Maddux Looks Sharp, Padres Score 24 Runs In Win Over Rangers

Greg Maddux looked sharp in his last spring training start and the San Diego Padres put on quite the power display to back him. <br/><br/>Maddux had his longest outing of the spring, giving up two runs

Wednesday, March 28th 2007, 7:53 am

By: News On 6

Greg Maddux looked sharp in his last spring training start and the San Diego Padres put on quite the power display to back him.

Maddux had his longest outing of the spring, giving up two runs and striking out five in six innings, and San Diego banged out a spring-high 25 hits in a 24-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.

``Very pleased,'' Maddux said in Surprise, Ariz. ``I was glad to survive out there. It's not like your outfielders practice every day to catch balls in 20-mile-an-hour winds.''

Russell Branyan had four hits for San Diego, including his fourth and fifth home runs of the spring. He drove in five runs. Adrian Gonzalez hit his fifth homer and drove in three runs.

Kevin Millwood gave up 12 hits and nine earned runs in 4 1-3 innings for the Rangers.

``I'm not worried about it,'' Millwood said. ``Every time I made a mistake they hit it hard, and that doesn't usually happen.''

Albert Pujols got the most of his first home run of the spring and Barry Bonds put in one last Cactus League game before heading north for the start of the regular season.

And that was nothing compared to the show put on by Greg Maddux and the San Diego Padres.

Pujols hit a first-inning homer off Dodgers starter Brett Tomko that not only cleared the left-field fence but landed on the balcony outside the Florida Marlins' offices. The home run came in his 63rd at-bat.

``The last couple weeks have been tough,'' said Pujols, who had two of the Cardinals' six hits in their 3-0 victory and raised his average to .262. ``I haven't been swinging the bat too good. I've been working the last couple of days and seeing the ball better, putting together better at-bats, right where you want to be and this is the right time to do it.''

Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter allowed four hits in seven innings in Jupiter, Fla. He struck out five and walked two.

In Peoria, Ariz., Bonds went 1-for-2 as the designated hitter in the Giants' 9-8 win over the Seattle Mariners, his final work day in Arizona. A handful of Giants veterans, including new ace Barry Zito, also were scheduled to fly out Tuesday night a day before the team officially breaks camp following a game with the Milwaukee Brewers at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday.

``Most of these guys are ready to go, ready to get north,'' said bench coach Ron Wotus, the acting manager for a few days while Bruce Bochy attends his mother's funeral in Florida. ``We have been here a long time.''

Bonds batted .297 (11-for-37) with five home runs, three doubles and 10 RBIs in 15 Cactus League games.

Twins 4, Yankees 3

At Fort Myers, Fla., Carl Pavano allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, and Bobby Abreu and Josh Phelps homered for the Yankees.

Twins starter Boof Bonser gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Diamondbacks 13, Rockies 9

At Tucson, Ariz., Scott Hairston homered in each of his first three at-bats and finished with five RBIs after Arizona manager Bob Melvin told the 26-year-old outfielder he had made the team.

Nationals 5, Mets 3

At Viera, Fla., Austin Kearns went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for the Nationals, and Felipe Lopez had two hits and scored twice after missing a game because of a stiff neck.

Tigers 7, Braves 5

At Kissimmee, Fla., John Smoltz pronounced himself ready to pitch the season opener for Atlanta after turning in his worst outing of the spring. Smoltz allowed five earned runs and eight hits in four innings.

Athletics 8, Brewers 3

At Phoenix, Joe Kennedy struck out nine in five strong innings and Erubiel Durazo hit a three-run homer for Oakland. Kennedy allowed one run and four hits.

Phillies 6, Reds 2

At Clearwater, Fla., Jamie Moyer pitched seven sharp innings, and Pat Burrell and Rod Barajas hit solo homers for the Phillies.

Angels 12, White Sox 2

At Tempe, Ariz., Dustin Moseley, hoping to earn one of two vacant spots in the Angels' rotation, struck out six in six innings. Moseley allowed two runs and right hits _ he has given up five runs in 19 2-3 innings during spring training.

Pirates 3, Red Sox 2

At Fort Myers, Fla., Pittsburgh's Ronny Paulino continued his productive spring training with a two-run homer in the first, extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Cubs 13, Royals 10, 10 innings

At Mesa, Ariz., Ronny Cedeno hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez hit his sixth homer of the spring in a five-run Chicago second.

Astros 8, Indians 7, 10 innings

At Kissimmee, Fla., Morgan Ensberg homered and Chris Sampson, in the mix for the fifth spot in Houston's rotation, allowed one run and three hits in five innings. Casey Blake and Luis Rivas homered for the Indians.

Marlins 5, Orioles 3

At Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dan Uggla hit a two-run homer and Hanley Ramirez went 3-for-4 for Florida.

Devil Rays 1, Blue Jays 0

At Dunedin, Fla., Casey Fossum limited the Blue Jays to five hits in five shutout innings. The left-hander, who will start Tampa Bay's home opener on April 6 against Toronto, struck out three and walked one.