Woods to miss Bay Hill, optimistic for Masters

March 14, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

PALM HARBOR, Fla.

Tiger Woods won’t be at Bay Hill next week for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He still isn’t ruling out the Masters.

Woods said on his website Friday that he will not play at the tournament he has won eight times. Woods hasn’t played since he withdrew after 11 holes at the Farmers Insurance Open with tightness in his lower back, and a short game that was in even worse shape.

He said last month he would not return to golf until his game was tournament ready. Woods says he is making strides and hopes to be ready for the Masters.

T.J. House impresses, leads Tribe over Cubs

MESA, Ariz.

Cubs starter Tsuyoshi Wada left his start with left groin tightness after getting just two outs, and the Cleveland Indians’ T.J. House allowed two hits over 4 2-3 innings for a split squad in a 7-4 victory over Chicago Friday.

Wada had given up a homer to Yan Gomes and reached a 3-1 count on Jesus Aguilar before the trainers came out to the mound. Wada was taken for an MRI during the game for precautionary reasons. Wada was making his first appearance after feeling some discomfort in his left thigh/groin area after completing one inning on Sunday against Texas.

House (1-0) allowed a first inning home run to Matt Szczur with one out before facing the minimum over the next 3 2-3 innings. He struck out the side in the third inning to finish with six strikeouts in the longest outing of the spring for the Indians. Clint Frazier hit a three-run shot in a four-run third inning in front of a crowd of 15,150.

Split-squad Indians rough up D’backs

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Jason Kipnis doubled twice, and Jose Ramirez and Michael Bourn showed some power to rough up Jeremy Hellickson and the split-squad Cleveland Indians beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Friday.

Hellickson, slated for the Diamondbacks’ rotation, failed to complete the second inning. He came to Arizona in a trade with Tampa Bay in November.

Brett Hayes piled on with a three-run home run off Daniel Hudson to back Zach McAllister, who pitched four quick scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and a walk and had three strikeouts.

Kipnis was held out of action early in spring after offseason surgery to repair a tendon in his left ring finger. Hudson, coming off two Tommy John surgeries, got into trouble by walking Carlos Moncrief and allowing a single to Ramirez in front of Hayes’ at-bat. Hudson settled down and completed two innings with no further scoring. Paul Goldschmidt had two hits for Arizona.

Vargas, Rosario homer to help Twins beat Bucs

BRADENTON, Fla.

Casey Sadler’s strong start to spring training ended when the Minnesota Twins got to him for four runs and five hits in 2 1-3 innings Friday in an 8-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sadler had pitched five hitless, scoreless innings before Danny Santana doubled leading off the game, and Santana scored when second baseman Neil Walker threw wide of first on Jordan Schafer’s grounder for an error. One out later, Kennys Vargas sent a low sinker over the wall in left-center for a 3-0 lead. Vargas was 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs.

Twins starter Ervin Santana allowed two hits in two scoreless innings, walked two and struck out two.

Umpire Association to hold meeting

The Youngstown Metro Umpire Association will hold a OHSAA baseball/softball meeting on Sunday beginning at 1:15 p.m. at Lucianno’s Banquet Center in Austintown.

Umpires are reminded that they must attend four meetings to meet state requirements. Call John Mang at (330) 502-6665 for more information.

Staff/Wire reports