Promising young pitchers Kyle Davies, Ian Snell, Dan Meyer and Jered Weaver put together solid outings Friday as they try to make their big-league clubs when the regular season starts.

Davies moved a step closer to claiming a spot in Atlanta’s rotation, tossing four strong innings in Houston’s 7-0 victory over the Braves in Kissimmee, Fla.

Atlanta manager Bobby Cox raved about Davies’ performance. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed six hits, but the only damaging blow was Preston Wilson’s homer leading off the fourth.

“That might be the best he’s been – ever,” Cox said. “He looked like a 20-game winner.”

Davies is one of six contenders for a spot in the Braves’ rotation. Former 20-game winners Tim Hudson and John Smoltz are locks for the top two positions, and Jorge Sosa – a surprising 13-3 in 2005 – almost surely will be another starter. Davies will have to beat out either Horacio Ramirez or John Thomson to be in Atlanta on opening day.

Wilson’s homer was the first run Davies has allowed in nine innings this spring. Even so, Cox was impressed, saying the youngster did a good job of changing speeds and keeping the ball down.

“He can’t pitch any better than he pitched today,” the manager said. “That was a 10.”

In Bradenton, Fla., Snell kept pushing for one of the two openings in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation by working four shutout innings in a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Snell’s spring training pitching line to date – a 1.38 earned-run average in four games, three of them scoreless outings – is exactly what the Pirates were seeking from one of their top prospects. Snell won his first nine decisions and was 11-4 with a 3.70 ERA last season at Triple-A Indianapolis before going 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA in 15 Pirates games.

The biggest change in Snell is his attitude. Upset at being sent down to the minors last spring, he admittedly went to Indianapolis with a nasty disposition that didn’t go away even after he was promoted to the majors.

“I pitched with a chip on my shoulder, and it actually worked out good for me,” Snell said.

He credits pitching coach Jim Colborn and manager Jim Tracy for his personality change, saying they aren’t as confrontational as former manager Lloyd McClendon and pitching coach Spin Williams.

“It’s a lot looser camp, and that’s what we kind of needed,” Snell said. “It helps you feel more comfortable on the mound, knowing the pitching coach ain’t going to yell at you, he’s going to teach you.”

Weaver pitched five scoreless innings in the Los Angeles Angels’ 2-1 10-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics in Phoenix, while Meyer tossed four shutout innings for the A’s.

Weaver allowed hits to Mark Ellis and Milton Bradley in the first inning and then retired 14 straight to run his scoreless inning streak to nine. He struck out five, including the side in the third.

“From where he was through the last half of last year through the Fall League to now you can see the stuff picking up,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s on the depth chart.”

Meyer, one of the players the A’s obtained in the trade that sent Hudson to the Atlanta Braves before last season, pitched through an injury-plagued season at Triple-A Sacramento after he was given a chance to make the A’s roster a year ago. He’s headed back to Sacramento.

“The major thing is just to show I can compete at this level,” said Meyer, who appeared in two games with the Braves in 2004. “If they do need me I’ll be able to step in and help.”

In other spring-training games:

Marlins 5, Red Sox 5, 10 inn.

At Fort Myers, Fla., Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis hit a three-run homer. He leads the team in RBIs with nine this spring.

Reds 9, Blue Jays 2

At Dunedin, Fla., Reds outfielder Austin Kearns went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs, and Justin Germano allowed one run on six hits in four innings.

Tigers 3, Twins 2

At Lakeland, Fla., Vance Wilson, Curtis Granderson and Alexis Gomez homered, raising Detroit’s major-league-leading total to 36.

Cardinals 5, Yankees 2

At Jupiter, Fla., Jeff Suppan allowed two runs and six hits in 41â3 innings, and Yadier Molina went 2-for-3 for St. Louis.

Orioles 12, Nationals 4

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Melvin Mora hit a two-run homer, and Baltimore overcame two errors by Javy Lopez.

Nationals right-hander Luis Ayala would have reconstructive surgery on his throwing elbow and was expected to miss the entire season, the team said.

Phillies 5, Devil Rays 2

At Clearwater, Fla., Sal Fasano hit a two-run home run, and Philadelphia starter Ryan Franklin allowed one run over five innings.

Padres 9, Mariners 7

At Peoria, Ariz., Geoff Blum hit a three-run homer in the eighth, and Justin Leone belted a grand slam in the ninth for San Diego.

Diamondbacks 12, Rockies 9

At Tucson, Ariz., Arizona pitcher Russ Ortiz allowed one earned run and two hits in 42â3 innings. Ortiz walked three and struck out three in his best performance in four spring starts.

Rangers 10, White Sox 9

At Tucson, Ariz., Gerald Laird hit a three-run homer, and Hank Blalock added a solo shot for Texas. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle gave up nine hits and seven runs in five innings.

Cubs 7, Giants 5

At Scottsdale, Ariz., Aramis Ramirez had two hits and a home run to lead the Cubs. Giants outfielder Barry Bonds gave his legs their stiffest in-game test of the spring, scoring from first on a double and running after balls in the outfield.

Mets 7, Dodgers 7, 10 inn.

At Vero Beach, Fla., Dodgers starter Brett Tomko allowed two earned runs on three hits in four innings.