Sabathia, Willis pitch in 3-3 tie

The Reds clubbed the Pirates, 12-11.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAKELAND, Fla. — A pair of old friends have a new relationship as mound rivals in the competitive AL Central.

Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia and Detroit newcomer Dontrelle Willis made their first spring appearances as opposing starters in a 3-3, 10-inning tie on Saturday. The pitchers have known each other since their teen years in the San Francisco area.

“When he got drafted in the third round, he called me to ask what it was like to get to the big leagues,” Sabathia said. “We’ve always stayed in touch, and I’m sure we’ll be hanging out a lot now.”

Friendship aside, Willis never wants to see Sabathia celebrate at the expense of the Tigers.

“I want our team to win. I expect him to want his team to win,” Willis said. “I’m rooting for him, but I’m sure he hopes his team gets me just like I would. That’s the bottom line.”

Both left-handers worked two innings. Willis allowed one run and three hits, including a leadoff homer by Ben Francisco in the second, and didn’t dismiss the game as a meaningless exhibition outing.

Sabathia gave up two runs and five hits. Placido Polanco tripled off him with one out in the first, and Brandon Inge followed with a single. Cabrera made it 2-0 with a two-out double.

Reds 12, Pirates 11

SARASOTA, Fla. — Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn homered in the first inning off Pittsburgh’s Zach Duke, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a victory over the Pirates.

Griffey hit a two-run shot, his first homer of spring training, and Dunn added a solo homer off Duke, who gave up six hits and five runs in only two innings.

Manager Dusty Baker rested Dunn and Griffey in the first two games, giving him a chance to look at younger players.

“It’s good to see them swing the bats this well, this early,” Baker said.

The Pirates are hoping for a turnaround by Duke, who went 10-15 with a 4.47 ERA in 34 starts last season. The left-hander had a sore left elbow last season.

“Duke was OK, but he obviously had trouble with left-handers,” manager John Russell said. “I thought he threw the ball well overall.”

Duke said the elbow has been fine so far.

“I felt healthy and that’s the most important thing,” Duke said. “I felt good out there.”