PEORIA, Ariz. — Grady Sizemore is moving closer to making his exhibition debut.
Sizemore, who is working his way back from knee surgery, passed another test in the road to recovery Sunday in Goodyear, running the bases for the first time.
“It went well,” Sizemore said. “I felt good coming into today, so I wasn’t nervous or anything like that. I kind of had an idea how I would feel. I started out slow and was able to push it towards the end and I felt good.
“I was obviously hoping that there wouldn’t be any setbacks or problems and there wasn’t. Overall, it was a good day.”
Sizemore said he ran at 90-95 percent and is scheduled to run the bases two more times over the next week, most likely on Tuesday and Thursday. If he clears that hurdle, Sizemore’s exhibition debut could come as early as this weekend.
“There’s not much left that I have to go through. I’m pretty close,” he said. “Before these next two baserunning days are over, I want to push it to the max.
“I want to get out there in the outfield and run as hard as I can on a ball in the gap and see what’s it’s really like on the bases to stretch it out. That’s the next test here this week is to not hold back.”
Sizemore has been taking things slowly since arriving at training camp. He began by participating in agility drills, throwing in the outfield and hitting in the cages. Last week, he started taking live batting practice.
“Everything’s been real good,” Sizemore said. “It’s been symptom-free, no setbacks. It’s been stiff at times but not sore. It’s just a different feeling. I notice the spot (on the knee). I don’t necessarily have discomfort or pain with it. It’s just getting used to it and pushing through whatever it is you’re feeling.”
Sizemore is in a familiar spot. He arrived at camp last year after having the previous season cut short by an elbow injury that required surgery. He had problems with the elbow throughout spring training before injuring his knee in the final exhibition game and playing in just 33 games during the regular season, when he hit just .211 without a home run and 13 RBIs.
“There was still some side effects (with the elbow), just like there are going to be with the knee,” Sizemore said. “I’m just anxious to get out on the field and see how that translates.
“It feels fine. I don’t feel slower. I don’t feel like I’ve lost a step.”
Though manager Manny Acta said it was not a foregone conclusion that Sizemore would not be ready for opening day, the Indians aren’t counting on him in center field April 1 against the White Sox at Progressive Field.
Sizemore isn’t willing to offer a prediction on the matter.
“I’m not really looking past that first (exhibition) game and seeing how it feels out there on the field,” Sizemore said.
Donald’s down
An MRI on Saturday revealed that third baseman Jason Donald has a bone bruise in his left hand. He is expected to be sidelined for at least the next three days.
Donald missed five games after being hit on the hand by a pitch against the White Sox. He returned to the lineup Thursday and Friday before being scratched Saturday.
Donald, who is batting .308 (4-for-13) with a double in six games, is still considered the front runner for the starting job at third.
“Nothing has changed,” Acta said. “We’re going to have plenty of time to run him out there.”
Huff’s stuff
Left-hander David Huff, one of three candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation, was not happy with his effort Sunday in the Indians’ 7-2 loss to the Padres in Peoria.
Huff worked consecutive scoreless innings and entered the seventh with the Indians trailing by a run before imploding. He allowed all of his runs (four) and hits (six) and was removed with two outs in the inning.
“I gave up runs and I’m (ticked),” said Huff, who is 1-0 with a 7.45 ERA in four exhibition appearances. “The first two innings, I thought I threw well. I was filling up the strike zone. Then I started rushing stuff. I’m upset. I gave up runs and they look at results here, not how you throw.”
Acta said Huff’s performance did not hurt him in his race with Josh Tomlin and Jeanmar Gomez.
“We don’t go by one outing,” he said.
Roundin’ third
The Indians lost 11-8 to the White Sox in a “B” game in Glendale. Cleveland starter Alex White, the Indians’ first-round draft choice in 2009, allowed three runs on three hits over 2 2/3 innings. Carlos Santana and Cord Phelps hit homers for the Indians, while Lonnie Chisenhall went went 3-for-4 with a double. … Today, 4:05, STO (live)/WTAM 1100-AM (delayed 7 p.m.) vs. Oakland at Goodyear Ballpark. Justin Masterson (0-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Dallas Braden (0-3, 10.80).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
