VIERA, Fla. – Derek Lowe pitched four hitless innings as the Atlanta Braves beat the winless Washington Nationals 5-2 Monday night in exhibition baseball.
Washington is 0-11, the major leagues’ only winless team in the spring-training season.
Coming off a one-inning stint March 10 in which he was troubled by a blister on his right foot – and gave up three runs and five hits – right-hander Lowe allowed only one baserunner. Washington’s Roger Bernadina reached in the second when first baseman Eric Hinske dropped shortstop Yunel Escobar’s throw.
Lowe (1-0) struck out six batters.
Martin Prado and Joe Thurston homered for the Braves.
Right-hander Garrett Mock (0-2) allowed two runs to Atlanta in the first, then retired his final nine hitters. Mock struck out two and has not yielded a walk in nine innings over three starts.
Braves send down 13
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Right-hander James Parr, who had a 5.79 ERA in eight games with the Atlanta Braves in 2009, was optioned Monday to Class AAA Gwinnett.
The Braves trimmed 13 players from their major league roster in their first major round of cuts in spring training. Pitchers Lee Hyde, Steve Marek, and Todd Redmond also were optioned to Gwinnett. The team optioned pitchers Juan Abreu, Kyle Cofield, and Jose Ortegano to Double-A Mississippi.
Six players were assigned to the minor league camp: pitchers Erik Cordier, Chris Resop and Mike Minor, catchers Braeden Schlehuber and Jesus Sucre and outfielder Cody Johnson.
Reynolds gets more
TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona slugger Mark Reynolds says he’s agreed to terms on a new contract with the Diamondbacks, reportedly worth $14.5 million over three years with an $11 million club option for 2013.
A 16th-round draft pick, the 26-year-old third baseman hit 44 homers with 102 RBIs last season. He also struck out 223 times, breaking the major league record of 204 he set the previous year.
Mets send down Dickey
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The New York Mets have sent young catcher Josh Thole and former University of Tennessee pitcher R.A. Dickey to their minor league camp.
The 35-year-old Dickey is hoping to make the Mets this season as a knuckleballer. Thole, who’ll start the season in Triple-A, starred in Double-A last season and hit .321 in 17 games with the Mets.
Hamilton hurts hand
SURPRISE, Ariz. – Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton left Monday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning after he was hit on the top of his left hand by a pitch from Madison Bumgarner.
“Somebody’s out to get me,” Hamilton said with a wry smile. “Watch out, boys. Don’t stand too close.”
X-rays came back negative and Hamilton will be evaluated this morning. He already has missed a week of training camp with a left shoulder contusion.