Lofton singles, scores run as Pirates beat Reds, 7-2
SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) – Kenny Lofton singled in his first at-bat with the Pittsburgh Pirates and later walked and scored a run Thursday during a 7-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Lofton, 35, agreed to $1,025,000, one-year contract last Friday. He had played in three minor league games before making his debut with the major league club.
“My legs aren’t exactly where I want them to be, but it’s normal,” said Lofton, who had been working out on his own.
Lofton and the Pirates faced a lineup of minor league pitchers, and none of them batted. In an unusual move, the managers agreed to use the designated hitter in a NL game.
Reds manager Bob Boone wanted to get third baseman Brandon Larson some at-bats without forcing him to play the field. Larson has been sidelined twice this spring by a strained rib cage.
Baseball gave permission to use the DH. Larson, who hadn’t played since last Sunday, went 1-for-4.
Shortstop Barry Larkin was hit on the inside of the right elbow by a pitch from Pittsburgh’s Joe Beimel in the third inning and left the game as a precaution.
Larkin had a small welt in the muscle about an inch below the crook of the elbow. He missed a couple of games early in March after he was hit on the same elbow during a game against Cleveland.
He was squeezing a ball to work the affected forearm muscles after getting treatment. He said it was Boone’s idea to take him out of the game.
“I got some tingling sensations once again,” Larkin said. “You don’t want to develop any problem with the ulnar nerve.”
Salomon Torres, one of the candidates for the Pirates’ fifth starter role, gave up six hits and two runs in five innings. Nobody on either team had more than one hit or drove in more than one run.
NOTES: Stadium workers inspected all deliveries, an increase in security brought on by the attack of Iraq. One television in the Reds’ clubhouse showed the NCAA tournament, the other was tuned to war coverage. … With Lofton batting first and playing center, Brian Giles moved back to left field and Jason Kendall dropped to No. 2 in the batting order. “Kendall came up to me today and said he’s happy he doesn’t have to lead off anymore,” Lofton said. The Pirates used seven players at leadoff last season and were using Kendall in the role until Lofton signed.
AP-ES-03-20-03 1711EST