Spring training scoreboard

New York Mets: Right-hander Jeff D'Amico left after the first inning of his start against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday because of a strained tendon in his right wrist.

	D'Amico

D'Amico needed just four pitches to retire Atlanta in the first but experienced swelling in the wrist when he returned to the dugout. He had been scheduled to pitch three innings.

"I felt it a little bit this morning," D'Amico said. "Once I got on the mound warming up, it got a little bit worse, and then after the inning, it started to swell and it was pretty sore."

The extent of his injury wasn't known. He was scheduled to see a doctor later Sunday.

D'Amico was acquired by New York on Jan. 21 from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a three-team, 11-player deal. He is competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Jason Kendall, a three-time NL All-Star catcher despite playing in small-market, win-starved Pittsburgh, said he's willing to take on any role necessary to help bring about a Pirates turnaround.

	Kendall

"I'm fed up with losing. I preach this every year and the fans are sick of me hearing it, but it's not fun," Kendall said. "It's time for us to start winning."

The Pirates suffered through their ninth consecutive losing season last year, made more miserable for Kendall by tearing ligaments in his left thumb. The injury occurred in early April and led to a .266 batting average -- 50 points below his career average entering the season. To ease the discomfort of what often was terrible pain, he made 27 starts in the outfield.

Now, for the first time, Kendall -- who's starting the first year of a $60 million, six-year contract -- says he will gladly accept a move to another position at some point in his career. Previously, the son of former major league catcher Fred Kendall seemed reluctant to play any position but catcher.

The only question is what position it will be -- right or left field, where he played last year, or second base, where he has never played. Craig Biggio, a former Astros catcher, made the move to second base long ago and never looked back.

How many more years does Kendall, who will be 28 in June, want to catch?

"I have no idea," he said. "It's kind of up to them, too. I want somebody to come up to me and tell me."

New York Yankees: Center fielder Bernie Williams was scratched from Sunday's game against the Boston Red Sox because of mild right calf tightness.

	Williams

Williams first felt the discomfort chasing Tampa Bay catcher John Flaherty's triple into the left-center field gap Saturday. Williams doesn't expect to be sidelined more than a couple days.

Pitcher Andy Pettitte could test his strained left elbow in the bullpen Tuesday or Wednesday. Pettitte was scratched from his scheduled start Friday after he experienced tightness while warming up.

Meanwhile, reliever Ramiro Mendoza felt some tightness in his neck while playing catch for the first time since Thursday. He hasn't pitched the past nine days. Outfielder Rondell White, sidelined for 12 days by a left rib cage strain, reported no problems after twisting drills and fast walking. He probably will resume throwing Monday.

	Reed

Minnesota Twins: Rick Reed returned from tending to his ill father and pitched three innings Sunday as the Minnesota Twins and a split squad of New York Yankees played a 4-4, 10-inning tie.

Reed left camp for two days last week to tend to his father, Don, who had a heart attack and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in West Virginia.

Reed, in his first outing in eight days, lasted three innings and allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout. He said it felt like the first day of spring for him but he could have gone one more inning.

"I was able to go out there with a clear mind this time, which I wasn't able to do the last time out (against Boston on March 2)," Reed said. "I felt good out there and was able to settle in after that first inning."

	Parque

Chicago White Sox: For Jim Parque, spring training has been a time of some good news and some continued questions. And Sunday was no different .

The White Sox left-hander, who underwent season-ending surgery last May on his left shoulder, reported no pain a day after he worked three innings against the Colorado Rockies. And after giving up a first-inning two-run homer to Todd Helton, Parque settled down and held the Rockies scoreless over his final two innings.

But Parque, who throws the ball about 88-89 mph when healthy, was in the low 80s, an obvious concern of manager Jerry Manuel.

"We're still somewhat optimistic with Jim," Manuel said before Sunday's game with Oakland. "He's making some pitches, but the velocity...we're still somewhat concerned."

Parque understands his manager just wants him to be ready for the season. But he knows he has to be patient, and he hopes his manager will be, too. "People wants results now," said Parque. "The human body doesn't do that after it's been cut. I've got to go through steps A, B, C."

Houston Astros: Adam Everett is a highlight film at shortstop, ranging far to his left, scooping up a grounder and throwing out the surprised runner at first at a recent spring game.

	Everett

His field work earned him a spot on the U.S. Olympic team and a gold medal in the 1998 games at Sydney. But he hit only .249 at Triple-A New Orleans last season and was hitless in three major league at-bats late in the season.

A slender 6-foot, 165-pounder, Everett will never be a power hitter and the Astros don't want that. They'll settle for him hitting line drives and scattering the ball to all fields.

If he learns that, he has a much better chance of beating out last year's starter, Julio Lugo, for the starting shortstop position. Tamargo sees great improvement in Everett since his Venezuelan experience.

"Players of his type have to drive the ball the other way," Astros coach John Tamargo said. "He's heard it before I'm sure. What I said seemed to help him. He really took to it."

Everett is in the early stages of a battle with Lugo for the starting job. "It's early but he's certainly handled himself well, he hasn't done anything to hurt his chances," GM Gerry Hunsicker said.