Crosby homers in Pirates victory

Associated Press

Bobby Crosby’s work with Mark McGwire in the past three offseasons appears to be paying off.

Crosby hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat a Minnesota Twins split squad 15-5 on Sunday.

“He’s a good guy to have around,” Crosby said of the St. Louis Cardinals’ new hitting coach. “He worked with me on being direct to the ball, taking a straight path. There’s a lot more that goes into it, but he’s a guy who really knows a swing.”

Crosby hit 22 home runs in 2004, when he was the Rookie of the Year with the Oakland A’s. However, he has not reached double digits in any season since then.

Pedro Alvarez had his first hit of the spring, an RBI triple off the right field wall in the second inning. He scored when Crosby singled off Twins lefty Brian Duensing. Garrett Jones hit a two-out, two-run homer for hit first hit.

Twins closer Joe Nathan went to Minneapolis to have an MRI on his right elbow.

“The doctors told me it’s some soreness in the back of the elbow,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “By Tuesday, we’ll see where we’re at.” Nathan, who had surgery Oct. 20 to remove bone spurs, left Saturday’s game due to pain and tightness after throwing just 20 pitches.

Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer off Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf in the first. Ohlendorf worked two innings and allowed two runs on two hits.

“The mound was wet and he was slipping on a lot of pitches,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “His breaking ball was really good and he had good life on his fastball.”

Although it was a split-squad game, Gardenhire had five likely opening day starters in his lineup.

Indians-Rangers

Jake Westbrook will have to wait at least another day to make his much-anticipated spring debut for the Indians.

The right-hander’s scheduled start against the Texas Rangers was canceled by rain on Sunday. The Rangers did not even make the short bus trip from their training camp in Surprise, Ariz., as a steady rain fell throughout the Phoenix area.

“I was ready to go,” said Westbrook, now scheduled to start today in Tucson against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “I’ve waited 23 months, so what’s another day?”

Westbrook missed the entire 2009 season after having Tommy John surgery after making only five starts in 2008.