Tribe’s Jimenez shelled; Shields quiet Bucs’ bats

Associated Press

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Manny Acta isn’t concerned about Ubaldo Jimenez — yet. Jimenez gave up six runs in less than four innings, including a long leadoff homer by Brandon Phillips in Saturday’s 9-2 loss to the Reds. “We have the next three outings to be able to see if we get worried or what,” the Indians manager said. “It is time to get it in gear.” Phillips drove the fifth pitch of the game out of the ballpark and into the Arizona desert. The shot far beyond the left field fence was tracked down by a youngster in a stretch of sand near a roadway.

Jimenez allowed five hits and walked four over 32/3 innings. He left with the bases loaded and Zack Cozart hit a triple off reliever Tony Sipp to make it 6-1. Cleveland traded four prospects, including former first-round draft picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, to Colorado for the former NL All-Star at last year’s trading deadline.

Rays 2, Pirates 1

BRADENTON, Fla.

The Rays’ James Shields’ exhibition season has gone as well as he could expect. Except for one pitch. Shields struck out seven in six innings and allowed his first earned run of spring training.

Tampa Bay’s scheduled opening-day starter, Shields allowed four hits and walked none. He had thrown 11 consecutive scoreless innings before Andrew McCutchen homered for the first time in the exhibition season, connecting on a fastball in the sixth.

“I was going to go down and away with the fastball,” Shields said. “It leaked back over the plate.”

Shields threw 46 of 67 pitches for strikes.

Pittsburgh’s Jeff Karstens allowed three hits and three walks, striking out five in five innings.

“He didn’t have his best stuff,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He pitched himself into a couple corners, but he got out of innings.”

Karstens, a possible opening-day starter, allowed two runners in both the first and second innings but escaped trouble both times.

“He has really, really solid awareness while he’s on the mound of everything that’s going on around him,” Hurdle said.