Las Vegan 1-for-2 in second game with Nats

A day after laughing off two strikeouts in his spring training debut, Las Vegan Bryce Harper had something else to smile about -- his first hit.

Harper, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's amateur draft, went 1-for-2 Tuesday, lining an opposite-field single to left field in the fifth inning off Pedro Beato as the Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets 5-3 in Viera, Fla.

"It was a good pitch to drive," said Harper, who starred at Las Vegas High School and College of Southern Nevada. "It was up. A fastball thrown away is always a good pitch to hit -- for me, it is. I felt really good out there today."

Harper, expected to start the season at Class-A Hagerstown, has been the Nationals' biggest draw this spring training. He struck out twice in his debut Monday against the Mets in Port St. Lucie but didn't let that bother him.

"I went home and I started laughing about it," he said.

The 18-year-old phenom also got a chance to look at some video comparing his swing now to when he played in the Arizona Fall League. One of the adjustments he made was to keep his hands closer to his body and look to drive the ball to the opposite field.

"It's very impressive to be able to line the ball like that," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. "That was just a great stroke right there."

Harper entered in the fifth inning as a pinch hitter and skinned his left knee while making a hard slide trying unsuccessfully to break up a double play on a ball hit by Ryan Zimmerman. His second at-bat came in the seventh inning, when he reached on a fielder's choice as Corey Brown was out at home on a weak chopper to the mound.

Harper got to play four innings in right field and said that helped him get into the flow of the game. He entered the game as a pinch runner and was the Nationals' designated hitter for his two at-bats Monday.

■ CARDINALS -- St. Louis had two aces when it arrived at spring training. Now, both are hurt.

Chris Carpenter left the Cardinals' 7-1 victory over Florida in the third inning in Jupiter, Fla., after feeling a twinge in his left hamstring. The injury came one day after fellow All-Star Adam Wainwright had season-ending elbow surgery.

Carpenter was diagnosed with a strained hamstring but said the problem isn't serious.

■ TWINS -- Minnesota closer Joe Nathan threw a scoreless inning in his first game since an elbow injury wiped out his 2010 season.

Nathan, a four-time All-Star coming off ligament replacement surgery, got two flyouts and a groundout in the fourth inning of a 5-0 loss to Boston at Fort Myers, Fla., walking Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Nathan said he felt ahead of where he has been at this point in previous spring trainings.

Also, Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer will miss the next week or two after having a wart removed from his left foot.

■ BREWERS -- Slowed by a bruised right side, Zack Greinke was erratic in his first spring training start for Milwaukee.

Greinke needed 40 pitches to get four outs, walking three and allowing one hit in a 3-1 victory over the White Sox in Glendale, Ariz. Acquired from Kansas City in December, Greinke said the bruise was caused by a "stupid" off-field incident he wouldn't elaborate on.

■ INDIANS -- General manager Chris Antonetti said he's not expecting center fielder Grady Sizemore, a three-time All-Star who underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in June, to be ready when Cleveland opens its season at home on April 1 against the White Sox.

Sizemore has been limited in camp. The Indians have been encouraged by his progress but don't want to rush him.

In other Indians news, the club is close to signing first baseman Nick Johnson to a one-year contract that could include an option in 2012.

■ ANDERSON RETIRES -- Outfielder Garret Anderson is retiring after 17 seasons in baseball, the first 15 with the Angels.

Anderson, 38, finished with 2,529 hits, a .293 average and 287 home runs.