Spring training roundup: Tribe & Bucs

SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP

Tribe Bucs

Indians 12, Rays 10

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Paul Byrd weathered a shaky first two innings to get his first spring win, thanks to Cleveland’s nine-run fourth. The right-hander allowed five runs and four hits in four innings, including B.J. Upton’s two-run homer that put Tampa Bay ahead 5-2 in the third. Travis Hafner had an RBI double and run-scoring single off Tampa Bay starter Jason Hammel, and Wyatt Toregas hit a solo homer off Grant Balfour for Cleveland. The first seven runs in the Indians’ big inning were charged to Hammel, while James Houser allowed the last two. Hafner was 2-for-2 and is batting .400 with six RBIs this spring. “He’s really done a good job, doing a lot of work on the side, working to get himself going and find his swing,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “I’ve really been pleased the last week with the way he’s been swinging the bat.” Byrd gave up a single and two walks to load the bases in the first. Upton drove in Tampa Bay’s first run with a sacrifice fly, and Cliff Floyd followed with a double.

Pirates 8, Phillies 5

BRADENTON, Fla. — Most pitchers don’t know who they will face at this stage of spring training, Double-A players or All-Stars. That’s why Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Ian Snell welcomed seeing Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins in Philadelphia’s lineup. Snell is trying to get locked in for the regular season, and he’d much rather be matched against the Phillies’ regulars than those who will be playing at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Snell gave up a solo home run to Burrell but otherwise was efficient while pitching four innings in the Pirates’ victory, striking out two and allowing two hits. Jason Bay and Ryan Doumit had RBI doubles in the first against Phillies starter J.D. Durbin, who gave up five runs and eight hits over 31‚Ñ3 innings while falling behind 5-1. Bay and Nate McLouth each drove in two runs. Burrell homered and doubled, but Snell got Howard to strike out and ground out as he experimented with throwing more off-speed pitches and working inside regularly. Byung-Hyun Kim, the former Diamondbacks and Red Sox pitcher, also made his Pirates debut after signing late last month. He gave up a solo home run, to Howard, but retired the other three hitters he faced in the sixth. Kim, who was with three clubs last season, is back in the bullpen after primarily being a starter since 2005. “Always, a new team is exciting,” said Kim, in the running to be a middle reliever. “I have to change my routine.”

Associated Press