Cincy boss wants Griffey playing ball
Sarasota, Fla. ? Reds manager Jerry Narron said Ken Griffey Jr. needs to get into a game soon so he can be ready for opening day.
Griffey broke his left hand wrestling with his kids on his yacht in the Bahamas this past December when the oldest jumped in and knocked him off balance. He has taken batting practice during spring training but has yet to play in a game.
“It’s March 14 and he hasn’t played,” Narron said before the Reds’ 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Wednesday. “You need some spring training.”
Narron said Griffey could be ready if he is able to play in a game within the next couple of days.
Bronson Arroyo became the first Cincinnati pitcher to throw five full innings and Edwin Encarnacion singled home a run against the Devil Rays. Arroyo allowed just two hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Arroyo had missed his first spring start with flulike symptoms but worked two innings against Cleveland in his last outing. He has allowed three hits in seven innings in his two games.
“I felt a lot better,” Arroyo said. “I felt pretty sick for a while.”
Rocco Baldelli homered off Reds reliever David Weathers in the sixth inning.
Rangers 9, Padres 5, 10 inn.
At Peoria, Ariz., Padres ace Jake Peavy turned in his best outing of the spring, yielding one run and two hits in five innings. Ramon Vazquez and Ian Kinsler homered for Texas.
Yankees 4, Twins 1
At Tampa, Fla., Minnesota left fielder Rondell White left in the fifth with a bruised left knee and is day to day. He was hit by pitch from Chase Wright. Robinson Cano and Jason Giambi had RBI doubles for the Yankees.
Tigers 2, Mets 0
At Lakeland, Fla., Curtis Granderson went 4-for-4 with a home run, and Kenny Rogers went five innings for Detroit. Mets right-hander John Maine allowed one run and three hits in four innings.
Astros 4, Braves 2
At Kissimmee, Fla., Chris Burke had two hits, including a home run, and Jason Jennings pitched four innings for Houston.
White Sox 11, Brewers 8
At Tucson, Ariz., Eduardo Perez strained his right calf rounding first base after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning for the White Sox. Perez was unable to round the bases but said he expects to be back on the field within the next few days.
Pirates 3, Red Sox 2
At Fort Myers, Fla., Pirates starter Zach Duke gave up four hits, including a two-run homer to Mike Lowell in the fourth. Ian Snell pitched three hitless innings for Pittsburgh, striking out four and walking one.
Marlins 5, Orioles 1
At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Marlins left-hander Scott Olsen allowed two hits over five scoreless innings.
Cardinals 2, Nationals 2, 10 innings
At Jupiter, Fla., Scott Rolen homered for the Cardinals and Anthony Reyes tossed 4 1-3 shutout innings.
Jason Simontacchi, bidding for a spot in the Nationals’ rotation after being out of the major leagues the last two seasons, worked five innings.
Indians (ss) 0, Blue Jays (ss) 0, 10 innings
At Dunedin, Fla., Cleveland’s Josh Barfield went 2-for-4 at the spring training home of his father’s former team.
Jesse Barfield was drafted by Toronto in 1979 and was with the Blue Jays until they dealt him to the New York Yankees in 1989.
Indians (ss) 8, Blue Jays (ss) 1
At Winter Haven, Fla., Victor Martinez, Cleveland’s regular catcher, made three strong defensive plays in the field in his first start of spring training at first base.
He also hit one of the Indians’ four home runs.

