From Mirror, wire reports

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a split squad Friday with one team defeating the Minnesota Twins, 6-3, in Bradenton, while the other Pirates team wound up in a 6-6 tie with the Atlanta Braves in North Port.

Against the Twins, Pirates starter Martin Perez pitched four scoreless innings, giving up one hit. He has now thrown seven scoreless innings. Relief pitcher Chase Anderson threw 25 pitches, 17 for strikes and worked two scoreless innings to get the win.He has not allowed a hit yet in four innings of work.

Offensively, the Pirates scored three times in the eighth to break a 3-3 tie. Ke’Bryan Hayes homered for the Pirates, as did Andrew McCutchen. Teammate Jake Lamb went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

In the tie with the Braves, starter Marco Gonzales allowed two runs on six hits in three-plus innings.

Gilberto Celestino continued his strong spring for the Pirates (6-7-1) with two hits to raise his average to .476 (10-for-21). Teammate Canaan Smith-Njigba homered for the second time in three games, and Billy McKinney added a two-run double and finished with two hits.

More injuries

SURPRISE, Arizona — Gold Glove first baseman Nathaniel Lowe is the latest starting infielder for the World Series champion Texas Rangers to be sidelined because of injury.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Lowe is dealing with a right oblique strain. The initial timeline for recovery is three to four weeks, and the March 28 opener is less than three weeks away. Lowe, who avoided arbitration with a $7.5 million deal, has played in all but 11 games for the Rangers over the past three seasons.

World Series MVP shortstop Corey Seager had sports hernia surgery Jan. 30, and is expected to miss most of spring training, though there is hope that he could play in Arizona before the end of camp.

All-Star third baseman Josh Jung strained his left calf at the start of camp. He has resumed baseball activity, but hasn’t played in any Cactus League games.

Pitcher, ump go at it

JUPITER, Fla. — Lance Lynn was ejected from his first spring training start in his return to the St. Louis Cardinals after having words with home plate umpire Angel Hernández on Friday night.

The pitcher was then told to leave the bullpen after throwing a few more pitches following his outing against the Washington Nationals.

There was one out in the third inning, which was scheduled to be the last frame for Lynn, when he was ejected.

According to MLB.com writer John Denton’s posts on X, Lynn said Hernandez “started chirping at the (Cardinals) dugout and I told him, ‘They know it was a strike.’ He told me, ‘Let’s go!’ And I told him, ‘I have five seconds on the pitch clock and I’ll start whenever I feel like it’. … I threw the next pitch and I was like, ‘There’s a strike!’ And then it was ‘see you later.”

Lynn allowed four runs on three hits and three walks in a combined two innings of work. He had two strikeouts while throwing 25 of his 44 pitches for strikes.

Lynn threw 27 pitches in the first inning, when he got only two outs and had all three of his walks. The final walk came with the bases loaded. He then gave up a three-run double and left the game temporarily. Lynn returned to pitch the second inning and retired the only batter he faced in the third before his ejection.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol also got ejected. Lynn waved at the crowd as they walked together through the outfield toward the clubhouse.

Hernandez, who was hired as a big league umpire in 1993, has been controversial on the field at times. He had three calls at first base overturned by video reviews during Game 3 of the 2018 AL Division Series between the New York Yankees and Boston.

Prospect suspended

NEW YORK — Noelvi Marte, a 22-year-old infielder who is the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect, has been suspended for the first 80 games of the season following a positive test under Major League Baseball’s drug program.

Marte tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone. He was expected to be the Reds’ starting third baseman this season.

The suspension is without pay.

Votto returns

TORONTO — Former NL MVP Joey Votto says he has agreed to a minor league contract with his hometown Toronto Blue Jays.

The 40-year-old first baseman became a free agent last fall after the end of a $251.5 million, 12-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds, his only team over 17 major league seasons. Votto hit .202 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in 65 games last year. He didn’t play his first game until June 19, 10 months to the day after surgery on his left biceps and rotator cuff.

O’s sale almost complete

A person familiar with the decision says a Major League Baseball ownership committee has recommended approval of the sale of the Baltimore Orioles. That’s one of several steps toward finalizing the purchase.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Friday night because the recommendation hadn’t been announced. The sale still has to go before MLB’s executive council and then must be approved by 75% of all owners before it can be closed.