Boston manager Terry Francona, in California for three exhibition games against the Los Angeles Dodgers, got good news from ace Josh Beckett on the East Coast.

Beckett, who missed the team's trip to Japan because of back spasms, pitched four shutout innings in a minor league game in Florida yesterday. He threw 47 pitches, allowed one hit, no walks and struck out six.

Francona said he spoke with Beckett afterward and was told he felt fine.

"It's good because he's healthy. He's just trying to get ramped up for the season," Francona said. "Everything's gone great there, so that's why there's not a lot of anxiety from that standpoint."

Beckett, who went 20-7 with a 3.27 ERA last year, will pitch again in Florida on Tuesday, then is scheduled to join the team for the weekend series in Toronto. Francona said he may pitch there, but "that's not etched in stone."

PADRES

PRIOR HAS GOOD OUTING

Mark Prior said he felt strong after facing live hitters for the first time in a year yesterday.

The San Diego Padres right-hander, who had shoulder surgery in April while with the Chicago Cubs, threw 25 pitches during an eight-minute session.

"It was good," said Prior, who'll start the season on the 60-day disabled list. "It was good to get in there and see where you're at."

ROYALS

SUSPENSION REDUCED

The suspension of Kansas City Royals catcher Miguel Olivo was reduced from five to four games yesterday. The team was awaiting word from the commissioner's office on whether outfielder Jose Guillen's 15-day suspension will be eliminated.

Olivo had been suspended for the start of this season because of a fight with the New York Mets during the final weekend of last season while he was with the Florida Marlins.

An agreement between players and owners could be reached that would eliminate the suspensions of Guillen and Baltimore's Jay Gibbons. They were penaltized in December following reports linking them to performance-enhancing drugs.

ELSEWHERE

Braves: Atlanta right-hander John Smoltz threw in the bullpen for about 20 minutes yesterday and called the session his "best day" of the spring.

Smoltz said he is on track to make his first regular-season start April 6 and said he had no recurrence of the shoulder stiffness he suffered Friday, forcing him to be held out of a scheduled start for the Braves.

Indians: The Cleveland Indians optioned outfielder Ben Francisco to Triple-A Buffalo yesterday, giving infielder Andy Marte the final spot on their 25-man roster.

The Indians still have one more move to make before opening the season Monday in Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox. They are expected to place outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, recovering from surgery on his left elbow in September, on the disabled list.

Mariners: The Seattle Mariners assigned catcher Wei Wang to Class A High Desert yesterday, making him the first-ever player from China to make a minor league roster.

Wang, who was signed as a non-drafted free agent June 20, played professionally in China for 10 years. He has been the starting catcher for the Chinese National Team since 2002.

Yankees: New York left-hander Andy Pettitte is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game tomorrow.

Pettitte, originally slated to start the Yankees' second game of the regular season Wednesday, has been slowed by back spasms. If all goes well, he likely will make his first start of the season Friday or Saturday.