Jason Stanford (AP/Tony Dejak)
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Indians Ink
Posted Mar 30, 2004
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Jason Stanford breathed a lot easier after he came out of manager Eric Wedge's office Tuesday morning as the Cleveland Indians' fifth starter.
"It's the real deal," said the rookie left-hander, who had pitched five strong innings Monday night against Houston.
Stanford beat out right-hander Chad Durbin, who will open the season in long relief.
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Durbin moved to 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 20 innings this spring by starting and getting the win in a 7-2 triumph over the New York Mets on Tuesday. The right-hander, who had shoulder surgery as a member of the Kansas City Royals in 2002, allowed one run and three hits over four innings.
Ben Broussard went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Tim Laker hit a solo homer for the Indians. Coco Crisp and Chris Clapinski each had two hits for Cleveland.
Ricky Gutierrez, traded by Cleveland to the Mets on Sunday, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and former Indians outfielder Karim Garcia went 2-for-4 for New York.
Stanford is 1-0 with a 4.24 ERA in 17 innings. His outing against the Astros was a deciding factor.
"I didn't feel like I had nailed it down until they told me this morning," said Stanford, 27. "Just to be on the opening day roster is an honor, and it's even more of an honor to be one of the starting five."
"Jason was real good," said Wedge. "He pounded the zone with his fastball, had a decent breaking ball and a good change. And he did it against a pretty good lineup."
Stanford, also showing a good sinking fastball, gave up one run on four hits over five innings to one of the National League's top-hitting teams. The Astros rallied against Cleveland's bullpen to win, 2-1.
Jake Westbrook, in his first relief outing since being bumped from the rotation race, pitched a scoreless sixth. Jose Jimenez gave up the game-winning hit to former Indians infielder Jose Vizcaino in the eighth.
THE SKINNY
Grady Sizemore, the Indians' top position prospect, lost 14 pounds while battling a viral infection that hospitalized the outfielder for two days late last week. Sizemore is back working out with the Buffalo team. He hit .409 (9-for-22) with four doubles and two triples before being sent to the minor-league camp two weeks ago -- and then getting sick.
The Indians' offense may have contracted the same virus. Cleveland has totaled only nine runs in losing five of its last six games. The only run against Houston was third baseman Casey Blake's fifth homer of the spring. Alex Escobar hit a leadoff triple in the eighth with the score tied, 1-1. Travis Hafner, John McDonald, Victor Martinez and Blake couldn't get him home.
RULE 5 QUINTET
The Indians lost five players in the Rule 5 Draft in December, but might get a couple back. Teams that pick a player in that draft must keep him on their major-league roster all year, or offer him back.
Lefty pitcher Matt White, taken by Colorado, is already back with the Indians. The Rockies are expected to keep Luis Gonzalez, who plays anywhere in the infield or outfield. Gonzalez hit .318 at Class AA Akron last year.
St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty says the Cardinals want to keep shortstop Hector Luna, but might not have room on their roster. Jocketty might offer Cleveland another minor leaguer in a trade and the Indians would waive their right to re-claim Luna, so he could be sent to St. Louis' minor-league system.
Houston took Willy Taveras, an outfielder who stole 57 bases at Class A Kinston in 2003, but the Astros are expected to offer him back.
Lino Urdaneta, a pitcher who was claimed off waivers by the Indians last fall, subsequently was taken by the Tigers, who are still trying to evaluate him.
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