Cabrera’s homer elevates Indians

By Tom Williams

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off Cleveland’s spring training opener with a homer, providing immediate evidence that the Indians’ new manager might be onto something.

Batting in Grady Sizemore’s accustomed spot, Cabrera got the Indians rolling with his drive off Mike Lincoln on Friday.

An inning later, Sizemore came through with a bases-loaded double in a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Manager Manny Acta decided to drop Sizemore to second in the lineup. The outfielder is coming off operations last September to repair his elbow and a hernia, and Acta wants to go easy with him in the early games.

Plus, he’s experimenting.

“We want Grady to hit with guys on in front of him,” Acta said. “He’s been known to pull the ball, and that opens up holes for him. Potentially, he could hit even lower in the lineup.

“When Cabrera led off the game with that homer, that was a good at-bat, but we were joking in the dugout, saying, ’See, some other guys can lead off games and hit home runs, too,’ ” Acta said.

Cleveland had little trouble against Lincoln, a reliever who is trying to win the fifth spot in Cincinnati’s rotation. The right-hander gave up four runs and seven hits while retiring only four batters.

Pirates 5, Orioles 3

SARASOTA, Fla. — Zach Duke made his first start of spring training, pitching two innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles.

An All-Star last season, Duke is likely to start for the Pirates on opening day. He gave up one run and two hits in this one before Pittsburgh rallied for its first win of the spring.