Cleveland Sports Forum

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- The Royals sent right-hander Wade Davis to the mound on Tuesday, beginning the unveiling process for the team's revamped rotation.

In a preseason clash with the rival Indians, Davis turned in two shutout innings to set the tone for a 4-1 victory for Kansas City. It marked the first loss of the spring for an overhauled Cleveland club that is led by new manager Terry Francona.

With a longer spring slate this year due to the added element of the World Baseball Classic, the Royals have taken a gradual approach with Davis and fellow starters James Shields, Ervin Santana and Jeremy Guthrie. Davis is the first of that foursome to take the mound in a Cactus League contest.

The Royals (4-0-1) struck for one run in the first inning against Indians reliever Matt Albers, who logged one inning as a starter on what Francona described as a "bullpen day." Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer drew a one-out walk, and later crossed home plate on an RBI single off the bat of designated hitter Billy Butler.

"When he gets going a little bit better, you're going to see a little more life through the zone than he's shown his first two times out," Francona said of Albers. "I think he was a little frustrated today. I think he was a little frustrated last time, too. It's early. You'll see better life in the zone."

In the top of the third inning, Hosmer got things rolling again. Jarrod Dyson reached via walk against Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw -- a candidate for the Opening Day bullpen -- and then stole second base. Hosmer later tripled to center field, scoring Dyson to push Kansas City to a 2-0 lead.

Butler launched his first home run of the spring in the fifth inning. Facing Indians Minor League left-hander Giovanni Soto, Butler belted a pitch deep to left for a two-run blast that put the Indians (5-1) in a 4-0 hole.

"I missed a couple pitches earlier over-swinging on that at-bat," Butler said. "Then I calmed down and took a normal two-strike swing."

Indians All-Star closer Chris Perez turned in a clean second inning against Kansas City. The Indians didn't get on the board until Matt Carson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth.

Royals pitching prospect Yordan Ventura, who started for the World team in last summer's All-Star Futures Game, turned in two shutout innings behind Davis. Ventura allowed one hit, struck out two and ended with no walks.

Up next for Indians: Right-hander Brett Myers, who signed a one-year contract with the Indians over the offseason, is scheduled to make his second Cactus League start of the spring when the Tribe hosts the Mariners at 3:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Rotation hopeful Corey Kluber is also slated to pitch, along with bullpen candidates Cody Allen, Rich Hill and Nick Hagadone.

We may never win again!

5-0, Mariners, top of 7

Tribe bats dead. Pitching getting slapped around. 9-0 Texas after 5

Stinker today. 10-0 Rangers

Only good thing was Bauer... 6 up 6 down.

Since Brantley went down we cant hit.

seagull wrote:Stinker today. 10-0 Rangers

Only good thing was Bauer... 6 up 6 down.

Blah, blah blah

This 2013 Edition of The Cleveland Indian is going to compete going forward.

I've hated this front office for seasons, but respect that Shapiro has found himself to be a wandering pussy.

We are making the post season, this season or next.

Get rid of Shapriro, and I say we're going all the way, right now.

..............WE WIN!!!

Mike McDade and Matt Carson hit 3-run homers.

Justin Masterson started, and surrendered HRs to Viciedo and Morel

Masterson falters, Indians' bats steal show
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 3/1/2013 6:03 P.M. ET


GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- A handful of long home runs by the Indians and the White Sox overshadowed a battle of rotation leaders on Friday afternoon.

Cleveland sinkerballer Justin Masterson and Chicago lefty Chris Sale -- the probable Opening Day starter for each club -- squared off at the onset of a 9-7 Cactus League victory for the Indians. It was the offense that stole the show with five combined home runs.

White Sox left fielder Dayan Viciedo got things started in the second inning, when he crushed a hanging sinker from Masterson deep to left field. The baseball sailed beyond the wall and kept going -- over lawn seats, a walkway and the stadium's outer fence -- for a monstrous solo home run.

"He swings hard," Masterson said. "I just got underneath quite a few sinkers. That was about it. The four-seamer was good, and I threw a couple good changeups. Every single hit was a sinker. A couple of them were actually kind of rise balls."

Masterson was charged with four runs on six hits in 2 2/3 innings, during which he struck out two and walked none. Two batters after Viciedo's blast, Chicago third baseman Brent Morel added a two-run shot to left-center field that pushed the Indians into a 3-0 hole.

White Sox catcher Hector Gimenez added an RBI single off Masterson in the third.

Sale, who finished sixth in balloting for the American League Cy Young Award last season, turned in 2 1/3 shutout innings for the White Sox. The left-hander scattered two hits and ended with three strikeouts and one walk.

The Indians broke through with four runs in the fourth inning against Minor League right-hander Erik Johnson. Cleveland churned out four consecutive two-out hits, capped off by a three-run home run by outfielder Matt Carson.

Chicago shortstop Marcus Semien added a three-run home run in the sixth inning against Tribe lefty David Huff, who is competing for a spot in either the rotation or bullpen. Semien's shot was equaled in the home half of the sixth, when Indians first baseman Mike McDade launched a three-run homer of his own off Leyson Septimo, giving the Indians an 8-7 advantage.

Up next for Indians: Tribe right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will look to build off his spring debut on Saturday, when he takes the hill for a three-inning outing in a 3:05 p.m. ET tilt against the Padres at Goodyear Ballpark. In his first Cactus League appearance, Jimenez turned in two shutout innings against Oakland. Other pitchers slated to appear for the Indians are relievers Matt Albers, Rich Hill, Bryan Shaw and Scott Barnes. The game can be heard on WTAM 1100 AM and the Indians Radio Network.

Tribe was leading, 6-0, before this inning. Now they trail, 7-6

I know it's only spring training, but this pitching scares the hell out of me, and not in a good way.

It's tied at 8 now, in the 6th
Logan Forsythe had two triples -- to right and right-center -- in the third

Dodgers 5, Indians 1 March 3, 2013

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Josh Beckett's resume makes Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly think about Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

"I've told everybody," Mattingly said. "He was Clayton. He was Greinke."

Beckett, the 2003 World Series MVP for the Marlins, has been a star and a starter.

Signs of both were there for the second time Sunday when Beckett allowed one hit and struck out three in three scoreless innings, leading the Dodgers to a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Over five innings in two spring starts, Beckett has allowed no runs and two hits. He's struck out six. Before the spring training game at Camelback Ranch, Mattingly dismissed any suggestion that Beckett might wind up in the bullpen.

"I don't think we see Josh in the `pen at all," Mattingly said. "We just don't see that as a possibility."

Then, Beckett showed why he looks as if he would be a good fit in the Dodger rotation behind No. 1 Kershaw and No. 2 Greinke.

Beckett, who was acquired by the Dodgers on Aug. 25 from Boston, got his third of three successive strikeouts in the second against the Indians with a changeup on a 3-2 pitch to Juan Diaz. Throughout spring training, Beckett said, he been working on the pitch and his delivery.

"My changeup has been the key to a lot of my success," Beckett said. "I feel good with it. I'm kind of working on everything. My fast ball is OK. But I could use some improvement there."

Cuban defector Yasiel Puig, who signed a seven-year, $42 million contract with Los Angeles in June, hit a three-run homer in the seventh to give the Dodgers the lead.

Puig hit a full-count pitch from right-hander Fernando Nieve over the left-field wall.

Throughout spring training, the powerfully-built Puig has been creating a buzz. After his homer Sunday, he signed autographs for excited fans.

"The pitchers here are faster and smarter than they are in Cuba," Puig said through an interpreter. "I want to play every day. Whatever happens, happens."

Puig came on for Matt Kemp as a pinch hitter. In a second appearance as the Dodgers designated hitter, Kemp went 0 for 3. Kemp, coming off shoulder surgery, is 0 for 5 this spring.

"Matt's fine," Mattingly said. "Nothing wrong with him. The most import thing right now is just getting up there and taking his swings."

Indians manager Terry Francona liked what he saw in starter Corey Kluber, who gave up four hits in three innings in his third appearance this spring.

"He got his legs under him in first two times out," Francona said. "Today he started to compete."

NOTES: Shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitcher Ronald Belisario left Dodger camp for the World Baseball Classic in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ramirez is on the Dominican Republic's roster. Belisario, is with Venezuela. The Dominican Republic and Venezuela play each other Thursday. .Dodgers right-hander Javy Guerra has been added to Mexico's WBC team. Guerra replaces Arizona reliever David Hernandez. Hernandez joined Team USA, filling a roster spot that opened up when Indian's closer Chris Perez withdrew Friday because of an injury to his left shoulder. .The Dodgers are off Monday. Right-hander Aaron Harang is the only Dodger expected to work. Harang is scheduled for a bullpen session. . The Indians play the Cubs Monday at Mesa's HoHoKam Stadium. Right-hander Carlos Carrasco is Cleveland's scheduled starter. The Cubs plan to go with right-hander Alberto Cabrera.

Looks like Francona is saying two practice starts fellas but by your 3rd start you'd better start getting guys out! 4th and 5th spots get interesting in the rotation starting this week. good outing by Kluber...