2013 Spring Training Game #19: Angels 0, Indians 0
Pitching dominates as Indians and Angels play to a scoreless tie
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By Jake Dungan March 11, 2013
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Scott Kazmir’s resume for the Indians’ starting rotation just got longer as the left-hander only allowed three hits and one walk and had four punchouts in four dominant shutout innings. Good pitching by both the Angels and Indians led to a scoreless tie at Goodyear Ballpark on Monday. The Indians move to 11-6-1 in Cactus League play this spring while Los Angeles is now 3-10-1.
Indians Lineup
Bourn CF (Hunter CF)
Brantley LF (Raburn LF)
Kipnis 2B (Phelps 2B)
Swisher 1B (McDade 1B)
Giambi DH (Gomes DH)
Chisenhall 3B (Rohlinger 3B)
Stubbs RF (Santos C)
Marson C (Holt RF)
Diaz SS (Hernandez SS)
Indians Pitching:
Kazmir
Smith
Matsuzaka
Langwell
Guilmet
Kazmir has now appeared in three games this spring and also a minor league “B” game and has not allowed a run in any outing thus far (11.0 IP). He’s also been clocked as high as 93 MPH on his fastball. It’s a pretty foregone conclusion among many fans and analysts that barring an injury or major setback, the fifth starter job is Kazmir’s to lose at this point.
In addition to Kazmir, the Indians have Daisuke Matsuzaka, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Corey Klubercompeting for that fifth spot after manager Terry Francona named Zach McAllister the fourth starter for opening day. Left-hander David Huff has been taken out of the running for a starter role and will compete for a bullpen spot.
Speaking of Matsuzaka, the Japanese right-hander was removed from the game Monday after only one inning of work due to general cramping in his right calf. Matsuzaka had pitched a solid fifth inning allowing only one hit in a shutout frame, but was visited on the mound by Francona and trainers during his warmup tosses at the top of the sixth before being relieved by right-hander Matt Langwell.
Submarine-style right-hander Joe Smith made his second appearance of the spring against the Angels in the fifth inning in relief of Kazmir and looked more like the Joe Smith we’ve all gotten to know and love striking out the first hitter he faced on three pitches and only allowing a hit in a scoreless inning. Smith started spring training recovering from a minor oblique injury and didn’t appear in Cactus League play until last week.
Under-the-radar minor league relievers Matt Langwell and Preston Guilmet continued their impressive showings in big league camp this spring. Langwell came on in relief of the injured Matsuzaka in the seventh and pitched two very good shutout innings allowing a hit, a walk and two strikeouts. Guilmet worked the ninth and retired the side in order with a strikeout. Langwell spent time in AA and AAA last season and had a 2.74 ERA overall Guilmet is currently the Indians’ minor league saves leader with 70 in four seasons between Low-A and AA.
Getting on base wasn’t a problem for Tribe hitters on Monday as they mustered eight hits and two walks off Angels pitching, but scoring was a problem as they were a combined 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base. Center fielder Michael Bourn had a decent day at the plate, though, with a single and a double in three at-bats. In his return to left field following recovery from a forearm laceration, Michael Brantley went 1-for-3 with a single. Rounding out the excitement offensively was Drew Stubbs continuing his hot streak at the plate going 1-for-2 with a single, a walk and a stolen base, his first (official) steal of the spring.
Quick Game Facts:
- LHP Scott Kazmir hasn’t allowed a run in three game appearances (eight innings pitched) this spring.
- Unofficially, right fielder Drew Stubbs has now had five hits in his last three games. Stubbs had a home run and a double in a game against the Royals last week which was cancelled due to rain after two and a half innings and the game stats wiped out.
- First baseman Mike McDade has appeared in 16 games for the Indians this spring and has at least one hit in 10 of them.
- The Indians played their first tie on Monday against the Angels. They had three games end in a draw last spring.
Wednesday – Indians vs. White Sox at Glendale:
The Indians have an off-day on Tuesday, but will hit the road to face the division rival White Sox on Wednesday in Glendale. No starting pitchers or lineups have been named as of yet. The Tribe faced the Pale Hose earlier this spring at Goodyear and defeated them 9-7.
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