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"It's just one at-bat," the Rockies first baseman said. "Don't get me wrong, it is a lot better than a groundout to second base."

Helton hit Chris Young's 2-1 pitch in the first inning over a 35-foot wall in center field, leading Colorado to a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Helton, who played only two games after July 4 due to severe back pain, received a standing ovation from a crowd of 4,927 as he ran around the bases at Hi Corbett Field after his two-run shot.

CUBS SKIDDING (9:32 p.m. ET)
After the Cubs lost their sixth straight game, manager Lou Piniella decided it was time to send a message to his team.

"We're not hitting at all," he said after a 7-2 loss on Sunday to the Rangers. "And I haven't seen anyone ask for extra batting practice or anything. If I were a hitter I'd rather get to where I wanted to get and then back off a little bit as opposed to continuing to try to get where I wanted to get. The sooner you get there the better it is.

"Look, spring training wins or losses don't mean anything," Piniella continued, "but you don't want to get in the habit of getting ... beat everyday either. That I can tell you."

Chicago has lost eight of nine.

PERALTA NOT HIGH ON THIRD (7:51 p.m. ET)
Indians veteran shortstop Jhonny Peralta is skeptical about shifting over to play third base.

"I don't want to play third base," Peralta said in the morning before boarding a bus to go to an exhibition game in Phoenix against the Oakland Athletics -- where he made his first Cactus League start at third.

"I feel good at shortstop, but will do whatever they want. They say I will play a couple of games there. That's OK. Just don't forget that I am a good shortstop."

Indians manager Eric Wedge said he is well aware of Peralta's value at short and that he doesn't plan a permanent move -- for now.

"We want to play him a little third now, just in case we need him during the season," Wedge said. "You never know what might happen. Jhonny definitely is someone who can do it if we need him. But make no mistake, he's our shortstop."

Before the Indians made a New Year's Eve trade for versatile Mark DeRosa to play third, Wedge spoke about Peralta possibly moving to third with smooth-fielding second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera going back to his natural spot at short.

DeRosa primarily played second last year with the Chicago Cubs and the ring-around-the-infield scenario could occur at any time should Wedge get the inclination.

CORDERO HAS X-RAY (7:46 p.m. ET)
Reds closer Francisco Cordero gave up a homer run to the Blue Jays Scott Rolen with the bases empty in the seventh.

Cordero also gave up a two-run homer to J.P. Arencibia in his one inning of work. The right-hander had an X-ray on his right ankle earlier Sunday -- the same ankle where doctors removed a bone spur in September. He has had stiffness there recently.

SIZEMORE GETS SOME WORK (7:25 p.m. ET)
Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore, easing his way back slowly from a groin injury that prompted him to pull out of the World Baseball Classic, had two at-bats at designated hitter in Cleveland's 8-5 Cactus League loss to Oakland on Sunday.

Sizemore walked and flied out in two plate appearances against lefty Brett Anderson before being lifted for Travis Hafner, who has had only four at-bats this spring while coming back from offseason shoulder surgery.

Manager Eric Wedge said Sizemore will DH again Monday against White Sox lefty John Danks, but could resume playing center field in a "couple of days."

-- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com

BURNETT MAKES DEBUT (6:00 p.m. ET)
A.J. Burnett threw two scoreless innings in his spring debut to help the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 12-3 on Sunday.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi had limited Burnett to bullpen sessions and simulated games.

New York also announced that All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez will have arthroscopic hip surgery Monday and is expected to miss six to nine weeks. The slugger will need further surgery after the season.

SCHMIDT TO MAKE START (4:47 p.m. ET)
Jason Schmidt's long road back to the major leagues is becoming a little shorter. The right-hander will make his first "A" game exhibition start in two years in Arizona, manager Joe Torre said, according to MLB.com.

Schmidt is recovering from two shoulder injuries. He signed a three-yeat, $47 million contract in December 2006 but made only six starts for the Dodgers in 2007 before injuries halted his career.

He is battling for the fifth starter spot with Los Angeles.

ANDERSON NOT READY YET (4:43 p.m. ET)
Garret Anderson is limping through his first weeks with the Braves.

He strained his right calf before Friday's spring game and the 36-year-old is not close to returning to the field, according to MLB.com.

When asked if he would miss at least 10 days, Anderson said: "I've talked to the media long enough that I can't even say that. I don't like to commit to days with injuries, because when 10 days comes, I've got to talk to you again about it. So let's check in periodically and we'll go from there. It will be easier that way, because I really don't know."

Anderson spent the first 15 seasons of his career with the Angels before signing with the Braves in the offseason. He is penciled in as the starting left fielder.

DODGERS' TICKET SALES UP (4:37 p.m. ET)
The Dodgers sold more than 49,000 single-game tickets when they went on sale Saturday, a 33 percent increase from last year.

Fans bought 37,000 tickets on the first day of sales a year ago, the team said. The Dodgers did not increase prices from 2008.

The sales boost came three days after Manny Ramirez and the team reached agreement on a $45 million, two-year deal to bring the free agent slugger back.

"Enthusiasm is high," said Dennis Mannion, the club's chief operating officer.

The club, which brought back free agents Ramirez, Casey Blake, and Rafael Furcal, and which added such stars as Orlando Hudson and Randy Wolf, held tickets at 2008 prices.

BREWERS CUT GAGNE LOOSE (4:31 p.m. ET)
Eric Gagne, who came to Brewers camp looking for a roster spot, is finished in Milwaukee after a second doctor reported the right-hander has a frayed rotator cuff.

On Sunday, the team released Gagne from his minor league contract to allow him to begin a rehabilitation program for his shoulder.

Gagne was 4-3 with 10 saves and a 5.44 ERA for the Brewers last season.

PELFREY FEELING BETTER (2:11 p.m. ET)
Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey said the muscle strain in his lower left leg felt "much better" Sunday, according to Newsday.

Pelfrey will miss Monday's scheduled start against the Orioles but should be able to make his next turn in the rotation over the weekend.

"It's still sore and stiff, but a lot better," Pelfrey said, according to Newsday.

LOWELL LIKELY TO MAKE SPRING DEBUT TUESDAY (2:04 p.m. ET)
Mike Lowell is expected to make his spring training debut Tuesday as he continues his recover from offseason hip surgery.

Lowell will be the designated hitter against the Orioles, and if all goes well, he'll play third base against the Yankees on Friday.

"If things go according to plan, he will get a couple of at-bats on [March 10th] as the DH," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said, according to MLB.com. "I kind of reserve the right to change this. But then we have a night game, three days later, maybe he'll play third base then. That's what he's shooting for. Our medical people don't seem to have a problem with it."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.