CLEVELAND – Michael Brantley is back up and Jensen Lewis is back down. It’s been an ongoing theme for the Indians this season.
Lewis was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Friday to clear room for Brantley on the 25-man roster – the fourth time the right-hander has been sent down this year after beginning the season in the big league bullpen.
Brantley was called up for his third stint with the Indians after opening the year as their starter in left field.
“I understand if he’s disappointed,” said manager Manny Acta of Lewis, who is 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA, 28 walks and 27 strikeouts in 25 appearances covering 25 2/3 innings. “Nobody likes to be in the minor leagues.”
Lewis, who finished the 2008 season as Cleveland’s closer, was the last pitcher in an overstocked bullpen that includes Rule V Draft acquisition Hector Ambriz and right-hander Justin Germano.
In order to send Ambriz down, the Indians would first have to offer him back to Arizona. Germano, who has made seven starts in the minors this season, provides Cleveland’s bullpen with a long reliever that Acta favors at this point.
The last time Brantley was sent down (July 27) it was out of necessity, with the Indians’ bullpen depleted and in need of an arm. It appears he will finish the season in Cleveland, with Acta saying Brantley was back to play center field on a daily basis.
Brantley’s .319 batting average at Columbus ranked second in the International League through Thursday, but he has struggled on the big league level, entering Friday with a .157 average (16-for-102), one home run and seven RBIs in 26 games for the Indians.
“It’s about making the adjustment up here,” Acta said. “We have the time and we have the opportunity to give to him. We feel like Michael is a guy that is going to hit up here.”
Wounded Wahoos
Carlos Santana underwent surgery on his left knee Friday and, though he is expected to be sidelined for four to six months, Acta said the catcher should be ready by spring training in 2011.
“Like all surgeries, it was successful,” Acta said. “For us, it was good news, because they didn’t find any damage inside the knee. They just had to repair the (lateral collateral) ligament.”
Mitch Talbot (mid-back strain) and Anthony Reyes (right elbow surgery) threw bullpen sessions at Progressive Field on Friday.
Talbot is expected to make a rehab start for Class A Mahoning Valley on Monday and could return to the rotation after the one appearance if it goes well.
Reyes’ rehab stint was interrupted by back stiffness in his last outing, but Acta said the right-hander is on the verge of beginning another one and is still an option to pitch for the Indians before the season is complete.
Lofton love
Kenny Lofton was in attendance Friday night on the eve of his induction into the Indians’ Hall of Fame prior to today’s game. Lofton, who spent three different stints in Cleveland (1992-96, 1998-01 and 2007), will be inducted along with former general manager Cy Slapnicka (1935-40).
Lofton, a veteran of 17 major league seasons, is the Indians’ franchise leader in stolen bases (452), while ranking third in runs (975) and 10th in hits (1,512). His playing career ended after his final season with the Indians in ‘07, the last time Cleveland qualified for the playoffs.
Fans in attendance will receive a Bobblehead of Lofton’s memorable catch (Aug. 4, 1996) over the Indians’ bullpen that stole a two-run homer from Baltimore’s B.J. Surhoff.
After his tenure as GM, Slapnicka spent 21 seasons as a scout for the Indians, signing Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Feller and Bob Lemon. He joins former owner Richard Jacobs and former owner/GM Bill Veeck in the Distinguished Hall of Fame wing.
Minor details
Infielder Matt McBride was named Eastern League player of the month for July. McBride, who was recently promoted to Columbus, hit .364 (32-for-88) for Double-A Akron over the span, with a league-leading 11 homers and 29 RBIs.
• Class A Lake County outfielder Delvi Cid entered Friday leading all the minor leagues with 56 stolen bases (13 caught stealing). Cid, a non-drafted free agent acquisition in 2006, has already shattered Lake County’s single-season record of 47.
Roundin’ third
Third base coach Steve Smith served the final game of a two-game suspension for his part in a bench-clearing incident in Boston on Tuesday. Acta filled in for Smith for the second straight night.
• The Indians signed 11th-round draft choice Hunter Jones, a shortstop out of Lakewood (Calif.) High School, and the son of former big leaguer Tracy Jones. Cleveland has signed 15 of its 50 draft picks, but none of its top five picks, including the fifth overall selection, LHP Drew Pomeranz.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
