ClevelandSSRqs Santana makes debut at third

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

Cleveland star catcher Carlos Santana made his first start at third base and got a hit. No chances to show off his glove, though.

Santana had a single in two at-bats, but didn’t get to handle the ball at his new position as the Indians beat the Cincinnati Reds, 12-3, on Thursday with the help of three homers.

“Carlos is more comfortable out there than people give him credit for,” manager Terry Francona said. “We have some decisions to make. It is only the second game and we like (third baseman) Lonnie Chisenhall a lot.”

Catching prospect Jake Lowery hit a grand slam, and Elliot Johnson and Tyler Naquin added two-run homers.

Zack Cozart hit a two-run double for the Reds. Leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton singled in two at-bats.

Starting time: Justin Masterson is working on an offspeed pitch and a new contract. He avoided arbitration by signing a $9.7 million contract, but is still negotiating with the Indians to extend his tenure beyond this season. He struck out two and gave up a hit while pitching a scoreless inning.

“I will probably still be here for another couple years,” he said. “You hire people to take care of that, so you can just pitch. There is nothing monumental happening right now. If something gets done, it will be before the season begins.”

Johnny Cueto worked two scoreless innings pain-free. He made just 11 starts for Cincinnati last season, hampered by strained muscles in his right side that lingered the entire season. Cueto has cut down on his turning motion during his delivery to try to prevent injury.

“I feel good,” said Cueto, who threw 45 pitches in his first outing. “Nothing is sore.”

Jeter goes hitless in first exhibition game

TAMPA, Fla.

Derek Jeter got a partial standing ovation Thursday before going hitless in two at-bats in the first spring training game of his final season, a New York Yankees’ 8-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Yankees captain, who turns 40 in June, hit a double-play grounder to second off Pittsburgh right-hander Charlie Morton in the first and grounded out to third during the fourth against left-hander Jeff Locke.

Limited to 17 games last season due to leg injuries, Jeter was at shortstop in his first exhibition season appearance. He broke his left ankle in the 2012 AL championship series and did not appear at shortstop last spring training until March 13.

“I felt like I haven’t played a game in a couple years,” Jeter said. “I think just getting into a game, feeling good, that’s what I was most excited about.”

Starting time: Morton walked one, had one strikeout and didn’t allow a hit over two scoreless innings.

“I threw a couple really good front door sinkers to lefty’s,” Morton said. “That’s something I need to do to be effective against lefty’s. I’ve got to move the sinker around.”

Morton went 7-4 last season after missing all of spring training and not making his first regular-season start until June 13 following right elbow surgery.

Fifth starter candidate David Phelps allowed one run — a solo homer — two hits and struck out four in two innings.

Locke gave up one hit in two scoreless innings. The left-hander won eight straight starts in the first half of last season and made the NL All-Star team. But, he went 2-5 with a 6.12 ERA over his final 12 starts and was shut down in September.