Cardinals Edge Tigers, Cubs, White Sox Lose

JUPITER, Fla. -- John Lackey pitched three perfect innings in his spring training debut, outpitching David Price in the St. Louis Cardinals' 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday.

"There's definitely some things to work on, but the main goal of throwing fastballs, building arm strength and locating it -- that was pretty good today," Lackey said.

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny let the 36-year-old Lackey set his own pace during camp and it has paid off. The right-hander struck out four and needed only 37 pitches.

"We put the plan together based on what he wanted," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "For us to say this is what we think you should do, for a guy who has been around as long as he has, I think is counter-productive."

In his third outing of the spring, David Price was nearly as efficient as Lackey, throwing four scoreless innings of one hit ball while striking out five and walking one. That was a lot better than five days ago, and a lot better than 10 days ago," Price said, referring to his first two spring starts. "It was good to get out there and to be able, not only be efficient but to execute, for the most part when I was out there on the mound."

Yoenis Cespedes returned to the Tigers lineup after missing a couple games with a quadriceps injury, and showed little sign of rust. He sent a pitch from Lackey to the right field warning track in the second inning and doubled off Carlos Villanueva in the fifth. Pete Kozma had an RBI single.

Padres 7, Cubs 0

Matt Kemp and Tommy Medica hit towering home runs off Jon Lester on a rough day for the new Chicago Cubs ace in the San Diego Padres' 7-0 victory on Monday. Lester hadn't allowed a run or walk in two starts and five innings. He was charged with six runs and seven hits before leaving with one out in the fourth. He was scheduled to go four innings.

Lester first started feeling uncomfortable in the bullpen when he said "everything was flat, ball was up." The left-hander issued a leadoff walk in a two-run second that included former Boston teammate Will Middlebrooks' wall double.

Kemp crushed an inside fastball to left an inning later that landed on a tent, his second homer of the spring with his new club. Lester returned for the fourth despite being at 62 pitches, then gave up three more hits, including Medica's two-run shot to center.

Diamondbacks 6, White Sox 2

Three pitchers in the thick of competitions to make their teams' opening-day rotation were on display when the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2 on Monday. None of them did anything to hurt his case.

Randall Delgado had another strong performances for the Diamondbacks and Carlos Rodon settled down after early control issues for the White Sox. Delgado allowed a run for the first time this spring. Tyler Saladino's homer was the only hit the Arizona right-hander gave up in three innings. Hard-throwing lefty Robbie Ray followed Delgado on the mound and struck out six in four innings Both are in the mix for the three vacant spots in the Diamondbacks' rotation.

Monday, March 16 Scoreboard

Boston 4, NY Mets 3

Houston 2, Atlanta 2

Washington 2, Houston 1

Baltimore 16, at Philadelphia 4

St. Louis 1, Detroit 0

Kansas City 6, Cleveland 5

Cincinnati 10, San Francisco 4

LA Dodgers 10, Oakland 5

San Diego 7, Chicago Cubs 0

LA Angels 5, Texas 3

Arizona 6, Chicago White Sox 2

Tuesday, March 17 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Baltimore, 12:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Washington at Detroit, 12:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.

Houston at Pittsburgh

St. Louis at Miami, 12:05 p.m.

Miami at NY Mets, 12:10 p.m.

Seattle at Chicago White Sox, 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Cleveland, 3:05 p.m.

San Diego at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

LA Dodgers at Texas, 3:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at San Diego, 3:05 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

LA Angels at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.