FORT MYERS, Fla. – Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan won a matchup of No. 5 starters Sunday, pitching five shutout innings in a 10-3 win over a Red Sox team that started most of its projected opening-day lineup.

McClellan (3-0) gave up three hits and three walks with two strikeouts against a lineup that included what are expected be most of Boston’s regulars. The exception was catcher Jason Varitek, who is expected to back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia this season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-2) took the loss, going 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

“I thought he had good tempo,” Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said. “Threw strikes. That’s two (starts) in a row now. Looks like he’s starting to get geared up. Probably could have gone maybe a hitter or two longer. Wanted to see Andrew (Miller) face a lefty. It kind of fell apart from there. But no, I thought (Matsuzaka) pitched pretty good.”

The Cardinals sent 14 batters to the plate in the sixth inning and scored 10 runs, all with two outs. Albert Pujols delivered the big blow, a three-run double off Scott Atchison.

Marco Scutaro went 2 for 2 with a walk for the Red Sox.

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YANKEES: Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning and C.C. Sabathia was sharp, leading the Yankees to an 8-1 win over the Phillies.

Rodriguez’s double off Philadelphia starter Joe Blanton to lead off the second inning extended his spring surge. Rodriguez has hit safely in all 13 games he’s played in.

In his next at-bat, Rodriguez followed Teixeira’s first home run of the spring with his fifth. Rodriguez has hit four home runs in his last five games and has seven RBI in his last seven games.

The three-time MVP is hitting .432 (16 for 37) this spring.

“(I feel) a little more energized and my body feels healthy; this, definitely, is a pretty nice spring,” said Rodriguez, who had right hip surgery in March 2009.

Brett Gardner hit first, with Derek Jeter No. 2, for the second time during spring training.

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ORIOLES: Leadoff hitter Brian Roberts was feeling so good after his third at-bat that he ran past defensive replacement Brendan Harris in the bottom of the fifth and took one last turn in the field.

Back spasms had sidelined Roberts since March 7, but he drew a walk in three plate appearances during Baltimore’s 9-8 victory against Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte, Fla. He also handled second base without incident, teaming up with J.J. Hardy to turn a double play in the fourth.

First baseman Derrek Lee has a bruised left foot and did not travel for the game.

 

WHITE SOX: Pitcher Jake Peavy has been shut down with what doctors believe is rotator cuff tendinitis.

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BRAVES: Chipper Jones went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .420, Wilkins Ramirez had a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning and the Braves beat the Astros in Kissimmee, Fla.

 

PADRES: San Diego claimed right-hander Pat Neshek off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. Neshek was 11-6 with a 3.05 ERA in 132 relief appearances over parts of four seasons (2006-08, 10) with the Twins.

 

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