Starter Donnie Veal pitched 3 innings for the Indians, but was charged with the loss when he gave up a solo home run in the top of the 1st inning. �The southpaw allowed 2 hits besides the homer and walked one, while striking out 4 batters. �Las Vegas also scored a run in the 5th inning on an RBI double, and added a third run on a wild pitch in the 6th.
Indians' batters managed to score only one run, which came in the 7th. �1B Brian Myrow led off with a single, then advanced to third base on 2B Shelby Ford's single. �Pinch-hitter Andy Vasquez brought Myrow in with a sacrifice fly.
Rule 5 pick John Raynor made the difference for the Pirates on Thursday afternoon in Bradenton, when he walked and eventually came around to score the winning run on a wild pitch off Braves' reliever Manny Acosta. �The Braves had the early lead in this game, as Pirates' starter Charlie Morton gave up homers to two former Pirates: �CF�Nate McLouth blasted a solo homer in the top of the 1st, and 1B Eric Hinske smacked a 3-run homer after two singles in the 4th inning. �After Hinske's home run, Morton gave up a double and a bunt single, making it 5 straight hits off him with no outs in the 4th. �After a line out, a sacrifice bunt by Braves' starter Kenshin Kawakami brought the runner in from third, and the Braves had a 5-0 lead.
The Indians and the 51's (Blue Jays) played to a 1-1 tie this afternoon in Dunedan, Florida. �The Indians' pitchers were the stars of the show, allowing the 51's only 6 hits in the game. �Starter Brad Lincoln pitched 3 shutout innings, and gave up 2 hits, while striking out 5 batters. �Reliever Ronald Uviedo pitched a perfect inning of relief, with 2 strikeouts. �Las Vegas's only run came in the 8th inning, on a single, a stolen base, a throwing error, and an RBI single.
The Tribe scored in the 4th inning. �DH Brandon Jones blasted a triple, then scored on SS Brian Friday's sacrifice fly.
Neil Walker made his debut as an outfielder in this afternoon's Grapefruit League game, as the Pirates clubbed 3 homers to beat the Red Sox. �Walker was a late-inning defensive replacement for RF Delwyn Young. Walker had a single in two plate appearances, and is 5-for-11 at the plate in spring training.
