Grapefruit League Roundup: Wednesday’s games

Braves 11, Indians 4

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Buddy Carlyle gave up three homers but Atlanta used a nine-run fourth inning to improve to 9-5-1. Carlyle gave up homers to Asdrubal Cabrera, Beau Mills and Grady Sizemore, all left-handed hitters, in his three-inning stint. “It seemed like they came on similar pitches,” the right-hander said. “They just dropped the bat head.” The Braves sent 13 men to the plate in their big fourth inning as they overcame the Cleveland home runs. Seven of the nine runs off Aaron Fultz were earned. Mark Teixeira had two singles in the inning, while Brian McCann started the scoring with a two-run homer. Teixeira was 3-for-3 in the game and McCann, who doubled in the first inning, had three RBIs. Blaine Boyer had two scoreless innings of relief. Boyer, who had shoulder surgery in 2006, hasn’t allowed a run in eight innings this spring. He allowed one hit and struck out three against Cleveland. Indians starter Brian Slocum had to leave in the Braves’ two-run first inning after straining his right groin. Slocum missed most of last season with AAA Buffalo because of an elbow problem. He said he began feeling tightness in his groin during warm-ups, but tried to pitch through it.

Blue Jays 4, Pirates 1

DUNEDIN, Fla. — A.J. Burnett pitched four solid innings and Vernon Wells homered, helping Toronto beat Pittsburgh. Burnett allowed one run and four hits while striking out four and walking one. He threw 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes. The right-hander hasn’t been able to throw his curveball this spring because of a broken nail on his index finger. “He has a power change and he can live on two pitches,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “That changeup is dropping now, plus he threw a couple of sliders in there, too.” Burnett’s outing was encouraging for the Blue Jays, who lost right-hander Casey Janssen for the season Wednesday because of a torn labrum in his shoulder. Janssen went 2-3 with a 2.35 ERA in 70 relief appearances last season. He had been competing with Jesse Litsch this spring for the fifth spot in the rotation. Also on Wednesday, Toronto optioned oft-injured lefty Gustavo Chacin to Triple-A Syracuse. Wells’ homer broke a 1-all tie and came off Zach Duke, who gave up two runs and five hits with one strikeout over four innings. He threw 44 of his 66 pitches for strikes. “I’m where I should be,” Duke said. “It’s a good sign my sinker is moving late and down.” Toronto’s Aaron Hill went 2-for-2 with a walk, raising his batting average to .550 this spring. Nate McLouth was 3-for-3 for Pittsburgh with two doubles and an RBI. Masumi Kuwata, trying to make the Pirates as a reliever, had a shaky inning but didn’t allow a run thanks to a double play. Josh Banks got the save with a perfect ninth.

Associated Press