Seattle Mariners lost outfielder Milton Bradley to another ejection in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Bradley was ejected by plate umpire Jon Merry in the fourth inning for tossing his bat after taking a called third strike. It was his second ejection in three days. -- ESPN.com news services BECKETT RETURNS TO MOUND AFTER ILLNESS (9:49 p.m. ET)

Josh Beckett pitched 3 1/3 innings after missing his last start because of an illness, allowing four runs on six hits as the Boston Red Sox lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-7 on Friday. Beckett, who walked two and struck out one, was slated to pitch Sunday against the Minnesota Twins but was a late scratch. "The numbers don't look good, but the most important number today was 70 pitches," Beckett said. "It would've been nice to take 70 pitches a lot farther than 3 1/3 [innings], but I got my work in." Beckett was bedridden for four days and lost about three pounds while he was down with flu-like symptoms. He's still weak, but was eager to get back on the mound. "The last time I was 100 percent I was about 16 years old," Beckett said. "If we're looking for 100 percent, I think I might make two starts this year." Beckett expects to be ready for Boston's season opener April 4 against the New York Yankees. -- The Associated Press O'S MANAGER TREMBLEY: ROBERTS NEEDS GAME EXPERIENCE (8:00 p.m. ET)

With two weeks left in spring training, Orioles second baseman Brian Roberts still hasn't played in a game. And while manager Dave Trembley told ESPN.com on Friday that he's "encouraged" by what he's seen, he wants to see Roberts playing in some sort of games by the end of next week. "We go to Jupiter next week for two days [Tuesday and Wednesday]," Trembley said. "And when we get back from Jupiter, he's got to start playing some games [if he wants to be ready for opening day]." Trembley said that action could come in minor-league games, where Roberts could bat leadoff in every inning or every other inning. But he wants to see his second baseman get somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 at-bats before the Orioles head north. Nevertheless, Trembley said he's "encouraged by what we've seen the last couple of days." "He hit righthanded [in batting practice] yesterday. He hit lefthanded today," the manager said. "So we're encouraged. That's the best way to put it." -- Jayson Stark RAYS' HOWELL MAY NOT BE READY (6:43 p.m. ET)

Durable left-hander J.P. Howell might not be ready to open the regular season with the Tampa Bay Rays because of a weak shoulder. Howell has won more games in relief than any other pitcher over the last two seasons, but he has yet to pitch this spring. Manager Joe Maddon said Friday that fitness tests taken in February revealed a lack of strength in Howell's shoulder. Howell won 13 games and saved 20 in 2008 and 2009 while pitching 156 innings in 123 games. After dropping out of contention, the Rays shut him down last September, and they have been monitoring his strength level this spring. Maddon said the Rays are trying to get Howell stronger. Howell said "five to eight [appearances] would be awesome." -- The Associated Press TWINS TORCH EX-MATE JOHAN (5:27 p.m. ET)

Johan Santana's outing against his former team elicited fond memories if not a positive result. Santana lasted 3 1/3 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs in the New York Mets' 7-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Friday. "I had a great time over there, great seasons over there," said Santana, who the Twins traded to New York following the 2007 season. "They always find a way to play the game the right way and find the right guys to fill in." Santana struck out three and walked one. The perennial Cy Young candidate said he threw lots of change-ups. Though the location was good on most of the pitches, Santana said the ones that missed were hit hard. "I'm not just going out there and throw," Santana said. "You've got to pitch and get people out for sure. But at the same time, I'm getting all my work in. I felt pretty good. I'm pain free and that's the most important part of spring training for me." -- ESPN.com news services YANKS' STARS GEAR UP AS SEASON NEARS (5:15 p.m. ET)

Alex Rodriguez hit a long solo homer, CC Sabathia allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 6-2 in a split-squad game on Friday. Rodriguez hit his first homer, a towering drive over the scoreboard in left in the third off Rick Porcello, who was charged with four runs -- one earned -- and four hits over three innings. "That one felt really good just because it wasn't an everyday home run," Rodriguez said. "As you get closer to Opening Day, obviously, you've got to make sure you hone in on your swing, and so far so good." Sabathia, lined up to pitch the regular season opener April 4 at Boston, gave up four hits, two walks and struck out eight. He left in the sixth with two on -- both reaching on walks -- and one out. One of the baserunners scored later in the inning. "My offspeed pitches were good," Sabathia said. "Changeup was really good. Got some swings and misses on my cutter. Fastball was good, too. I was pleased with today." Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who had a two-run single in the second, was in the lineup and said his throwing hand is fine. He flexed the hand several times after diving for a ball in the fourth inning Thursday night but remained in the game. -- The Associated Press PIRATES MAKE SOME MOVES (4:59 p.m. ET)

Pittsburgh optioned top prospects third baseman Pedro Alvarez and outfielder Jose Tabata to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 23-year-old Alvarez was drafted second overall in 2008, but signed late and did not play in the minors that year. Last season, he hit a combined .288 with 27 home runs for Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona. He is being fast-tracked toward the majors and likely will join the Pirates sometime this season. The 21-year-old Tabata began last season at Double-A, then batted .276 in 32 games after being promoted to Indianapolis. He also is expected to reach Pittsburgh sometime this summer. -- The Associated Press INDIANS' TOP PROSPECT SENT TO TRIPLE-A (1:16 p.m. ET)

Hard-hitting catcher Carlos Santana, considered the top prospect in Cleveland's system, was among seven players optioned to the minors by the Cleveland Indians.

"He knows he is part of our future and he's going to make the decision for us," Indians manager Manny Acta said before his club played the San Francisco Giants. "He's going down there with a timetable. It's up to him. He's going to dictate that for us. He's not a finished product by any means. He needs to work pretty much on every part of his game still." Santana was sent to Triple-A Columbus along with right-handers Hector Rondon, Jeanmar Gomez and outfielder Jordan Brown. The Indians also sent infielder Carlos Rivero and outfielder Nick Weglarz to Double-A Akron. Infielder Beau Mills was reassigned to minor league camp. Santana, acquired in a 2008 trade from the Dodgers for third baseman Casey Blake, needs to work on his receiving skills to get ready for the majors. He's already a seasoned hitter; the switch-hitting 23-year-old batted .352 at Kinston (Class A) and .290 at Akron last season. He was named the Eastern League's MVP after leading the Aeros to the title.
-- ESPN.com news services