MLB roundup

MLb roundup

News & notes

Indians 12, Reds 0

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Dontrelle Willis, hoping to revive a once-skyrocketing career, pitched one shaky inning in his spring debut for the Cincinnati Reds, who made five errors and were shut out by Cleveland in its spring training home opener. Willis gave up two hits, two unearned runs, walked a batter and committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the fourth, when the Indians opened a 4-0 lead. Travis Buck went 3 for 3 and homered off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo. Jason Kipnis also homered for the Indians. Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona, selected to start on opening day, pitched two scoreless innings in his exhibition debut.

Pirates (ss) 6, Rays 5

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.

Garrett Atkins hit a three-run homer, leading a Pittsburgh Pirates split squad to a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Atkins delivered the big blow in a five-run fourth inning against right-hander Mike Ekstrom. Josh Fields had an RBI single for the Pirates and Chris Snyder scored the decisive run on a wild pitch during an error-filled seventh. Manny Ramirez started in left field for the Rays after making his spring debut as a designated hitter. He went 2 for 2, including an RBI single, and scored Tampa Bay’s first run when he scooted home from third base on a wild pitch. “He’s alert,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s buying into everything we’re trying to do here, and I liked it a lot.” It was a relatively quiet day in left for the 12-time All-Star, who only had two balls hit his way. He caught Atkins’ line drive to end the second inning, then fielded Neil Walker’s fourth-inning single before leaving the game.

Orioles 6, Pirates (ss) 4

BRADENTON, Fla.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen, eager to put last season’s struggles behind him, tossed two solid innings in a victory against the Pirates. Bergesen faced seven batters, allowed one hit and got two strikeouts. His performance in the Orioles’ spring training opener was a good step toward locking up a spot in the starting rotation. A rookie standout in 2009, Bergesen last year was hampered by injuries to his shin and shoulder. He only began to hit his stride in September. Left-hander Paul Maholm, already assured of a job in the rotation, started for the Pirates. Maholm worked two innings and gave up two runs on four hits.

Associated Press