Indians, Pirates suffer losses in exhibition play

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

Ubaldo Jimenez feels like he did in the spring of 2010 when he won 19 games and pitched a no-hitter in spite of a subpar first outing.

Jimenez allowed five runs, only one earned, in one inning in his spring debut on Sunday and the Cincinnati Reds earned an 8-6 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians obtained Jimenez at the trade deadline last season after a 6-9 start at Colorado. He was 4-4 in 11 starts with Cleveland after the deal.

“It doesn’t look good in the papers but I threw the ball good,” Jimenez said. “They kept hitting bloopers. Only one guy hit the ball hard. People that know baseball know that things like this happen.”

Shelley Duncan hit a three-run home run. Russ Canzler had two hits for Cleveland.

blue jays 8, pirates 5

bradenton, fla.

Erik Bedard struggled with his control in a rough spring training debut with the Pirates.

The left-hander gave up two runs in two innings. He hit the first batter he faced, gave up a double to Travis Snider, walked two and struck out one.

“Just trying to get my work in, trying to throw strikes,” Bedard said. “I threw everything, like I would in the regular season. It’ll take time. First game.”

“We’re more curious about where [Bedard] is in his first outing in the regular season than today,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “I’ve seen too many veteran pitchers get knocked around in their spring training debut or their last start of spring training, and then they find another gear when the season opens.”

Rod Barajas went 2 for 2 with two RBIs for Pittsburgh, and Nick Evans hit a solo homer.