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Stiff neck sidelines Jeter

TAMPA -- Shortstop Derek Jeter did not play in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Twins because of stiffness in his neck.

Jeter said he thought he strained his neck while chasing a flyball on Saturday and felt it twinge Sunday during batting practice. He compared the feeling to that of a charlie horse and said it bothered him when he was sleeping Sunday night and when he tries to look to the left.

Jeter had X-rays and an MRI Monday, with neither finding a serious injury. He is expected to miss five days.

Last year Jeter appeared in only five exhibition games, missing the first nine with inflammation in his right shoulder and the final 14 with a strained right quadriceps.

MORE INJURIES: Pitcher Ramiro Mendoza had an MRI on his neck that showed no problems. He is listed as day-to-day with a strained muscle. ... First baseman Jason Giambi was taken out in the third inning with tightness in the hamstring, which caused him to miss the team's first two games. He will receive treatment today and should return by the end of the week. ... Jorge Posada, limited to designated hitting this spring, should return to catching duties this week after offseason shoulder surgery.

BATTLING BACK: David Wells began his fight for a starter's position by pitching two innings, allowing one run on one hit (a Matthew LeCroy home run) and striking out one. It was Wells' first action since back surgery in July.

Wells is fighting Orlando Hernandez and Sterling Hitchcock, who each pitched well in their spring debuts, for one of the final spots in the rotation.

SPLITTING UP: The Yankees will play split-squad games against Texas at 1:30 at home and at 7:05 in Lakeland against Detroit. Mike Mussina starts the day game and Sterling Hitchcock goes against the Tigers' Mark Redman at night.

-- MIKE READLING

Schmidt runs the show

ST. PETERSBURG -- Former Phillies slugger and Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt made his managerial debut in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Devil Rays at Florida Power Park.

With Larry Bowa in Winter Haven for a split-squad game against Cleveland, Schmidt, in camp as a special instructor, and third-base coach John Vukovich ran the team.

"It was a lot of fun," Schmidt said. "I appreciated the opportunity to do that."

The first five innings were uneventful, as Brandon Duckworth, Terry Adams and Allen McDill pitched perfect ball and Philadelphia took a 3-0 lead behind Travis Lee's two RBIs.

"I didn't even take my hands out of my pockets for six innings," Schmidt said.

Schmidt joked that Vukovich ignored his sign when he suggested Ricky Ledee take a 1-and-0 pitch early in the game.

"What if they'd given you the take 1-0?" Vukovich asked.

"Me and Ricky are a little different," Schmidt said, laughing.

ON THE MEND: Adams, who strained his right calf the first week of workouts, retired all three batters he faced in his spring debut.

"It felt good to go out and have a positive outing," Adams said. "My calf's not hurting, my arm feels great, everything is positive."

GOOD INVESTMENT: Bobby Abreu was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs this spring before lining to second in his first at-bat Monday. Abreu, who set career highs for home runs (31) and RBIs (110) last season, signed a five-year, $64-million contract extension last month.

ODDS AND ENDS: Scott Rolen went 3-for-3, and Doug Glanville had two hits. ... Pitcher Turk Wendell is out indefinitely because of tendinitis in his right elbow. ... Philadelphia defeated Cleveland 7-6 in the other split-squad game. ... The Phillies added a "B" game against the Cardinals at 10 a.m. Thursday in Jupiter.

ON DECK: Right-hander Robert Person, the Phillies' No. 1 starter, starts today's 1:05 p.m. game against Cincinnati in Clearwater. Person was rocked in his first outing, Saturday's 18-7 loss to Pittsburgh. Right-hander Joey Hamilton starts for the Reds.

-- FRANK PASTOR

Wells a homer from cycle

PORT CHARLOTTE -- Vernon Wells tripled twice, doubled and singled as the Blue Jays defeated the Rangers 15-5 for their first victory of spring training.

Wells, trying to make the team as a reserve outfielder, and Dave Berg, a non-roster infielder who spent last season with Florida, each had four hits.

Winner Luke Prokopec allowed two runs and three hits in his first appearance since he was acquired from Los Angeles with pitcher Chad Ricketts for reliever Paul Quantrill and infielder Cesar Izturis. Prokopec walked one and struck out one.

ROOKIE HURT: Second baseman Orlando Hudson was injured while diving to catch a foul ball in the sixth inning. Hudson dived headfirst into the tarpaulin along the first-base line. The game was delayed seven minutes before Hudson was taken to the locker room for examination of his elbow, knee and stomach.

Hudson's stomach was scheduled to be re-examined when he returned to Dunedin.

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