(AP) - Marlins ace Josh Johnson has started earning his $39 million contract. Making his first start since signing his lucrative four-year deal in January, Johnson allowed two runs in two innings in Florida's 6-5 win over the Cardinals on Saturday. Johnson, who'll be Florida's opening day starter after posting a 15-5 record in 2009, looked like an ace in a perfect first inning that ended with Albert Pujols looking at a called third strike. But he was a little rusty in the second inning, which started with Colby Rasmus connecting on a 2-2 pitch for a long home run to right field. Right-hander Kyle Lohse made his spring debut for the Cardinals and allowed one run on six hits in 2 2-3 innings.
(AP) - Carlos Quentin homered twice off Carlos Silva and drove in five runs Saturday, leading a Chicago White Sox split squad to a 15-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Healthy after being limited to 99 games and 21 homers last season due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, Quentin hit a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run home run in the second as part of an 18-hit, five-homer attack. Silva, hoping to earn one of two available spots in the Cubs' rotation, allowed six runs on seven hits in two innings. Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano, playing for the first time since arthroscopic knee surgery cut short his disappointing 2009 season, made a diving catch in the second inning but also booted a routine ball for an error and went 0 for 2 at the plate.
(AP) - Freddy Garcia, in line to be the Chicago White Sox's fifth starter, gave up a run in his first two innings of the spring to lead the way in a 8-4 split-squad victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jered Mitchell, the White Sox's 2009 first-round draft pick, had a pair of RBI doubles and scored three runs. Juan Pierre started for the White Sox in left field against the team that traded him this offseason and had a hit in three at-bats with a stolen base. Dodgers starter Eric Stults, in competition for the Dodgers' final starting spot, gave up a walk in two scoreless innings. James McDonald, also vying to be the fifth starter, gave up three runs on three hits and a walk in two innings.
