Central: Chuck Finley allowed three hits in five scoreless innings, striking out five as the Cleveland Indians downed Florida 7-5 in Viera, Fla. “I just try and get a little better each time I go out there,” said Finley, who signed with Cleveland as a free agent. Jolbert Cabrera was 2 for 2 with two RBIs for the Indians. Russell Branyan also had two RBIs and Jacob Cruz was 3 for 3 with three runs scored. Sandy Alomar hit a solo homer. Off the field, reliever Danys Baez, the 22-year Cuban defector signed to a $14.5 million, four-year contract last November, was optioned to Class AAA Buffalo on Monday.
East: Jose Canseco hit a two-run homer off Mariano Rivera during a three-run eighth inning as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the New York Yankees 8-6 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Tampa Bay announced Monday it will install a new synthetic surface at Tropicana Field, at a cost of $1 million, in time for its April 7 home opener. . . . Brian Rose, trying to become the No. 5 starter for the Boston Red Sox, allowed one hit in three scoreless innings in Jupiter, Fla. Boston beat Montreal 8-6 in 10 innings on RBI singles by Carlos Rodriguez and Dernell Stenson. . . . Harold Baines and Derrick May homered and Albert Belle hit a two-run single, but the Baltimore Orioles still lost 5-4 to Los Angeles in Ft. Lauderdale.
West: The Texas Rangers’ injury woes continue. Left-fielder Rusty Greer is returning to Dallas to have his right ankle examined. He missed the first four spring games due to ankle inflammation. On the field in Port Charlotte, Fla., Kenny Rogers allowed one run and two hits in six innings and struck out six as Texas beat Toronto 6-1. Ruben Mateo went 2 for 4 and Chad Curtis hit a solo homer for Texas. . . . Outfielder Shane Monahan, 7 for 8 for the Seattle Mariners this spring, was among nine players sent to the minor leagues.
