, Giants 3, at Mesa, Ariz. — Jon Lieber pitched two innings in his first start of the spring. Lieber, who was 20-6 last season, gave up three hits and one run in two innings.
Reds Stories
A season inside the Bengals
Bengals' QB pool gets smaller
Football, faith and Florence
Bengals Q & A with Mark Curnutte
Bears re-sign QB Miller
Cowboys make big splash at state swim meet
An unsung player saves McNicholas
Mercy gives coach 499th career win
St. Ursula earns Beavercreek rematch
Purcell gets half-court buzzer-beater
Undersized MND ousted
Dixie girls cruise to 34th District title
Lakota West 7th in state gymnastics
NewCath edges past Highlands
Regionals rev up this week
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball results
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Wrestling: Division I
Wrestling: Divisions II-III
Regional Schedule
Hungry cats set for battle
Logan is expecting an emotional finale
XU beats UMass, wins A-10
XU notebook
Battle won, but Smith loses war
Basketball brothers sharing dream
Buckeyes claim share of Big 10 title
Indiana wins share of Big Ten
Miami comes up short
OSU's Arden arrested for driving under influence
Top 25 roundup
Wildcats nail down SEC bye
Women: Waugh keys Xavier upset
Ducks win 4-2
Enquirer Page Two power rankings
Request for Parole wins Battaglia Memorial
Cavaliers can't contain Kukoc
Hospitalized Buck suffers setback
Pens' Lemieux: I shall return next season
Role reversal for Els at Doral
Stewart tries to rebound after Daytona
Coming up this week
• Return to Reds front page...
Baseball notebook
