Spring Training / Highlights : Soto Leaves With Elbow Pain; Thon Gets 3 Hits for Astros

Cincinnati Reds’ starter Mario Soto had to leave an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday at Tampa, Fla., because of stiffness and pain in his right elbow.

Soto said he felt pain on the inside of his pitching elbow when he threw a fifth-inning changeup. The right-hander left the game, which the Phillies won, 8-1, after giving up seven runs, seven hits an five walks in four official innings.

Soto, who was 18-7 last year and is 3-1 this spring, injured the elbow early in his career and as a result doesn’t throw any curveballs.

Although Soto has had soreness in the same spot before, player-manager Pete Rose said he wasn’t worried about the pitcher’s elbow.

“I don’t think he’ll miss a turn,” Rose said. “He threw a lot of pitches. It was just one of those days when he was struggling. It happens to everybody.”

Von Hayes had a two-run homer in the fourth to help pace the Phillies.

Dickie Thon, sidelined last season after being hit in the eye by a pitch in the fifth game, had three hits and drove in a run for the Houston Astros in a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Mike Scott pitched six perfect innings for the Astros before the Cardinals scored on a three-run homer in the seventh by Jack Clark.

At Sun City, Ariz., rookie Doug Loman had four hits, including a two-run home run, to lead a split squad of Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-3 victory over the San Diego Padres. Loman has homered in his last three games and leads the Brewers with five homers and 11 RBIs.