The downside Friday was that the seasoned left-hander gave up seven runs in a 43-pitch second inning.

As it turned out, the Marlins rallied from six runs down and rolled past the Orioles, 13-8, at Roger Dean Stadium. But it wasn't exactly a crisp outing for Leiter, who made his third Grapefruit League appearance.

"Balls were being thrown up, and balls were being hit up," Leiter joked afterwards. "What happened? I feel good. I don't know if that is good or bad."

At age 39, Leiter doesn't let a bad day in March impact him in any way. His own schedule was switched. Initially, the Marlins planned to start A.J. Burnett and then go with Leiter.

But the team decided to give Leiter the start, while Burnett came on in relief. Actually, as off as Leiter was, Burnett was that much on his game.

In five shutout innings, Burnett gave up one hit, one walk and struck out four, collecting the win.

"The worst thing about today is I didn't get a chance to throw more pitches," Leiter said. "Obviously, more pitches should mean more innings. Physically, I felt fine. Any time you have a pitcher who threw as many pitches as I did in that one inning, you don't want to go out and push it."

In all, Leiter threw 50 pitches. In the first, he worked a speedy perfect inning, throwing seven pitches total with six strikes. But in the second, he lost command.

"I'm not overly concerned with guys like him," manager Jack McKeon said.

Next week for Pierre: The tightness in Juan Pierre's right calf will keep him out of the lineup until the middle of next week, McKeon said Friday.

Pierre last played Monday against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale.

The speedster took a few days off from baseball activities, but he hit in the batting cages the past two days, and he's throwing. But since speed is such a big part of Pierre's game, the Marlins aren't going to rush him.

"I've got to be smart about my legs," Pierre said. "Every day it feels a lot better, though. I just don't have the explosion I need yet. I can feel it, just by walking. I probably could run and stuff like that. But as far as stealing a base or beating out a bunt, I couldn't do that right now."

Pierre felt the calf act up chasing down a ball in the gap.

"It's one of those things," Pierre said. "I keep telling myself that it's better now than when April hits. But it's definitely a struggle seeing everybody else out here preparing."

News and features: • Phils notes: Demotion a surprise to Byrd • Phillies, Jays play to wild 9-9 draw • Phillies prospect Howard sent to Triple-A
Multimedia: • Broadcaster Chris Wheeler on NL East  • GM Ed Wade on the Phillies' expectations  • Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel on David Bell
Info:	Schedule  | Ballpark  |  Tickets MLB.com's complete coverage

"There is plenty of time left," McKeon said. "He's all right. We'll just take it easy and get it right. We're going to let him take his time."

Valdez pitches: Fifth starter Ismael Valdez made his spring debut Friday, but it didn't get much fanfare.

Pitching three innings in an intrasquad game, Valdez threw 48 pitches with 32 strikes. The veteran right-hander, who had been plagued with a virus since the first day of Spring Training, gave up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. He also hit a batter.

Overall, it was a decent first time out.

"It was my first time, I was not expecting to have a good breaking ball," Valdez said.

Actually, his curveball wasn't bad. Valdez is being brought along slowly as he builds up his stamina.

Hermida homers twice: Top prospect Jeremy Hermida started the spring 0-for-11 before getting a hit in two at-bats Thursday against the Nationals in Viera. On Friday, the left-handed hitting outfielder broke loose with two home runs in the intrasquad game.

Hermida belted a home run to right-center off Valdez and followed with a two-run shot to left off John Riedling.

"It didn't count," Hermida said.

While Hermida knows he will open the season at Double-A Carolina, he certainly wants to make a good first impression. If he performs in Carolina, he could be in line to be a September callup and possibly make the team next spring.

"It's tough to play in front of Skip and everybody; you don't want to start off 0-for-11," Hermida said. "I may have been pressing a little bit, which is something I didn't want to do. I know I'm not going to make the team, but I want to make a good impression for either August, September or maybe next year."

In the Marlins' 13-8 win over the Orioles, Hermida went hitless in two at-bats.

Roster moves: The Marlins trimmed their large roster by seven players Friday, leaving 57 players in camp.

In the morning, the Marlins optioned right-handed pitcher Ronald Belisario to Double-A Carolina. Reliever Michael Flannery was outrighted to Triple-A Albuquerque. And promising prospects Josh Johnson and Scott Olsen were among a list of players reassigned to minor-league camp. Also headed to minor-league camp are pitchers Kevin Cave, Trevor Hutchinson and Mike Neu.

Johnson and Olsen are likely to end up as starters for Double-A Carolina. The organization believes they are a year or two away from being Major League ready.

Hutchinson likely will open in Triple-A Albuquerque. The right-hander was bothered by a tired shoulder in the winter.

Bullpen for Spooneybarger: Tim Spooneybarger continues to take steps toward his return to game activities. The right-handed reliever may throw batting practice on Sunday to those who don't make the trip to Vero Beach to face the Dodgers.

In all likelihood, Spooneybarger will open the season in Triple-A Albuquerque. But he is hoping to see some action in Grapefruit League games.

Spooneybarger last pitched in a real game in June 2003. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September of that season.

If healthy, Spooneybarger could emerge as a valuable pitcher out of the bullpen. Because the team brought in four proven right-handed free agents in the offseason, there is little reason to push his return.

Smashed windshield: Jim Fleming, the Marlins' vice president of player development and scouting, usually is careful where he parks.

On Friday, Fleming picked the wrong parking space while watching the team's morning intrasquad game.

Catcher Jason Hill sliced a foul behind the high fences of Field No. 2 and the ball smashed the windshield of Fleming's rented car.

"I always park carefully," Fleming said. "I usually back in."

Fleming's assigned parking space is next to McKeon's spot, but the manager's car was not parked there at the time.

"I knew better than to hit his [spot]," Hill joked. "I hope I don't get sent down today."

As a player evaluator, Fleming is constantly on the road, watching games on high school and college fields. Friday's incident was a first.

He had never had his car hit by a ball. But his rented Buick LaCrosse was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Jokingly, Fleming said Hill may soon be "in extended spring" camp along with the crop of minor leaguers. "We may send him to the Dominican summer league," Fleming quipped.

Coming up: On Saturday, Josh Beckett will start against the Nationals in Jupiter. The hard-throwing right-hander comes off a stellar four-inning performance in which he struck out seven Dodgers and allowed no runs. Tony Armas Jr. gets the start for Washington. On Sunday, Les Waldrond will make his first spring start, facing the Dodgers in Vero Beach. The Marlins also set up a "B" game on Sunday in Vero Beach, where they will face the Dodgers at 10 a.m. Nate Bump will get the start.