CLEVELAND — Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left the field prior to the start of the ninth inning of the first game of a doubleheader Monday for what could be the final time this season.
Cabrera sustained a mid-back strain on a swing during the eighth inning of the Indians’ 4-3 victory over the White Sox and is listed as day-to-day.
Manager Manny Acta was asked if Cabrera’s injury was season-ending.
“He’s getting checked out right now,” Acta said. “You can’t be diagnosing a guy as done for the season right now.”
Cabrera told reporters in the clubhouse after the game that he felt much better and hoped to be back in the lineup tonight, but with the Indians already out of contention, there is little reason to risk a more serious injury.
If Cabrera’s season is over, it’s been a good one.
The team’s lone All-Star is batting .274 with a career-high 24 home runs and a club-high 87 RBIs in 146 games. His long ball in the fourth inning Tuesday tied the franchise record for single-season homers by a shortstop (Jhonny Peralta 2005), and gave the native of Venezuela the most ever in a season by a shortstop from his country. Venezuelan Alex Gonzalez hit 23 homers twice, once with Florida in 2004 and again for Toronto and Atlanta last year.
“He’s traded power and RBIs for a couple points on his average,” Acta said. “He’s had a great season. I hope he’s OK and he can have another week so he can go for that record.”
Pronk’s progress
Offseason surgery is an option for Travis Hafner, who recently left the disabled list with a righty foot strain, but the designated hitter said he has been symptom-free since being activated.
“It feels fine, hitting, running, it feels real strong,” said Hafner, who hit one of the Indians’ three homers in the 4-3 Game 1 win. “I don’t see it being an issue.”
Hafner, who has been on the DL twice this year, said he feels as though it is the beginning of the season.
“I feel really good right now,” he said. “I just want to go up and hit the ball hard, and I feel like I’m going to do that.”
Coming up
The Indians recalled right-hander Corey Kluber from Triple-A Columbus.
It is Kluber’s second stint with Cleveland after making his major league debut Sept. 1 — no runs, two hits, two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.
Kluber, who was acquired from the Padres in a three-team trade for Jake Westbrook last year, went 7-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 27 starts for the Clippers.
Birthday bomb
It was his mother’s birthday Monday, so naturally, Carlos Santana hit a home run.
Santana said he promises his mother he will hit a homer on her birthday every year and that he has come through on each of his last three opportunities. He was on the disabled list for her birthday last season.
“It was for my mom,” Santana said Monday after hitting a solo shot in the opening inning of Cleveland’s 12-6 loss to Seattle.
Minor details
Right-hander Mitch Talbot was replaced by righty Joe Martinez to start for Columbus in the Triple national title game against Omaha on Tuesday night.
Talbot, who is a member of the 40-man roster, is not injured, but the Indians are concerned they might need pitching depth over the remainder of the regular season.
Talbot began the season in Cleveland’s rotation, going 2-6 with a 6.33 ERA in 11 starts before being demoted.
Roundin’ third
Grady Sizemore entered Tuesday batting just .133 (4-for-30) since being activated from the disabled list on Sept. 5. … The Indians entered Tuesday having allowed six grand slams, which ranked second in the majors. After allowing just one granny in its first 139 games, Cleveland surrendered five over its last 12 through Monday. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Jimenez (10-11, 4.49) vs. Buehrle (11-9, 3.74).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
