Thankful Twins blast Reds in spring opener

The Minnesota Twins could not be more excited to play a spring training game in February.

Survivors of a trying offseason in which baseball owners attempted to eliminate them, the Twins wound up playing the first major league spring training game of the year Wednesday.

They scored two runs in their first at-bat and never looked back, beating the Cincinnati Reds 13-0.

"It was a good feeling," new Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "I doubted that I'd be very emotional, but heading into the game I could feel the butterflies a little bit. It was exciting. A long time coming with all that stuff we went through."

Kurt Abbott hit a two-run homer, Todd Sears drove in three runs with two hits and Brad Radke started with two perfect innings as everything seemed to go right for the Twins.

Even their first-round draft pick, 18-year-old catcher Joe Mauer, ripped a single up the middle in his first spring at-bat in the eighth.

Astros drop Enron name

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Houston Astros are dropping the name "Enron Field" from their ballpark to relieve themselves of the embarrassment.

The team announced Wednesday that it had struck a deal with the bankrupt energy giant to pay it $2.1 million to buy back the naming rights to the ballpark, which would be called "Astros Field" until a new sponsor could be found.

At least seven companies with Houston ties have already approached the team about sponsoring it.

Despite its bankruptcy filing in December, Enron was current on its ballpark payments through next August.

Santo to throw first pitch

MESA, Ariz. -- Chicago Cubs broadcaster and former third baseman Ron Santo will throw out the first pitch for the team's home opener April 5, the Cubs announced.

Santo has been a radio broadcaster for the Cubs since 1990. The former nine-time All-Star spent 14 of his 15 major league seasons with the Cubs and had 342 career homers while winning five gold gloves.

He had part of his right leg amputated in December because of complications from diabetes.

Red Sox sale finalized

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Former Florida Marlins owner John Henry and his partners completed their record $660 million purchase of the Boston Red Sox, ending seven decades of ownership by the Yawkey family and its trust.

The closing of the deal, which probably will lead to the ouster of general manager Dan Duquette, marked the end of an era that saw a downtrodden team grow into one of the premier franchises in sports but fail in its quest to win the World Series for the first time since 1918. It also closed an often contentious 16-month sale process.

Player grievance resumes

NEW YORK -- The grievance by the players' association against contraction resumed for the first time since baseball backed down on its attempt to fold the Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos this year.

Paul Beeston, chief operating officer of major league baseball, was the only witness Wednesday, the 13th day of testimony heard by arbitrator Shyam Das. The union completed its direct examination of Beeston, and management was to start its cross-examination today.

It was the first day of testimony since Feb. 5, when Selig said baseball would not attempt to fold teams this season but would press ahead with contraction for the future. The previous day, the Minnesota Supreme Court refused to review an injunction that forced the Twins to honor their lease at the Metrodome this year.

-- From wire services