Mussina Is Down On His Last Strike

Mike Mussina was ahead of the hitters all afternoon, he just couldn't put them away.

At 39, he can't afford to miss his spots this season.

Mussina struggled with two-strike command in his first spring start yesterday, giving up a three-run homer to Carlos Lee in the Yankees' 7-6 win over the Astros.

"I felt pretty good. I just didn't get the ball where I wanted to, especially with two strikes," he said. "I can get to two strikes. Right now I don't have an out pitch."

The right-hander allowed five runs -- four earned -- and six hits in two-plus innings, not exactly the debut he was looking for after an inconsistent 2007 season. He is entering the final season of a two-year, $23 million contract.

¿ ATHLETICS: Shortstop Bobby Crosby was dropped from the starting lineup for the game against the Angels because of back spasms.

Crosby has not played a full season since being voted AL rookie of the year in 2004.

¿ BRAVES: The team renewed outfielder Jeff Francoeur's contract for the second year in a row after failing to agree on terms. Terms of the new deal were not immediately available, but Francoeur likely will make about $450,000 this season.

¿ REDS: Former Orioles Jerry Hairston Jr., an infielder who was named in the Mitchell report, and Corey Patterson, an outfielder, signed minor league deals.

Lopes Has Prostate Cancer

Phillies first base coach Davey Lopes, 62, has prostate cancer, but team officials said he was expected to make a full recovery.

The former Brewers manager, who served as the Nationals' first base coach in 2006, will have surgery this month in Clearwater, Fla., and is expected to miss six weeks after that.

Lopes's cancer was found after he went through a routine examination with the rest of the coaching staff on Feb. 12. . . .

Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer, 61, was resting in a Houston hospital after undergoing a brain biopsy. Results weren't expected until later in the week.

In December 2006, Murcer had surgery four days after a malignant brain tumor was diagnosed.