Phillies slug four HRs vs. Bucs

Associated Press

CLEARWATER, Fla.

Maikel Franco hit his spring training-leading seventh homer to cap a nine-run fourth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 15-12 Friday.

Franco’s three-run shot was one of four homers for the Phillies. Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and Peter Bourjos and Cameron Rupp also homered during a six-run fifth.

Howard, who drove in five runs, and Rupp each had three hits.

“The sky’s the limit for Maikel,” Howard said. “His ball gets small really quick, and when he hit that home run today, I was standing and watching. It went straight up and just kind of disappeared.”

Matt Joyce and Pedro Florimon homered early for the Pirates, staking them to a 5-0 lead going into the fourth. Pittsburgh prospect Jose Osuna hit a three-run homer in the ninth.

Santana, Butler power Indians GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Carlos Santana had two hits and Joey Butler hit a grand slam on Friday, powering the Cleveland Indians to a 10-8 win over the Oakland Athletics.

Santana singled and scored from first on Jose Ramirez’s double off Jesse Hahn, who was shut down last July because of a strained forearm. Hahn allowed two runs on four hits in four innings.

“I started out with a bad tempo,” Hahn said. “It is something I’ve been trying to fix.”

Butler, claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay, hit his second homer off Seth Frankoff to cap an eight-run fifth inning.

“Joey (Butler) has been a little inconsistent this spring, but we’ve seen him get hot,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He put a good swing on the ball. He showed that he’s got it in there.”

Chris Canha doubled home a pair of runs in the first off Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin, who allowed three runs on 10 hits and a walk in 31/3 innings. Tomlin is working to get the final spot in the Indians’ rotation.

“I know he’s not trying to give up 10 hits but only three runs. It says a lot about him,” Francona said. “He could have easily given up six.”

Andrew Lambo had two hits for the Athletics. Josh Phegley hit his second home run off Austin Adams. Yonder Alonso, who is competing for the A’s first base/DH job, singled to raise his spring average to .409. Canha also finished with two hits.

The Indians added outfield depth by signing veteran Marlon Byrd to a minor league contract.

The 38-year-old Byrd passed his physical Thursday and worked out with the Indians on Friday.

Byrd spent last season with Cincinnati and San Francisco, batting a combined .247 with 23 home runs and 73 RBIs in 135 games.