Major League Baseball

Blue Jays 11, Pirates 2

Published Mar. 27, 2010 9:57 p.m. ET

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Daniel McCutchen was hit hard in his first start since being named the Pirates' No. 5 starter, and Pittsburgh lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2 on Saturday.

McCutchen pitched four innings and allowed five runs - two earned - on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Blue Jays third baseman Jose Bautista doubled and hit a solo home run. Jeremy Reed had three RBIs, including a two-run single.

``The results weren't quite there, but I did some good things,'' McCutchen said. ``Overall, I felt pretty good. For a spring training game, trying to work on pitches, I thought it was a step forward.''

McCutchen got the No. 5 starter's job Wednesday, when right-hander Kevin Hart was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Hart was the front-runner at the start of spring training, but was plagued by control problems.

Saturday was McCutchen's first start this spring in a major league game. He made his first two outings in relief and also started two minor league games.

``I haven?t put too much pressure on myself throughout spring training,'' McCutchen said. ``But I'm definitely not going to let up any because I know it?s pretty easy to get sent down, especially in my situation. I?m not pitching with a fear of getting sent down. I?m pitching and trying to get better all the time.''

Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno made fielding errors on back-to-back plays in the second inning that led to three unearned runs.

Cedeno booted grounders by Jose Molina and Joey Gathright, the bottom two hitters in the Blue Jays' lineup.

``I've got to stay focused,'' Cedeno said. ``Everybody makes errors. It happens. But I've got to get ready for the season.''

Mixing mostly two- and four-seam fastballs, Blue Jays left-hander Brian Tallet pitched five scoreless innings. Tallet had allowed nine runs on 13 hits over his first three starts, but gave up just two hits against the Pirates.

``I had good downward plane with my fastball and the rest of my pitches,'' Tallet said. ``And I had good command. I was able to throw the ball to the corners, the edges and hit the mitt.''

Tallet spent the first seven years of his career mostly as a reliever, but he'll begin this season in the starting rotation.

``The amount of innings is the only difference,'' Tallet said. ``It's about getting your body ready every fifth day, building up pitch counts.''

NOTES: Blue Jays 1B Lyle Overbay took infield practice Saturday after an MRI showed no structural damage to his left knee. Overbay was injured Friday in a collision with Tampa Bay LF Carl Crawford. ``I'd like to be back tomorrow,'' Overbay said. ``Today it felt a lot better than I thought it would and, hopefully, tomorrow it will be even better. I will be ready.'' ... The Blue Jays reassigned C J.P. Arencibia to minor league camp. ... Kevin McClatchy, the Pirates' principal owner from 1996-2007, attended Saturday's game at McKechnie Field. ``It's a trip down memory lane to come down here,'' said McClatchy, who still lives in Pittsburgh. ``I follow the team and hope they're going to do well. Nobody deserves it more than the Pirates' fans.''

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - Daniel McCutchen was hit hard in his first start since being named the Pirates' No. 5 starter, and Pittsburgh lost to the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2 on Saturday.

McCutchen pitched four innings and allowed five runs - two earned - on five hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Blue Jays third baseman Jose Bautista doubled and hit a solo homer. Jeremy Reed had three RBIs, including a two-run single.

In the second inning, Pirates shortstop Ronny Cedeno made fielding errors on back-to-back plays that led to three unearned runs.

Blue Jays left-hander Brian Tallet pitched five scoreless innings. Tallet had allowed nine runs on 13 hits over his first three starts, but gave up just two hits against the Pirates.

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