New York Yankees: The Yankees optioned third baseman Drew Henson to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday.

The Yankees last year hoped the former Michigan quarterback would be ready to play in the major leagues this year, but Henson hit just .240 last season at Triple-A Columbus with 18 homers and 65 RBI, striking out 151 times in 471 at-bats.

He also made his major league debut, striking out in his only official at-bat, and scoring a run.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he encouraged by Henson's performance this spring.

''A huge step forward for me,'' Torre said. ''I'm know he was probably a little disappointed leaving camp so soon, but they start (minor league) games tomorrow. At this point in time, he's better served by going over there.''

Henson did not commit an error in six appearances. He went 3-for-13 (.231) with an RBI.

''I think he was a lot better player,'' Torre said. ''I told him today, I thought you deserved to be in this camp. Last year, looked like he was sort of a duck out of water.''

Matsui sidelined by stiff neck: Left fielder Hideki Matsui was scratched from New York's game against the Detroit Tigers in Tampa, Fla., because of a stiff neck.

''A little tight,'' Matsui said through an interpreter. ''Probably from sleeping in the wrong direction. I'd rather rest today and play 100 percent tomorrow rather than play today and possibly hurt it.''

Matsui took batting practice, but the Yankees then decided to keep him out.

''I thought I could sweat it out and it would disappear,'' Matsui said. ''But it still didn't go away.''

Matsui underwent dental treatment Tuesday, which Yankees manager Joe Torre said may have contributed to the problem. Matsui would have played if it had been a regular-season game.

Soriano resumes batting practice: Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano, out with right shoulder tendinitis, resumed batting practice Monday.

Soriano has not played since last Wednesday. He also missed the first three games of the spring with shoulder soreness.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said Soriano might play Thursday night or Friday.

"To me, I'm probably more interested in having him being a part of it Friday,'' Torre said.

Soriano made approximately 20 easy throws while playing catch. He plans to increase the intensity of his BP Wednesday.

Chicago White Sox: Frank Thomas homered twice and drove in four runs as the White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 9-4 Tuesday.

The two-time American League MVP went 3-for-3 and has three homers in two days since coming back from wisdom tooth surgery.

''I'm not real excited about (the home runs),'' Thomas said. ''It's still spring training. I was more impressed with the line drive base hit.''

After criticizing White Sox management and teammate Paul Konerko early in spring training, one of the most important things Thomas has done since is patch things up with manager Jerry Manuel.

Cincinnati Reds: Ken Griffey Jr. hit his fifth home run of the spring and made a running catch in center field to start a double play Tuesday in leading Cincinnati over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-5.

Griffey's solo homer with two outs in the sixth inning off Seth McClung tied the game 3-3. Adam Dunn followed a walk to Aaron Boone with an opposite field home run to put Cincinnati ahead for good.

Griffey leads the team in home runs and RBI, with 13.

He made a running catch of a drive by Toby Hall and doubled up Aubry Huff at first base in the second inning.

Atlanta Braves: Greg Maddux was perfect for his second consecutive outing, facing the minimum 12 batters in four scoreless innings Tuesday as the Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3.

Maddux threw only 34 pitches, including 25 strikes, and needed only six pitches to get three outs in his last inning.

''I'm ready to start the season if we're going to play four-inning games,'' Maddux joked.

Colorado Rockies: Shawn Chacon still had a welt on his left shin where he was hit by a line drive by Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez, but the right-hander said Tuesday there is no question he will make his next start.

''There was some question about it (earlier) but I'm fine,'' Chacon said of injury sustained Saturday. ''I'll be able to make it. I threw a bullpen yesterday and it was fine. I'm all right.''

Chacon, scheduled to start against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, entered last season as a member of the Rockies rotation but struggled and went 5-11 with a 5.73 ERA. Coupled with philosophical differences with the front office, Chacon was demoted to Triple-A Colorado Springs in August and did not receive a September call-up.

This spring, he is in tight competition with Scott Elarton and Darren Oliver for the No. 5 spot.

Rockies' bats roaring -- Garrett Atkins went 4-for-5 with a homer, and Chris Stynes had three hits as Colorado beat the Oakland Athletics 9-3.

Mark Sweeney had two doubles and drove in two runs as the Rockies won for the fourth time in five games.

Seattle Mariners: Reliever Norm Charlton is expected to learn Wednesday the results of a MRI on his sore left shoulder.

Charlton, 40, had rotator cuff surgery more than a year ago. He experienced pain while throwing Monday and had the MRI later that day.

It's the second setback during spring training for Charlton, who also felt pain during the second week of camp while pitching off a bullpen mound. Charlton was throwing off flat ground Monday in Tucson, where the Mariners played the Arizona Diamondbacks, and quit after about 20 throws.

Minnesota Twins: Jacque Jones hit his third home run of the spring and Chris Gomez went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and a two-run double to lead the Twins over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-1 Tuesday.

Brad Radke gave up just one hit in four innings in his third start. Radke threw 43 pitches in his third outing this spring.

''I felt good, about the same as my first two starts,'' Radke said. ''I had good command of my pitches, kept the ball down, and they were swinging early. The guys behind me made some great plays defensively.''

Toronto Blue Jays: Cory Lidle allowed four hits in four innings as Toronto beat the Houston Astros 5-0, extending the Blue Jays' shutout streak to 20 innings.

Four relievers combined to retire the final 10 batters, completing a six-hitter.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson's string of 11 scoreless innings this spring was snapped Tuesday, but the hard-throwing left-hander was pleased with his performance in Arizona's 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Johnson struck out four of the first five batters he faced, but his scoreless string came to an end in the third inning with the Diamondbacks leading 4-0. Third baseman Donnie Sadler scored on a two-out single to left by second baseman Michael Young.