Try to look on the bright side
Twins center fielder Zack Granite loses a double off the bat of Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez in the sun during Monday’s 4-3 exhibition loss in Clearwater, Fla. (Chris O’Meara/AP )
RED SOX: LHP David Price faced Red Sox minor leaguers on a back field in his first camp outing, throwing three innings under controlled circumstances. Price, who threw 31 of 39 pitches for strikes and used only fastballs and cutters, gave up four hits, and struck out three of 13 batters. He expects to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday.
TWINS: Minnesota RHP Ervin Santana left spring training for New York to have his injured middle finger examined. Santana, out until mid-to-late April following surgery on the finger, could have a cast removed. Santana went 16-8 with a 3.28 ERA in 33 starts last season for the Twins, who earned an AL wild-card berth one year after losing 103 games.
NATIONALS: LHP Seth Romero was sent home for violating club policy, Yahoo Sports reported. The 25th overall draft pick in the 2017 draft didn’t violate any MLB rules, but no there was no reason yet for his dismissal. In his final college season at Houston, Romero was suspended the first two weeks for conduct detrimental to the team. The Houston Chronicle reported that he was suspended again that season for a failed drug test before a third incident led to his dismissal from the program.
EXTRA INNINGS: 3B Adrian Beltre had two hits in his first two at-bats of the spring during the Rangers’ 5-4 victory over the Giants. Beltre sat for the Rangers’ first 10 exhibitions because the club wants to take it slow with the four-time All-Star, who turns 39 next month and played in only 94 games last season because of injuries. ... Angels DH Shohei Ohtani went 0-for-3, lowering his batting average to .143. ... The A’s rallied from a nine-run deficit, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to salvage a 9-9 tie with the White Sox. ... The Mets announced Sunday that likely opening-day starter Jacob deGrom threw a 40-pitch bullpen session and felt no ill effects from the back stiffness that sidelined him for several days.