Indians, Aeros and Major League Baseball

GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Michael Brantley left Monday's game with s strained hamstring after running out a ground ball in the first inning of a game against the Dodgers.

“”It's his right hamstring,'' manager Manny Acta said. “It's very mild. We took him out as a precaution. The day off (today) should help him.''

That does not necessarily mean that Brantley will return to the lineup Wednesday.

With his spot in the rotation assured, Derek Lowe needs only to get his work in before the season starts.

Consequently, he pitched five innings in a “”B'' game this morning, saving innings for starters without a secure job to pitch in exhibition games. Lowe threw five innings and allowed three runs, four hits and three walks.

“”I needed to throw 85 pitches today, and I threw exactly 85,'' he said. “”Except for a few walks, I was fine.''

Matt LaPorta and Cristian Guzman each homered and singled.

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SURPRISE, Ariz.: Josh Tomlin gave up six runs and 10 hits in four innings, raising his earned-run average to 10.50, as the Tribe lost to the Royals 6-4 this afternoon.

Unlike his attitude when Ubaldo Jinenez wes roughed up Saturday, manger Manny Acta said was not concerned.

“”It was a tough matchup for him,'' Acta said. “”He's a contact pitcher; he's not a strikeout guy, and the wind w's blowing out. We knew it would be a tough day for him. He got his work in and that's enough. He's in our rotation.''

Tomlin's past two outings have been against two of the better offenses in the American League: Texas and Kansas City. In those two starts, he has allowed 10 earned runs and 18 hits in seven innings. He has yet to walk a batter in 12 spring innings.

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SURPRISE, Ariz.: The Indians began training camp with 62 players, but that number has diminished to 49 after five more players were dispatched to the minor-league camp this morning.

Outrfielder Ezequiel Carrera, infielder Juan Diaz and right-hander Corey Kluber were optioned to Columbus, while right-hander Hector Ambriz and catcher Michel Hernandez were sent to the minor-league camp to be reassigned later.  None of these players were candidates to make the 25-man roster.

Of the players remaining in camp, 17 are non-roster invitees.

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GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Ubaldo Jimenez gave up six runs in 3 2/3 innings, as the Indians lost to the Reds 9-2 Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark.

The poor outing raised Jimenez's spring earned-run average to 9.31 in 9 2/3 innings and prompted manager Manny Acta to say this about the Tribe's No. 2 starter:  “”Ubaldo had very little command of his pitches today. He threw 80-some pitches to get through 3 2/3 innings. He has three more outings to go . Those next three will tell us if we have something to worry about or what. It's time for him to get it in gear.''

In a more positive development for the Tribe, Travis Hafner doubled twice to raise his average to .360, and Dan Wheeler pitched a hitless inning. Wheeler, trying to win a spot in the bullpen, struggled in virtually all of his previous outings.

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TEMPE, Ariz.: Chris Perez  threw his first bullpen session since sustaining a strained oblique more than three weeks ago and reported no ill effects.

“”It felt good,'' he said. “”I'm not 100 percent yet; I didn't expect to be. I was kind of rusty. It felt like the first bullpen of spring training. I'll throw another bullpen on Sunday, throw simulated games and then work myself into (exhibition) games.''

Perez said he was reluctant to throw with maximum effort.

“”I still don't trust it all the way,'' he said. “”There's kind of a scare factor. I didn't want to let it go. But I did let it go a couple of times.''

Manager Manny Acta was pleased with the throwing session.

“”Chris was very good,'' he said. “”He put a good effort into it, and he had a live fastball. I was very encouraged.''

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GOODYEAR, Ariz.: The Indians recduced their spring training roster by four this morning, optioning left-hander Scott Barnes and outfielders Thomas Neal and Nick Weglarz to Columbus and right-hander Danny Salazar to the Carolina Mudcats (formerly Kinston).

Barnes was especially impressive, appearing in three games and allowing no runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out six.

Manager Manny Acta said that Barnes could be ready to help the Tribe some time this season.

The club announced that the April 5 season opener against the Blue Jays at Progrerssive Field is sold out, making it 20 consecutive Opening Day sellouts at home. Gates will open at 1 p.m. for the 3 o'clock start. Tickets are available for the final two games of the sereis, April 7 and 8.

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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.: For the most part, Indians starting pitchers have been prime underachievers this spring. Not so today, when Derek Lowe delivered four strong innings, as the Tribe and Giants tied 2-2 in 10 innings.

Using only 42 pitches, Lowe gave up one run, two hits and a walk, the Giants scoring in the first inning without benefit of a hit.

“”I think all the runs off me this spring started with walks,'' Lowe said.  “”They don't do anybody any good.''

Giants leadoff hitter Gregor Blanco started the first inning with a walk, advanced two bases on a routine ground ball and scored on Pablo Sandoval's bouncer to short.

“”In my first three games, I didn't throw a cutter,'' Lowe said. “”I added my fourth pitch today and got three outs with it. That's pretty good for a fourth pitch.''

But Lowe's primary weapon is a sinker that induces batters to beat the ball into the dirt. He retired five batters on ground balls and four more on infield pop flies.

“”Without my sinker, I'd be working at McDonald's supersizing your value meal,'' he said.

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SCOTTSDALE: General Manager Chris Antonetti said he “”couldn't elaborate'' on a report by Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.com that the Tribe has restructured the contract of Roberto Hernandez (the former Fausto Carmona) and eliminated one of the two options seasons.

Hernandez has been stuck in the Dominican Republic after Dominican and U.S. officials learned his father had purchased the identity of another person when Hernandez was a teenager. The new identity made Hernandez three years younger.

Earlier this week, Hernandez was cleared of charges by Dominican authorities, but he still must convince U.S. officials to give him a work permit to enter the United States.

He is currentnly on the Indians' restricted list, which he means does not count against the 25- or 40-man roster and does not have to be paid until he shows up in this country. So far, Hernandez hasn't lost any salary, because players are paid only during the regular season. Until the restructuring, Hernandez's contract was worth $7 million.

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GOODYEAR, Ariz.: Casey Kotchman and Felix Pie apparently will not miss much time after sustaining injuries on Sunday.

Kotchman showed up at camp with a sore lower back  Sunday morning and was scratched form the lineup.

“”He felt good when he came in today,'' manager Manny Acta said today. “”We'll see how he is tomorrow.''

Pie slammed into the center field fence at the Rangers' facility in Surprise on Sunday and had to be helped off the field. He was listed as day-to-day with “”general soreness'' this morning, but Actea said this afternoon, “”He'll probably be ready tomorrow.''

Rafael Perez hasn't pitched all spring because of soreness in his shoulder. He has been throwing bullpens, but now is ready to face hitters in batting practice. If he  suffers no setbacks, he might be ready to pitch in a game by the end of the week.

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