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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 9, 2001
Hampton gets into a groove
TUCSON, Ariz. -- Colorado right-hander Mike Hampton overcame a rough first inning in a 6-3 victory over an Anaheim split squad Thursday.
In the first, Hampton gave up three hits and three runs, two on Larry Barnes' second homer of the spring, but retired nine of the 10 batters over the next three innings.
"It was just one of those days where my arm was not feeling terribly great," said Hampton, who signed a $121-million, eight-year contract.
The Rays keep coming up in the Gary Sheffield situation.
On Wednesday, Sheffield told Dodgers officials he would be amenable to a trade to the Rays and would consider certain concessions, such as deferring half of his $10-million annual salary and waiving his right to demand another trade the next season.
Then Thursday, several media outlets reported the Rays were one of a few teams still actively involved in talks for Sheffield, with the Mets dropping out "unless something changes" according to general manager Steve Phillips, and interest from the Yankees and Braves dwindling.
ESPN.com reported late Thursday that the Rays had an offer of outfielders Greg Vaughn and Gerald Williams "on the table."
Rays general manager Chuck LaMar has a policy against discussing trade rumors and reports.
ASTROS: Kent Bottenfield bounced back from a poor outing with four shutout innings against the Braves. "I just kept the ball down a lot better and hit my spots real well," he said.
BRAVES: Greg Maddux caught Jeff Bagwell's hard-hit line drive, then didn't hear what a grinning Bagwell said to him. "My heart was shaking too fast to know what was going on," Maddux said. ... Brian Slusarski retired all three hitters he faced on called third strikes.
CARDINALS: Second baseman Fernando Vina missed his fifth straight game because of an injured left foot, but the team doesn't think the injury is serious. The problem appears to be an inflamed bursa sac, a cavity between the tendon and the bone. ... After watching Rick Ankiel's latest early-morning throwing session, the team thinks he's almost ready for game action. "He looked really, really good," GM Walt Jocketty said. "I think what we saw today was about the best we've seen."
D'BACKS: Starter Armando Reynoso was impressive against a White Sox split squad. He struck out three and allowed one hit in four scoreless innings.
DODGERS: Third baseman Adrian Beltre is scheduled for surgery Monday to close a draining wound in his right lower abdomen that resulted from a ruptured appendix in January. He will remain in the hospital for seven to 10 days then begin rehabilitation, the team said. Beltre will not be ready by opening day and it is uncertain when he will return. "If you're asking do I think Adrian will play baseball this year, unequivocally yes," team physician Michael Mellman said.
EXPOS: Right-hander Hideki Irabu, scheduled to start, returned to Japan to attend to personal matters. Emergency starter Matt Blank allowed one run on two hits in two innings.
METS: Catcher Mike Piazza was a late scratch against the Orioles because of a swollen right knee. Robin Ventura struck out to end the game with two runners in scoring position.
PADRES: Ryan Klesko hit two long home runs off Milwaukee's Jeff D'Amico. Klesko, who has three homers in 13 at-bats, hit a 445-foot drive to right in the first and a 470-foot shot to right in the third.
PIRATES: Kris Benson, expected to be the opening day starter, agreed to a $13-million, four-year contract. Benson, the top pick in the 1996 amateur draft, was 10-12 with a team-leading 3.85 ERA last season despite little run support.
REDS: Leftfielder Dmitri Young is temporarily sidelined with a sprained right shoulder.
- Staff writer Marc Topkin contributed to this report.