SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP Indians/Pirates

Indians 5, White Sox 5, 10 innings

GLENDALE, Ariz.

After Chicago rallied to take a 5-4 lead in the eighth on C.J. Retherford’s two-run home run, Cleveland responded with an RBI double by Brian Horwitz in the ninth. The teams agreed to play 10 innings, but the score didn’t change. Cleveland remained the only undefeated team in all of spring training. Cleveland scored three runs in the second inning off White Sox starter Freddy Garcia, who allowed five hits with three strikeouts in his second spring training start. Cleveland starter Mitch Talbot, a candidate for the starting rotation, allowed a run on two hits, striking out a pair, in his three innings of work. Talbot was befuddled with the fly balls the White Sox hit off him, saying he normally induces more ground balls. “I’m kind of wondering what the heck’s going on,” he said. “I’m throwing good pitches. Maybe they’re just a little more flat than usual. It’s blowing my mind.”

Rays (ss) 16, Pirates 15

BRADENTON, Fla.

Winds were gusting up to 35 mph toward left field at the start of the game, and both teams took advantage. Carl Crawford and Pat Burrell homered in the fifth inning for Tampa Bay, which has won nine straight. Justin Ruggiano and Angel Chavez hit consecutive drives during the split-squad’s seven-run seventh. Ronny Cedeno and Neil Walker each hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, and Delwyn Young had a solo shot. Kevin Hart, competing with Daniel McCutchen for the fifth spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation, had a 1-2-3 first inning but gave up five runs in the second. Hart has been charged with seven runs and seven walks in three spring innings. “The way I threw the ball, I feel like I took a step forward,” Hart said. Tampa Bay’s Dioner Navarro was struck by a pickoff throw in the third inning and departed with an injured left thumb. Navarro was hit when Jack Taschner threw over to first.

Associated Press