Roundup: Angels' Morales returns, Moyer tosses 4 perfect innings

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Kendrys Morales and the Angels have been waiting for this day for a long time.

Morales, the Angels first-baseman-designated hitter, made his first appearance on Thursday since he got hurt during an ill-fated celebration at home plate in May 2010.

He had two hits in three trips to the plate in the Angels' 7-4 win over the Royals.

"Everything felt good," Morales said through an interpreter.

"Hopefully, we can keep it going."

Lorenzo Cain hit his fourth spring homer for the Royals, a two-run shot to left off Jered Weaver that cleared the ballpark in the second inning.

Morales received a warm ovation from Angels fans in his first at-bat.

He bounced a seeing-eye single to right field off Royals starter Danny Duffy. He then ran and sliding safely into third on Bobby Abreu's double to left field.

"I felt good and you could see it when I ran to third," Morales said.

Morales popped out in his next at-bat, but singled batting left-handed later in the game.

"It's what we expected," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "He's running well. He slid a couple of times."

Morales hit 34 homers with 108 RBIs in a breakthrough 2009 season.

He was off to another strong start in 2010 with 11 homers and 39 RBIs in 51 games when he broke his left ankle while celebrating a walk-off homer by jumping onto home plate.

With his return to the lineup along with the free-agency acquisition of Albert Pujols, the Angels possess one of the majors' best lineups to go along with one of the best starting rotations.

Moyer, 49, throws 4 perfect innings

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Jamie Moyer pitched four perfect innings and made a case to join the Rockies' rotation by helping Colorado to a 7-0 win over a split squad of San Francisco Giants on Thursday night.

The 49-year-old lefty was out of the majors last season while recovering from a torn elbow ligament. He struck out four and only Angel Pagan made solid contact, lining out to center field to start the game.

Former Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer hit his first homer with the Rockies, a long two-run shot in the third to make it 4-0.

Pablo Sandoval had the Giants' only hit -- a one-out double in the seventh, and the Giants made four errors.

Colorado had nine hits, including three by Wilin Rosario, who raised his spring average to. 444 in his bid to win the backup catcher's spot.

Red Sox, Yankees stop after 9

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Bobby Valentine still wasn't happy even after Ryan Sweeney scored on a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-4 tie against the rival New York Yankees on Thursday night.

"It was regretful that (Clayton) Mortensen warmed up, though, and then we were told they weren't going to play an extra inning," Valentine said. "I didn't think that that was very courteous."

Generally, spring training games that are tied are played through 10 innings, unless a team runs out of pitching.

Valentine scoffed at the idea the Yankees had run out of pitchers.

"They had plenty of pitching. Probably too long of a ride. They could have known that going in.

"No, they had plenty of pitching."

The Yankees used five pitchers, with seven remaining on their travel roster.

"Usually they (the umpires) talk about it if it's a tie game, but they didn't," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi. "And I used all our pitching and I just said that's it. I just looked at (umpire) Tim Tschida and said that's it."

Valentine was informed the game was over as the umpires walked off the field.

Chipper sits out after retirement announcement

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Even after signing a few high-profile free agents in the offseason, the Miami Marlins are still looking to figure out their starting rotation.

Ricky Nolasco fits into what is expected to be a formidable group, but he struggled with his control in a 5-5, 10-inning tie with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

Before the game, star third baseman Chipper Jones said he will retire at the end of the season. He sat out the game.

Twins' Pavano struggles again

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Carl Pavano's slow spring continues for the Minnesota Twins.

Pavano, the Twins' opening day starter, allowed six earned runs and eight hits in four innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins 11-1 on Thursday.

Pavano's spring ERA is 6.11 through 17 2/3 innings.

"In the beginning (of the game) I was really lethargic, missing, leaving a lot of pitches up -- and they were getting the good part of the bat on them and driving the ball, to left, to center," Pavano said. "It was just one of those days where I had to battle through it and get through my pitch count."

Morrow outduels Lee

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) -- Cliff Lee said he had just about everything going for him Thursday -- except for Toronto slugger Joe Bautista.

"Take Bautista out of the game and it was really good," the Phillies left-hander after striking out seven over six innings in the Philadelphia Phillies' 2-0 loss to the Blue Jays. Bautista had a pair of doubles and scored Toronto's first run.

Lee survived the first inning, striking out the side, two strikeouts coming after Kelly Johnson singled and Bautista doubled to right. But in the fourth Bautista stole third after his leadoff double and Adam Lind singled him home.

The Blue Jays' other run came in the eighth when center fielder Scott Podsednik misplayed Travis Snider's flyball and Kelly Johnson doubled to right.

Toronto's Brandon Morrow outpitched Lee, giving up one hit, a single by Carlos Ruiz with one out in the fifth, and a pair of second-inning walks. He threw 59 pitches in five innings.

Shields touched up by Pirates

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- James Shields tipped his cap to the cheering McKechnie Field crowd when he was lifted with two outs in the sixth inning of the Tampa Bay Rays' 8-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.

There didn't seem to be much to cheer about in the Rays' opening day starter's fourth -- and worst -- outing of the spring.

Shields gave up five runs, three earned, and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out six.

Shields had his moments, such as when he picked Nick Evans off third base in the second inning and later picked Nate McLouth off second base in the fifth.

Cards' Garcia fans 9 Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- St. Louis manager Mike Matheny liked what he saw from Jaime Garcia on Thursday.

Garcia struck out nine in five innings and the Cardinals roughed up Gio Gonzalez in a 9-0 win over the Washington Nationals.

"When Jaime is on he's something to watch," Matheny said. "He's just got that stuff that's hard to square up. It's not a fun at-bat."

The Nationals only scoring opportunity against Garcia came in the second, helped by Garcia's errant pickoff attempt that allowed Roger Bernadina to go from first to third with only one out. But the 25-year-old Garcia struck out Brett Carroll and got Andres Blanco to line out to end the threat.

Dickey holds Astros to 1 hit

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -- R.A. Dickey couldn't figure out why fan were clapping so loudly after Justin Ruggiano singled in the top of the sixth inning.

Then the New York Mets kunckeballer noticed the scoreboard.

It was the lone hit Dickey allowed in 6 1-3 innings as the Mets beat the Houston Astros 8-2 Thursday.

Dickey yielded one run, struck out four and walked three. He threw 80 pitches then went to the bullpen for 10 more.

It's the second consecutive strong start for Dickey, who worked two perfect innings against the Miami Marlins on March 15 before a rain delay ended his outing.

Dunn smacks 2 homers to beat Royals

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Adam Dunn hit a grand slam and a two-run shot off Bruce Chen, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 16-4 victory over a Kansas City Royals split squad Thursday.

Chen allowed 10 runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings. He struck out three and walked one.

A.J. Pierzynski also homered off Chen in the fifth inning.

Billy Butler hit his third home run of the spring in the fourth, a solo shot off White Sox starter Zach Stewart in the fourth inning.

Cubs light up Rangers

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) -- Alfonso Soriano and Ian Stewart each homered to power the Chicago Cubs past a Texas Rangers split squad 11-4 Thursday.

Joe Mather and Brett Jackson also connected for the Cubs, who amassed 15 hits against five Texas pitchers.

Matt Garza, one of two contenders for opening-day starter, which will be announced Friday by manager Dale Sveum, held the Rangers to three unearned runs on two hits and three walks over five innings. Garza struck out three.

Colby Lewis gave us six runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings for the Rangers. Lewis struck out three.

Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for Texas.

Indians' Jimenez back on track

PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) -- Ubaldo Jimenez allowed a run in four innings and the Cleveland Indians beat the San Diego Padres 9-4 on Thursday.

Jimenez, who entered with a 9.31 ERA, struck out four and walked one.

Travis Hafner hit a solo homer and had an RBI groundout for Cleveland.

Cory Luebke allowed a run, four hits and struck out six in five innings for San Diego.

Chase Headley and Everth Cabrera both hit solo home runs for San Diego. Cabrera also had an RBI triple.

Shin-Soo Choo had two doubles for the Indians.

Moscoso hurts his bid to make Padres' rotation

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Guillermo Moscoso allowed five runs and seven hits in three innings for the Colorado Rockies in an 11-6 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday in a game between split squads.

Moscoso is still competing for a spot in the Padres' rotation. He went 8-10 in 23 games -- 21 starts -- for Oakland last year. He walked three and struck out three.

Eric Young Jr. led off the game with his first homer, off San Diego's Casey Kelly.

Kelly allowed two runs and six hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out four.

Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer and two run-scoring singles for San Diego.

Latos strong for Reds

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) -- The Cincinnati Reds gave up a lot to get Mat Latos, and manager Dusty Baker likes what he's seen from the right-hander this spring.

Latos pitched five strong innings to lead the Reds to a 6-2 victory over a split-squad of Texas Rangers on Thursday night. He yielded a leadoff homer to Julio Borbon to start the game, then allowed just three more hits while striking out three and walking none.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman gave up two runs and eight hits -- including six doubles -- in 4 1-3 innings. He was a starter for Texas from 2008-10 but was a long reliever and spot starter for the Rangers last season.

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