Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 13, 2008 21:46:20 GMT -5
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Travis Hafner hit his first home run of the spring and the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Thursday.
Starter Fausto Carmona and left-hander Aaron Laffey each pitched four innings for the Indians.
Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum allowed 10 hits and five runs over 3 2-3 innings.
"He left a few balls up and you just can't do that against Cleveland's strong lefty hitters," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He got hit around a little bit, but he's got good stuff and a spot on our team. He was working on command, didn't walk anybody, but nobody can afford to elevate pitches in this league and get away with it."
Gregg Zaun had three hits, including a solo homer, and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Jamey Carroll had two hits and drove in three runs for Cleveland, and Hafner added two hits.
"I've been squaring up the ball pretty well and feel real good," Hafner said. "I'm just working on gaining my confidence and making contact. I don't worry about home runs. If you try to hit the ball hard every time up, some of them will go over the fence. My goal is to just eliminate any weak outs, popups, stuff like that."
In three seasons prior to 2007, Hafner hit a combined .308 and averaged 34 homers and 109 RBIs. But he hit only .267 last season and at times looked lost in the ALCS, when he hit .148 while the Indians lost in seven games to Boston.
Laffey, called up late last season, threw 4 2-3 scoreless innings in Game 6 of the ALCS and now is battling veterans Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers for the No. 5 spot in Cleveland's rotation.
"He threw well today, was better with his sinker and secondary stuff," manager Eric Wedge said of the left-hander, who gave up five hits and two walks over four innings to lower his spring ERA to 11.25. Laffey walked one and struck out four.
"I think he tried to do a little too much earlier, but had better command today," Wedge said.
Notes: The Indians optioned LHP Tony Sipp and RHP Brian Slocum to triple-A Buffalo. Sipp missed all of 2007 after having Tommy John surgery. Slocum was sidelined much of last year with various injuries and strained his right groin in a start Wednesday night against Atlanta. ... Former Indians INF Joe Inglett and OF Reed Johnson each had two hits for Toronto. ... Cleveland OFs Ben Francisco and David Dellucci had two hits apiece.
Starter Fausto Carmona and left-hander Aaron Laffey each pitched four innings for the Indians.
Blue Jays starter Shaun Marcum allowed 10 hits and five runs over 3 2-3 innings.
"He left a few balls up and you just can't do that against Cleveland's strong lefty hitters," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "He got hit around a little bit, but he's got good stuff and a spot on our team. He was working on command, didn't walk anybody, but nobody can afford to elevate pitches in this league and get away with it."
Gregg Zaun had three hits, including a solo homer, and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays. Jamey Carroll had two hits and drove in three runs for Cleveland, and Hafner added two hits.
"I've been squaring up the ball pretty well and feel real good," Hafner said. "I'm just working on gaining my confidence and making contact. I don't worry about home runs. If you try to hit the ball hard every time up, some of them will go over the fence. My goal is to just eliminate any weak outs, popups, stuff like that."
In three seasons prior to 2007, Hafner hit a combined .308 and averaged 34 homers and 109 RBIs. But he hit only .267 last season and at times looked lost in the ALCS, when he hit .148 while the Indians lost in seven games to Boston.
Laffey, called up late last season, threw 4 2-3 scoreless innings in Game 6 of the ALCS and now is battling veterans Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers for the No. 5 spot in Cleveland's rotation.
"He threw well today, was better with his sinker and secondary stuff," manager Eric Wedge said of the left-hander, who gave up five hits and two walks over four innings to lower his spring ERA to 11.25. Laffey walked one and struck out four.
"I think he tried to do a little too much earlier, but had better command today," Wedge said.
Notes: The Indians optioned LHP Tony Sipp and RHP Brian Slocum to triple-A Buffalo. Sipp missed all of 2007 after having Tommy John surgery. Slocum was sidelined much of last year with various injuries and strained his right groin in a start Wednesday night against Atlanta. ... Former Indians INF Joe Inglett and OF Reed Johnson each had two hits for Toronto. ... Cleveland OFs Ben Francisco and David Dellucci had two hits apiece.
