DUNEDIN, Fla. — Roy Halladay pitched two shutout innings against his former team in his first start of spring training, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 Monday.

Halladay allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. He pitched for the Blue Jays from 1998-09, then was traded to the Phillies.

“Just being in the game again is fun,” said Halladay, who led the NL with 21 wins last season. “You can throw as many bullpens and you want but it’s always different once you get out there. It’s always fun getting back out there.”

Halladay limited the Blue Jays to two singles, striking out one and issuing one walk.

“There’s a couple things I want to try,” Halladay said, “but for the most part, the biggest thing is just getting back comfortable. … There were times today where I felt good, felt good about the pitches I made, and there were times I felt a long way from where I need to be. Overall, it’s about what I expected.”

Carlos Ruiz had a two-run double in the second inning off Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes, and Placido Polanco had a two-run single off Carlos Villanueva in a three-run fourth.

Mike McCoy doubled in the seventh to end a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Blue Jays. They added two more in the ninth off Scott Mathieson on Jon Diaz’s double, Eric Thames’ triple and a sacrifice fly.

Toronto finished with eight hits, matching the combined total in two losses to Detroit in the first two spring games, but the Blue Jays also committed five errors.

NOTES: Toronto RHP Kyle Drabek was scratched from Monday’s start due to a stiff neck. He is scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit. … LHP Jesse Carlson will sit for several days with inflammation in his left shoulder. RHP Alan Farina replaced him in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. … Toronto OF Travis Snider, who pulled an upper ribcage muscle playing golf before spring training, took batting practice Monday and likely will play next weekend. … Michael Weiner, head of the players’ union, met with the Blue Jays before the game. He said he expects there will be one or two formal bargaining meetings with the owners during spring training “and we’ll begin in earnest, I think, when everybody’s back and the season begins.”

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Roy Halladay pitched two shutout innings against his former team in his first start of spring training, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 Monday.

Halladay allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. He pitched for the Blue Jays from 1998-09, then was traded to the Phillies.

“Just being in the game again is fun,” said Halladay, who led the NL with 21 wins last season. “You can throw as many bullpens and you want but it’s always different once you get out there. It’s always fun getting back out there.”

Halladay limited the Blue Jays to two singles, striking out one and issuing one walk.

“There’s a couple things I want to try,” Halladay said, “but for the most part, the biggest thing is just getting back comfortable. … There were times today where I felt good, felt good about the pitches I made, and there were times I felt a long way from where I need to be. Overall, it’s about what I expected.”

Carlos Ruiz had a two-run double in the second inning off Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes, and Placido Polanco had a two-run single off Carlos Villanueva in a three-run fourth.

Mike McCoy doubled in the seventh to end a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Blue Jays. They added two more in the ninth off Scott Mathieson on Jon Diaz’s double, Eric Thames’ triple and a sacrifice fly.

Toronto finished with eight hits, matching the combined total in two losses to Detroit in the first two spring games, but the Blue Jays also committed five errors.

NOTES: Toronto RHP Kyle Drabek was scratched from Monday’s start due to a stiff neck. He is scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit. … LHP Jesse Carlson will sit for several days with inflammation in his left shoulder. RHP Alan Farina replaced him in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. … Toronto OF Travis Snider, who pulled an upper ribcage muscle playing golf before spring training, took batting practice Monday and likely will play next weekend. … Michael Weiner, head of the players’ union, met with the Blue Jays before the game. He said he expects there will be one or two formal bargaining meetings with the owners during spring training “and we’ll begin in earnest, I think, when everybody’s back and the season begins.”

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) pitched two shutout innings against his former team in his first start of spring training, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 Monday.

Halladay allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. He pitched for the Blue Jays from 1998-09, then was traded to the Phillies.

“Just being in the game again is fun,” said Halladay, who led the NL with 21 wins last season. “You can throw as many bullpens and you want but it’s always different once you get out there. It’s always fun getting back out there.”

Halladay limited the Blue Jays to two singles, striking out one and issuing one walk.

“There’s a couple things I want to try,” Halladay said, “but for the most part, the biggest thing is just getting back comfortable. … There were times today where I felt good, felt good about the pitches I made, and there were times I felt a long way from where I need to be. Overall, it’s about what I expected.”

Carlos Ruiz(notes) had a two-run double in the second inning off Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes(notes), and Placido Polanco(notes) had a two-run single off Carlos Villanueva(notes) in a three-run fourth.

Mike McCoy(notes) doubled in the seventh to end a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Blue Jays. They added two more in the ninth off Scott Mathieson(notes) on Jon Diaz’s double, Eric Thames’ triple and a sacrifice fly.

Toronto finished with eight hits, matching the combined total in two losses to Detroit in the first two spring games, but the Blue Jays also committed five errors.

NOTES: Toronto RHP Kyle Drabek(notes) was scratched from Monday’s start due to a stiff neck. He is scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit. … LHP Jesse Carlson(notes) will sit for several days with inflammation in his left shoulder. RHP Alan Farina replaced him in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. … Toronto OF Travis Snider(notes), who pulled an upper ribcage muscle playing golf before spring training, took batting practice Monday and likely will play next weekend. … Michael Weiner, head of the players’ union, met with the Blue Jays before the game. He said he expects there will be one or two formal bargaining meetings with the owners during spring training “and we’ll begin in earnest, I think, when everybody’s back and the season begins.” … Cliff Lee(notes) is scheduled to start for the host Phillies against Detroit’s split squad and Andy Oliver(notes) at Clearwater. Jacob Turner(notes) and the other half of the Tigers’ squad will face visiting Toronto and Ricky Romero(notes) at Lakeland.

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) pitched two shutout innings against his former team in his first start of spring training, leading the Philadelphia Phillies over the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 Monday.

Halladay allowed two hits, struck out one and walked one. He pitched for the Blue Jays from 1998-09, then was traded to the Phillies.

“Just being in the game again is fun,” said Halladay, who led the NL with 21 wins last season. “You can throw as many bullpens and you want but it’s always different once you get out there. It’s always fun getting back out there.”

Halladay limited the Blue Jays to two singles, striking out one and issuing one walk.

“There’s a couple things I want to try,” Halladay said, “but for the most part, the biggest thing is just getting back comfortable. … There were times today where I felt good, felt good about the pitches I made, and there were times I felt a long way from where I need to be. Overall, it’s about what I expected.”

Carlos Ruiz(notes) had a two-run double in the second inning off Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes(notes), and Placido Polanco(notes) had a two-run single off Carlos Villanueva(notes) in a three-run fourth.

Mike McCoy(notes) doubled in the seventh to end a 24-inning scoreless streak for the Blue Jays. They added two more in the ninth off Scott Mathieson(notes) on Jon Diaz’s double, Eric Thames’ triple and a sacrifice fly.

Toronto finished with eight hits, matching the combined total in two losses to Detroit in the first two spring games, but the Blue Jays also committed five errors.

NOTES: Toronto RHP Kyle Drabek(notes) was scratched from Monday’s start due to a stiff neck. He is scheduled to start Saturday against Detroit. … LHP Jesse Carlson(notes) will sit for several days with inflammation in his left shoulder. RHP Alan Farina replaced him in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. … Toronto OF Travis Snider(notes), who pulled an upper ribcage muscle playing golf before spring training, took batting practice Monday and likely will play next weekend. … Michael Weiner, head of the players’ union, met with the Blue Jays before the game. He said he expects there will be one or two formal bargaining meetings with the owners during spring training “and we’ll begin in earnest, I think, when everybody’s back and the season begins.” … Cliff Lee(notes) is scheduled to start for the host Phillies against Detroit’s split squad and Andy Oliver(notes) at Clearwater. Jacob Turner(notes) and the other half of the Tigers’ squad will face visiting Toronto and Ricky Romero(notes) at Lakeland.

Victor Martinez drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in an exhibition game Sunday.

“I was just throwing a nice, easy sinker,” right-handed pitcher Brad Penny said after tossing the first two innings of the Tigers’ second straight shutout.

“I got three ground-ball outs [in the second], and I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten three ground-ball outs because I usually don’t throw a sinker.”

The only run was unearned after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error by Toronto catcher Joe Molina. Martinez followed with the sacrifice fly.

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LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) – Brad Penny was concentrating on keeping his pitch count down.

Detroit’s new right-hander was one of 11 pitchers who kept the score down Sunday.

Victor Martinez drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning, and the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in an exhibition game.

“I was just throwing a nice, easy sinker,” Penny said after tossing the first two innings of the Tigers’ second straight shutout. “I got three ground-ball outs (in the second), and I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten three ground-ball outs because I usually don’t throw a sinker.”

The only run was unearned after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error by Toronto catcher Joe Molina. Martinez followed with the sacrifice fly.

The 32-year Penny, who was limited to nine starts for St. Louis last season by an injury to his latissimus dorsi — the back of the shoulder — has been trying to develop a more reliable sinker this spring.

“He used to get the four-seamer up all the time because he was a big power guy, but you can’t live up there,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “He was making a good, conscious effort to get the ball down today and I was very impressed with that.”

Penny said he threw three or four sinkers in his first spring start, and might gain more confidence in it as the spring goes on.

“We’ll see,” he said. “If it works I’ll use it, if it doesn’t, I don’t know.”

Max Scherzer followed Penny with two hitless innings, and Joaquin Benoit got the win after pitching the sixth inning. Brayan Villarreal pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings, while Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits. The Blue Jays had only three.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, who reported to camp a week late, will be in the lineup for the first time this spring as DH in Monday’s game against the Yankees. Cabrera was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Feb. 15 near Fort Pierce, Fla., and did not arrive until Thursday … Two more of Detroit’s starting pitchers, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello, will pitch Monday.

==========

Tigers beat Blue Jays 4-0 in spring opener

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera may play his first spring game Monday against the New York Yankees following his Feb. 16 arrest on a charge of drunk driving.

“He will not play (Sunday),” manager Jim Leyland said. “Monday’s more a possibility but I’m not sure about Monday, either,” Leyland said before the Tigers shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 in the team’s spring training opener Saturday behind starting left-hander Phil Coke.

Leyland said Cabrera had an “excellent” workout Saturday under first base coach Tom Brookens’ guidance at the Tigers’ spring camp in Lakeland, Fla., but, “truth be told, I don’t want to get second-guessed (about playing Cabrera too soon).”

“I’m not going to put him out there for one day and do something crazy,” Leyland added.

Leyland said he will meet with Cabrera, head trainer Kevin Rand and strength and conditioning coordinator Javair Gillett before making a final decision on when to put Cabrera in the lineup. Cabrera came in second in AL MVP voting last season after batting .328 with 38 home runs and a league-leading 126 runs batted in.

He was arrested in Fort Pierce, Fla., about 110 miles from Lakeland. Police said they approached Cabrera’s car, broken down on the side of the road, and smelled alcohol on his breath, and that he took a gulp from a bottle of scotch in front of an officer.

Coke is projected as a starter this season after making his only start in his three previous seasons, the Tigers’ last game of 2010.

“I feel like I’m on the right road; I feel I’m not far off right now,” he said.

He didn’t miss the plate with any of his nine pitches over two innings, allowing one of Toronto’s five hits.

“He went after them real good,” Leyland said. “They hit a couple of balls on the nose and they also mis-hit quite a few. That was good to see.

“Other than that, it was his first outing. I’m not going to get excited about any of ‘em, bad or good, the first outing. They all did fine today, obviously. For the most part they threw strikes and put the ball in play.”

Brandon Inge doubled and scored in the second inning off Bret Cecil and Scott Sizemore hit a two-run double off Jesse Carlson in the fifth.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Alberto Albuquerque struck out Jose Bautista and got Adam Lind on a fly ball.

“Very impressive, but I wouldn’t want to put myself in that situation too many times,” Leyland said.

NOTES: Toronto left-hander Marc Rzepczynski and Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer are scheduled to start Sunday in Lakeland.

==========

Tigers beat Florida Southern

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera met with his Detroit Tigers teammates for the first time this spring and said he felt welcome.

“I appreciated all that, what

they did to me,” Cabrera said. “I’m comfortable with these guys. I love these guys. They’ve always been good to me, so now I’ve got to do a lot of good things for them. Right now I’m going to prepare very hard and get ready to win games.”

Cabrera, who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Feb. 16, did not play in the Tigers’ 17-5 win over Florida Southern College on Friday. Cabrera did some hitting and fielding drills but wasn’t available for the game and is not expected to travel to Dunedin, Fla., for Detroit’s Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

It isn’t known when manager Jim Leyland will put Cabrera into the lineup and Leyland has dodged most questions about Cabrera. He did say that he expected Cabrera to be in the lineup when the Tigers open the regular season in New York on March 31.

When the slugger who finished second in the AL MVP voting last year after hitting .328 with 38 homers and 126 RBIs spoke with the media Friday he spoke about his weight, not his pending arraignment on March 16.

“I feel good. Everybody worries about my weight and what I do during the offseason, but right now I feel good,” Cabrera said. “I’m not worried about being overweight. I worked hard in the offseason so right now I’m just worried about baseball and getting ready for the season.”

Cabrera said that he is ready to go and that the Tigers are a formidable team with him surrounded by Victor Martinez and Magglio Ordonez in the lineup.

“If we’re healthy, we’re going to be very good, very dangerous,” Cabrera said. “If our pitchers, our staff, can be healthy, I think we’ve got a good chance to win. We’ve got to go out there and compete. All day I saw a lot of good things, so the most important thing is to compete.”

The Tigers scored in every inning except the eighth against Florida Southern, a Division II team based in Lakeland, and led 5-0 after three innings.

Top prospects Andrew Oliver and Jacob Turner both pitched two scoreless innings and Daniel Schlereth, Ryan Perry and Enrique Gonzalez combined for four more before the Mocs scored five in the ninth.

“We didn’t want to score that many runs,” Leyland said. “We just couldn’t help it.”
Brennan Bosch, competing for the starting job in left field, hit a long three-run homer, and Audy Ciriaco added another for the Tigers.

NOTES: The win sent the Tigers record to 22-1-2 against FSC since the series began in 1979. The Tigers agreed to terms with INFs Scott Sizemore and Danny Werth, OFs Clete Thomas and Casper Wells on Thursday. Thirty-five players on the 40-man roster are under terms. Phil Coke, who is making the transition from setup man to starter will start for the Tigers against the Blue Jays on Saturday, followed by Duane Below, Alberto Albuquerque, Brad Thomas, and Robbie Weinhardt. Toronto will use Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond, David Purcey, Will Ledezma, Jesse Carlson, Mike Hinkley, and Luis Perez.

Join Sam Dolson for live updates and analysis as the Phillies travel to Dunedin, Fla., to face the Toronto Blue Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.  

If you’re on a mobile device, click here to follow along and send in comments.

Posted by Philly.com Sports @ 5:42 AM  Permalink |

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP)—Brad Penny(notes) was concentrating on keeping his pitch count down.

Detroit’s new right-hander was one of 11 pitchers who kept the score down Sunday.

Victor Martinez(notes) drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning, and the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in an exhibition game.

“I was just throwing a nice, easy sinker,” Penny said after tossing the first two innings of the Tigers’ second straight shutout. “I got three ground-ball outs (in the second), and I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten three ground-ball outs because I usually don’t throw a sinker.”

The only run was unearned after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes(notes) and a throwing error by Toronto catcher Joe Molina. Martinez followed with the sacrifice fly.

The 32-year Penny, who was limited to nine starts for St. Louis last season by an injury to his latissimus dorsi—the back of the shoulder—has been trying to develop a more reliable sinker this spring.

“He used to get the four-seamer up all the time because he was a big power guy, but you can’t live up there,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “He was making a good, conscious effort to get the ball down today and I was very impressed with that.”

Penny said he threw three or four sinkers in his first spring start, and might gain more confidence in it as the spring goes on.

“We’ll see,” he said. “If it works I’ll use it, if it doesn’t, I don’t know.”

Max Scherzer(notes) followed Penny with two hitless innings, and Joaquin Benoit(notes) got the win after pitching the sixth inning. Brayan Villarreal(notes) pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings, while Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits. The Blue Jays had only three.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera(notes), who reported to camp a week late, will be in the lineup for the first time this spring as DH in Monday’s game against the Yankees. Cabrera was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Feb. 15 near Fort Pierce, Fla., and did not arrive until Thursday … Two more of Detroit’s starting pitchers, Justin Verlander(notes) and Rick Porcello(notes), will pitch Monday.

Brad Penny was concentrating on keeping his pitch count down.

Detroit’s new right-hander was one of 11 pitchers who kept the score down Sunday.

Victor Martinez drove in the game’s only run with a sacrifice fly off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning, and the Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 in an exhibition game.

“I was just throwing a nice, easy sinker,” Penny said after tossing the first two innings of the Tigers’ second straight shutout. “I got three ground-ball outs (in the second), and I don’t know if I’ve ever gotten three ground-ball outs because I usually don’t throw a sinker.”

The only run was unearned after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error by Toronto catcher Joe Molina. Martinez followed with the sacrifice fly.

The 32-year Penny, who was limited to nine starts for St. Louis last season by an injury to his latissimus dorsi — the back of the shoulder — has been trying to develop a more reliable sinker this spring.

“He used to get the four-seamer up all the time because he was a big power guy, but you can’t live up there,” said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “He was making a good, conscious effort to get the ball down today and I was very impressed with that.”

Penny said he threw three or four sinkers in his first spring start, and might gain more confidence in it as the spring goes on.

“We’ll see,” he said. “If it works I’ll use it, if it doesn’t, I don’t know.”

Max Scherzer followed Penny with two hitless innings, and Joaquin Benoit got the win after pitching the sixth inning. Brayan Villarreal pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings, while Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits. The Blue Jays had only three.

NOTES: Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera, who reported to camp a week late, will be in the lineup for the first time this spring as DH in Monday’s game against the Yankees. Cabrera was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Feb. 15 near Fort Pierce, Fla., and did not arrive until Thursday … Two more of Detroit’s starting pitchers, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello, will pitch Monday.

The Associated Press  February 27, 2011 – 4:14 pm

Posted in: Baseball, Sports  Tags: Detroit Tigers, Mark Rzepzcynski, MLB, Spring training, Toronto Blue Jays, Victor Martinez

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Marc Rzepzeynski throws a pitch during the first inning of a 1-0 spring training loss to the Detroit Tigers Sunday in Lakeland, Fla. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Victor Martinez drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 1-0 exhibition victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

It was the second straight shutout for the Tigers, who opened their exhibition season with a 4-0 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The unearned run came off Henderson Alvarez in the sixth inning after a leadoff single by Andy Dirks, a bunt by Will Rhymes and a throwing error.

Detroit starter Brad Penny worked two innings and Max Scherzer followed with two hitless innings. Joaquin Benoit got the win after pitching the sixth inning for Detroit. Brayan Villarreal pitched the ninth for a save.

Toronto starter Mark Rzepzcynski also pitched two hitless innings.

Dirks had two of the Tigers’ four hits.

Here is the Detroit Tigers’ lineup for today’s exhibition against the Toronto Blue Jays in Lakeland, Fla.:

1. Will Rhymes, 2B 2. Victor Martinez, C 3. Magglio Ordonez, DH 4. Jhonny Peralta, SS 5. Ryan Strieby, 1B 6. Ryan Raburn, LF 7. Don Kelly, CF 8. Andy Ciriaco, 3B 9. Jason Dirks, RF

Starting pitcher: Max Scherzer

Feel free to discuss the game in the comments below.

FOLLOW THE GAME HERE

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Their exhibition opener shed little light on the virtues of the 2011 Toronto Blue Jays. Of course, early exhibition games rarely have such impact.

With John  Farrell managing his first game, the Jays lost 4-0 to the Detroit Tigers. Toronto managed just five hits, two by Yunel Escobar, and each of its first three pitchers yielded runs.

Farrell said Grapefruit League wins will take on far greater significance at the end of March.

“Wins are important because it does begin to develop a little bit of an internal belief in this group that will be here when we break this camp,” Farrell said.

“Personally, I might place a little bit more value or weight on those last two weeks, 10 days. Right now we’re getting the chance to take a look at a lot of different people and really build up some stamina.”

Starter Brett Cecil, a 15-game winner last season, escaped a first-inning jam and allowed a second-inning run. He was neither impressed with his work nor worried about it.

“Every pitch was on the opposite part of the plate than where I wanted it,” he said. “I left balls up. The changeup was real flat, straight in there. But it was the first time out.”

A year ago, Cecil was battling for a starting job and wound up missing a key chunk of spring training after he cut his finger. He opened the seasons at Triple-A. This spring, he can prepare for the season without anxiety.

“I’m pretty sure I know where I’m going to be this year, so it’s all about getting ready for the first start and taking it from there,” the left-hander said.

After Cecil pitched two innings, Robert Ray followed, allowing a run in his two-inning stint. Jesse Carlson allowed two runs in his one inning, hurting his cause with two walks.

On Saturday morning, Anthony Gose enjoyed a strong game against his former organization as the Jays’ B team defeated the Philadelphia Phillies’ minor-leaguers 8-1 in Clearwater.

The speedy Gose, a centre-field prospect, had two hits and stole a base after leading off the game with a single.

“There are certain guys that we’ve already discussed that have the green light,” Farrell said. “We don’t want to get in their way, particularly with Anthony. One of his real strengths is his ability to steal bases and his speed.

“We had a chance to just watch his talents play out — and he does things so gracefully — that it was a chance to set the tone.”

Gose stole 45 bases last season but was caught 32 times. The Jays are working with him on improving his jumps and reads.

Toronto wants to find out ” how efficient he can become a base stealer,” Farrell said. “He has a long history of it already at an early age so we’ll continue that path with him.”

Email: jlott@nationalpost.com | Twitter: @LottOnBaseball

Blue Jays starting pitcher Brett Cecil started spring training with a loss to the Tigers. (Nathan Denette/The Associated Press/Canadian Press)

Phil Coke didn’t miss the plate with any of his nine pitches over two innings, allowing one hit to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 Saturday in their spring training opener.

Brandon Inge doubled and scored in the second inning off Bret Cecil and Scott Sizemore hit a two-run double off Jesse Carlson in the fifth.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Alberto Albuquerque struck out Jose Bautista and got Adam Lind on a fly ball.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera may play his first spring game Monday against the New York Yankees following his Feb. 16 arrest on a charge of drunk driving.

“He will not play (Sunday),” manager Jim Leyland said. “Monday’s more a possibility but I’m not sure about Monday, either,” Leyland said before the Tigers shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 4-0 in the team’s spring training opener Saturday behind starting left-hander Phil Coke.

Leyland said Cabrera had an “excellent” workout Saturday under first base coach Tom Brookens’ guidance at the Tigers’ spring camp in Lakeland, Fla., but, “truth be told, I don’t want to get second-guessed (about playing Cabrera too soon).”

“I’m not going to put him out there for one day and do something crazy,” Leyland added.

Leyland said he will meet with Cabrera, head trainer Kevin Rand and strength and conditioning co-ordinator Javair Gillett before making a final decision on when to put Cabrera in the lineup. Cabrera came in second in AL MVP voting last season after batting .328 with 38 home runs and a league-leading 126 runs batted in.

He was arrested in Fort Pierce, Fla., about 180 kilometres from Lakeland. Police said they approached Cabrera’s car, broken down on the side of the road, and smelled alcohol on his breath, and that he took a gulp from a bottle of scotch in front of an officer.

Coke is projected as a starter this season after making his only start in his three previous seasons, the Tigers’ last game of 2010.

“I feel like I’m on the right road; I feel I’m not far off right now,” he said.

He didn’t miss the plate with any of his nine pitches over two innings, allowing one of Toronto’s five hits.

“He went after them real good,” Leyland said. “They hit a couple of balls on the nose and they also mis-hit quite a few. That was good to see.

“Other than that, it was his first outing. I’m not going to get excited about any of ‘em, bad or good, the first outing. They all did fine today, obviously. For the most part they threw strikes and put the ball in play.”

Brandon Inge doubled and scored in the second inning off Bret Cecil and Scott Sizemore hit a two-run double off Jesse Carlson in the fifth.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Alberto Albuquerque struck out Jose Bautista and got Adam Lind on a fly ball.

“Very impressive, but I wouldn’t want to put myself in that situation too many times,” Leyland said.

Notes: Toronto left-hander Marc Rzepczynski and Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer are scheduled to start Sunday in Lakeland.

By Sean Yuille – Managing Editor

Read More: Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays

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Feb 26, 2011 - The Detroit Tigers followed up yesterday’s exhibition win over Florida Southern with a 4-0 victory today over the Toronto Blue Jays in their Grapefruit League opener. The game was played Dunedin, Florida, at the Blue Jays’ spring training facility in front of a crowd of nearly 4,000 people.

Phil Coke got the win for the Tigers, pitching two innings and allowing only one hit. Duane Below picked up the hold for the Tigers, also going two innings. The other pitchers that played for the Tigers were Al Alburquerque, Brad Thomas, Brendan Wise, John Bale and Robbie Weinhardt. They all pitched one inning.

The Tigers’ four runs came from Scott Sizemore, Ryan Strieby and Casper Wells. Sizemore had a pair of RBI and Strieby and Wells each had one.

The Tigers’ next spring training game will take place in Lakeland on Sunday against the Blue Jays. On Monday, Detroit will take on the New York Yankees in Lakeland.

Dunedin, FL (Sports Network) – Scott Sizemore went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-0, in Grapefruit League action.

Ryan Strieby and Casper Wells each knocked in a run for the Tigers, who went 81-81 in 2010.

Phil Coke gave up one hit over two innings of work to get the win.

Yunel Escobar and John McDonald had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who went 85-77 in 2010.

Brett Cecil allowed one run on three hits over two innings in defeat.

GAME NOTES:

The Sports Network

Miguel Cabrera wasn’t on the travel roster for the Tigers’ spring opener Saturday against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla., and Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Saturday that Cabrera definitely won’t play Sunday.

“Monday is more of a possibility, but I’m not assuring you of Monday, either,” Leyland said.

After watching Cabrera take batting practice Friday, Leyland said Cabrera probably could have jumped right into the lineup Saturday.

“But I’m worried about his legs. He’s been working,” Leyland said. “He worked his tail off this offseason on agility and strength. But that doesn’t always correlate with baseball condition. So I’m not going to put him out there after one day and do something crazy.”

Cabrera met with his teammates for the first time this spring on Friday.

“I appreciated all that, what they did to me,” Cabrera said. “I’m comfortable with these guys. I love these guys. They’ve always been good to me, so now I’ve got to do a lot of good things for them. Right now I’m going to prepare very hard and get ready to win games.”

Cabrera, who was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Feb. 16, did not play in the Tigers’ 17-5 win over Florida Southern College on Friday, but did do some hitting and fielding drills.

Information from ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark and The Associated Press was used in this report.

ANDERSON, Ind. — Adam Lind has been the focal point of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2011 spring training camp.

Media outlets ranging from the Canadian Press to the National Post to both of Toronto’s daily newspapers already have identified Lind as one of the keys to the Blue Jays’ success.

Questions surround his ability to bounce back from a declining season at the plate, and there’s more than a little anxiety about his move from designated hitter to first base.

But Lind remains calm at the eye of the storm.

His reaction to the sudden swarm of coverage befits a player his teammates have nicknamed “Sleepy.”

“Well,” Lind said. “I guess there’s not much to write about down here right now.”

In truth, the former Highland star understands the concern.

His extra-base hits fell from 81 in 2009 to 58 last season. His batting average dropped 68 points, and his strikeout total rose from 110 to 144.

The result was a disappointing season that ended with a .237 average, 23 homers and 72 RBIs.

But he’s working hard to rediscover the form that led to a Silver Slugger award in 2009.

Lind reported to camp in Dunedin, Fla., just before Valentine’s Day with the Blue Jays’ pitchers and catchers. He also spent time after his November wedding working out with Toronto’s roving minor league infield instructor, Mike Mordecai.

He appeared in 11 games at first base last year but hasn’t played the position full-time since his senior year with the Scots.

As he attempts to master the position this spring, he’s leaving nothing to chance.

“He’s been here doing all the early work every day, doing all the drills, even with the pitchers when he’s not even supposed to be on the field,” second baseman Aaron Hill told Toronto’s National Post. “He’s just trying to get as comfortable as possible. His work ethic’s been awesome. He’s looking really good over there.”

Many observers have noted Lind looks far more natural at first base than he ever did as a part-time outfielder between his DH duties.

The 27-year-old slugger enjoys the praise, but he cautions against getting too excited just yet.

“As many ground balls as I’ve taken, I haven’t taken any during batting practice,” he said. “Once I get my first look out there with a batter in the box, it’s going to be a little different than a 50-year-old coach hitting fungos.”

The Blue Jays have played two intrasquad games, but Lind will see his first live action against an opponent today when Toronto hosts the Detroit Tigers to open Grapefruit League play.

So far, Lind said he feels comfortable around the bag.

There obviously are a host of nuances he’ll pick up as the season unfolds, but the early returns have been positive.

“He hasn’t shown any type of panic,” third base coach Brian Butterfield told bluejays.com. “He likes the work, and he seems very comfortable in the limited amount of games he played there last year. There have been a lot of encouraging signs.”

Lind’s new house near Tampa, Fla., is expected to be ready in about a month.

He hopes to have settled into his new home on the diamond around the same time.

Several Toronto insiders believe playing the field will improve Lind’s numbers at the plate. Some believe designated hitters have too much time for self-evaluation between at-bats.

“I think it’s a very rare individual that can be a productive hitter when he does have that much down time,” manager John Farrell told bluejays.com. “In this case, Adam’s got the ability to go out and … maybe take his mind off the fact that he’s going to wait around for two or three innings to get his next at-bat.”

It’s a small sample size, but the stats support Farrell’s theory.

During the 2009 season when he hit .305 with 35 home runs and 114 RBIs, Lind hit .299 with a .362 on-base percentage and .539 slugging percentage in 92 games as a DH.

His splits were .316/.386/.605 in 55 games as a left fielder.

When he struggled last year, Lind played the field in just 27 of the 150 games he appeared in.

“I know when he had his good year, he played the outfield a lot,” hitting coach Dwayne Murphy told The Canadian Press. “When you sit on the bench, it’s tougher to stay in the game day in and day out. When you’re on the field, you’re more mentally in the game. I just think that will help.”

Lind doesn’t disagree.

But he’s not counting on mental preparedness alone to improve his numbers.

He worked with local instructor Mike Shirley, whom he’s known since he was 11, while he was home in Anderson this winter.

Together, they came up with some mechanical adjustments Lind believes will help.

Shirley said, like many players as they mature, Lind has added mass to his upper body.

He weighed 205 pounds during the 2009 season, and he checked in at 220 this spring.

Watching games from his home, Shirley noticed Lind’s upper body was tilting more toward home plate in his batting stance.

That caused Lind to skew his view of the strike zone.

“It makes a pitch look better than it really is,” Lind said.

So, this year, Lind will concentrate on “standing taller from the waist up,” according to Shirley.

The new stance should be familiar to local fans who followed Lind’s high school career.

“If you saw him in high school, he always stood a little more upright,” Shirley said.

Lind took the adjustments into the batting cage this spring, and he said the new swing feels good so far.

He hit an opposite-field double in Friday’s intrasquad game, and Farrell slotted him fourth in the batting order Thursday and third on Friday.

That’s a welcome return to the middle of the lineup after he slipped to the bottom third last year.

It’s all part of a spring cleaning that’s helping to wipe away the bad memories of last season.

“I already feel more valuable to the team,” Lind said.