CLEVELAND – Carlos Santana has already experienced plenty in his debut season, most of it positive. Now, the rookie catcher is getting a taste of his first extended slump.
Santana, who got off to an impressive start after being promoted from Triple-A Columbus, entered Tuesday hitting just .208 (15-for-72) in July (22 games), dropping his season average from .345 to .269.
“Things are not always going to be roses for you,” said manager Manny Acta. “He’s battling. At least he’s still getting his walks. Right now he’s being pitched tough.”
With left-hander CC Sabathia on the mound for the Yankees on Tuesday, Santana was out of the lineup for one of the few times since his promotion from the minors.
Though Santana is a switch hitter, he has fared much better from the left side, batting .330 (29-for-88) with five home runs and 17 RBIs. He is at .143 (6-for-42) with a homer and four RBIs hitting right-handed.
“We’re just giving him the day off,” Acta said. “The way things have gone, this is a good day, with Carlos having to swing from the right.”
Moving day
The Indians officially promoted Josh Tomlin from Triple-A Columbus to start Tuesday night, optioning outfielder Michael Brantley back to Columbus to make room on the 25-man roster, while designating Clippers third baseman Wes Hodges for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Brantley hit just .157 (11-for-70) with a homer and four RBIs in 17 games during his second stint with the Indians this season, but Acta said his approach was better.
“The move wasn’t based on his performance,” Acta said. “It’s that we’re overloaded with outfielders. Michael is going to be back pretty soon. I feel like he’s one of those guys that’s done everything in the minor leagues. He’s going to figure it out up here.”
Hodges, a second-round draft pick in 2006, was considered a candidate to succeed Jhonny Peralta at third. He has spent the entire season at Columbus, batting .270 with nine homers and 47 RBIs in 94 games.
With Brantley gone, Trevor Crowe will return as the club’s regular center fielder and leadoff hitter.
New York, New York
The opener of a four-game series with the Yankees on Monday night drew one of the largest crowds of the season (27,224), at least half of them New York fans.
“There are a lot of Yankees fans wherever you go,” Acta said. “There are two things I can’t control, the Middle East crisis and the crowds here. What I can control is developing this club so we can better and get the fans out here.”
Cleveland ranks last in the majors, averaging 16,811 fans per game.
Wood’s world
Kerry Wood (blister right index finger) is eligible to leave the disabled list today, but, according to Acta, the closer will not be activated.
Wood threw his second bullpen session Tuesday and will be re-evaluated today.
Minor details
Luis Valbuena continues to swing a hot bat for Columbus, hitting two homers and driving in five runs Monday in an 11-7 win over Pawtucket. Valbuena was 7-for-13 with two doubles, three homers and eight RBIs over his last three games through Monday. … Double-A Akron’s Alex White, Cleveland’s top draft pick last year, was named Eastern League pitcher of the week (July 19-25). The right-hander won two starts, while allowing just two runs and striking out 14 over 14 innings. … Class A Lake County’s Brett Brach was named Midwest League pitcher of the week (July 19-25) after pitching the Captains’ first complete game shutout of the of the season.
Roundin’ third
The Indians entered Tuesday 2-28 when they score two runs or fewer and 2-43 when they are outhit by their opponent. … The four-game series against New York is being televised in South Korea, with Cleveland’s Shin-Soo Choo and the Yankees’ Chan-Ho Park natives of the country. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
