Mar 13, 2007 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 3 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Cleveland Indians took one look at McKechnie Field’s rugged, sandy infield and eliminated their pregame fielding drills. Maybe they should have spent the extra time taking more batting practice. Six Pittsburgh pitchers limited the Indians to three hits, and Tony Armas Jr. supported his own strong start with a run-scoring single in the Pirates’ 6-1 victory Monday.

It was a rough day for the Indians, and not only because they appeared to be unprepared for a playing surface they said is unlike theirs in Winter Haven, Fla. There were only three errors, one by Cleveland, but the Indians infielders misjudged some grounders and looked uncertain how to play others.

“Yeah, it wasn’t looking great,” Wedge said. “We didn’t take infield. We were going to, but the guys cut their work short. It was rough.”

Maybe he was trying to excuse his team’s play in a meaningless game, but Wedge won’t pay attention to anything that occurred Monday.

“Like when the judge tells you to disregard that, disregard what you saw,” Wedge said. “Erase it from your memory.”

A few years ago, McKechnie Field’s surface was so bad that many of the Pirates players complained about it, but there haven’t been any such comments this spring – even though the surface looks to be as sandy as the nearby Gulf island beaches.

The Pirates found a lot more to like from this game than Wedge did. Armas gave up Ryan Garko’s solo homer in the second that bounced off the top of the left-field wall before leaving the park, but got the run back himself with a hard-hit, groundball single down the line that first baseman Garko couldn’t handle.

Jose Hernandez added two doubles and an RBI, and Neil Walker hit a two-run homer.

Garko’s homer was the only hit allowed in four innings by Armas, who is competing for the last spot in the Pirates’ rotation. John Wasdin, Jesse Chavez, Dan Kolb, Damaso Marte and Matt Capps followed with scoreless relief.

“The biggest thing is it’s the first time in three years my arm actually feels good,” said Armas, who has had several injuries since breaking into the majors with Montreal in 1999. “I’m not worrying about pain, just throwing strikes and locating my pitches. Everything has been very good.”

Opening day is slightly less than three weeks away, and Pirates manager Jim Tracy likes how his team is coming together. He is excited about having former Atlanta first baseman Adam LaRoche in the middle of the lineup, an upgraded defense and a bullpen that again appears to be a strength.

“We’re seeing many things this spring that are better than what we saw last year,” Tracy said.

Indians starter Jeremy Sowers allowed three runs, two earned, and six hits in four innings.

NOTES: The Pirates had 12 hits, giving them nine consecutive games with 10 or more. … Armas has a 2.00 ERA in three appearances. … Pirates LF Jason Bay, coming off arthroscopic knee surgery, played in the field for the second day in a row. He was the designated hitter in his first two exhibition games.