Giants' Zito looks like old self in debut

PEORIA, Ariz. " Barry Zito looked like his old self in his first spring outing. Carlos Silva's two innings also were familiar, in a much different way.

The stronger, sleeker Zito looked like the dominant left-hander of years ago in San Francisco's 6-4 loss to Seattle on Saturday, freezing the Mariners with his familiar, bending curveball in two hitless innings.

"I've definitely gone through a lot of stuff in the last year," said Zito, who lost a career-high 17 games in 2008, the second year of a $126 million, seven-year deal.

"I'm getting back to being myself again."

Silva's flashback was more recent. And more ominous.

He allowed five hits and two runs in two innings for Seattle, reminiscent of when he went 4-15 with a career-high 6.46 ERA in 2008 after signing a $48 million, four-year contract.

Athletics 1, Indians 0.

PHOENIX " A's starter Dallas Braden pitched two perfect innings with the flulike virus that has hit the Oakland clubhouse hard.

"I got it," he said. "Jerry Blevins is my roomy and he's been sick the last two days. It's no big deal."

The A's have been sending players home with the illness " nicknamed The Crud " including Blevins, which saps energy.

The 25-year-old left-handed Braden is also pitching with a sinus condition that makes it impossible for him to breathe out of his nose. The problem began this winter and he will have corrective surgery in the offseason. In the meantime he continues with treatment.

As for his first outing of the spring, "Efficiency was the key," he said. "Get in there and get out."

Braden has developed a cutter and put aside his slider for the time being, courtesy of some advice from Russ Springer, who worked on the grip with him.

"I throw a fastball in that cuts a little but that's involuntary," Braden said. "Now I'm consciously throwing it. Russ Springer is such a valuable resource with his experience that if he puts his cleats on a certain way I want to know about it."

Royals 2, Padres 2,

10 innings

At Surprise, Ariz., Brian Bannister retired all six San Diego batters he faced in his spring training debut.

Kansas City also shored up its bullpen, agreeing to a two-year contract with right-hander Juan Cruz that includes an option for 2011.

Twins 7, Yankees 3

At Tampa, Fla., Francisco Liriano allowed three runs " two earned " and four hits over two innings in his first spring start for Minnesota.

Alex Rodriguez, who went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly for New York, is scheduled to meet with Major League Baseball officials on Sunday to discuss his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas.

Brewers 5, Angels 3

At Phoenix, Milwaukee's Braden Looper was scratched from his Cactus League debut after feeling tightness in his left oblique muscle near the end of his bullpen warmup.

"I stepped off and thought it felt funny," Looper said. "I thought about throwing a pitch and thought, 'you know, it's just not worth it."'

Tigers 7, Mets 2

At Lakeland, Fla., Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge and Mike Hessman went deep for Detroit.

Orioles 4, Marlins 2

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie tossed three shutout innings in his only spring start before he joins the United States team for the World Baseball Classic.

Cubs 13, White Sox 0

At Mesa, Ariz., Aaron Heilman pitched two scoreless innings and Brad Snyder hit a grand slam during the Cubs' nine-run seventh.

Pirates 6, Astros 5

At Kissimmee, Fla., Brandon Moss, Craig Monroe, Jeff Salazar and Robinzon Diaz homered for Pittsburgh.

Rangers 6,

Diamondbacks 4

At Tucson, Ariz., Brandon McCarthy had an up-and-down outing in his first start for the Rangers, giving up two runs and two hits in two innings.

Dodgers 13, Rockies 5

At Tucson, Ariz., Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer as Los Angeles beat Colorado to drop the Rockies to 0-4.

Red Sox (ss) 14, Northeastern 0, 6 1/2 innings

At Fort Myers, Fla., Jed Lowrie hit a three-run triple, and Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis had RBI singles.

Red Sox (ss) 16, Reds 5

At Fort Myers, Fla., Clay Buchholz worked two scoreless innings, and Brad Wilkerson homered to lead Boston's 20-hit attack.