BRADENTON, Fla. -- Erik Bedard struggled with his control Sunday in a rough spring training debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-hander from Ottawa gave up two runs in two innings in an 8-5 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays. Bedard hit the first batter he faced, gave up a double to Travis Snider, walked two and struck out one. "Just trying to get my work in, trying to throw strikes," Bedard said. "I threw everything, like I would in the regular season. Itll take time. First game." Snider was 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs for the Jays. He had a run-scoring single in the fourth. In the sixth, Snider got two RBIs with a grounder to reliever Evan Meek. First baseman Jeff Clement didnt cover the bag, so Meek had to outrun Snider for the out. Jonathan Diaz scored from third base and Anthony Gose scored from second on the play. "We were sloppy," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Our awareness wasnt where it needs to be to play a game -- a major league game, a minor league game or an exhibition. Its a lack of focus." Bedard signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract in December. With A.J. Burnett (fractured orbital bone) out until at least early May, Bedard could be the Pirates opening day starter. "Were more curious about where (Bedard) is in his first outing in the regular season than today," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Ive seen too many veteran pitchers get knocked around in their spring training debut or their last start of spring training, and then they find another gear when the season opens." The two best seasons of Bedards career were 2006 and 07 with the Baltimore Orioles. He won a total of 28 games with a 3.47 ERA and averaged 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He finished fifth in the Cy Young voting in 2007. Bedard has had three operations over the past 10 years, including shoulder surgery in 2010. Last season, he was out for two weeks in September due to a sore knee. His struggles in the second half last season -- Bedard won just one of his final eight starts with the Boston Red Sox -- caused some teams to back away this off-season. "If he stays healthy, we believe hes going to pitch well," Huntington said. "Hes not that far removed from being one of the best starters in the American League." Blue Jays left-hander Aaron Laffey had a 1-2-3 first inning. In the second, he gave up a run on singles by Rod Barajas, Matt Hague and Chase dArnaud. "I felt free and easy, nice and loose," Laffey said. "For the most part, I kept the ball down and was able to change speeds. I was pleased with it." Laffey signed with Toronto figuring he has a good shot to win a spot in the starting rotation. But he would be willing to take a bullpen job if it keeps him from going to Triple-A Las Vegas. "Its all about being here in the big leagues," Laffey said. "I feel like Im a big league pitcher with big league stuff. I think Ive proven I can be consistent at this level." Notes: Play was halted briefly in the bottom of the sixth inning when a grey cat scampered across the field behind home plate. The cat jumped into the stands and disappeared under the left field bleachers. ... Blue Jays reliever Jesse Litsch will be shut down for six weeks after having an arthroscopic procedure to clean an infection out of his right shoulder. Litsch, whos expected to be a middle/long reliever this year, was released from the hospital Saturday. "I talked to him and he is very upbeat," manager John Farrell said. Litsch spent time on the disabled list last season due to an impingement in his shoulder. ... Right-hander Henderson Alvarez had been scheduled to start Sunday for the Blue Jays, but he was pushed back to Monday for extra rest. ... Barajas went 2 for 2 with two RBIs. Nick Evans hit a solo homer for the Pirates. ... Pirates infielder Josh Harrison was scratched as a precaution after being hit on the elbow by a pitch on Saturday. X-rays were negative. ... Pirates right-hander Charlie Morton, who had hip surgery in October, will pitch Wednesday in an intrasquad game. ... The Pirates will play the Baltimore Orioles at 7 p.m. Monday. Golden Tate III Authentic Jersey . The game has been rescheduled for Tuesday at 4:05 p.m. Tickets for Monday will be honoured Tuesday. The forecast Monday calls for heavy rain throughout the day. Cassius Vaughn Lions Jersey . Toews was drilled by Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik with 6:30 remaining in the second period on Sunday night. The two were going for a loose puck. http://www.thelionsshoponline.com/Youth-Cassius-Vaughn-Lions-Jersey/ . Forte was injured on a run deep in Chicago territory midway through the first quarter, when Kansas Citys Derrick Johnson hit him in the knee. Matthew Stafford Jersey . Baumann misjudged a long ball from Milan Badelj and failed to clear after emerging outside the penalty area, allowing Maximilian Beister to open the scoring in the 37th minute. Darius Slay Authentic Jersey . After losing the first two games of this set in Arlington the Tigers showed some signs of life on Tuesday, as Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta all homered and Austin Jackson went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI for the AL Central champs in a 5-2 win. TORONTO -- Champagne was dripping from the dressing room ceiling and pooling on the floor when Toronto Rock players, standing in a circle around a table supporting the Champions Cup, began chanting. "One more year, one more year, one more year." Bob Watson just stood there wearing a Rock championship cap and his biggest smile. No, there wont be another year. Watson is done, and what a way to end a fabulous pro lacrosse career: the 41-year-old goalie stopped 47 Washington Stealth shots to earn MVP honours in an 8-7 squeaker in the NLL final. "Ill cherish this for the rest of my life," Watson had said to the standing and cheering Air Canada Centre crowd of 14,488 before leaving the floor for the last time and celebrating his and the franchises sixth title and first since 2005. Toronto held quarter leads of 3-1, 7-2 and 7-4. The Stealth had rallied to win the 2010 title at home against Toronto and they were trying to do the same again. They had possession of the ball with 30 seconds left but a pass went wild and Rock defenceman Cam Woods ragged the ball to kill the clock. "Time felt like it was standing still," Watson said of protecting the lead in the late going. "I just tried to stay focused and get ready for the next shot and tried to communicate with my defence. "The guys did a fabulous job. Hats off to our defensive effort." Coach Troy Cordingley seconded that emotion. "Our defence was phenomenal, we have so much trust in our defence," said Cordingley. "They were so good, and when our defence did break down, how unbelievable is Bobby Watson? "Hes the best big-game player Ive ever been around. Hes unbelievable." Captain Colin Doyle, who like Watson celebrates his sixth title win in a Toronto uniform, called it an "incredible game." "They made it real hard on us in the second half but Whipper stepped up, and our defence played an incredible game," he said. "They say defence wins championships and thats the way it is with us. A lot of people wrote our defence off down the stretch and I thought they and Bob stepped up and showed this teams backbone is defence. "Man, am I ever proud how the guys stepped up to the task today. It shows what a resilient team we are, and Im really proud of that." Watsons name was on the lips of all the Washington players. "First off, youve got to give credit to Bob Watson," said losing goalie Tyler Richards, who was just as good as Watson and 17 years younger. "If I can play at 41 the way he did, Ill be absolutely thrilled." Garrett Billings and Kasey Beirnes scored two goals each for the Rock and Rob Hellyer, Blaine Manning, Glen Bryan and Stephan Leblanc had one each. Toronto had lost the 2010 final to the Stealth in Washington, 15-11, when they were outscored 7-1 in the fourth quarter. "We still had that bitter taste in our mouths from last year so we really wanted to give it our all today," said Leblanc, who scored the winning goal. "Fortunately we were able not only to send Whip (Watson) out on a great note but also gave some other guys the thrill of their lives." He was referring to veterans such as Beirnes and Cam Woods whod never won an NLL title. Doyle asked those two to accept the championship trophy when it came time for the presentation. "This is sweet,," said Woods.dddddddddddd"Ive been chasing this thing for 12 years and to do this with this group ... and in Bob Watsons last year." The veteran defender recalled all the other times hed made it to the NLL final. "Ive had a lot of close calls (playing for championships) before and I could never really understand why," said Woods. "I know everything happens for a reason and I figured if we could do it at home this weekend for Bobby and for our fans then it would all make sense. "We battled hard all year and were going to live this one up for a while." Beirnes is a 10-year vet whod never won an NLL title. "With a great group of guys like this, this is priceless," he said. Doyles gesture for the trophy presentation was "pure class" in Beirnes eyes. "Colin is familiar with putting the hands on it himself so he said, You boys go get it and I said, Not a problem." Its going to be difficult for the Rock to replace Watson. "Hes been the heart and soul of this organization since its beginnings," said Leblanc. "We hate to see him go but hes taking the high road. Hes got kids and hes at that age where his body is not as good as it used to be, although it definitely didnt show today. "Thats his decision. Wed love to have him back if he wants to come back." No such chance. Watson will devote his full attention now to his one-year-old job of being a Kitchener-Waterloo policeman. Lewis Ratcliff led the Stealth with three goals and Rhys Duch, Jeff Zywicki, Cliff Smith and Paul Rabil got one each. "We didnt come out in the first half," said Stealth captain Jason Bloom. "On what we did in the second half, if wed come out that way at the start it would be a different story. "Bobby Watson was a heck of a goaltender during his career and he showed today why hes one of the best of all time. He was the best player on the floor. They deserved to win." Being within one goal of the Rock after being down by five had the Stealth believing victory a second year in a row was possible. "We certainly had all the momentum," said Bloom. Coach Chris Hall said his team made too many mistakes, especially in the first half. "We didnt do a good job getting loose balls and we turned the ball over too much," said Hall. "The turnovers killed us and Bob Watson made some miraculous saves. "It was his night and he was full measure for it." Watson gestured to some spectators up in a corner in the crowd when the final buzzer sounded. "That was my family," he said. "They all sit up there. Theyve been supporting me for 15 years in Toronto sitting in the same spot so my first look was to them. We were taking in the moment. Ive enjoyed every minute of it. Im going to miss it but now Ill get the opportunity to sit up there with them and enjoy the games. Theres a little less pressure up there, I think." Notes: On power plays, Washington was 1-for-4 and Toronto was 1-for-2. ... Watson finishes his career with a 16-4 all-time record in NLL playoffs. ... The last time the Rock won the title, in 2005, current players Watson, Doyle, Manning, Sandy Chapman, Pat Merrill and Phil Sanderson were on the floor. ... It was the first time since the 1999-2000 seasons that the same two teams met in the title game. ' ' '
