Martinez Has a Pain-Free First Outing

Pedro Martinez’s first pitch of the exhibition season was a ball. His first outing was a loss. His first impressions were obvious in the smile on his face.

He was healthy again. There was no sign of the injury below his right shoulder blade that plagued him in last year’s playoffs.

“Everything went fine. Those are not the results I would like,” Martinez said Monday at Port Charlotte, Fla.

“I just wanted to see how I felt in a game because after last season I never faced a batter. This is the first time. It’s a big test.”

Using mostly fastballs, Martinez gave up three runs and three hits--a double, triple and home run--while throwing 32 pitches in the first two innings. He took the loss in the Texas Rangers’ 13-6 decision over the Boston Red Sox.

For the most part, he stayed away from breaking balls. He didn’t throw nearly as hard as he can and struck out only one but walked none. He threw one wild pitch.

But the regular season doesn’t start for another month.

“His delivery was good. He wasn’t trying to overthrow at all,” Boston Manager Jimy Williams said.

“How much weight do you put into the first time out? Let’s be honest here. Or the second time out? The main thing is he’s healthy.”

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Chicago Cub pitcher Kerry Wood passed another test after throwing curveballs for the first time since undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery last April.

Wood, 22, threw to catcher Jose Molina from 55 feet and was pleased with the results.

“It went great,” Wood said. “I had no pain. I was surprised. They were breaking pretty good, actually.”

Wood, the 1998 NL rookie of the year, missed last season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow.

Until Monday, he had thrown only fastballs and changeups when working off the mound.

Wood is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday and his first appearance in an exhibition game could come as early as March 18 or 19, according to Cub Manager Don Baylor.

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A spokesman for Denver businessman Donald Sturm denied a report that Sturm recently made a bid for the Kansas City Royals.

The Associated Press, citing two sources close to the process who asked not to be identified, said Friday that Sturm and Miles Prentice submitted offers in the range of about $115 million for the club.

“All I can tell you is I haven’t been working on any acquisition of any sports team for Donald Sturm,” Sturm’s lawyer, Paul Jacobs, told the Kansas City Star.

“To the best of my knowledge, he’s not made a bid.”

Neither Jacobs nor Sturm returned calls Monday to the AP.

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Right-hander Jeff Weaver was one of six players the Detroit Tigers signed, bringing their 40-man roster under contract. The others signed were left-handers Sean Runyan and Ramon Tatis, catchers Javier Cardona and Robert Fick, and center fielder Juan Encarnacion. Outfielder Marc Newfield was released.

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Daryle Ward hit his second home run in two days as the Houston Astros remained perfect this spring with a 8-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at Kissimmee, Fla. . . . Toronto right-hander Chris Carpenter will take several days off because of a swollen right elbow and should be pitching again by next Monday, the team announced. . . . Richie Sexson drove in four runs with a home run and a double as the Cleveland Indians routed the New York Yankees, 15-1, at Winter Haven, Fla., dropping New York to 0-5 this spring. The World Series champions have been outscored 49-16 and have not held a lead in any game this year.