Jimenez incites bench-clearing against Rockies

Associated Press

scottsdale, ariz.

Cleveland pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez nailed former teammate Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow Sunday, carrying their feud onto the field and causing the Indians and Colorado Rockies to clear the benches.

Tulowitzki and Jimenez jawed up close but were held back from getting at each other. The Rockies star was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays on his left elbow, which were negative.

Tulowitzki was hit by the first pitch when he came up in the first inning and left the game. The Indians initially said Jimenez would not be available for comment — later, he met the media during Cleveland’s 12-10 win and said the pitch was an accident.

“Of course I’m going to be sorry, he’s one of the superstar players in the game,” Jimenez said. “You don’t want to be in the position that you’re going to take the guy out of the game. He was my ex-teammate. I don’t want to hurt him at all. Just one pitch that got away that could happen to anybody.”

Jimenez recently told The Denver Post that he was upset he didn’t receive a contract extension while Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez got new deals. Jimenez was traded by Colorado to the Indians last summer.

Tulowitzki was quoted in the same story as basically saying Jimenez needs to get over his frustration and get on with his career.

pirates 3, blue jays 1

Dunedin, fla.

Nate McLouth and Matt Hague homered to lead Pittsburgh.

Michael McKenry singled before McLouth homered off Drew Carpenter with two outs in the eighth inning and sent it over the left field wall for a 2-1 lead.

Toronto starter Brandon Morrow allowed two hits in four innings and struck out four.

Matt Hague added his seventh spring home run in the ninth off Jim Hoey.

Jeff Karstens allowed one run and four hits in four innings for the Pirates.

Edwin Encarnacion hit an RBI single in the fourth that scored Kelly Johnson, who doubled to pace the Blue Jays.