BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : Maddux Felled by Chickenpox

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, who has the chickenpox, will miss at least a week of spring training and his starting assignment in the Atlanta Braves’ season opener April 26.

Maddux, who turned 29 Friday, said he probably caught the illness from his 16-month-old daughter, Amanda Paige, who was just getting over it when he left home for spring training.

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Former Dodger Kevin Gross got off to a solid start with Texas, pitching three hitless innings in the Rangers’ 14-2 exhibition victory over the Chicago White Sox at Sarasota, Fla. Jim Abbott didn’t fare as well for the White Sox, giving up six runs on seven hits and being pulled after getting only one out. . . . Also lasting only one inning was left-hander Tom Browning, who started in Kansas City’s 13-0 loss to St. Louis at Haines City, Fla. Tim Hulett drove in six runs with a single, two doubles and a triple for the Cardinals. . . . Ron Gant got his first hit in more than a year, an RBI single, as Cincinnati defeated the Detroit Tigers, 7-2, at Plant City, Fla. Gant broke both bones in his lower right leg in a dirt-bike accident on Feb. 3, 1994.

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The Boston Red Sox signed left-handed relief pitcher Derek Lilliquist to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. The 29-year-old free agent was 1-3 with a 4.91 ERA last season in 36 relief appearances with Cleveland. . . . The Rangers traded outfielder David Hulse to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league right-hander Scott Taylor.