Indians-Tigers 2008: Fit To Be Tied

LAKELAND, Fla. -- This is probably the way it will be all season. The Indians and Detroit Tigers, expected to battle for supremacy in the AL Central Division this year, got it all started with a 3-3 tie in a spring exhibition game at Joker Marchant Stadium. After 10 innings, the clubs decided to end the festivities. There's no way they'll be so friendly and accommodating during the regular season.

"These two teams are going to be going at it all year," Indians starter C.C. Sabathia said, acknowledging that there is a mutual respect between the rivals -- for now.

"It's not like us and the Twins a couple years ago, where it could be benches clearing at any time," Sabathia said, before adding with a laugh, "which I had nothing to do with."

Sabathia fanned the flames a few years ago by saying he "hated the Twins," and would do anything he could to beat them.

"I want to beat these guys, too," he said.

Saturday, nobody beat anybody, at least on the final scoreboard.

Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, the two key players obtained by the Tigers this winter to try and help Detroit unseat the Indians as division champions, played a key role early.

Willis gave up two hits but no runs in the first inning, then was touched for a second-inning homer by Ben Francisco.

Cabrera doubled home a run in a two-run first off Sabathia.

"In the first inning, I didn't throw any first-pitch strikes," Sabathia said. "I left things up. I came out the second inning and kept the ball down. I thought I threw OK. It was definitely something to build off of."

Sabathia, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, fanned Ivan Rodriguez, then yielded a triple to left-center by Placido Polanco and RBI single to Brandon Inge. With two outs, Cabrera flicked his wrists at a high fastball and drove it off the wall in right-center to make it 2-0.

"He's big and strong," Sabathia said. "Other than that, I only made three pitches to the guy. He's going to help them. They've got a good lineup. You have to go out and try to pound the zone and make sure guys like (Curtis) Granderson and Polanco and the speedy guys stay off the bases, so that you can just concentrate on the hitters."

Sabathia said it was fun to face his friend Willis. The two grew up about 20 miles apart in northern California.

"We first met when he was 14 and I was 16," said Sabathia, 27. "Our moms are pretty close.

"I think he'll do well (in the AL). I hope he pitches good, just not against us.

"When I'm on the field, I want to win. That's what I'm out there to do. I don't care who's out there. Off the field, we can be the best of friends. But when it's time to go, it's time to go."

Lefties Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, battling Cliff Lee for the fifth spot in the rotation, each pitched one scoreless inning. So did right-hander Jensen Lewis and minor-leaguers Matt Ginter, Scott Lewis, Jeff Stevens and Reid Santos. Jorge Julio, signed to a minor-league contract and battling for the final spot in the big-league bullpen, yielded one run on two hits in his inning of work.

Francisco, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez each had two of Cleveland's nine hits.

Andy Gonzalez had a rough day at shortstop, making two errors. Minor-league outfielder Trevor Crowe preserved the tie by throwing out a runner trying to score from second base on a single to right in the bottom of the ninth.

Minor-league catcher Wyatt Toregas suffered what the team described as a "strained left index finger" when he was hit by a late-moving fastball by Scott Lewis. Toregas will be re-evaluated Sunday.