Kim allows eight runs in his Rockies debut
New team, same old problems for Byung Hyun Kim.
The Texas Rangers spoiled Kim's debut with the Colorado Rockies, battering the newly acquired sidearmer for eight runs on six hits, including a pair of homers, in an 11-7 exhibition win last night at Albuquerque.
Kim, acquired from the Red Sox Wednesday, allowed five extra-base hits and retired just one batter before leaving. The Rangers scored 10 runs and sent 14 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fourth.
"It's definitely not the way I wanted to make a first impression, but at the same time it's good to be part of this team," Kim said through a translator.
Brown's back hurting
Kevin Brown left his final spring outing with a sore back after three unproductive innings in New York's 4-3 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Lakeland, Fla. The 39-year-old Brown could miss his first regular-season start on Friday. He was ineffective last season with the Yankees (22 starts, 10-6, 4.09 ERA) because of back problems.
Brown allowed four runs and six hits to the Tigers and told pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre after the third inning he felt "stiff and achy."
LA's Gagne goes on DL
Los Angeles Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career because of a sprained right elbow. Gagne felt soreness in his elbow, the one he had repaired with Tommy John surgery in 1995, after Thursday's game . . . Tampa Bay All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford agreed to a $15.25 million, four-year contract that could be worth up to $32.5 million over six seasons . . . The Washington Nationals got their active roster to the 25-man limit by reassigning 36-year-old three-time All-Star Carlos Baerga to their minor league camp. Baerga, who played with the Red Sox in 2002, lost the final spot to Tony Blanco, 23, a former Sox farmhand who has never played in the majors. Baerga will try to hook on with another team . . . More old Sox: Jose Offerman's contract was purchased by Philadelphia, completing the Phillies' 25-man roster . . . Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon made a surprise adjustment, moving Tike Redman into the No. 3 spot in the batting order. Jason Bay was expected to bat third after hitting .282 with 26 homers and 82 RBIs last season as the NL Rookie of the Year. Bay missed most of the exhibition season with a bruised wrist bone . . . Brad Halsey, acquired from the Yankees in the Randy Johnson deal, won the final spot in the Arizona Diamondbacks' rotation . . . New York Mets pitcher Kris Benson, slated to start Thursday, has a strained right pectoral muscle and won't start until next Saturday . . . New owner Lewis Wolff said general manager Billy Beane and team president Michael Crowley will have small ownership stakes in the Oakland A's.
