Jonathan Sanchez had his strongest outing of the spring Monday, giving up one run on three hits and striking out 11 in six innings as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-6. Sanchez, who threw a no-hitter against San Diego on July 10, gave up only one hit after the first inning. Rickie Weeks homered with one out in the sixth inning. John Bowker, making a bid for an outfield spot on the Giants' opening day roster, continued his strong hitting with his fifth home run and a double. Bowker hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning, one of two given up by Brewers starter Dave Bush. Eugenio Velez went deep with a man on in the first for San Francisco. -- The Associated Press PINEIRO DOMINATES (7:25 p.m. ET)

Joel Pineiro took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Kansas City Royals 10-2 on Monday. Pineiro worked 6 2/3 innings, his longest of five spring appearances, and allowed only two hits and a run with two walks and two strikeouts. Over his last 15 2/3 innings, Pineiro has allowed three earned runs. His spring ERA is now 3.48. Scott Podsednik?s lead-off double in the sixth broke up the no-hitter. Podsednik scored one out later on Rick Ankiel?s double. Royals starter Kyle Farnsworth made his second start and fifth appearance of the spring and allowed one hit in two innings. Royals closer Joakim Soria was hit hard, allowing four hits and four earned runs without recording an out. -- The Associated Press CALLASPO HURTING (5:44 p.m. ET)

Alberto Callaspo may not be ready for the Kansas City Royals season opener April 5 with Detroit because of an irritation in his right side. Callaspo has been held out of all baseball activities since the injury, which occurred Friday while taking batting practice. Callaspo hit .300 last season with 41 doubles and 11 home runs. He was slated to bat third and play third base. -- The Associated Press PIRATES TO BAT PITCHER EIGHTH (5:44 p.m. ET)

Andrew McCutchen hit one of Pittsburgh's four home runs and the Pirates unveiled their new-look batting order Monday in a 13-1 romp over the Houston Astros. Pirates manager John Russell plans to begin the season with his pitcher hitting eighth, a move that will shift McCutchen from leadoff to second in the batting order. With pitcher Paul Maholm in the No. 8 spot, Akinori Iwamura hit leadoff, McCutchen was in the No. 2 spot and shortstop Bobby Crosby batted ninth. The only change Russell might make would be putting Ronny Cedeno, scratched because of lower back pain, in the lineup instead of Crosby. Iwamura hit a three-run homer and McCutchen, Brandon Jones and Andy LaRoche had two-run shots. "It sets us up to score more runs," Russell said. "It really seems to make a lot of sense, a way to get more guys in scoring position in front of Aki, Andrew, [Garrett] Jones and ([Ryan] Doumit. It creates good balance in the lineup." The Pirates claimed RHP Hayden Penn off waivers from the Florida Marlins. To clear space on the 40-man roster, OF Brandon Moss was designated for assignment. The Pirates have 10 days to trade, release or waive him. Moss, a former Red Sox prospect acquired in the Jason Bay trade in July 2008, hit .081 this spring. He hit .232 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 178 games with Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old Penn was 1-0 with a 7.77 ERA in 16 games with Florida last season and is 4-6 in 30 games with the Orioles and Marlins. For the Astros, right-handed pitcher Roy Oswalt (left hamstring tightness) was examined in Houston by Dr. Michael McCann. Oswalt received an injection in his back and will make his scheduled start Wednesday. Oswalt is expected to start as planned on Opening Day. -- The Associated Press CARPENTER GETS NOD; GARCIA BATTLES (5:37 p.m. ET)

Cardinals manager Tony La Russa confirmed that Chris Carpenter will start Opening Day in Cincinnati. And Jaime Garcia kept up his bid for a spot in the St. Louis rotation, pitching six innings Monday as the Cardinals beat the Minnesota Twins. Garcia gave up two runs and eight hits without a walk. La Russa said there probably would be an announcement about the starting staff. "He knew what was at stake and he handled himself well," La Russa said. "He got a lot of balls on the ground and threw a good assortment of pitches." Kyle McClellan, who was in competition with Garcia and Rich Hill for the final rotation spot, has been a valuable member of the bullpen the last two seasons with a 3.73 ERA in 134 games. He can be used in the middle to late innings. "That's where we need him," manager Tony La Russa said. "I just don't think we have enough depth." Said McClellan: "It's pretty obvious with [Garcia] in our rotation it's going to be a very solid rotation. I can go back to the bullpen and improve on what I've done the last two years." Albert Pujols and Ryan Ludwick homered off Twins starter Kevin Slowey. Minor leaguer Daniel Descalso hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to win it. -- The Associated Press YANKEES HURLER BRIDGES GAP BETWEEN RIGHT, LEFT (2:53 p.m. ET)

Yankees minor league ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte is expected to pitch in his first major league spring training game during Tuesday's split-squad contest against Atlanta. Venditte, who uses a six-finger glove, pitched at Class-A Charleston and Tampa last season, posting a combined 4-2 record with 22 saves. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says he has wanted to see Venditte pitch all spring. Girardi earlier this spring asked that Venditte be sent over for a big league game from the minor league complex. Yankees Opening Day starter CC Sabathia is scheduled to start the game with the Braves. Also, reliever Alfredo Aceves has back tightness and will not pitch for the next few days. -- The Associated Press METS' REYES TAKES BATTING PRACTICE (2:18 p.m. ET)

Jose Reyes is a step closer to appearing in a game for the first time this spring. The New York Mets' shortstop took batting practice against minor league pitchers Monday morning and said the session went better than expected. Reyes has participated in six workouts since returning to camp Wednesday, following a three-week absence with a hyperactive thyroid that prevented him from doing any physical activity. "I didn't expect to hit the ball that hard today," Reyes said of the session. "I expected to swing at a couple and miss, but it was better than I expected." The two-time All-Star hasn't played in a game, other than an intrasquad scrimmage, since last May when he was sidelined because of a hamstring injury. Reyes said he still doesn't know when he will get into a game or if he will be ready for Opening Day, but he hasn't had any problems since returning. "I haven't played since last May so I can't wait to get on the field and play with my teammates, but right now we're going to take it one day at a time and see what happens next," he said. -- The Associated Press MORROW RESUMES THROWING FOR BLUE JAYS (2:09 p.m. ET)

Toronto right-hander Brandon Morrow threw 52 pitches in a simulated game after being shut down for a week due to a "dead arm." He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four of 14 batters. He says he "felt great, could've kept going." Morrow, projected as the No. 3 starter in the Blue Jays rotation, is scheduled to make his final spring start Saturday at Houston and said he could go five or six innings against the Astros. He took himself out of his previous start on March 19 against Houston after experiencing soreness in his right shoulder while warming up in the bullpen. -- The Associated Press BEDARD RETURNS TO MOUND AT MARINERS CAMP (1:22 p.m. ET)

Erik Bedard is back on a mound for the Mariners -- albeit at less than half speed. The oft-injured left-hander took his first step to rejoining Seattle's jumbled rotation by tossing about 20 pitches off the mound out of the stretch position Monday morning. General manager Jack Zduriencik, special assistant Tony Blengino, manager Don Wakamatsu, pitching coach Rick Adair, two other coaches and two trainers watched the 6-minute session in a side bullpen. The Mariners estimate Bedard could pitch again by June, though this mound work is earlier than originally expected. Bedard joked to Zduriencik his throws were "all strikes." -- The Associated Press NATIONALS' FIFTH STARTER "UP IN THE AIR" (1:19 p.m. ET)

Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman says the team has settled on four-fifths of its starting rotation, with 1997 World Series MVP Livan Hernandez and Craig Stammen earning spots along with Opening Day starter John Lannan and Jason Marquis. Stammen will be the team's No. 3 starter, and Hernandez earned the fourth spot after signing a minor league contract in February. Riggleman says Monday the fifth starter's job is "up in the air," with Scott Olsen, Garrett Mock and J.D. Martin in the running. The Nationals have some time to make a decision, because an off day early in the regular season means they won't need a fifth starter until April 11. -- The Associated Press