Howard swinging hottest bat in Phillies' preseason home run derby
Howard swinging hottest bat in Phillies' preseason home run derby
March 24, 2006, Asbury Park Press
The Philadelphia Phillies have homered in each of their 21 exhibition games this spring, and Ryan Howard is a big part of the team's power surge.
Howard, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, blasted his 10th home run of the preseason in an 8-7, 10-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland, Fla. With 10 home runs, Howard has broken Dick Allen's team record set during spring training in 1964.
Detroit was led by Justin Verlander, who boosted his hopes of being the Tigers' fifth starter, then Joel Zumaya improved a bid to make the club as a reliever.
Verlander started and pitched two perfect innings, and Zumaya later had a strong outing in the win.
Detroit won the exhibition game on Don Kelly's sacrifice fly, which scored pinch-runner Nook Logan.
BONDS' LAWYERS TO SUE: Barry Bonds' lawyer said he plans to sue the authors and publisher of a book alleging the outfielder used steroids and other performance-enhancing substances.
Attorney Michael Rains sent a letter Thursday to an agent for the authors of "Game of Shadows," alerting them of his plans to sue the writers, publisher Gotham Books, the San Francisco Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts earlier this month.
The Chronicle posted the letter on its Web site. A hearing in San Francisco Superior Court was tentatively scheduled for today.
The book by Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams was released Thursday. It claims Bonds used steroids, human growth hormone, insulin and other banned substances for at least five seasons beginning in 1998.
"We certainly stand by our reporters and the reporting they did for us," said Chronicle executive vice president and editor Phil Bronstein. "Nothing that's happened will change that."
SORIANO IMPROVING: Alfonso Soriano's second day in the outfield was much tougher than his first.
The Washington Nationals' reluctant new left fielder made three routine grabs Thursday during a 1-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in Viera, Fla., but two catchable balls fell in front of him. An experienced outfielder probably would have charged both and turned them into outs.
In the seventh inning, Soriano loped after a looper by Baltimore's Nick Markakis, who alertly raced to second for a double when Soriano hesitated.
After finally agreeing to move from second base to left field, Soriano had an easy day in his first spring start Wednesday, turning the only fly ball he saw into a double play against St. Louis.
On Thursday, he went 1-for-4 at the plate with a single in the eighth.
