Cleveland 12, Atlanta 4

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) -- John Smoltz held Cleveland scoreless for three innings Friday in the Indians' 12-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Smoltz missed the entire 2000 season with an injury and is in his second year back in the rotation after 3½ seasons as Atlanta's closer. He finished the 2005 season with inflammation in his right shoulder but felt good during his offseason throwing routine.

He allowed two hits and struck out three in his first spring outing against a big league team. Five days earlier, he pitched two hitless innings against the Netherlands as it prepared for the World Baseball Classic.

"I'm getting there," said Smoltz. "I've made an adjustment and my body just has to get used to it. I'll go four (innings) next time and just try to put it together little by little."

The seven-time All-Star, who began his career with Atlanta in 1988, still finds it difficult to pace himself in training camp.

"A fault of mine is to get too excited about the first game," Smoltz said. "I kind of figured it out, then had a different routine for five years and had to learn it all over again last year."

Catcher Todd Pratt, in his first year with the Braves, was impressed.

"It's better catching him than facing him, that's for sure," he said. "He probably made only one mistake. Other than that, outstanding."

Aaron Boone had three hits, Lou Merloni a three-run homer and Casey Blake a solo shot for Cleveland. Michael Ryan hit a two-run homer for Atlanta.

Indians starter Jake Westbrook gave up one run over four innings. He allowed five hits and struck out two.

"Jake was scheduled for three but able to go four," manager Eric Wedge said. "He kept his sinker down and looked real good."

Merloni, trying to gain a roster spot after missing most of 2005 with an ankle injury, hit his three-run homer in an eight-run seventh.

"I just want to stay healthy and play," he said. "I don't care if it is April, June or September -- I just want to help this team at some point."

Marcus Giles went 1-for-3 in his first spring training game this year for the Braves. The second baseman was away from camp for 10 days after his baby daughter was born five weeks premature.

"It feels great to be back," Giles said. "It was just nice to get up there without a BP pitcher for once, see some different spins on the ball. For me, spring training is way too long anyway. Three or four weeks is all a hitter needs. This is a perfect time for me to come back."

Game notes
Cleveland and SS Jhonny Peralta agreed to a $13 million, five-year contract. ... Indians INF Brandon Phillips left after fouling a ball off his left shin. ... LHP Mike Remlinger yielded Blake's leadoff homer and a two-run single to Todd Hollandsworth in one inning. ... Braves RHP Anthony Lerew allowed six runs in one-third of an inning. ... RHPs Danny Graves and Steve Karsay, battling for a spot in Cleveland's bullpen, pitched well in one-inning stints. Graves gave up an unearned run and two hits; Karsay worked a perfect sixth. ... Cleveland made three errors and has 20 in 11 games.