Tribe showcases quartet of potent arms

March 2nd, 2018

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cleveland won an American League-high 102 games with a Major League-low 3.30 ERA last year, an evident strength.
Texas got a first look at four of the Indians' principals Friday -- a group that combined for 42 victories, 32 saves and 31 holds a season ago.
Starter gave up one run in three innings and struck out four before , and pitched an inning apiece in their first Spring Training appearances in a 9-4 victory at Goodyear Ballpark that also featured ' fourth homer of the young spring.

Bauer, who won a career-high 17 games with a 4.19 ERA last season, faced one batter over the minimum in his first two innings before giving up a run in the third, the first he allowed in five spring frames.
The 27-year-old struck out four -- two on breaking balls -- and one that left Joey Gallo complaining in the box to end the first.
"He's probably our furthest advanced pitcher, which he usually is," manager Terry Francona said. "He threw all his pitches. Continue to let him refine his pitches, especially his slider. He's thrown a few good ones. He's worked hard on it this offseason. It's going to be a helpful pitch for him."
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Bauer carried over the success he had in his first outing against the Reds last Sunday, when he struck out three in two innings. He retired six of the seven Reds he faced that day, the only baserunner coming when he hit Joey Votto. Cincinnati did not get a ball out of the infield.
Bauer's second hit batter of the spring came around to score on Friday, after was struck by a pitch to open the third inning. lined a one-out double off the right-field fence to put runners on second and third. Bauer struck out with a 2-2 slider before singled in a run.
Mazara's liner skimmed the top of first baseman 's glove to drive in Chirinos, but Odor was thrown out at the plate by right fielder , one of two strong defensive plays in his five innings.

Carrasco, Allen and Miller followed in order, with Carrasco piggy-backing Bauer to get some game work before making his first start of the spring on Monday or Tuesday, Francona said.
Carrasco retired the first two batters he faced in the fourth inning before the Rangers scored on a double inside the bag at first, a walk and Chirinos' soft single to left-center.

Allen pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning, striking out Mazara for the final out.
"Cody and Miller, I thought the ball came out of their hands extremely well for their first outing," Francona said. "You can tell, even though it is their first game action, they've been working because the ball comes out of their hand really nice."

Gallo led off the sixth with a homer off Miller, who struck out the next two batters and finished with a groundout to short. Gallo homered on a breaking ball, but Miller also used that pitch to get a strikeout.
"Threw a lot of strikes. Good place to start," said Miller, who had missed about a week because of the flu before throwing live batting practice on Tuesday. "Excited for the season."