Alfonso Soriano agreed at last to change positions, and he had an easy first day in his new spot.

His only chance in left field Wednesday was a reminder of the good old days, before the Washington Nationals finally persuaded him to give up playing second base.

Soriano jogged in a few steps to catch a routine fly ball by Albert Pujols, then threw to second to double off David Eckstein.

“I never think I’m going to make a double play in the outfield,” Soriano said in Jupiter, Fla. “But I did it.”

He agreed to make the move only two days after refusing to take his new position in the outfield. The Nationals had a day off Tuesday, giving him time to accept the switch.

“It’s a relief for everybody, it really is,” manager Frank Robinson said before the game. “We get the distractions away from here and we can focus on baseball now and getting this ballclub tuned up and ready to go for opening day.”

Now, all Soriano needs is his own glove. He borrowed prospect George Lombard’s outfield model Wednesday during a 9-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Soriano was an AL All-Star the last four years at second base and played there this spring for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. He never has played the outfield in a major-league game, and said the last time he played there in spring training was in 2001.

Washington's Alfonso Soriano signs autographs prior to the Nationals game against St. Louis. Soriano played left field in the Nationals game Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla.

The Nationals got Soriano in a December trade with Texas for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and minor-league pitcher Armando Galarraga, and general manager Jim Bowden and Robinson have been trying to persuade Soriano to switch positions since. Washington already has an established second baseman, three-time All-Star Jose Vidro.

Robinson considers the position move permanent, saying he doesn’t even view Soriano as the backup at second base.

“We’re doing it for the season,” Robinson said. “We didn’t ask him to do it for today, that’s not the answer we wanted.”

In Port St. Lucie, Fla., New York Mets ace Pedro Martinez expects to miss opening day because of a nagging toe injury.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner has not pitched in a spring-training game yet because of a sore right big toe and doesn’t think he will be ready to start the season opener April 3 against Washington at Shea Stadium.

“Unless I can work some magic, I don’t think I’ll have enough time,” Martinez said.

Left-hander Tom Glavine, who turns 40 on Saturday, likely will start the opener for the Mets.

In Tampa, Fla., New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada broke his nose when he was hit in the face by a ball while playing catch. Posada was scratched from the starting lineup for Wednesday night’s game against Boston, and X-rays revealed a fracture.

In Phoenix, Conor Jackson gave new meaning to creating a buzz in spring training.

The first of Jackson’s two solo homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks in an 11-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics sailed into a tree just beyond the left-field fence, disturbing a beehive.

In other spring-training games:

Phillies 4, Braves 4, 10 innings

At Kissimmee, Fla., Kyle Davies bolstered his bid to make Atlanta’s roster by pitching five shutout innings.

Indians 2, Astros 1

At Kissimmee, Fla., Paul Byrd, Cleveland’s No. 4 starter, had his best performance of the spring, allowing just one hit in five innings.

Marlins 5, Orioles 2

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Josh Johnson overcame his early jitters, and Josh Willingham homered for Florida. Baltimore starter Daniel Cabrera pitched five innings, allowing three runs, four hits and three walks.

Brewers 10, Rangers 5

At Phoenix, Corey Koskie homered twice for Milwaukee. Brewers catcher Damian Miller left in the third inning because of tightness in his lower back.

Rockies 5, White Sox 3

At Tucson, Ariz., Chicago closer Bobby Jenks was roughed up for four runs and four hits in the eighth inning.

Blue Jays 7, Pirates 1

At Dunedin, Fla., Gustavo Chacin pitched three shutout innings in his first start of spring training.

Mets 2, Dodgers 1

At Port St. Lucie, Aaron Heilman pitched five effective innings.

Yankees 5, Red Sox 4

At Tampa, Fla., New York’s Johnny Damon went 1-for-4 as the designated hitter in his first game against his former team. Damon, the former Red Sox star, signed a $52 million, four-year contract with the Yankees.

Reds 4, Twins 3

At Fort Myers, Fla., Cincinnati first baseman Andy Abad went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a two-run double and a single.