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Friday, Mar. 17 1:05pm ET
Cleveland 10, Philadelphia 5 | |||||
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BOX SCORE
CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) _ Bartolo Colon finally gave up some runs. Paul Byrd did, too, but that's nothing new. Colon allowed his first earned runs of the spring for Cleveland, and Byrd had another rough outing for Philadelphia as the Indians beat the Phillies 10-5 Friday. Byrd, who led the Phillies with 15 victories last year, gave up a grand slam to Mark Whiten and a three-run homer to Jim Thome. Byrd allowed five hits and seven runs _ three earned _ in four innings and was the loser. His ERA is 7.50 in four starts. ``I'd like to say I'm more confident,'' said Byrd, who walked three and had no strikeouts. ``... I know that if I pitch my game, I can do well in the big leagues. It's just a matter of getting on track.'' Colon, who didn't allow an earned run in his first three starts, gave up four runs _ all earned _ and five hits in 4 2-3 innings but still won. He walked four, struck out three and allowed homers by Ron Gant and Desi Relaford. ``He had good velocity, but had some command problems,'' Indians manager Charlie Manuel said. ``He threw a lot of pitches and made some mistakes, but overall it's a good outing for him.'' Whiten, a non-roster player wearing No. 75, came up with the bases loaded in the first after a rare error by first baseman Rico Brogna. He hit Byrd's first pitch, tossed his bat in the air and watched the towering shot go. ``He's a good, solid player off the bench,'' Manuel said. ``He's still in the mix.'' Thome hit his third homer in the second, a mammoth three-run shot that came after Sandy Alomar was hit by a pitch. Alomar appeared not to appreciate it, but Byrd led the National League in hit batters last year and has to pitch inside to have any chance. Byrd, who surprised everyone by making the All-Star team last year, is still struggling with his mechanics. ``I think he's a little mixed up right now,'' Phillies manager Terry Francona said. ``He's kind of searching for a comfort zone. He said something to me today, and when he starts asking me about pitching ...'' Notes: Curt Schilling continued his long-toss program Friday morning and is on schedule for his first full stint in the bullpen Sunday. ... Phillies closer Mike Jackson pitched a scoreless ninth against the team he recorded 79 saves with the past two seasons. ... The Indians' left-handed relievers continue to struggle. Batters are hitting .320 against Ricardo Rincon, and Tom Martin loaded the bases in the eighth on two walks and a hit batter before getting out of it. ... Brogna had the stomach flu and went home after one at-bat. ... Phillies 2B Marlon Anderson was scheduled to return Friday night from Alabama, where he joined his wife for the birth of their child.
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