Athletics’ Fiers receives warm reception before start

It’s been a tumultuous few months for Mike Fiers, the current Athletics pitcher and former Houston player who helped expose the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that’s rocked Major League Baseball.

But on a cool Sunday in Arizona, the 34-year-old received a largely warm reception during his first spring training appearance.

“Oakland’s going to support us no matter what,” Fiers said after throwing two perfect innings against

San Francisco. “They’ve always been there. Just a great day of baseball.”

While Fiers is now widely known for his connection to the Astros’ signstealing, he has thrown two no-hitters over nine seasons and is coming off his best year in the big leagues.

When the Oakland lineup was announced before the game, he received loud cheers from the A’s side of the stadium. The Giants’ side was a little less enthusiastic, but certainly not hostile.

“Overall, a good day,” Fiers said. “I was able to throw strikes, I was able to put balls where I wanted to and threw all my pitches.”

Diamondbacks

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner has been competing in rodeo events under the alias Mason Saunders and even won $26,560 in a team-roping competition in December. Bumgarner said he has discretely competed in rodeos for a while, including in March 2019 two days before pitching for the Giants in a

Cactus League spring training game. He has been roping since he was 15 or 16 years old and said he has been at it so long that “it’s just part of who you are.”

Padres

Free agent second baseman Brian Dozier and San Diego reached agreement on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Dozier has played in the World Series the past two years. He hit 20 home runs with 50 RBIs for the champion Washington Nationals last season.