Grapefruit League: Tribe/Bucs

Indians 3, Tigers 3, 10 innings

LAKELAND, Fla. — Yorman Bazardo is in a fight to make the Detroit Tigers’ roster. His performance Sunday won’t hurt. In three innings of work during a 10-inning tie with Cleveland, the right-hander retired all nine batters he faced. “I feel a lot better than the last time,” Bazardo said. “My mechanics were kind of out of rhythm (during the previous outing). I was just trying to make the adjustment. I think I did pretty good.” In six Grapefruit League games, Bazardo has a 3.75 ERA. A year ago, he went 2-1 for Detroit with a 2.28 ERA but the 23-year old spent most of the season with Triple-A Toledo. Bazardo is expected to start the season in the bullpen if he makes the team, but could fill in when the Tigers need a sixth starter. His main competitor for a roster spot likely is right-hander Aquilino Lopez, who has a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings this spring. “Hopefully, [manager Jim] Leyland will keep me in mind and give me a shot,” Bazardo said. Fausto Carmona, expected to be the Indians’ No. 2 starter, was sharp, especially after surrendering a two-run homer to Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield in the first. In his longest stint this spring, he allowed six hits over six innings, striking out two. “Fausto was good,” Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. “He commanded the ballgame and got good work in.”

Pirates 8, Yankees 0

BRADENTON, Fla. — No comedians this time, and no joking around for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm. The season is only a week away, and that means it’s all business. Even if he faced a New York Yankees lineup that couldn’t have been much more watered down if actor-comedian Billy Crystal had been in it again. Maholm, who dealt with the sideshow associated with Crystal’s spring training at-bat the last time he faced the Yankees, allowed two hits over six shutout innings and the Pirates beat a Yankees team composed mostly of backups. The Yankees brought only three regulars to Bradenton — center fielder Melky Cabrera, second baseman Robinson Cano and designated hitter Hideki Matsui. Their starting pitcher, Jeff Karstens, is trying to win a job in the bullpen. To Maholm, they still wore a NY logo, so that meant no relaxing. “Either way you look at it, the Yankees’ lineup is pretty tough,” said Maholm, who shook off three walks to lower his spring ERA to 3.60. In two spring starts against the Yankees, Maholm has yielded only three hits during 10 shutout innings. Each time, the first hitter he faced proved to be his biggest challenge. On March 13, Crystal — allowed to take an exhibition game at-bat with his beloved Yankees — bounced a foul ball down the first-place line and worked the count full before striking out against Maholm. This time, Cabrera hit a long fly ball to left field that would have been a homer if a strong wind hadn’t knocked it down, allowing Jason Bay to make the catch at the wall. Of course, Cabrera’s long drive would be largely forgotten within a day or two even if it had gone out. If Crystal had gotten a hit, Maholm would have been reminded about it the rest of his life. “No kidding,” he said. This time, even reliever Byung-Hyun Kim enjoyed pitching against the Yankees. Kim, who has a 14.40 ERA, allowed four homers and seven runs in two innings during his first two outings against the Yankees this spring. But the right-hander, who is widely remembered for giving up pivotal homers during consecutive 2001 World Series games in Yankee Stadium with Arizona, retired the side in order in the ninth.

BRADENTON, Fla. — No comedians this time, and no joking around for Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm. The season is only a week away, and that means it’s all business. Even if he faced a New York Yankees lineup that couldn’t have been much more watered down if actor-comedian Billy Crystal had been in it again. Maholm, who dealt with the sideshow associated with Crystal’s spring training at-bat the last time he faced the Yankees, allowed two hits over six shutout innings and the Pirates beat a Yankees team composed mostly of backups. The Yankees brought only three regulars to Bradenton — center fielder Melky Cabrera, second baseman Robinson Cano and designated hitter Hideki Matsui. Their starting pitcher, Jeff Karstens, is trying to win a job in the bullpen. To Maholm, they still wore a NY logo, so that meant no relaxing. “Either way you look at it, the Yankees’ lineup is pretty tough,” said Maholm, who shook off three walks to lower his spring ERA to 3.60. In two spring starts against the Yankees, Maholm has yielded only three hits during 10 shutout innings. Each time, the first hitter he faced proved to be his biggest challenge. On March 13, Crystal — allowed to take an exhibition game at-bat with his beloved Yankees — bounced a foul ball down the first-place line and worked the count full before striking out against Maholm. This time, Cabrera hit a long fly ball to left field that would have been a homer if a strong wind hadn’t knocked it down, allowing Jason Bay to make the catch at the wall. Of course, Cabrera’s long drive would be largely forgotten within a day or two even if it had gone out. If Crystal had gotten a hit, Maholm would have been reminded about it the rest of his life. “No kidding,” he said. This time, even reliever Byung-Hyun Kim enjoyed pitching against the Yankees. Kim, who has a 14.40 ERA, allowed four homers and seven runs in two innings during his first two outings against the Yankees this spring. But the right-hander, who is widely remembered for giving up pivotal homers during consecutive 2001 World Series games in Yankee Stadium with Arizona, retired the side in order in the ninth.