Cards’ Kelly sharp in spring debut
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Pitching for the first time since the NL championship series, Joe Kelly opened his bid for a spot in the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting rotation with two hitless innings in Friday’s 8-8 tie against the Houston Astros.
“There were no people calling me names out there today,” Kelly said of the difference in venues. “Warming up today in the bullpen, we had Cardinal fans down there, cheering you on, instead of people using derogatory terms and just screaming out hate and blasphemy towards you.”
Kelly, who is among three candidates to replace the injured Chris Carpenter in the Cardinals’ rotation, walked one hitter in each inning. He’s competing with Shelby Miller and Trevor Rosenthal and was the last of the three to pitch in an exhibition game.
“For the past three days I’ve been reminded by everyone in the clubhouse: ‘Are you ever going to pitch?’ ” Kelly said. “I think it made me even more anxious to get out here. I’m one of the last guys to even throw, but it was good to get out there.
“I’m not too happy about my walks. I felt maybe a tad rusty, but I went out there and got my ground balls. That’s part of my game and that’s what I try to do.”
Kelly, a 24-year- old right-hander, was 5-7 with a 3.53 ERA in 16 starts and eight relief appearances as a rookie last year.
“Everyone, of course, wants to start in the big leagues,” he said. “That’s ultimately what my goal is to do, so I guess that’s my preference. I’m happy I’m even given a chance to get that role.”
Adron Chambers, Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma had two hits and drove in two runs each for the Cardinals, who have won five straight.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was not with the team because he has flulike symptoms.
DEVELOPMENTS
Reds sign Mark Prior: Pitcher Mark Prior has joined the Cincinnati Reds in his latest come- back bid. The Reds signed the 32-year-old righty to a minor league contract. This is the fourth straight spring that the oft-injured pitcher has tried to make it back to the majors.
Prior pitched for Boston in Triple-A last season, making 19 relief appearances with a 3.96 ERA.
EXHIBITION GAMES
At Tampa, Fla., Roy Halladay allowed one run and three hits in 2¥ innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Yankees 10-5 on Friday, New York’s seventh straight spring loss. ... Brian Roberts had a leadoff home run and two other hits, Nolan Reimold and Wilson Betemit connected for consecutive home runs and the Baltimore Orioles beat a Pittsburgh Pirates split squad 6-5 on Friday. ... Jarrod Parker pitched two scoreless innings in his first spring start, a 13-9 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Phoenix.
Making his second start of spring training, Mark Buehrle allowed one run and three hits in two innings as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 at Dunedin, Fla. ... At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Detroit ace Justin Verlander pitched three perfect innings in the Tigers’ 6-2 loss to the New York Mets.
Carlos Gonzalez drove in his first three runs with a homer and double, leading the Colorado Rockies over the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 at Scottsdale, Ariz. ... Zack Greinke was hit hard in his second spring training appearance, allowing three doubles and a triple over three innings at Glendale, Ariz., as a Los Angeles Dodgers split squad lost to the San Diego Padres 7-5. ... Jason Bay, Michael Morse, Michael Saunders and Carlos Peguero homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8- 6 at Peoria, Ariz.
Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija, a candidate to start opening day at Pittsburgh, became the first Cubs pitcher to get through three innings this spring in Chicago’s 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Mesa, Ariz. ... Bryce Harper homered for Washington, Jason Heyward went deep for Atlanta, and the Nationals knocked off the Braves 6-5 in Kissimee, Fla.