CLEVELAND — Though it didn’t look like it at the time, Indians manager Manny Acta made the right decision when he handed Tony Sipp a job in the bullpen during spring training. Sipp strug­gled during the exhibition season, but he’s been as good as it gets since then.

“He didn’t have a very good spring train­ing,” Acta said. “I had to see the Tony Sipp that pitched here last year, and that’s what he’s been.”

Sipp, who sports an ERA of 1.40 on the season, has not allowed an earned run in his last 15 appearances, and just one over his last 19 games (18 strikeouts in 18 innings). The left-hander worked a scoreless 1 2/ 3 innings Sunday in a 4-3 victory over the Reds.

“I’m glad that Manny stuck with me in spring training because I didn’t really do any­thing to win a job,” said Sipp, who went 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in 46 games for Cleveland last year. “It was just going off what I did last year.

“I knew I had the ability to pitch up here. I was happy I didn’t have to go down to Triple-A and work my way back, because I knew once things started clicking for me, I would be back to what I was doing last year.”

Sipp, 26, entered Saturday limiting opposing hitters to a .153 batting average, which ranked third among American League relievers. He hasn’t allowed any of his 12 inherited runners to score.

“He’s fearless, right or left, and just goes after guys,” Acta said. “He’s got a great demeanor and doesn’t seem to get rattled. He’s in a pretty good groove right now.”

Duncan’s debut

Shelley Duncan made the most of his first start since being promoted from Triple-A Columbus, reaching base in three of his four plate appearances and driving in a run with a single in the first inning.

“He had good at-bats all day,” Acta said of Duncan, who walked twice. “We wanted to get Shelley out there because he’s not going to get much playing time and we want to keep him sharp.”

Next up

The Indians wrap up the homestand with a three-game series against the White Sox that begins tonight at 7:05.

Justin Masterson (0-4, 5.65 ERA) opens the set, opposing LHP John Danks (3-3, 2.26), while Mitch Talbot goes Tuesday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP Jake Peavy (3-3, 5.74). Jake Westbrook (2-2, 4.56) starts for Cleveland in the series finale Wednesday (12:05 p.m.), while the Sox counter with LHP Mark Buehrle (3-5, 4.55).

The Indians are 10-12 against the Central Division but 5-1 against the White Sox.

Minor details

• The combined record of Cleveland’s minor league affiliates (96-76) was the third-best in the majors through Saturday, with Triple-A Columbus (27-17) and Class A Lake County (30-13) atop their leagues.
• The Clippers activated outfielder Jordan Brown from the disabled list. It’s been an injury-plagued season for Brown, who had a shot to make Cleveland’s opening-day roster but suffered a torn right meniscus shortly into spring training.
• RHP Alex White, the Indians’ first-round draft pick (15th overall) last year, made his debut for Double-A Akron on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits (two homers) over seven innings of a 5-2 victory over Harrisburg.

Roundin’ third

• The all-time series between the Indians and Reds is even at 33, with Cincinnati winning 11 of 15 since 2008.
• Travis Hafner extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI infield single in the first inning. He is batting .366 (15-for-41) with nine RBIs over the span.
• Hitters are batting a whopping .423 off beleaguered reliever Rafael Perez, who has allowed 10 runs on 22 hits and nine walks over 12 innings (15 games).
• The 10 home runs allowed by David Huff are tied for the most in the American League.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.