Eric Gagne spent his first outing of spring training trying to find his footing. John Smoltz used his latest start to prove he is on solid ground as Atlanta’s ace.

Barry Bonds and Mariano Rivera will take steps today toward returning from injuries.

Gagne worked on adjusting his pitching motion during his one inning of work Monday, and Derek Lowe gave up two runs against his former team in the Dodgers’ 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Vero Beach, Fla.

The Dodgers’ closer hadn’t pitched since he sprained a ligament in his knee Feb. 24 during fielding drills. Monday, the right-hander took a quick hop after every pitch to prevent too much strain on the knee when his front leg landed.

“I tried to protect it and not put too much weight on it,” Gagne said. “It feels pretty good right now. I knew it wouldn’t feel good (during the game).”

Gagne limped back to the mound after every pitch in the sixth inning. He faced four batters, walking one, striking out one and getting two groundouts.

“I don’t think he was in top condition. He wasn’t throwing correctly,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “I expected that because in his last bullpen he wasn’t throwing cleanly. He was falling off the side of the mound.”

Lowe gave up two runs and six hits, including a single to Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo. Lowe struck out three and walked two in five innings.

At Kissimmee, Fla., Smoltz pitched four-hit ball over five innings to lead the Braves past the St. Louis Cardinals, 9-0. Atlanta’s closer the last three seasons has allowed only nine hits in 14 scoreless innings as a starter this spring.

“I would hope the start of innings pitched eases people,” Smoltz said. “As optimistic as I am, there have been a lot of new people coming in here asking the same question.”

Dodgers pitcher Eric Gagne reacts to a pitch in the sixth inning against Boston. The Dodgers lost, 7-3, to the Red Sox on Monday in Vero Beach, Fla.

Bonds is expected to arrive back at the San Francisco Giants’ camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., to begin a rehabilitation program after undergoing a second operation on his right knee last week.

Bonds underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday in the Bay Area to repair new tears in the cartilage of his knee. His first operation was performed Jan. 31.

At Tampa, Fla., Rivera is scheduled to pitch tonight for the first time since being sidelined last week with mild bursitis in his right elbow. The Yankees’ closer hasn’t pitched since March 14.

Shortstop Derek Jeter underwent treatment for his bruised left foot, and there is a chance he could return today.

In other games:

Reds 5, Devil Rays 3

At Sarasota, Fla., Ken Griffey Jr. went 0-for-2, but showed his recovery from a torn hamstring was going well, easily chasing down fly balls in center for six innings.

D’backs 5, White Sox 4

At Tucson, Ariz., Chicago slugger Frank Thomas has taken two days of live batting practice, a first since injuring his left ankle midway through last season. White Sox ace Mark Buehrle is expected to miss at least one spring training start after tests showed he injured his left foot while shagging fly balls last weekend.

Twins 3, Phillies 2

At Clearwater, Fla., Gavin Floyd allowed just one hit and one run despite walking five batters in five innings. Pitcher Jesse Crain’s two-out RBI single off Terry Adams in the eighth inning lifted the Twins to their second straight win.

Blue Jays 6, Pirates 5

At Dunedin, Fla., Kip Wells gave up two runs and three hits in two innings in a rain-delayed start. Toronto’s Roy Halladay struck out two in a 10-pitch first inning.

Giants 9, Athletics 4

At Scottsdale, Kirk Rueter threw five hitless innings for San Francisco to lower his spring earned-run average to 1.93. Pedro Feliz and Marquis Grissom homered.

Nationals 1, Marlins 0

At Viera, Fla., Zach Day boosted his bid to nail down Washington’s No. 5 starter’s job by outpitching Josh Beckett. Day allowed just two hits and a walk over five innings.

Padres 4, Brewers 3

At Peoria, Ariz., Jesse Garcia singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth. The backup infielder is batting .371 this spring.

Astros 7, Tigers 4

At Lakeland, Fla., Roy Oswalt pitched three-hit ball over his scheduled five innings, then gave up two runs in the sixth.

Yankees 6, Indians 2

At Tampa, Fla., Kevin Brown allowed one run and three hits during a 90-pitch outing in the Yankees’ victory.

Mariners 12, Rockies 4

Tucson, Ariz. — Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-4 to improve his spring batting average to .579. Suzuki has hit safely in all 12 games he has played.