CLEVELAND — The Mega Millions jackpot jumps to an estimated $201 million for the next drawing in the multistate lottery game.

The grand prize amount has been rolled over because no player matched all the winning numbers to take the $172 million jackpot up for grabs Tuesday night. Mega Millions will be played again on Friday.

The Ohio Lottery said one player who bought a ticket in Ohio won a $250,000 prize in Tuesday’s drawing.

The winning numbers were: 10, 11, 12, 28 and 43. The Mega Ball number was 45.

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Mitch Talbot finally offered up a positive pitching performance Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark, easing some fears within the Indians organization, including his own.

After struggling mightily in his first three exhibition appearances, Talbot, the Indians’ third starter, allowed just a run on six hits over five innings in Cleveland’s 9-7 win over the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark.

Talbot struck out three and didn’t walk a batter, but more importantly, he relocated his confidence.

“The first couple (outings), you’re like, ‘whatever, it’s spring training,’” said Talbot, who allowed 14 runs, 15 hits and four walks in 62/3 innings over his first three outings. “But when you can’t throw a pitch that you’ve thrown over and over again, it makes you a little nervous that you’re never going to find it. Once you find it, there’s a little weight off your shoulders. It’s kind of like getting your first win.

“I was wondering what was going on.”

Manager Manny Acta must have had the same thoughts after watching one of his top starting pitchers from last year perform brutally out of the gate.

“Mitch was better today,” Acta said. “He was up in the zone early but got into a nice groove. It was a good outing for him.

“Everybody wants to perform every day. I don’t think it’s easy to go through all of spring training struggling and then try to turn the switch on at the end. It was good for him.”

It appeared Talbot was en route to another shoddy start when Milwaukee’s leadoff hitter, second baseman Rickie Weeks, started the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly.

But Talbot didn’t allow a run the rest of the way, finishing his outing with gusto by retiring the last six batters he faced.

The second-year starter, who went 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA in 28 starts as a rookie in 2010, chalked up the early struggles to a bad release point. Talbot said he was releasing the ball too soon, which prohibited him from finishing his pitches, which caused them to elevate.

He located the problem while warming up to start the fourth inning.

“That’s kind of where I found it. I got that feel,” said Talbot, who allowed four of his hits over the first two innings. “Belch (pitching coach Tim Belcher) said to work as hard as I have all spring in these last two innings. For whatever reason, I reached out, and there it was.

“The slider was tighter. Everything was better.”

Talbot, 27, came out of nowhere to win a job in Cleveland’s rotation last year following a sparkling exhibition effort. He carried that into the regular season, where he was one of the American League’s top rookie pitchers, ranking second in wins, third in starts, strikeouts (88) and innings (159 1/3) and fourth in ERA.

Talbot came to camp this spring with a job locked up, no matter how well he pitched during the exhibition season.

“Luckily for me, I have that spot where they expect me to find it,” Talbot said. “Last year, I might have wound up in the bullpen. That would have been a big difference for my season.”

Talbot doesn’t have to worry about that, and if his effort Tuesday is any indication, he can put his sorry start to spring training behind him as well.

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

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When he met with the media Monday, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti seemed confident that the injury to third baseman Jason Donald’s left hand would not linger the rest of the spring.

Donald, who is nursing a bone bruise that has caused him to miss eight exhibition games, sounded far less certain Tuesday.

“Honestly, I’m hoping it doesn’t (linger),” said Donald, who sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch March 5 against the White Sox. “I’m not trying to look past each day and getting it better. That’s all I can focus on. If I start thinking ahead about what’s going to happen, I’ll get too stressed out.

“I’m just trying to get it better each day and hoping that it feels better.”

Donald (.308 in six games) said he is scheduled to swing the bat Thursday with hopes of returning to the lineup Friday. Manager Manny Acta said Donald’s return might come only in the field as a defensive replacement.

The front-runner to open the season as the starter at third base, Donald missed four games after being hit by the pitch, then returned for two games before being scratched and undergoing an MRI that revealed the bone bruise.

If the injury does linger, the Indians would most likely turn to one of three candidates — Luis Valbuena, Jack Hannahan and Jayson Nix — to fill the vacancy, with top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall a long shot.

Running man

Grady Sizemore passed another test on his road to recovery from microfracture surgery on his left knee, running the bases for the second time Tuesday.

Sizemore is scheduled to run the bases once more Thursday or Friday and will attempt to slide for the first time at the end of the baserunning session. Sliding is how Sizemore sustained the injury in the final exhibition game last year.

Sizemore’s exhibition debut is expected to come sometime this weekend.

“If everything goes well, and it has been going extremely well, we’ll look at (Sunday),” Acta said. “Seeing him shagging and chasing balls in the outfield has been very encouraging.”

Falling stock

It was a rough day for reliever Jensen Lewis, who allowed the Brewers to take a 7-6 lead in the seventh by allowing a pair of three-run homers.

The right-hander’s spot in the bullpen appeared secure, but Acta said that wasn’t the case.

“He is battling for a spot,” Acta said. “We made it clear at the start of camp that he had a leg up, but a leg up doesn’t mean you’re in.”

Lewis has allowed seven runs and 11 hits in five games (five innings).

First time

Anthony Reyes made his exhibition debut and failed to last an inning after allowing two runs on a hit and a walk. The right-hander, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, entered camp in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation before a setback ended the bid.

Crowe’s seat

Outfielder Trevor Crowe (rotator cuff) has been running and playing catch and is expected to test his right shoulder by throwing at full steam before the week is complete.

The injury has taken Crowe out of the running for the extra outfield spot on the opening day roster, but the Indians are hoping the rehab plan he is on will suffice.

“I think we’re going to continue on the path we’re on,” Antonetti said. “If he fails to recover, then surgery is obviously an option.”

Crowe, 27, was a regular in the outfield last year, batting .251 with two homers and 36 RBIs in 111 games.

Kicking back

The Indians have their only off-day today.

Many players will take advantage of the wealth of golf courses in Arizona, but not reliever Frank Herrmann.
“I have no plans,” Herrmann said. “I’m keeping it completely wide open. I got my wife and my dog here and I just had my in-laws here, so I’ve been doing stuff. So, (today) is a sit by the pool and relax kind of day.”
Unlike Herrmann, Acta has plans.

“I’m going to sleep in until 10 a.m., if I can,” he said, “then, I’m going golfing.”

Roundin’ third

• Fifth-starter candidate Josh Tomlin will pitch in a minor league camp game today in Goodyear.
• Members of the Midwest League champion Class A Lake County Captains were honored prior to the game. Lake County was in its inaugural season in the ML.
• The Indians resume their Cactus League schedule Thursday against the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark (4:05, no television or radio). Fausto Carmona (3-1, 5.25) vs. Mike Leake (0-0, 9.00).

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

Chris Assenheimer

The Chronicle-Telegram

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Mitch Talbot finally offered up a positive pitching performance Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark, easing some fears within the Indians organization, including his own.

After struggling mightily in his first three exhibition appearances, Talbot, the Indians’ third starter, rescued his sinking ship a bit by allowing just a run on six hits over five innings of Cleveland’s 9-7 win over the Brewers at Goodyear Ballpark.

Talbot struck out three and didn’t walk a batter, but more importantly, he relocated his confidence.

“The first couple (outings), you’re like, ‘whatever, it’s spring training,”’ said Talbot, who entered his fourth start Tuesday after allowing 14 runs, 15 hits and four walks over his first three outings covering 6 2/3 innings. “But when you can’t throw a pitch that you’ve thrown over and over again, it makes you a little nervous that you’re never going to find it. Once you find it, there’s a little weight off your shoulders. It’s kind of like getting your first win.

“I was wondering what was going on.”

Manager Manny Acta must have had the same thoughts after watching one of his top starting pitchers from last year perform brutally out of the gate.

“Mitch was better today,” Acta said. “He was up in the zone early but got into a nice groove. It was a good outing for him. “Everybody wants to perform every day. I don’t think it’s easy to go through all of spring training struggling, and then try to turn the switch on at the end. It was good for him.”

It appeared Talbot was en route to another shoddy start when Milwaukee’s leadoff hitter, second baseman Rickie Weeks, started the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly two batters into his outing.

But Talbot didn’t allow a run the rest of the way, finishing his outing with gusto by retiring the last six batters he faced.

The second-year starter, who went 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA in 28 starts as a rookie  in 2010, chalked up the early struggles to a bad release point. Talbot said he was releasing the ball too soon, which prohibited him from finishing his pitches, and as a result, caused them to elevate.

He located the problem while warming up to start the fourth inning.

“That’s kind of where I found it. I got that feel,” said Talbot, who allowed four of his hits over the first two innings. “Belch (pitching coach Tim Belcher) said to work as hard as I have all spring in these last two innings. For whatever reason, I reached out, and there it was.

“The slider was tighter. Everything was better.”

Talbot, 27, came out of nowhere to win a job in Cleveland’s rotation last year, following a sparkling exhibition effort. He carried that into the regular season, where he was one of the American League’s top rookie pitchers, ranking second in wins, third in starts, strikeouts (88) and innings (159 1/3) and fourth in ERA.

Talbot came to camp this spring with a job locked up, no matter how well he pitched during the exhibition season.

“Luckily for me, I have that spot where they expect me to find it,” Talbot said. “Last year, I might have wound up in the bullpen. That would have been a big difference for my season.”

Talbot doesn’t have to worry about that, and if his effort Tuesday is any indication, he can put his sorry start to spring training behind him as well.

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