Bucs, Tribe lose by a bunch

Associated Press

BRADENTON, Fla.

Felipe Paulino made progress toward locking up the fifth spot in the Houston Astros’ starting rotation, pitching five strong innings Tuesday in an 11-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paulino gave up one run and seven hits. He struck out six and walked just one.

“That’s what I’m looking for,” he said. “All spring training, my mechanics have been getting better. All the work I’ve done is coming together. The ball was coming real smooth out of my hand.”

In his worst outing of the spring, Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf labored through 32‚Ñ3 innings. He allowed seven runs and nine hits.

“I was in bad counts a lot,” Ohlendorf said. “I wasn’t commanding the fastball like I needed to.”

Ohlendorf said command has been an issue for him at times this spring.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been great,” he said. “I can’t say why. I know today I was overthrowing. That’s probably it.”

Pirates manager John Russell picked lefy-hander Zach Duke as his opening-day starter. The Pirates play the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 5 at PNC Park.

The Pirates optioned infielder Neil Walker and pitchers Kevin Hart and Chris Jakubauskas to Triple-A Indianapolis. Catcher Hector Gimenez, outfielder Brian Myrow, and pitchers Brian Burres, Wil Ledezma and Jean Machi were reassigned to minor league camp. Hart’s departure means rookie Daniel McCutchen will be the Pirates’ No. 5 starter.

Brewers 10, Indians 2

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Jim Edmonds drove in five runs and Dave Bush pitched six innings to lead Milwaukee over Cleveland.

Edmonds hit a three-run homer off Jeremy Sowers in a four-run first inning and a two-run single off Jensen Lewis in a five-run second.

Bush allowed one run and five hits.

Sowers gave up six earned runs, five hits and two walks in one-plus inning. He has been hit hard in two outings after being sidelined early with a strained shoulder.

“It doesn’t look like he’ll be stretched out enough to be a starter,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “We’re going to have to make a decision whether to keep him as a bullpen option.”

Sowers is out of options. Cleveland would have to request waivers on the lefty, a first-round draft pick in 2004, in order to send him to the minors.

Carlos Carrasco pitched five scoreless innings of relief, striking out four, for Cleveland.

“Carlos is throwing strikes down in the zone,” said Acta.