ANDY CALL
Canton Repository
March 03, 2008 04:03 am
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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Jake Westbrook’s sore right arm passed its first test drive of the spring Sunday.
Westbrook pitched a perfect first inning during Cleveland’s spring-training game against Detroit at Chain of Lakes Park. He had been scratched from his scheduled start Thursday.
“It’s a start,” Westbrook said. “The arm felt good. It was what I was looking for.”
Westbrook didn’t take long to retire the Tigers in order. Brandon Inge popped up, Carlos Guillen grounded out and Gary Sheffield sent a fly ball to center field. Westbrook then retreated to the bullpen, where he threw a few more pitches to reach his 25-pitch limit before hitting the showers.
“It feels a lot better than it did the other day,” said Westbrook, who mixed one cut fastball in among sinking fastballs, his primary weapon.
Westbrook will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, return to the mound Sunday against Washington, then work back into a schedule of pitching a game every five days. He will likely begin the season as Cleveland’s No. 2 starter behind C.C. Sabathia.
The Indians obtained Westbrook, then 22, in the trade for David Justice in 2000. He has proven to be a durable and consistent starter for the Indians. But, he will admit, he’s no longer a young man.
“Most people would think 30 is not that old,” Westbrook said. “But, in baseball terms, you’re getting up there. The older you get, the more you have to stay on top of it.”
n INDIANS 3, TIGERS 1 — Michael Aubrey’s spring average sits at .714 after his RBI double helped the Indians (2-1-1) defeated Detroit at Winter Haven. Kelly Shoppach’s sacrifice fly and Danny Sandoval’s RBI hit accounted for the other runs. Chuck Lofgren allowed a run in the ninth, but J.D. Martin replaced Lofgren and induced a fly-ball out to earn the save.
n TODAY — The Indians travel to Dunedin today to face Toronto at 1:05. Fausto Carmona is scheduled to start against Shaun Marcum. Rafael Perez, Aaron Fultz and Tom Mastny are among those scheduled to throw.
n BLOOD-N-GUTS TOREGAS — Catcher Wyatt Toregas pronounced himself fit Sunday, one day after dislocating the index finger on his left hand. Toregas was injured when he leaned out to catch a Scott Lewis curveball against Detroit. When he noticed the finger pointing awkwardly to one side, he simply pulled it out and popped it back into place. “A little ice and I’ll be ready to go Monday,” Toregas said.
n TOMMY JOHN REPORT — OF Shin-Soo Choo, who had Tommy John elbow surgery in September, is playing catch from 120 feet and hitting in the indoor batting cages. “Today was the best day of the year, so far,” Choo said Sunday ... LHP Tony Sipp, also coming back from Tommy John surgery, will throw a 60-pitch bullpen session today. Sipp said he hopes to be able to pitch in games in late June or early July.
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