EXHIBITION baseball
Cactus League
Contract stalemate doesn’t slow Masterson, Tribe vs. Rockies
SCOTTSDALE, ariz.
A day after contract talks with the Indians stalled, Cleveland ace Justin Masterson threw six strong innings in a 14-3 rout of the Colorado Rockies on Friday.
Masterson’s spring training scoreless streak was snapped after 14 2/3 innings, with both runs against him scoring on wild pitches. While he doubled his walks total to four, Masterson struck out six and allowed five hits in his next-to-last start before opening day.
General manager Chris Antonetti said Friday that talks have been tabled after Masterson rejected the team’s “very competitive” offer.
A smiling, upbeat Masterson said he hugged Antonetti when they met Friday morning, and wouldn’t rule out a deal before he hits free agency next winter.
“So even though it didn’t happen right now, I’m not overly disappointed,” Masterson said.
Rockies opening day starter Jorge De La Rosa was knocked around for five runs and nine hits in three innings. The Indians batted around in a four-run third. Elliott Johnson had two RBI singles off De La Rosa, who walked two and threw more than 70 pitches.
“Everything was bad today,” he said.
Colorado setup man Rex Brothers also struggled, giving up two hits, two walks and four runs in the sixth.
Grapefruit league
Sabathia sharp, Jeter hitless as Yankees defeat Pirates
TAMPA, fla.
CC Sabathia pitched seven sharp innings but Derek Jeter remained in a funk at the plate, going hitless in three at-bats during the New York Yankees’ 4-0 victory Friday night over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Yankees captain fouled two balls off the area around his left ankle in the first inning, drawing groans from the Steinbrenner Field crowd, before striking out against Edinson Volquez. Jeter was limited to 17 games last season after breaking his left ankle during the 2012 playoffs.
Jeter had an RBI grounder in the second, hit another grounder in the fifth and is 5 for 41 overall (.122) in 14 spring training games.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he’s happy with the way Jeter is moving and there is no predetermined number of games for him to play during the regular season.
Jeter, who turns 40 in June, announced last month that he plans to retire after the season.
Associated Press