Marte homers for Tribe; Bucs tie Phils

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

Andy Marte hit a two-run homer to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.

David Huff pitched two scoreless innings and the Indians, whose pitching staff was among the worst in the AL last year, have given up four runs in their first two exhibition games.

Huff, a left-hander who led the Indians with 11 wins as a rookie, struck out three and gave up two hits. He’s battling several others for a rotation spot.

“I’ve been working on the left-on-left change and it felt good,” Huff said after fanning lefties Chris Dickerson and Joey Votto with the pitch.

Cueto allowed five hits and four runs — two earned — over two innings.

Veteran infielder Mark Grudzielanek, trying to win a roster spot in Cleveland, had an RBI double and rookie Nick Weglarz a run-scoring single in the first inning.

Marte’s two-run homer made it 4-0 in the second.

Miguel Cairo’s two-run homer off Tony Sipp in the sixth pulled the Reds to 4-2.

Phillies 3, Pirates 3

BRADENTON, Fla.

Kevin Hart, vying for a spot in Pittsburgh’s starting rotation, battled through one rocky inning and Ryan Church hit a two-run homer, as the Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies played to a 3-3 tie in 10 innings.

Hart was scheduled to pitch two innings, but left the game after tossing 38 pitches in the top of the first inning. The right-hander gave up two runs on one hit and four walks.

“I didn’t really command the ball, didn’t make the adjustments,” Hart said. “I got my pitch count up and was out of there.”

Hart’s control was erratic. Many of his pitches to left-handed sluggers Ryan Howard and Chase Utley sailed high and several inches outside the strike zone.

Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton gave up three runs on four hits in the first inning.