Irabu must gut it out

By BOB PUTNAM

DUNEDIN -- Hideki Irabu doesn't mind popouts. But there is one kind of pop he would rather do without -- soda pop.

Since he reported to camp, Irabu's weight has jumped from 244 to 250. The culprit? Diet cola. Irabu admitted to drinking two liters of the carbonated beverage daily. But he recently has switched to water. "The most important thing is getting in shape," manager Joe Torre said. Irabu started working his way back into shape Friday as made his first start of the spring against the Blue Jays. He allowed two hits in three shutout innings, but threw only 26 strikes among 48 pitches. He walked one batter and threw a wild pitch in the Yankees' 8-6 loss.

"I really didn't intend to throw the forkball much, but I threw it a lot," Irabu said.

Irabu also used his curveball more.

"I think Hideki needs to stay strong and take care of himself," catcher Joe Girardi said. "He's starting to understand what it's like to play 162 games in New York. ... He can be a huge plus for us."

Irabu started strong last season -- he was 9-3 with a 2.86 ERA through 17 starts. But he finished 4-6, 5.91 in his final 11 starts.

STARTERS: RHP Roger Clemens makes his spring debut today as the Yankees visit the Royals at Baseball City. RHP Kevin Appier starts for the Royals. --

Loewer targets rotation

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CLEARWATER -- In spring training one year ago, he was a wide-eyed rookie trying to make the club. Friday, Carlton Loewer was on the mound for Philadelphia's Grapefruit League opener.

The Phillies scored two runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings and held on for a 7-6 win against Cleveland before 4,820.

But for Loewer, there were some highs and lows.

Loewer, who debuted in June with a complete-game 4-2 win against the Cubs, pitched a strong first inning but got into trouble in the second and third.

He gave up a leadoff homer to Travis Fryman in the second. "It was just a bad pitch," said Loewer, who is fighting for the No. 3 spot in the rotation. "It wasn't anywhere (near) where I wanted it to be."

He got the next three batters out, then drove in one of the Phillies' two runs in the bottom of the inning. But trouble resurfaced in the third.

A one-out double by starting pitcher Dave Burba, followed by a Kenny Lofton walk and back-to-back run-scoring singles by Jolbert Cabrera and Sandy Alomar gave the Indians a 3-2 lead.

Loewer's final line: three earned runs on four hits, with one walk and one strike out.

"I'm happy to get this one under the belt," he said. "I learned some things today. It would be nice to go out and throw three shutout innings, but that's not going to happen."

GOOD AND BAD: Former Devil Ray Bobby Abreu went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI. Rookie second baseman Marlon Anderson continues to prove himself worthy of a lineup spot. He went 3-for-3 with two stolen bases. LHP Yorkis Perez allowed three runs on five hits (one homer) with one strikeout in two innings. Jolbert Cabrera went 3-for-5, including a triple and two RBI.

TODAY'S PITCHERS: RHP Paul Byrd will start against Toronto's Kelvim Escobar. LHP Paul Spoljaric gets the nod Sunday against Pittsburgh's Francisco Cordova and RHP Curt Schilling gets his second start Monday against the Yankees' David Cone in Tampa.
-- ROGER MILLS

Not so dandy against Yankees

DUNEDIN -- Joey Hamilton picked up where he left off: pitching against the Yankees. The right-hander, who pitched in relief for the Padres in Game 3 of the 1998 World Series, started the Jays home opener at Dunedin Stadium

He allowed 3 runs and 5 hits in 22/3 innings, but the Jays rallied 8-6.

"Obviously, the results weren't that great," Hamilton said. "But I threw all my pitches and had a lot of ground balls. Unfortunately, some of those went for hits." Pedro Munro got the win in relief. The offense was sparked by catcher Darrin Fletcher, who went 3-for-3, including a grand slam in the fourth inning. Fletcher's teammates were impressed with his performance. Afterward, some Blue Jays scribbled a message on a locker-room chalkboard. It read: Darrin Fletcher. You 'da man.

ROBINSON HONORED: Former Jays pitcher Ken Robinson, killed last week in a car accident, was buried in Jacksonville on Friday. Jays president and general manager Gord Ash attended the service along with 3B Tom Evans. The flags flew at half-staff at Dunedin Stadium and there was a moment of silence before the game. A trust fund has been set up for Robinson's son, Chase.

AGREEMENTS: Six players came to terms Wednesday. Chris Carpenter and Shannon Stewart signed three-year contracts. Nerio Rodriguez, Felipe Crespo and Evans agreed to one-year contracts. Robert Person's deal was renewed. INJURY UPDATE: LHP David Wells (back), who has been out since Tuesday, threw long toss and played catch on the side at Englebert Complex. ... 2B Brent Abernathy, who suffered a fractured nose when struck by a batted ball March 1, worked out. -- BOB PUTNAM