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Colorado Rockies: Outfielder Larry Walker, who's out indefinitely with a strained left groin muscle, has been ruled out of playing on Opening Day. He has returned to Denver to work with Rockies physical therapist Mike Allen.

	Walker

"I don't have a timetable" for Walker's return, manager Clint Hurdle said. "There's no urgency. He's got to be healthy."

Once he progresses, Walker will begin hitting off pitching machines at Coors Field, then likely go on a rehab assignment.

Walker has had only six at-bats this spring. He injured his groin early in camp, then aggravated it 12 days ago.

Cincinnati Reds: The Reds played their third consecutive game without center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who strained his right calf Monday.

	Griffey Jr.

Griffey hit in a batting cage and ran on a treadmill at the Reds' complex in Sarasota and will be re-evaluated Friday. He is expected to be ready for Opening Day Monday.

Meanwhile, Sean Casey kept up his strong late-spring hitting with a run-scoring double and single and the Reds maintained their Florida mastery of the Pirates, winning 8-4.

The Reds won seven of eight against the Pirates, whose 19 losses are their most since they moved their spring training camp to Bradenton in 1969. The Pirates have two more games remaining.

The Reds are 17-16, but 10-15 against opponents other than Pittsburgh. Starter Todd Van Poppel allowed four runs, three earned, over four innings before Phil Norton, Todd Jones, John Riedling and Brian Reith combined for five scoreless innings.

San Francisco Giants: Jason Schmidt woke up Thursday with no shoulder pain a day after pitching three innings in a minor league game.

	Schmidt

The Giants' ace threw on flat ground later in the day and is scheduled to pitch a bullpen session Friday -- and that will help determine how quickly his sore shoulder is recovering.

"I felt better than I've felt all spring," Schmidt said before the Giants played the Rangers. "I'm pretty happy."

Schmidt will start the season on the disabled list and could be activated as early as April 10 to face the Padres in San Diego for the Giants' second series of the season. Trainer Stan Conte said Schmidt likely would pitch for Triple-A Fresno on Monday.

Meanwhile, Conte sent injured closer Robb Nen back home to Southern California for a couple days to rest. Nen, who will start the season on the DL because of rotator cuff tendinitis, will rejoin the team Friday.

"I don't know when we'll put him on the mound," Conte said. "We're not going to see Robb Nen [in a game] until the middle or end of April."

Chicago White Sox: Starter Esteban Loaiza left a 5-5 tie with the Rockies after the first inning with a stiff neck. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Loaiza is not expected to miss a start.

	Loaiza

"The last few days he has been bothered," Guillen said. "I didn't want to take a chance, maybe with his neck hurting he would try to do something different with his body and his arm and arm angle."

The White Sox open the season Monday in Kansas City and Loaiza is scheduled to pitch next Wednesday against the Royals.

Loaiza, runner-up for the Cy Young Award in the American League, allowed a leadoff double to Aaron Miles, then yielded a two-run homer to Jeromy Burnitz as the Rockies took a 2-0 lead.

Anaheim Angels: Manager Mike Scioscia had nothing new to report on reliever Brendan Donnelly, who broke his nose in 20 places after being hit in the face with a fly ball during batting practice March 9. Further complications, including severe nosebleeds, resulted in a two-day hospital stay in Scottsdale for Donnelly, who has been placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26.

"Hopefully, they have this thing under control," Scioscia said. "We're happy that he's keeping his spirits up."

Meanwhile, Bartolo Colon allowed eight hits and four runs, three earned, in six innings in a 9-6 loss to the Brewers. Colon, who will pitch the Angels' season opener in Seattle next Tuesday, struck out seven in his final spring start.

"Bartolo was strong," Scioscia said. "His fastball and command were where they need to be. He's ready to go."

Colon, 15-13 with the White Sox last year before signing a four-year, $51 million contract with the Angels, finished the spring with a 5.16 ERA in 22 2/3 innings.

New York Mets: Right-handers James Baldwin and Aaron Heilman were sent to Triple-A Norfolk, a move that left three pitchers vying for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation.

Right-hander Scott Erickson pitched three innings in simulated game Thursday, while Grant Roberts pitched against the Dodgers and Tyler Yates pitched against a minor league team on Wednesday. Erickson and Yates were told they'd pitch again Sunday.

Right-hander Jae Seo is slated to start the Mets final game of spring against the Expos on Sunday. Due to poor performances in his last two outings, Seo no longer is guaranteed the No. 4 spot in the starting rotation.

"I've seen guys on the last day of camp make it or break it," Erickson said. "That's how it works, you try and leave with the best 25 guys. That's what the team owes to the players, fans and everyone who is involved."

Chicago Cubs: Sammy Sosa went 3-for-3, including his fourth home run of the spring, and the Cubs roughed up Randy Johnson in a 12-2 win. Sosa also singled and doubled as the Cubs banged out 13 hits, including homers by Todd Walker and Todd Hollandsworth.

Johnson, the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter, pitched five innings, giving up eight hits and nine runs, eight earned. He walked one and struck out five.

Non-roster pitcher Jimmy Anderson, fighting for a spot on the big league club, worked five strong innings for the Cubs, allowing three hits and one run, which was unearned. He lowered his ERA to 2.11.

The Cubs signed left-hander Glendon Rusch and infielder-outfielder Damian Jackson to minor league contracts and assigned them to Triple-A Iowa. Rusch went to spring training with Texas as a non-roster player and was told he would not make the big league club. Jackson, 30, was a non-roster invitee to Colorado's camp.

Boston Red Sox: Curt Schilling finished a stellar spring by allowing one run in four innings in Boston's 4-3 win over Minnesota.

Schilling, who gave up three hits, ended the spring 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts. He appeared dominant Thursday, his lone mistake a solo home run by Jacque Jones in the fourth.

In an effort to strengthen his relationship with Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, Schilling allowed Varitek to call the entire game.

"I wanted to see how he worked with my stuff," said Schilling, who gave up three hits. "He gave me a lot of confidence going into the year."

Twins starter Johan Santana matched Schilling's line _ one run in four innings -- but had control problems. He walked four.

Red Sox closer Keith Foulke continued to struggle, allowing one run in one inning. Foulke's spring ERA is 13.49 in six appearances.

Atlanta Braves: Adam LaRoche hit a grand slam with two outs in the eighth to send the Braves to a 6-5 victory over the Astros in the final exhibition game in Florida for both teams.

LaRoche lifted a pitch from Astros closer Octavio Dotel over the left-field fence with a little help from a strong wind. It was one of four home runs in the game.

Juan Cruz, obtained from the Chicago Cubs last week, got the win after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. Cruz struck out two Astros and drew some raves from Braves manager Bobby Cox.

"He was really impressive out there," Cox said. "If he can just keep that rhythm going, he's awfully tough to hit."

Braves closer John Smoltz gave up four hits and two earned runs in two innings.

The Braves left for Atlanta immediately after the game. They play a two-game exhibition series with the Red Sox at Turner Field starting Friday night. The Braves and Red Sox received permission to use the designated hitter in their series.

Montreal Expos: Livan Hernandez allowed only one hit in seven innings and Termel Sledge hit a three-run homer to lead Montreal to a 9-0 win over the Dodgers.

Montreal shortstop Orlando Cabrera did not play after bruising his right pinkie while fielding grounders before the game. X-rays were negative and Cabrera is day-to-day. He is batting .294 this spring. Last season, Cabrera hit .297 with 17 homers and 80 RBI.

The Expos took advantage of the wind by hitting three home runs. Carl Everett and leadoff hitter Peter Bergeron also connected. Bergeron is hitting .377 this spring. Expos catcher Brian Schneider, who was 6-for-45 coming into the game, added two hits.

Detroit Tigers: The Tigers optioned right-hander Ugueth Urbina to Class-A Lakeland (Fla.) on Thursday so the newly acquired closer can get more work before the season starts.

Urbina signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Detroit on March 26. He was 0-4 with 26 saves for Texas in 2003 before being traded to Florida, where he went 3-0 with six saves during the regular season. He saved four more games for the Marlins in the postseason, including two in their World Series triumph.

The Tigers also made a trade, dealing outfielder Cody Ross to the Dodgers for left-handed pitcher Steve Colyer and a player to be named.

Also, right-hander Esteban Yan was given his unconditional release. The Tigers signed Yan on Jan. 20. He has a career record of 28-32 with 43 saves and a 5.41 ERA in 327 appearances.

Cleveland Indians: Outfielder Ryan Ludwick underwent more surgery on his right knee and will be sidelined from baseball activities for eight weeks.

Ludwick was unable to participate in spring training because of soreness in the knee. He had torn cartilage repaired in October.

The 25-year-old outfielder, acquired last season in a trade with Texas, had scar tissue removed that had been limiting his mobility, Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said.

Ludwick should make a full recovery in 10 to 12 weeks. He batted .265 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 39 games for Cleveland last season.

Minnesota Twins: Left-hander Johan Santana and right-handers Brad Radke, Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva will be in the rotation after the Twins pared their pitching staff to 11.

Right-hander Joe Nathan as the closer, with left-handers J.C. Romero and Aaron Fultz and right-handers Juan Rincon, Grant Balfour and Joe Roa also in the bullpen. Left-hander Brad Thomas will be a spot fifth starter until right-hander Rick Helling is ready to return from a broken shin, but Helling is recovering faster than expected and could be back by mid-April.

Roa, 32, won the competition for the final reliever's spot. He has pitched for 13 different organizations since being drafted by Atlanta in the 18th round in 1989.

The Twins optioned left-hander Carlos Pulido to Triple-A Rochester and reassigned right-handers Seth Greisinger and Pete Munro to their minor league camp. Right-hander Sean Douglass was placed on waivers Wednesday and claimed by Toronto.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press