CLEVELAND – Reinforcements from Triple-A Columbus arrived Wednesday, with the Indians promoting starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, reliever Jensen Lewis and first baseman/outfielder Jordan Brown on the first day major league rosters were allowed to expand to 40 players.
Carrasco, who made his season debut against the White Sox in the series finale, and Lewis were expected additions, but Brown was a bit of a surprise, since Indians manager Manny Acta said his club would try to avoid depleting Columbus’ roster, with the Clippers in contention for a playoff spot.
Brown’s addition was most likely made in the wake of the injury to first baseman Matt LaPorta (left hip strain), who did not start for the third straight game.
Acta was confident that LaPorta would return to the lineup for the final game of the homestand. LaPorta took batting and fielding practice prior to Tuesday’s game and delivered a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning of a 4-3 loss to the White Sox.
“LaPorta felt it again when he swung on that pinch hit,” Acta said. “He’s not ready to play in the field.”
Brown, who is in his second stint with the Indians, started at first base Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. He is batting .229 with four doubles and two RBIs in 10 games for Cleveland, while hitting .298 with eight home runs and 67 RBIs in 83 games for Columbus.
Lewis, who started the year in the Indians’ bullpen, has been back and forth all season between Columbus and Cleveland. This is his fifth stint with the Indians (3-2, 4.05 ERA in 26 appearances). The right-hander allowed a run on one hit and a walk in the ninth inning Wednesday.
Progress report
Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller updated members of the media on his condition, following a visit to the doctor Monday. Feller disclosed last week that he has been diagnosed with leukemia.
“I don’t need any more blood right now. The white cells are holding their own,” Feller said. “So far, so good. I feel good.”
Feller said he would continue outpatient treatments at the Cleveland Clinic through mid-September before receiving another update on his condition.
Next up
The Indians kick off a seven-game road trip with a four-game series at Seattle, which begins tonight at 10:10.
Josh Tomlin (2-3, 4.08 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Doug Fister (4-10, 3.73), while Fausto Carmona (11-13, 4.19) starts Friday (10:10 p.m.) against LHP Luke French (3-4, 4.13).
Mitch Talbot (8-11, 4.61) will go for Cleveland on Saturday (10:10 p.m.) against RHP David Pauley (2-6, 4.25), while Justin Masterson (5-12, 5.04) pitches the series finale Sunday (4:10 p.m.), the Mariners countering with RHP Felix Hernandez (10-10, 2.38).
Minor details
Third baseman Jared Goedert hit his 20th homer for Columbus in a 5-2 win over Indianapolis on Tuesday. Goedert entered Wednesday with a combined 27 homers and 80 RBIs in 119 games for the Clippers and Double-A Akron. … Second baseman Jason Kipnis continued his hot streak, going 2-for-6 in Akron’s 10-4 win over Trenton on Tuesday. Kipnis, a second-round draft pick last year, entered Wednesday batting .348 (62-for-178) with 13 doubles, five triples, five homers, 29 RBIs and 40 runs over his last 45 games. Entering Wednesday, Kipnis was hitting .322 with 40 RBIs and 61 runs in 73 games since being promoted from advanced Class A Kinston.
Roundin’ third
Indians rookie starters, Talbot, Tomlin, Carrasco and Jeanmar Gomez are a combined 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in their season debuts this year. … Masterson pitched at least five innings Tuesday for the 18th consecutive start, accounting for the longest such streak by an Indians’ pitcher since Kevin Millwood’s 20-game streak in 2005. Masterson went 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in six August starts and is 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 12 starts at home. … Tonight, 10:10, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
