Street gets closer role with Rockies
Huston Street was given a second chance at closing when he was traded to the Colorado Rockies in the offseason, and he earned it after getting off to a rough start this spring.
Street was acquired as part of the deal that sent Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics in November. He was picked to be the Rockies' closer before their 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
"This is what I came to camp to accomplish and it's a role I feel comfortable with. There is a lot of responsibility that goes along with it," Street said. "My teammates should expect me to not only get the job done but be prepared to get the job done. That's what I spent the whole offseason doing. I feel like this is just the beginning."
The right-hander was demoted from his closer role last season and finished 7-5 with a 3.73 ERA and 18 saves in 25 chances. He used that lack of success as motivation.
"There is no worse feeling in the world than having that taken away from you. That was kind of the motivation this whole offseason, that was everyday that I woke up," Street said.
Street, with 94 career saves, allowed only five hits and a run in his last eight outings to beat out Manuel Corpas, but had a 5.23 ERA (six runs, 10 1-3 innings) for spring training.
Corpas broke camp a year ago as the Rockies closer before losing the job to Brian Fuentes, who signed with the Angels as a free agent. Corpas pitched 10 innings this spring, allowing just one run and eight hits for a 0.90 ERA.
In other news:
-Seattle right fielder Ichiro Suzuki was sidelined for the third straight day with fatigue and was examined by a doctor. Suzuki, who returned from the World Baseball Classic on March 26, was lightheaded earlier in the week. He played four games with Seattle after helping Japan win its second World Baseball Classic.
"He came and we talked to him," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "He said he's tired. He's got some fatigue. We're going to make sure that nothing's wrong and have him checked out by the doctor."
Results of the exam were expected to be available Friday.
-At Sarasota, Fla., fans booed the mayor before Cincinnati's final spring training game in Florida. Only 2,935 fans showed up for the last game, less than half the capacity of Ed Smith Stadium. The Reds have trained in Florida since the 1920s, but are moving to Arizona -- the site of their first camp in 1891 -- to share a complex with the Cleveland Indians.
The Reds wanted to stay in Sarasota and offered to sign a long-term lease if the facility was upgraded. Voters rejected a stadium tax hike in 2007 and local politicians declined to commit $18 million to the facility, prompting the Reds to leave.
-Andruw Jones earned Texas Rangers' final roster spot. Jones, who turns 32 on April 23, got the last spot over Frank Catalanotto, who was placed on irrevocable release waivers.
Jones hit 26 or more home runs from 1998-2007 with the Atlanta Braves. He signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers after the 2007 season and hit .156 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 75 games. He was placed on the disabled list three times with a knee injury and had to have surgery.
Pirates (ss) 6, Reds 5
At Sarasota, Fla., Reds starter Edinson Volquez failed to make it out of the fourth inning with a sloppy performance -- five hits, three walks, three runs.
Cardinals 6, Marlins 3
At Jupiter, Fla., Florida Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson finished his first healthy spring in three years with a strong start. Johnson, who will start the second game of the season, allowed a run and five hits in four innings to finish with a 3.23 ERA in seven Grapefruit League games -- six starts.
Mets 9, Orioles 8
At Port St. Lucie, Fla., Ramon Castro's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning completed a comeback from an eight-run deficit. The Mets play for the first time at their new Citi Field on Friday night when Boston visits for an exhibition.
Mike Pelfrey of the Mets gave up eight runs on 10 hits and one walk in four innings.
Braves 2, Astros 1
At Kissimmee, Fla., Chipper Jones, who's been bothered by an oblique muscle injury, went 2-for-2 for Atlanta.
Nationals 12, Phillies 10
At Clearwater, Fla., Washington's Ryan Zimmerman hit two home runs off Jamie Moyer, and Philadelphia's Ryan Howard hit his 10th longball of spring training. The 46-year-old Moyer gave up 11 hits and nine runs in four innings.
Tigers 8, Blue Jays 5
Lakeland, Fla., Brandon Inge hit his fifth homer of the spring and had three RBIs for Detroit. Carlos Guillen and Cabrera each had two RBIs.
Cubs 9, Indians 8
At Mesa, Ariz., Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster gave up five hits and three runs while walking none and striking out seven. He yielded homers to Shin-Soo Choo in the first inning and pinch-hitter Andy Marte in the second.
Twins 7, Red Sox 3
At Fort Myers, Fla., Brad Penny made his last audition for a spot in Boston' rotation, giving up three runs and five hits in five innings.
Francisco Liriano learned before the game he will start opening day for the Twins against the Seattle Mariners, after Scott Baker was placed on the 15-day disabled list with stiffness in his shoulder. Liriano struck out three and walked one in an abbreviated outing, because he'll pitch in the opener on three days' rest.
Mariners 18, Padres 3
At Peoria, Ariz., San Diego's Chris Young labored through 3 2-3 innings, allowing nine runs on nine hits and four walks.
Brewers 2, White Sox 1
At Phoenix, Jeff Suppan scattered three hits and allowed one run over five innings. After the game, Brewers manager Ken Macha made official what has been assumed all spring -- that Suppan will start Milwaukee's opener Tuesday in San Francisco.
Rangers 9, Royals 3
At Surprise, Ariz., Scott Feldman allowed a run and three hits in his sixth spring training start.
Horacio Ramirez, who will be the Royals' No. 5 starter, gave up six runs on nine hits, including a three-run homer to Adam Fox in the fifth. He has a 9.00 ERA in seven exhibition games.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index
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