The Cleveland Indians lost their final spring game in Florida while the New York Yankees dropped one on their renamed Grapefruit League field. Boston didn't play and Atlanta lost but both teams got encouraging news about key starting pitchers.
Carlos Pena hit one of Tampa Bay's three home runs and the Rays beat Cleveland 9-7 in 10 innings Thursday in the Indians' final spring game in Winter Haven, Fla.
Minor league infielder Andy Gonzalez hit a grand slam for the Indians, who extended their 16-year stay at Chain of Lakes Park by 30 minutes with a ninth-inning rally to tie it at 5.
"It's always bittersweet to leave a place, but times change," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "There's a lot of memories here."
The Indians are moving to a new $76 million spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., in 2009.
This was no ordinary getaway day. Moving vans replaced Cadillacs in the players' parking lot. Fans pleaded with players to sign one last autograph in the Florida sunshine.
One fan held up a sign that read "Go ahead and call security. I don't want to leave."
In Tampa, Fla., Derek Jeter homered but the Yankees lost 5-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
The Yankees' spring training home, formerly Legends Field, was renamed in honor of the owner in a pregame ceremony. The Tampa City Council and the Hillsborough County Commission recently approved resolutions calling for the name change.
"Well deserved," Jeter said. "They could have named it for him when they opened the field. What he's meant, not only to the Yankees organization, but what he's done for the community of Tampa. A special day. I'm very happy for him."
Steinbrenner helped pull the cover off a new sign above the scoreboard in left field. His wife, Joan, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"It was great," George Steinbrenner said. "It was a great ceremony."
Atlanta's John Smoltz and Boston right-hander Josh Beckett also felt good after encouraging outings.
Smoltz threw in the bullpen for about 20 minutes and called the session his "best day" of the spring.
Smoltz said he is on track to make his first regular-season start on April 6 and said he had no recurrence of the shoulder stiffness he suffered on Friday, forcing him to be held out of a scheduled start.
"I just needed some time for it to settle down. It has settled down," Smoltz said in Kissimmee, Fla. "Now I'll approach it like anything else. I'll take two days off, come down here and throw and just have my eyes on my next start on Sunday."
Smoltz is expected to start the season on the disabled list. He hasn't appeared in a major league game since March 15 so his time on the DL can be backdated.
Beckett, who missed Boston's trip to Japan because of back spasms, pitched four shutout innings in a minor league game in Florida. He threw 47 pitches, allowed one hit, didn't walk a batter and struck out six.
Boston manager Terry Francona, in California for three exhibition games against the Dodgers, said he spoke with Beckett afterward and was told he felt fine.
"It's good because he's healthy. He's just trying to get ramped up for the season," Francona said. "Everything's gone great there, so that's why there's not a lot of anxiety from that standpoint."
Beckett will pitch again in Florida on Tuesday, then is scheduled to join the team for the April 4-6 weekend series in Toronto. Francona said he may pitch there, but "that's not etched in stone."
In spring training games:
Brewers 10, Cubs 10
At Mesa, Ariz., Alfonso Soriano hit a three-run homer for Chicago and Mike Cameron homered for Milwaukee.
Mariners 10 (ss), Padres 10
At Peoria, Ariz., Seattle's Felix Hernandez gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings, including home runs by Scott Hairston and Khalil Greene.
Diamondbacks 8, White Sox 4
At Tucson, Ariz., Arizona's Dan Haren allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. Chicago third baseman Joe Crede left the game after fouling a ball off his left foot.
Mets 9, Braves 4
At Kissimmee, Fla., Mets lefty Oliver Perez gave up three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, striking out four and walking one as New York and Atlanta each relied heavily on backups.
Blue Jays 8, Astros 3
At Dunedin, Fla., Toronto third baseman Scott Rolen said his broken right middle finger could sideline him six weeks. Blue Jays starter Dustin McGowan allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings.
Rangers 8, Royals 5
At Surprise, Ariz., Hank Blalock and Milton Bradley hit back-to-back homers for Texas and Rangers starter Jason Jennings gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings.
Tigers 14, Phillies 5
At Lakeland, Fla., Detroit's Brandon Inge went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Placido Polanco and Clete Thomas homered for the Tigers.
Rockies 6, Angels (ss) 2
At Tempe, Ariz., Troy Tulowitzki, Garrett Atkins and Chris Iannetta hit home runs for Colorado and Los Angeles catcher Jeff Mathis upped his spring average to .343 with two of the Angels' six hits.
Reds 5, Twins 1
At Sarasota, Fla., Bronson Arroyo pitched seven shutout innings for Cincinnati, throwing 65 strikes out of 89 pitches.
Nationals 2, Orioles 1
At Viera, Fla., Dmitri Young went 1-for-2 for Washington in his quest to win the starting first base job over Nick Johnson. Manager Manny Acta said he's made a decision, but won't announce it yet.
Cardinals 2, Marlins 0
At Jupiter, Fla., Rick VandenHurk walked five and needed 100 pitches to get through 4 2-3 innings in his first outing after Florida made him its No. 2 starter.
Mariners 7 (ss), Giants 2
At San Francisco, Yuniesky Betancourt went 2-for-2 and had five RBIs and knuckleballer R.A. Dickey held the Giants scoreless on one hit in five innings.
Angels (ss) 2, Dodgers 2, 10 innings
At Anaheim, Calif., Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer for the Angels and James Loney doubled home the tying run for the Dodgers in the eighth as the Los Angeles teams played to a draw.