New York Yankees: Jeff Weaver took another step forward in his bid to become the Yankees' fifth starter, allowing one run and five hits over four innings in a 8-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday.

"I'm happy he's having a nice spring and that's all he can do,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Weaver struck out three. The right-hander has pitched in three games, giving up two runs in nine innings.

"Hopefully, I'll make the decision easier for Joe and be where I want to be for a long time,'' Weaver said. "All I can do is keep throwing like I am.''

Jose Contreras, the Cuban right-hander who signed a $32 million, four-year contract with New York during the offseason, struggled again. He allowed seven runs and seven hits in three innings.

Contreras' 80-year-old father, Florentino, was moved into the intensive care unit of a Cuban hospital Saturday after having a stroke on the left side of his body. He was hospitalized last Monday and underwent surgery for an intestinal obstruction.

In three games, Contreras has given up 15 runs in eight innings.

Karsay OK: Reliever Steve Karsay, slowed by right shoulder soreness, reported no problems after throwing for 10 minutes off flat ground Sunday.

The right-hander will play catch again Monday and could throw off a mound later in the week.

Karsay has pitched just once this spring, last Monday. It was his first outing since undergoing back surgery last November.

Karsay did not rule out pitching in a game by the end of the weekend. His status for Opening Day remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, left-hander David Wells (sprained ankle) is scheduled to pitch four innings, or around 70 pitches, Monday against Cleveland. Jason Giambi (abdominal muscle strain) is also slated to play against the Indians. He has missed five straight games.

New York Mets: Al Leiter pitched four scoreless innings and Jeromy Burnitz drove in three runs to lead the Mets to a 12-2 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Backup catcher Vance Wilson also knocked in three runs and Rey Sanchez had three hits for the Mets, who won their seventh straight.

Leiter gave up only two hits and two walks against a lineup that included Jeff Bagwell, Jeff Kent, Lance Berkman and Craig Biggio.

"In the last couple of years, the Astro lineup has hit me pretty hard,'' said Leiter, heading into his 14th year in the majors. "Even though it's only a spring training game, I was pleased with making some pitches that I don't think many of the Astros recognized.

"I threw some pitches that were out of the ordinary for me. I'm sure that'll go back in their minds as well.''

In 2002, the 37-year-old Leiter went 13-13 with a 3.48 ERA. He's had a promising spring training so far -- the left-hander is 3-0.

San Francisco Giants: Andres Galarraga hit a two-run homer as the Giants pounded Chris George for five runs in three innings of an 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Former Royal Neifi Perez had three hits, including two doubles, scored two runs and drove in a run for the Giants.

George, trying to earn a spot in the Royals' rotation, allowed five hits, walked one and had two wild pitches. He had pitched five shutout innings in his first two starts before the Giants roughed him up.

"George worked behind in the count his last two outings,'' Royals manager Tony Pena said. "He got his breaking ball up and he paid for it. At times, he was overthrowing, especially in his last inning.''

But Pena is not writing George off after the outing.

"I don't judge anybody by one outing,'' Pena said. "This is going to go to the end. I'm going to give him another chance.''

George, who was 0-4 with a 5.60 ERA in six big league starts last year, could be running out of chances soon.

Giants starter Jason Schmidt allowed just one hit in four innings, a homer by Mike Sweeney to lead off the fourth.

Detroit Tigers: Carlos Pena's first home run of the spring helped lift the Tigers to a 9-6 win over a split-squad of Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

Pena's three-run shot -- estimated at 450 feet -- cleared Detroit's indoor batting cages behind right field. It was the Tigers' longest home run of the spring.

"I know the wind helped it some, but it was a no-brainer that it was gone,'' Tigers manager Alan Trammell said.

Pena's homer gave Detroit a 3-2 lead in the second inning.

"I saw where it was going, I did not see where it went,'' said Pena, who went 2-for-3 with four RBI.

The Twins weren't as lucky with the long ball. Detroit's Dmitri Young, in the lineup for the first time since March 1, robbed Tom Prince of a three-run homer in the fourth when he came up with a catch despite crashing into the left-field wall and falling to the ground on his back.

Craig Paquette took a two-run shot away from Matthew LeCroy in the sixth when he made a catch at the wall. Paquette said a last-minute wind change helped.

"It would have been out, but not by much,'' Paquette said. "It kind of hooked at the last second.''

Minnesota Twins: Torii Hunter and Jacques Jones homered as the Twins scored 10 runs in the third inning and beat the Cleveland Indians 14-3 in a split-squad game Sunday.

Rookie Justin Morneau had four hits and four RBI for the Twins, who blew the game open against Cleveland starter Brian Anderson after he did not allow a hit in the first two innings.

Hunter, Jones, Morneau and Todd Sears all homered in a 10-hit, 10-run third that was fueled by a throwing error by Cleveland second baseman Brandon Phillips.

"I just was gassed,'' said Anderson, who allowed seven earned runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. "I knew it after two innings. I told the guys, 'Keep your heads up and stay on your toes because I've wasted everything I've got.'

"I've always been a terrible spring pitcher, except for one year, 1999, but you still have to find a way to work through one like this. I never did.''

Philadelphia Phillies: Pat Burrell homered and Marlon Byrd doubled home the winning run in the ninth inning to lead the Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Brandon Duckworth, Philadelphia's No. 5 starter, left with an inflamed elbow and forearm.

Duckworth felt tightness in his right arm while pitching a scoreless first inning, then came out after throwing three warmup tosses before the second.

"You have to be cautious when your arm tightens up on you,'' said Duckworth, who has pitched seven scoreless innings in three outings this spring. "You have to think of tomorrow rather than be a hero and go on.''

The Phillies said it could take 48 hours to know the severity of Duckworth's injury. If it is serious, Joe Roa or Hector Mercado are the top candidates to fill the spot.

"Anytime a pitcher grabs his arm you're concerned, especially the way this kid's been pitching,'' Phillies manager Larry Bowa said. "Brandon's been having a great spring. Hopefully, nothing is wrong. We'll have to wait and see.''

Phillies reliever Turk Wendell, who missed the entire 2002 season with an elbow injury that required surgery, made his spring debut by pitching a scoreless sixth inning. He allowed only a one-out double to Jose Guillen.

Atlanta Braves: Gary Sheffield hit two home runs to lead the Braves over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 Sunday.

Darren Bragg, who played for the Cardinals in 1999, doubled home two runs in the Braves' three-run sixth. Third baseman Mike Hessman hit a solo homer for Atlanta's final run in the ninth.

Sheffield hit both homers to left field off Garrett Stephenson.

"He hung two changeups and the guy hit two home runs,'' St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. "Sheffield is a superstar.''

Pinch-hitter Eduardo Perez doubled home Tino Martinez with the Cardinals' only run in the fifth. Albert Pujols extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a two-out double in the sixth.

Making his third start of the spring, Stephenson became the first St. Louis pitcher to go five innings. He gave up only one other hit and struck out two.

"I can't pitch any better than that,'' Stephenson said after an efficient performance. "For the first time, I felt like I was really pitching. Every day is a work in progress.''

Colorado Rockies: Denny Neagle pitched three hitless innings and a split squad of Rockies scored 10 runs in the eighth for a 19-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.

Neagle has pitched eight innings this spring, allowing just one hit and one earned run. Bret Boone hit a grand slam for Seattle.

Colorado's eighth inning was highlighted by a three-run homer by Ben Petrick off Enmanuel Ulloa and RBI triples by J.D. Closser and Colin Young. Greg Norton, who finished 4-for-6 with two RBI, added an RBI double.

"Well, this is spring training,'' Ulloa said. "Everybody's getting ready and you get used to seeing that happen. With all those errors that happened, seeing that first out motivated everybody.''

Seattle's pitching staff looked shaky from the start, though. Right-hander Gil Meche pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits. Meche, who went 4-6 with a 6.51 ERA in 25 games (13 starts) for Double-A San Antonio last season, is competing for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.

Texas Rangers: Kevin Mench had three hits, including a three-run homer, and top prospect Mark Teixeira also homered as the Rangers beat a split squad of Anaheim Angels 14-8 Sunday.

Mench singled home a run in a five-run first inning off right-hander Kevin Appier and hit his team-leading third homer of the spring off Jason Secoda in the second.

The switch-hitting Teixeira, competing for the everyday third base job, hit a solo shot off left-hander Rich Rodriguez in the third. It was Teixeira's second homer this spring.

Laynce Nix hit his first homer for Texas in the eighth inning.

Appier, making his third start, allowed five earned runs in one inning. He walked three batters, hit two others with pitches and threw a wild pitch.

In his previous start, Appier worked three scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs: Corey Patterson was 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored to lead a Cubs' split squad to a 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Padres right-hander Jaret Wright strained his left oblique muscle in the sixth inning and had to leave after two batters. He will miss between seven and 10 days, San Diego manager Bruce Bochy said.

Patterson's home run came off Dennis Tankersley to start the fourth inning. Patterson also tripled with one out in the second inning to set up Chicago's first run.

Cubs starter Juan Cruz (1-1) pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Padres starter Oliver Perez (0-2) allowed two runs, four hits and a walk in three innings.

Cincinnati Reds: Right-hander Danny Graves will miss his next scheduled spring start with inflammation to the patella tendon on his right knee.

The Reds said Graves is day to day but will miss his start Wednesday against the Yankees in Sarasota, Fla. Seth Etherton will make the start instead.

Graves is trying to make the transition between the closer's role and the starting rotation.

Oakland Athletics: Rontrez Johnson hit a grand slam in the eighth-inning off Tom Gordon to lift the Athletics to a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox in a split-squad game Sunday.

Gordon, who hadn't allowed an earned run in his previous three appearances, came into the game with a 3-1 lead.

He got into trouble from the start, walking Billy McMillon. After a double by Ramon Hernandez and then another walk, Johnson's blast to right-center gave Oakland the lead.

The Sox jumped on Oakland first, as Magglio Ordonez hit a solo home run off A's starter Micah Bowie. Hernandez tied the game in the sixth with an RBI single, but Brian Daubach put the Sox up 2-1 with an RBI double.

Roy Smith (1-0) got the win and Jeremy Fikac picked up his first save.

Meanwhile, Esteban Loaiza continued to distinguish himself from the rest of the pack in the battle for the No. 5 spot in the Sox's starting rotation.

Loaiza, a non-roster invitee for the Sox, threw four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and fanning three. In three starts, the 31-year-old right-hander has a 3.72 ERA, allowing just four runs and nine hits in 9 2/3 innings.

Cleveland Indians: Reliever Mark Wohlers will leave the Indians' training camp to have his sore right elbow examined.

"There's something going on in there that doesn't feel quite right,'' Wohlers said Sunday.

He has missed much of spring training.

James Andrews, a sports orthopedic surgeon, will examine the elbow Monday. He and Cincinnati Reds doctor Timothy Kremchek operated on it in 1999.

"This does not feel like back then at all,'' Wohlers said. "From where I feel it, it is nowhere near the ligament. The best-case scenario is it is just some scar tissue.''

Wohlers saved 97 games over a three-year span for Atlanta in the 1990s. He returned after surgery to pitch for the Reds and Yankees before signing a two-year contract with Cleveland.