St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols got an anti-inflammatory shot yesterday for tightness in his back and is expected to be out of action for the next couple of days.

The three-time NL MVP missed a week this spring because of lower back pain he described as feeling like spasms. Pujols returned to play in five exhibition games before being pulled from the lineup against Boston.

"He received an MRI today and then an injection to put him over the hump, make him feel better," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. "He's day to day. We'll see how he feels on Wednesday."

The Cardinals are off today.

Mozeliak said Pujols has felt some discomfort in recent days. Asked whether he thought the star first baseman's back could be a chronic concern throughout the season, Mozeliak said: "I don't get that sense."

The 30-year-old Pujols hit .327 with 47 home runs and 135 RBIs last year in winning his second straight MVP award.

MARINERS

STRAIN HINDERS LEE

Seattle Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee will play catch today then be re-evaluated as he recovers from a lower right abdominal strain.

Mariners head trainer Rick Griffin said yesterday the former AL Cy Young Award winner was scheduled to do rehabilitation in a swimming pool later in the day.

Lee has been suspended for the first five games of the regular season for throwing over the head of Arizona's Chris Snyder in a spring-training game earlier this month, possibly delaying his highly anticipated debut with the Mariners.

Another Mariners pitcher, Erik Bedard, had hoped to throw off a mound today, but that was called off. Griffin said Bedard is not yet ready and that long toss and throwing off flat ground will continue to be part of the rehabilitation process with his surgically repaired left shoulder.

Griffin noted Bedard is seven months into rehabilitation from a surgery that has a normal recovery time of 10-12 months.

ROYALS

MECHE LEAVES GAME

Gil Meche pitched three innings yesterday before leaving the Kansas City Royals' 9-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox with a sore right shoulder.

Meche allowed three runs and four hits, struck out one and walked one. He threw 31 of his 56 pitches for strikes.

REDS

CHAPMAN AILING

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman has left a Cincinnati Reds' spring training game with a stiff lower back.

The 22-year-old left-hander was scheduled to pitch four innings in relief of Bronson Arroyo against the Colorado Rockies. He entered yesterday's game in the sixth inning as planned, but left after only retiring five batters. He gave up two hits and two walks in his 1 2/3 innings.

Chapman is in the running for the fifth starter's spot.

AND WHAT'S MORE

Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer made his eight-year, $184 million contract extension official yesterday, signing the document in front of his family, team officials and teammate Justin Morneau. ... Oakland center fielder Coco Crisp homered as a designated hitter in his return to the Athletics' lineup against Seattle after being sidelined for nearly two weeks with a sore hamstring. ... Catcher Matt Treanor has been traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Texas Rangers for infielder Ray Olmedo in a swap of players on minor league contracts.

MAJOR LEAGUE EXHIBITIONS

Today's Games, Hawai'i Times

Houston vs Pittsburgh at Bradenton, Fla., 7:05 a.m.

Tampa Bay vs Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla., 7:05 a.m.

Baltimore vs Florida at Jupiter, Fla., 7:05 a.m.

Atlanta vs N.Y. Mets at Port St. Lucie, Fla., 7:10 a.m.

L.A. Angels vs Seattle at Peoria, Ariz., 10:05 a.m.

Chicago Cubs vs Kansas City at Surprise, Ariz., 10:05 a.m.

Milwaukee vs Cleveland at Goodyear, Ariz., 10:05 a.m.

San Francisco vs Chicago White Sox at Glendale, Ariz., 10:05 a.m.

San Diego vs Colorado at Tucson, Ariz., 10:10 a.m.

Washington vs Detroit at Lakeland, Fla., 12:05 p.m.

Boston vs Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla., 1:05 p.m.

Yesterday's Linescores

At Fort Myers, Fla.

TAMPA BAY 041 140 100—11 13 1

BOSTON (SS) 001 000 323— 9 15 1

Shields, Ekstrom (6), Abreu (7), Hernandez (8), H.Rollins (9) and Shoppach, N.Ashley; Bonser, Atchison (3), Tazawa (5), Shouse (6), Nelson (7), Sosa (8) and Martinez, M.Wagner. W—Shields. L—Bonser. Sv—H.Rollins. HRs—Tampa Bay, Longoria 2 (2), Zobrist (2), Blalock (1), Rodriguez (6), Shoppach 2 (4). Boston, R.Chang (1).

At Dunedin, Fla.

DETROIT 300 111 200—8 13 1

TORONTO 020 000 000—2 10 1

Robertson, Coke (5), Willis (6), Valverde (7), J.Rainwater (8), R.Weinhardt (9) and Laird, M.St. Pierre; Tallet, Roenicke (6), Lamura (7), Janssen (8), Accardo (9) and Buck, Chavez. W—Robertson. L—Tallet. HRs—Detroit, Inge (1), Raburn (2). Toronto, Ruiz (3).

At Surprise, Ariz.

CHICAGO 012 000 011—5 11 0

KANSAS CITY 142 000 02X—9 14 4

Peavy, Jenks (4), S.Santos (5), Threets (6), Aquino (7), Braun (8) and Pierzynski, Flowers; Meche, Lerew (4), Bullington (6), Colon (9) and Kendall, Pena. W—Meche. L—Peavy. HRs—Chicago, Kroeger (1). Kansas City, DeJesus (1).

At Peoria, Ariz.

OAKLAND 051 001 000—7 10 2

SEATTLE 000 010 100—2 7 0

Duchscherer, B.Hornbeck (5), J.Lansford (7), J.Ray (8), Hernandez (9) and Suzuki, Powell; Snell, Lowe (5), Pauley (6), Cordero (9) and Johnson, Quiroz. W—Duchscherer. L—Snell. HRs—Oakland, Crisp (1).

At Clearwater, Fla.

NEW YORK 101 500 000—7 12 0

PHILADELPHIA 500 010 012—9 12 1

Burnett, Ring (5), Hughes (5) and Cervelli, P.Pilittere; Hamels, D.Herndon (5), Bastardo (7), M.Stutes (9) and Sardinha. W—M.Stutes. L—Hughes. HRs—New York, Teixeira (3). Philadelphia, Polanco (1), Valdez (1), Francisco (2), Sardinha (1).

At Jupiter, Fla.

BOSTON (SS) 203 200 001— 8 13 4

ST. LOUIS (SS) 004 002 07X—13 20 0

Bowden, Castro (4), Cabrera (6), Ramirez (6), T.Large (8) and Brown, Molina; Penny, Reyes (6), Miller (7), Franklin (8), A.Ottavino (9) and Pagnozzi, LaRue. W—Franklin. L—Ramirez. HRs—St. Louis, LaRue (1).

At Mesa, Ariz.

CLEVELAND 011 021 040—9 11 1

CHICAGO 000 000 002—2 6 1

Carmona, Wright (7), Rivera (8), Perez (9) and Redmond, Toregas; Samardzija, Grabow (5), Stevens (5), B.Parker (7), Parisi (8), Berg (8), J.Muyco (9) and Soto. W—Carmona. L—Samardzija.

At Glendale, Ariz.

LOS ANGELES (A) 120 001 000—4 6 2

L.A. (N) (SS) 000 110 000—2 7 1

Saunders, Fuentes (6), Stokes (7), F.Rodriguez (9) and Napoli, Budde; C.Monasterios, Sherrill (5), Miller (5), Broxton (7), Weaver (8) and Knoedler. W—Saunders. L—C.Monasterios. Sv—F.Rodriguez. HRs—Los Angeles (A), Mathis (1).

At Scottsdale, Ariz.

TEXAS 100 030 000—4 11 0

SAN FRANCISCO 300 000 011—5 9 0

Wilson, A.Ogando (6), Moscoso (7), Scheppers (8) and Teagarden, Richardson; Zito, Medders (7), Affeldt (8), Mota (9) and Molina, Posey. W—Mota. L—Scheppers. HRs—Texas, Andrus (1).

At Viera, Fla.

NEW YORK 001 200 002—5 9 1

WASHINGTON 110 220 10X—7 12 2

Pelfrey, Mejia (5), Igarashi (7), Parnell (8) and Blanco; Marquis, Walker (5), Stammen (6) and Nieves. W—Marquis. L—Pelfrey. Sv—Stammen. HRs—Washington, Zimmerman 2 (5), Willingham 2 (4).

At Kissimmee, Fla.

ST. LOUIS (SS) 500 000 001—6 9 0

HOUSTON 120 001 000—4 10 1

Lohse, Garcia (6) and Molina; Rodriguez, Gervacio (5), Lopez (7), Loux (9) and Towles, Castro. W—Lohse. L—Rodriguez. Sv—Garcia. HRs—St. Louis, Freese (1), Mather (1). Houston, Feliz (2).

At Goodyear, Ariz.

COLORADO 002 010 420—9 10 1

CINCINNATI 100 000 000—1 5 1

De La Rosa, Daley (6), Corpas (7), Belisle (8), Rincon (9) and J.Pacheco, Olivo; Arroyo, Chapman (6), F.Baez (7), R.Geronimo (9) and Hernandez, Castillo. W—De La Rosa. L—Arroyo. HRs—Colorado, Barmes (2), Eldred 2 (3). Cincinnati, Stubbs (3).

At Tucson, Ariz.

SAN DIEGO 000 000 121 0—4 6 1

ARIZONA 000 000 004 1—5 14 0

Richard, Russell (7), Gregerson (8), Burke (9), Mujica (10) and Torrealba, Ryan; Kennedy, Gutierrez (6), J.Norberto (7), Vasquez (7), Beam (9), A.Woody (10) and S.Coughlin, Snyder. W—A.Woody. L—Mujica. HRs—Arizona, Hester (1), Macias (1).

At Phoenix, Ariz.

LOS ANG. (SS) 000 301 220—8 16 1

MILWAUKEE 300 000 100—4 6 0

Kershaw, Ortiz (6) and Ellis; Davis, D.Johnson (5), Hoffman (7), Schoeneweis (8), Coffey (9) and Lucroy. W—Kershaw. L—D.Johnson. Sv—Ortiz.

BASEBALL CALENDAR

April 4 — Opening day, New York Yankees at Boston, active rosters reduced to 25 players.

June 7-9 — Amateur draft, Secaucus, N.J.

July 13 — All-Star game, Anaheim, Calif.

July 25 — Hall of Fame inductions, Cooperstown, N.Y.

Sept. 1 — Active rosters expand to 40 players.