Pedro Martinez did a nice job dodging the dangerous bats. Carlos Delgado wasn't so fortunate.

Martinez pitched four scoreless innings in his spring training debut while Delgado needed four stitches to close a bloody gash in his arm after a freak accident as the New York Mets beat Detroit, 7-4, in a split-squad game yesterday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Martinez had an earlier exhibition start rained out and skipped another because it would've meant a three-hour trip across the state.

"I'm happy about getting out there and facing some real hitters," Martinez said. "I'm right where I want to be."

Delgado, one of many Mets already injured this spring, definitely was in the wrong spot.

The slugger hit an RBI double in the third inning and later took a lead off third base.

Brady Clark swung and broke his bat, and the jagged barrel sailed down the line and speared Delgado on the outside of his right forearm. Right away, his arm was covered in red streams.

"It was a lot more blood than I wanted to see," Delgado said.

Delgado immediately left the game and exited with a small bandage. He was previously scheduled to be off today and expected to be out a couple of days.

Delgado said he was watching Clark's infield popout and didn't see trouble headed in his direction. When he spotted the flying bat, he tried to twist his body but it was too late.

"You always think you have time to get out of the way," he said.

Mets manager Willie Randolph thought Delgado would escape.

"That was weird. I watched his reaction and it was like a slow, delayed reaction," he said.

"It's a good thing he's OK," he said.

Mets catcher Ramon Castro also left early. He felt a twinge in his right hamstring while running out a single, was pulled as a precaution and will have an MRI exam today.

"We'll have to just shut him down for a couple days and see where he is," Randolph said.

RED SOX

ACE BECKETT WON'T MAKE TRIP TO JAPAN

Josh Beckett will stay behind when the Red Sox fly 7,500 miles to Tokyo on Wednesday, even though he threw a ball 75 feet without back pain yesterday.

Boston manager Terry Francona made official what had been obvious for several days: his ace right-hander won't travel to Japan, where he probably would have started the Red Sox regular season opener against the Oakland Athletics.

"He's not going to go with us to Japan," Francona said yesterday in Fort Myers, Fla. "Talked to him this morning about it. He completely understands. ... It's just not the right thing to do."

Baseball's winningest pitcher last season threw yesterday for the first time in eight days since hurting his back. But Beckett might not even join the team in Los Angeles for three exhibition games against the Dodgers on March 28 to 30.

Pitching coach John Farrell said Beckett felt no discomfort or restrictions in his arm action and his follow through. But Farrell was pessimistic that Beckett would pitch in Boston's third or fourth regular-season games, in Oakland on April 1 and 2. The Red Sox follow those with three games in Toronto, then open their home season April 8 against Detroit.

ELSEWHERE

Pirates: Ian Snell and Pittsburgh agreed to a three-year contract worth at least $8 million, a deal reached five days after the Pirates had unilaterally renewed the pitcher for 2008. Snell would have been eligible for salary arbitration after next season. The agreement includes team options for 2011 and 2012.

Braves: Jeff Francoeur was hit by a pitch and walked away with a busted lip. Atlanta's right fielder knew soon after getting hit by a pitch in the second inning of yesterday's 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals that he wasn't seriously injured. X-rays taken at a hospital were negative and Francoeur could be back in the lineup in a few days.

Angels: Los Angeles outfielder Garret Anderson was removed from the lineup of a split-squad game with the Cubs yesterday because of irritation in his right knee. Anderson warmed up, but about 15 minutes before game time was replaced by Dee Brown, who took over as the left fielder and the No. 3 hitter. Angels spokesman Larry Babcock said Anderson was day-to-day.

Royals: If Hideo Nomo succeeds in his comeback attempt with Kansas City, it will be as a reliever, not a starter. The 39-year-old was informed of the decision yesterday in a meeting with manager Trey Hillman, one day after he gave up five runs and seven hits, including a three-run homer, in three innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dodgers: Third baseman Nomar Garciaparra will be out of the lineup at least until the team's Arizona Cactus League games begin Thursday. With Andy LaRoche also out for the next two months following hand surgery last week, the Dodgers don't have a true backup at third. Garciaparra, who was hit by a pitch on his right wrist March 7, was expected to leave early for Arizona, where he would join the split-squad team that is returning from China.

Rays: With Scott Kazmir sidelined by an elbow strain, James Shields is looking more and more like Tampa Bay's opening-day starter. Shields worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a 7-2 victory over Detroit yesterday, remaining on schedule to take the ball when the Rays open the regular season at Baltimore on March 31. Kazmir, who hurt his elbow warming up for an intrasquad game nearly three weeks ago, had been expected to make his spring debut against the Tigers. The AL strikeout champion was scratched because the Rays want him to continue building arm strength before pitching in a game. There is no definite timetable for Kazmir's return.