Associated Press Sports
updated 7:22 p.m. ET March 17, 2012
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) - 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, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Cleveland Indians 9-2 Saturday.
"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 3 2-3 innings. He left with the bases loaded and Zack Cozart hit a triple off reliever Tony Sipp to make it 6-1.
Cozart tripled twice. Chris Valaika added two hits and two RBIs.
"Cozart had a good day; Valaika had a good day," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "A lot of our guys had a good day. It was right on time."
Acta is hopeful that Jimenez be in sync in time for the season's start. In 9 2-3 innings over four spring starts, the right-hander has allowed 15 hits, walked nine and has a 9.31 ERA.
"Ubaldo had very little command of anything," Acta said. "It took him 80-some pitches to get three-plus innings. He's just not making pitches. Hopefully it is out of him."
Jimenez said he was not discouraged.
"I had a good changeup, threw some good sliders," said Jimenez, counted on by the Indians to be a major contributor.
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.
"As a pitcher, you don't want to let anybody score, but you are trying to work on your pitches," Jimenez said. "I am trying to be more consistent. Hopefully, they are scoring all their runs here.
"I never seem to do well in spring training," he said. "Last year, I got hurt. I just want to get out of here healthy this year."
Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo gave up one run over three innings.
"It didn't feel like the ball was coming out of my hand as good but they had some late swings," Arroyo said. "I got the cutter to move more of the way I wanted it to.
"Even in spring training, it's nice to have a good day so that everybody feels good about what we're doing, the players, the front office," Arroyo added.
Arroyo went to the bullpen and threw 17 more pitches for a total of 67 and feels ready to go longer in games.
"From here on out, it will be like the regular season, five, six or seven innings," Arroyo said.
NOTES: Reds LHP Bill Bray shaved his head after the game for a charity trying to find cures for childhood cancer. Bray's 10-year-old cousin, Trevor, has cancer. ... Cleveland DH Travis Hafner had two hits. Six hits in his last two games has hiked Hafner's average to .360. ... Cozart, playing shortstop, brought fans to their feet with a diving stop of a hard grounder behind second base, robbing Carlos Santana of a hit in the third inning. ... OF Chris Heisey also had two of the Reds' 12 hits. ... Indians LHP Rafael Perez (sore shoulder) and RHP Robinson Tejada (calf) are scheduled to pitch in minor league games Sunday. ... Indians closer Chris Perez (left oblique) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session, using pitches other than a fastball for the first time since getting hurt Feb. 26. ... Cleveland 1B Casey Kotchman, sidelined a week by back tightness is scheduled to play Sunday against Kansas City.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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