CHI CUBS 10, TEXAS 4
SURPRISE, Arizona Micah Hoffpauir and Mike Fontenot both went deep to highlight a seven-run second inning Friday, propelling the Chicago Cubs to a 10-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.
The Cubs jumped on top early, as their first four batters of the second inning reached base and they opened up a 2-0 lead on Reed Johnsons RBI groundout. Hoffpauir provided all the cushion Chicago would need just moments later, driving a three-run homer to right field to open up a five-run lead.
Two batters later, Fontenot piled on with a two-run blast, chasing Texas starter Scott Feldman. The 26-year-old righthander gave up nine hits and seven runs – four earned – over 1 2/3 innings to get saddled with the defeat.
Fontenot had a pair of hits and drove in four runs on the afternoon, while Hoffpauir, Ryan Theriot, Luis Rivas and Doug Deeds had two hits apiece for the Cubs.
Cubs outfielder Milton Bradley, who spent the 2008 campaign with the Rangers, missed out on a reunion with his old team. After leaving Thursdays game with a tight quad, Bradley was sent home with flu-like symptoms on Friday, according to MLB.com.
Another high-profile outfielder, Texas Andruw Jones, continued to struggle as he fights for a roster spot. He went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts in the loss, and has now struck out in six of seven at-bats this spring.
Chicago southpaw Ted Lilly tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win.
CHI WHITE SOX 10, ARIZONA 1
TUCSON, Arizona Paul Konerko homered and drove in three and John Danks tossed a pair of scoreless innings as the Chicago White Sox rolled over the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10-1, on Friday.
Konerko, who suffered through one of his worst seasons in 2008, went 3-for-4 and scored a pair of runs.
Cuban import Dayan Viciedo hit his first homer of the spring, knocking a solo shot off Jon Garland in the second.
Danks allowed one hit and struck out a pair and John Van Benschoten, who is attempting to make the White Sox as a middle reliever or fifth starter, followed with two more scoreless frames.
Lefthander Doug Slaten and righthander Jon Rauch combined to allow five runs and six hits in two innings for Arizona.
MILWAUKEE 8, OAKLAND 5
PHOENIX Manny Parra tossed two scoreless innings and prospect Angel Salome homered to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-5 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday.
Parra, who has inherited a bigger role in the Brewers rotation due to the offseason departures of CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, allowed one hit and struck out one in his first outing of the spring.
Corey Hart, Scott Thorman and prospects Alcides Escobar and Cutter Dykstra each drove in a run for Milwaukee.
Veteran Trot Nixon, who is attempting to make the Brewers as a backup outfielder, went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.
Dana Eveland started and pitched two perfect innings and Brad Ziegler tossed a scoreless frame for the As.
CLEVELAND 5, SAN DIEGO 3
GOODYEAR, Arizona Victor Martinez did twice on Friday what it took him five months and 189 at-bats to accomplish last season, belting two homers, including a two-run shot in the first inning, to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in Cactus League action.
A two-time All-Star, Martinez nearly had a season-long power drought in 2008 while suffering through hamstring and elbow injuries, but he has gotten off to a strong start early this spring.
After the Padres plated two runs in the top of the fourth to cut their deficit to one, Martinez answered in the bottom half with a solo blast to right field and Ben Francisco followed two batters later with a solo homer to give the Indians some breathing room.
But perhaps the best news for Cleveland was the performance by starter Fausto Carmona, who threw two scoreless innings to pick up the victory. The 25-year-old righthander broke out with a 19-win season in 2007, but stumbled badly last year, finishing with a 5.44 ERA.
Kevin Kouzmanoff homered for the Padres and Edgar Gonzalez had three hits.
LA ANGELS 5, COLORADO 3
TEMPE, Arizona Bobby Abreu had a pair of doubles and scored a run as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim posted a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Friday.
The veteran outfielder signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Angels this offseason after spending the last two-plus seasons with the New York Yankees.
Fernando Rodriguez allowed two hits and struck out four in two innings and Ryan Brasier threw two perfect frames for Anaheim.
Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe each drove in a run for the Rockies.
After joining Colorado in the offseason trade with Oakland for Matt Holliday, lefthander Greg Smith was tagged for three runs, three hits and three walks over two innings.
Glendon Rusch gave up two hits and struck out two in two innings.
KANSAS CITY 6, SAN FRANCISCO 1
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona Zack Greinke pitched two perfect innings as the Kansas City Royals limited the San Francisco Giants to just five hits in a 6-1 victory on Friday.
Robinson Tejeda allowed two hits and a walk while striking out one in two innings and Joakim Soria also pitched a scoreless frame.
Ryan Shealy hit a three-run homer in the sixth and Mitch Maier and Mike Aviles each drove in a run for the Royals.
Veteran lefthander Randy Johnson, who is five wins shy of 300 and signed a one-year deal with San Francisco this offseason, gave up one run and one hit to go along with two strikeouts in his two innings on the mound.
Jonathan Sanchez worked three innings for the Giants, allowing one run and three hits while striking out four.
San Francisco got its lone run of the afternoon on a home run from Kevin Frandsen in the eighth inning.
SEATTLE 18, LA DODGERS 2
PEORIA, Arizona Mike Carp hit a home run and drove in five runs and Adrian Beltre added three RBI as the Seattle Mariners cruised to an 18-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.
Mike Wilson and Matt Tuiasosopo also went deep and Russell Branyan had a two-run triple for the Mariners, who pounded out 20 hits.
In his first game action since July 4, Erik Bedard allowed two hits in two innings while Jason Vargas struck out a pair in two scoreless frames.
Chad Billingsley surrendered a run and three hits during two innings while Shawn Estes debut with Los Angeles was a rough one. The lefthander allowed seven runs – five earned – and six hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Mitch Jones accounted for all of the Dodgers offense with a two-run home run in the ninth inning.
