Yankees’ Leiter retires

Al Leiter got one last out, then called it a career.

The New York Yankees’ left-hander retired Sunday after pitching to one batter in a 2-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Time was called after Eduardo Perez grounded out, and Leiter handed the ball to Yankees pitching coach Ron Guidry. Alex Rodriguez patted Leiter on the head, and he began a slow, teary walk off the field for the final time.

He sat in New York’s dugout until the Yankees turned an inning-ending double play, then got hugs and warm wishes from his teammates.

“It feels good to be able to go out on your own terms,” Leiter said in Tampa, Fla. “I love the game very much, but when you were a certain type of player for a few years, being a front-end starter, that’s the way I still think I can pitch. But the body tells you no.”

In Phoenix, Oakland’s Barry Zito went six innings and threw a spring-high 87 pitches in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs in a split-squad game.

At Dunedin, Fla., the Toronto Blue Jays said A.J. Burnett’s MRI showed scar tissue breaking away in his right elbow.

“We got good news,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before a 9-7 loss to the Pirates in Bradenton. “The X-rays came back good, it’s probably just a little scar tissue. It’s big, big news.”

The Red Sox, who beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1 in Fort Myers, Fla., agreed to a minor-league contract with oft-injured outfielder Juan Gonzalez.

Yankees pitcher Al Leiter tears up in the dugout after retiring - in more ways than one. Leiter faced one batter Sunday, came out of the Yankees' 2-0 victory over the Indians in Tampa, Fla., and called it a career.

Gonzalez has 434 homers, 1,404 RBIs and a .295 batting average in 17 major-league seasons.

Cardinals 11, Braves 2

At Jupiter, Fla., St. Louis starter Sidney Ponson allowed two runs and four hits in five innings.

Pirates 9, Blue Jays 7

At Bradenton, Fla., Oliver Perez gave up a two-run homer to Shea Hillenbrand while lasting two innings in his first Pirates start this spring.

Tigers 5, Astros 2

At Kissimmee, Fla., Astros starter Roy Oswalt allowed six hits and two runs in six innings.

Reds 5, Phillies 4

At Sarasota, Fla., Aaron Harang threw four scoreless innings.

Devil Rays 6, Twins 5

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Jorge Cantu doubled in his first spring plate appearance for the Devil Rays.

Marlins 5, Mets 0

At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Florida starter Scott Olsen threw five shutout innings.

Dodgers 9, Nationals 1

At Vero Beach, Fla., Ricky Ledee and Bill Mueller homered for the Dodgers.

Brewers (ss) 4, Giants (ss) 2

At Scottsdale, Ariz., Mike Rivera hit a two-run homer, and Milwaukee’s David Bush allowed two runs in five innings.

Brewers (ss) 8, White Sox 7

At Phoenix, Brady Clark and Prince Fielder each hit a two-run single.

Rangers 2, Cubs 0 (ss)

At Mesa, Ariz., Chicago starter Carlos Zambrano struck out seven.

Rockies 8, Mariners 5

At Peoria, Ariz., Jeff Baker hit a two-run single for Colorado.