Sammy Sosa was a big hit in his Orioles debut, and Pedro Martinez felt so good in his first start for the Mets that he threw 60 pitches.
Mark Mulder, Carl Pavano, Derek Lowe and Jon Lieber all took the mound Friday as several teams got a first look at their big offseason acquisitions.
Sosa homered and had two hits in Baltimore's 3-1 loss to the Florida Marlins at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After sending a drive over the left-field wall in the seventh inning, Sosa inaugurated the post-homer routine he perfected with the Chicago Cubs, hopping in the batter's box then touching his heart and pointing skyward upon reaching home.
Sosa, playing DH because of a slight groin strain, came to the Orioles last month in a trade with the Cubs, who all but gave away the slugger after he wore out his welcome in the Windy City.
"Those guys love me already," he said. "I'm such a perfect fit here, I'm so happy to be here in a new house. It's incredible, let me tell you the truth. I feel like I've been here forever."
At Jupiter, Florida, Martinez picked up right where he left off last season. In three innings, the 33-year-old right-hander allowed three hits, struck out three and was credited with the win -- a 7-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals -- in his first outing since leaving Boston for a US$53 million, four-year contract with the Mets.
Martinez threw 60 pitches, but new Mets manager Willie Randolph had no problem letting Martinez go that long this early in spring training.
"We're not going to get crazy about pitch counts," rookie manager Willie Randolph said. "We don't worry about that because he's in great shape. You see him work. He's not going to break. He'll be fine."
Mulder, on the other hand, was wild from the start and lasted just one inning for St. Louis. He walked four and gave up a two-run single to Cliff Floyd in his first appearance since he was traded by Oakland on Dec. 18.
"It's not that big a deal. I'm not that concerned with results in spring training. I just want to make good pitches," Mulder said. "Those are things you get out of the way now. As long as you're healthy and making good pitches, that to me is the only thing that matters."
In Kissimmee, Florida, Roger Clemens kicked off his 22nd major league season with two scoreless innings for the Houston Astros in a 5-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
"I'm just glad to get everything underway," said Clemens, his right shoulder, elbow and ankle heavily wrapped in ice. "I felt really good out there."
In other games:
Pirates 9, Yankees 6
In Bradenton, Florida, Pavano gave up three hits in two scoreless innings in his first start since signing as a free agent with New York. He struck out two. Ben Grieve, trying to win a job on the Pittsburgh bench, went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Jason Giambi is slated to make the trip to Lakeland on Saturday to play his first road game.
Braves 3, Dodgers 2
In Kissimmee, Florida, Lowe pitched three scoreless innings in his Los Angeles debut. Lowe, whose last appearance was in Boston's World Series-clinching victory, gave up only a single to Andruw Jones. Dodgers outfielder J.D. Drew got a chance to face his former team. Booed lustily in his two at-bats by the pro-Atlanta crowd, he struck out both times.
Tigers 3, Phillies 0
In Lakeland, Florida, Lieber made his first appearance with Philadelphia and gave up a hit, walked one and struck out a batter in three innings. Detroit prospect Tony Giarratano hit a two-run homer and Craig Monroe had an RBI double. Nate Robertson struck out three over two innings.
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