Travis Hafner’s first homer of spring leads Cleveland Indians past Cincinnati Reds 6-2

Hafner powers Indians over Reds

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Jeremy Sowers had a better day than his beloved alma mater.

Sowers, whose spring debut was delayed by a sore shoulder, gave up a two-run homer to Cincinnati’s Jonny Gomes in the second inning but Travis Hafner hit a tape-measure shot in the fifth as Cleveland rallied for a 6-2 win over the Reds on Thursday, the Indians’ fourth straight over their new Arizona housemates.

Sowers pitched two pain-free innings. The left-hander’s only discomfort came afterward when he was informed that Vanderbilt was knocked out of the NCAA tournament on a buzzer-beating shot by Murray State.

Hafner broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth with his first homer, a blast to center off Reds reliever Enerio Del Rosario that went an estimated 440 feet.