Associated Press
The spring training roundup …
LAKELAND, Fla. ó Chris Carpenter returned from a left hamstring injury and gave up three runs in four innings for the St. Louis Cardinals in a 9-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Carpenter hadnít pitched since being injured March 1. He said his leg felt fine and that he could have gone further.
Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said that Carpenter, who went 16-9 with a 3.22 ERA would be the Cardinals opening day starter.
The Cardinals roughed up Tigers starter Phil Coke with seven runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Albert Pujols hit a grand slam for St. Louis and drove in five runs.
Braves 4, Red Sox 3
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó Tommy Hanson outpitched Boston Red Sox opening day starter Jon Lester.
Hanson allowed a homer by Marco Scutaro on the second pitch of the game, but the only other Boston base runner in the right-handerís five innings came on a second-inning single by Ryan Kalish. Hanson struck out five, including the last three batters he faced to end a stretch of 10 straight outs.
Lester, named opening day starter earlier in the day, allowed eight hits and three runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Blue Jays 5, Pirates 3
BRADENTON, Fla. ó David Cooper hit a two-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion also connected for Toronto.
Cooperís homer capped a three-run fourth inning against Pirates left-hander Paul Maholm. Maholm worked five innings and allowed four runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.
Kyle Drabek pitched five innings for the Blue Jays and gave up two runs and seven hits.
Twins 4, Mets 3
FORT MYERS, Fla. ó Joe Mauer swung at the second pitch he saw this spring training and ended up with his first hit, and Minnesota beat Mike Pelfrey.
Mauer, serving as the designated hitter while recovering from offseason surgery on his left knee, singled in three at-bats. The All-Star catcher is expected to play in the field for the first time Thursday in a minor league game.
Pelfrey struck out one and gave up three runs and nine hits in five innings.
Astros 8, Nationals 7
KISSIMMEE, Fla. ó Anderson Hernandez capped a five-run ninth inning with a game-ending RBI single, giving Houston a victory.
Nyjer Morgan hit a three-run homer for the Nationals. Houstonís Brett Myers gave up six runs in five innings.
Rays 6, Marlins 3
JUPITER ó Chris Volstad became the first Florida starter to go five innings this spring, giving up a run and three hits for Florida.
Catcher John Buck hit his first home run, a solo shot in the second inning off Cory Wade. Chris Coghlan, who has been bothered by a sore throwing shoulder, made his first start in center field since March 7. He played six innings and went 1 for 3.
Giants 5, White Sox 3
GLENDALE, Ariz. ó Tim Lincecum struck out seven in 5 1-3 innings for San Francisco.
The right-hander allowed one run on three hits and walked three to lead the defending World Series champions.
Mark Buehrle started for the White Sox, allowing one run on seven hits over five innings. He had allowed eight runs in six innings over his last two starts.