BASEBALL / SPRING TRAINING REPORT : Valenzuela Still Hasn’t Given Up an Earned Run

Fernando Valenzuela kept his earned-run average at 0.00 despite giving up four hits in two innings Saturday as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-1.

Valenzuela has pitched 14 scoreless innings in five appearances this spring. Working on two days’ rest, he gave up two hits in both the seventh and eighth innings but did not allow a runner past second base.

“Right now I think I have a good chance of returning to the major leagues, but I don’t want to put pressure on myself,” Valenzuela said.

Rather than begin the season with only two starters who won a major league game last year, the Florida Marlins acquired two veteran pitchers.

The Marlins obtained left-hander Chris Hammond (7-10 in 1992) from Cincinnati in exchange for utility infielder Gary Scott and a player to be named later. Two hours later, Florida purchased the contract of right-hander Luis Aquino (3-8) from Kansas City for an undisclosed amount.

The Chicago Cubs put second baseman Ryne Sandberg and shortstop Shawon Dunston on the 15-day disabled list. Sandberg has a broken hand and hopes to be back by mid-April. Dunston is recovering from back surgery to repair a herniated disk and might not be back for several months. . . . Steve Sax has lost his starting second base spot with the White Sox to Craig Grebeck. . . . Andy Van Slyke is progressing well from arthroscopic knee surgery and should be in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ opening-day lineup, the team’s trainer said.