PEORIA, Ariz. — Aaron Laffey wasn’t overly pleased by his first start of the spring Tuesday, but the results were still positive.

Laffey

“I felt all right,” said Laffey, who worked two scoreless innings, allowing just a hit in Cleveland’s 6-4 victory over the Mariners at Peoria Sports Complex. “I didn’t throw a lot of strikes, but I was able to get six outs. That’s the most important thing.”

“I thought he threw the ball very well,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He didn’t throw as many first-pitch strikes as he would have liked, but he still made pitches when he was behind in the count.”

It was Laffey’s second exhibition outing. The left-hander has yet to allow a run and has given up just one hit over four innings.

“Overall, I feel good physically and I’m happy with my outings so far,” he said. “I want to be consistent every time out.”

Despite pitching relatively well for the Indians in 35 starts over the past two seasons, Laffey, 24, finds himself fighting for a spot in the rotation again this spring. He is one of a handful of pitchers vying for the final two jobs, his main competition being left-hander David Huff and righty Mitch Talbot.

“I’ve shown everything I can over the last couple years,” said Laffey, who went 7-9 with a 4.44 ERA in 25 games (19 starts) last season. “I just need to be more consistent. That’s what (the Indians) told me and I agree 100 percent.”

Masterson’s mess

Third starter Justin Masterson’s second exhibition outing didn’t go as smoothly as his first. The right-hander failed to last two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in 11/3 innings.

“He had a lot of movement on his sinker and it was out of the zone,” Acta said. “He threw more pitches than we wanted.”

Hodges delivers

Hodges

Prospect Wes Hodges opened some eyes by driving in four of Cleveland’s runs with a pair of two-run doubles. Hodges, a second-round pick in 2006, was limited to 86 games for Triple-A Columbus last year, batting .265 with five home runs and 38 RBIs.

“What I’ve heard from a lot of people, he’s shown that to me. He can swing the bat,” Acta said. “We’re going to take an extended look at him. You never know.”

Though Hodges’ future is most likely at third base, Acta said he would play more first this spring, with Jhonny Peralta, Andy Marte and Lonnie Chisenhall getting the majority of reps at third.

Roundin’ third

PredictionMachine.com played the 2010 season 50,000 times with the Red Sox winning the World Series 18.3 percent of the time to the Yankees’ 18.1 percent.

The Indians joined the Orioles, Blue Jays, Padres, Nationals and Pirates as the only teams that won zero percent of the time.

Today, 3:05, vs. Padres at Goodyear Ballpark, SportsTime Ohio, WTAM-1100 (delay 7 p.m.). David Huff (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Wade LeBlanc (0-0, 4.50). Russell Branyan and Matt LaPorta are expected to make their exhibition debuts today.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

LaGRANGE — A man was badly hurt in an industrial accident this morning in LaGrange after a two-ton piece of metal fell on him.

The accident occurred about 10:30 a.m. at 422 East Commerce Drive, just east of state Route 301 south of LaGrange’s downtown.

Initial reports were that a 53-year-old man was trapped under machinery. Rescuers reported that he was still conscious but had “multiple open fractures” to his left leg.

LifeFlight took off with the patient about 11:30 a.m.

422 East Commerce Drive is listed as Mader Dampers. Mader Dampers is a metal fabricating business, according to information found online.

Check back at Chroniclet.com for more on this story as it becomes available.

ELYRIA — Two men smoking in front of Bugsy’s early this morning helped chase down a man who attempted to leave the scene of an accident that sent three people to the hospital.

Listen to scanner audio from the accident and chase:

(You could have been listening live via the CT’s online police scanner.)

Tim Fitzpatrick, 29, of Oberlin, told police he was having a cigarette with Joseph Brown, 26, of Grafton, about 1:15 a.m. when they watched a man leave Bugsy’s, 348 Broad St., get into a tan Pontiac Bonneville and back into the path of a black P.T. Cruiser that was driving west down Broad Street.

The man in the Pontiac “got out and limped away,” Brown said in a statement to police. “My friend Tim went after him so he couldn’t get away. I stayed with kids in the Cruiser” and called 911.

Fitzpatrick followed the man, Edward Whiteman, 33, of North Ridgeville, several blocks away to the parking lot of St. Mary Church at Middle Avenue and Third Street, where police took him into custody. Whiteman was charged with DUI and improper backing.

The three occupants of the PT cruiser, Clint Jackson, 18, of Elyria, Aaron Jackson, 19, of Elyria, and Ellexus Eccleston, 16, of Elyria, were taken by LifeCare to EMH Regional Medical Center. Both Jacksons were treated and released, and the hospital had no information on Eccleston.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Elyria Towing.

Special Olympics basketball games scheduled for tonight at Lorain County Community College have been postponed until tomorrow due to the weather and the distance teams have to drive, according to LCCC.

There are teams coming from Lorain, Medina, Summit, Stark, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Mahoning, Portage and Wayne counties.

Games will be held from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Elyria Schools’ basketball game scheduled for tonight has also been canceled, according to the school. The varsity game only is rescheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday.

Also closed this afternoon and evening is Lorain County Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services.

Let us know about events that are canceled or still happening by e-mailing rproudfoot@chroniclet.com.