COLUMBIA STATION — A Columbia Station man was shot in the torso on Thursday, but so far deputies have no idea how it happened.

Lorain County Sheriff’s Capt. John Reiber said Robert Rothacker, 65, was in his backyard on Brokaw Road when he was shot about 8:45 p.m.

Rothacker’s wife rushed him to St. John West Shore Hospital in Westlake and Rothacker was then taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where he is listed in fair condition.

Reiber said deputies haven’t recovered a weapon and have yet to speak with Rothacker. Deputies did interview his wife, but she had no idea what happened because she was inside at the time her husband was shot.

The shooting could have accidental, a stray shot or intentional, Reiber said.

“We’re trying to figure out what happened,” he said.

See Saturday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

CLEVELAND — All’s well that ends well, as far as the Indians were concerned Thursday night at Progressive Field.

Facing a five-run deficit after two innings, Cleveland rallied to take the lead, only to watch closer Kerry Wood blow the save and the advantage in the ninth inning.

Unfazed, the little Indians, stocked with young and inexperi­enced players in the lineup, rallied again in the bottom of the inning to turn back big bad Boston and split the four-game series with an 8-7 win.

Russell Branyan’s two-out, two­run single was the difference in an improbable win for the home team.

“It was a very nice win,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “I’m extremely proud of the way my kids went about it. Not too many times you’re going to be losing 5-0 against a guy like (Boston starting pitcher) Jon Lester and come back.”

Things began as poorly as possi­ble for the Indians, who watched their most consistent starter Mitch Talbot allow four runs in the open­ing inning, thanks in large part to three errors from third baseman Andy Marte.

More photos below.

Marte became the first Cleve­land player to commit three errors in an inning since Frank Duffy accomplished the dubious feat in 1972, when he botched a grounder from Kevin Youkilis before doing the same three batters later and compounding things by throwing wildly to first and allowing the runners to move up.

Talbot lasted just four innings, allow­ing five runs (two earned) on six hits, but avoided his third loss in five starts thanks to the comeback kids.

While Talbot was scuffling, Lester was rolling early, striking out four of the first six batters he faced in two perfect innings.

But the left-hander, who had never lost to the Indians in six career starts and was riding a personal seven-game win­ning streak — the longest winning streak in the American League this season — showed his mortality.

Cleveland scored three times in the third, then three more in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead and chase Lester.

That set the stage for the late-game heroics for both teams, Boston’s rally arriving first in the top of the ninth against Wood.

Wood, who has been shaky since leav­ing the disabled list, appeared en route to a routine save when he made quick work of the first two batters he faced, then got ahead 1-2 on J.D. Drew.

A strike away from the final out of the game, Wood hit Drew with a pitch, before falling behind 2-0 to Adrian Bel­tre, who deposited the right-hander’s next offering into the bleachers in left­center for a 7-6 Boston lead.

Wood’s goat horns were removed thanks to the Indians’ rally in the bottom of the inning.

“It’s huge,” Wood said. “Obviously I’m disappointed in what I did. I didn’t do my job, but it’s nice to get a walk-off win.”

Just as the Red Sox did, the Indians forged their final comeback against the closer, Boston’s Daniel Bard, who has been filling for Jonathan Papelbon (bereavement list).

Trevor Crowe drew a leadoff walk, then moved to third on a double down the left-field line from Shin-Soo Choo. Austin Kearns walked to load the bases, bringing Branyan to the plate.

Branyan did not start, pinch hitting for Marte in the seventh, but he finished things, muscling a 2-1 offering into right field for the game-winning hit, as the Indians stormed the field in celebration. Boston played the shift on the left­handed hitting Branyan, who was just able to get the ball over second baseman Dustin Pedroia to score Crowe and Choo. “We were joking that, well, I went right into the teeth of the shift,” Branyan said. “All these guys, these young kids, deserve a lot of credit. It was a heck of a win.”

Providing some comedic relief was a pair of fans wearing LeBron James jer­seys that ran onto the field in the eighth inning, one of them with a sign and the other throwing chalk into the air to mimic the two-time MVP’s pregame rit­ual.

One of them went down before police got to him, while the other tried to leap into the stands but was thrown back onto the field. Both were hustled off the field in handcuffs by two officers apiece.

It’s a shame they weren’t around for one of the Indians’ biggest victories of the season.

Tonight

• Who: Cleveland vs. Washington
• Time: 7:05
• Where: Progressive Field
• Pitchers: Westbrook (3-3, 4.84 ERA) vs. Atilano (5-2, 4.24)
• TV/radio: STO; WEOL 930-AM, WTAM 1100-AM

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

CLEVELAND — Mega prospect Carlos Santana could be wearing an Indians uniform before the All-Star break (July 12-15).

Santana

“There’s a chance that he’ll be up here,” said manager Manny Acta of Cleveland’s top prospect, who entered Thursday batting .307 for Triple-A Columbus, with a team-leading 12 home runs and 48 RBIs in 56 games.

The Indians have been reluctant to pro­mote Santana, 24, for a number of reasons, one being that they didn’t feel he was ready to catch on the big-league level. But he has shown progress defensively for the Clippers.

“We’ve had some good reports about his defense,” Acta said. “We’ve heard more positives than negatives. He’s hit his whole life but he’s been a catcher for just a few years. We’ve been waiting to get him polished down there.”

According to Acta, Santana has had problems harnessing his top-shelf throwing arm.

“He’s got such a good arm and he worries about throwing the ball hard instead of getting it there quick,” Acta said. “He’s young. He’s got a canon and he wants people to see it sometimes, and that’s when he gets long.”

After saying it was possible that San­tana would be called up over the next month, Acta backtracked a bit.

“Let’s put it this way, between (Thurs­day) and Sept. 1, he will be up here,” Acta said.

Indians fans are hoping the promo­tion comes sooner rather than later.

Masterson moment

Acta stuck with Justin Masterson in the rotation and has been rewarded by the right­hander, who is 2-0 with a 1.70 ERA in his last three starts, including a complete-game, two-hit shutout of Boston on Wednesday night.

“It was just his stuff. That’s why we’re being so patient with him,” Acta said. “He’s got the stuff (to start).”

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Masterson is the first former Red Sox pitcher to throw a shut out at Boston since Aaron Sele did it for the Rangers in 1999, and the first to accomplish the feat while allowing two or less hits since Jack Lamabe threw a one-hitter against the BoSox in 1966.

Transaction time

Infielder Mark Grudzielanek and reliever Jamey Wright were officially released by the Indians after going unclaimed on the waiver wire.

Grudzielanek hit .273 without an extra­base hit and 11 RBIs in 30 games for Cleveland, while Wright went 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 18 appearances.

Next up

The Indians continue their homestand tonight, beginning a three-game interleague series against Acta’s former club, the Washington Nationals.

Jake Westbrook (3-3, 4.84 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Luis Atilano (5-2, 4.24), while Fausto Carmona (4-5, 3.49) starts for Cleveland on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP JD Martin (0-1, 2.31).

David Huff (2-7, 5.46) goes for the Indians in the series finale Sunday (1:05 p.m.), while the Nats counter with RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.57).

Minor details

• Recently demoted first baseman/outfielder Matt LaPorta went 4-for-4 with three homers and five RBIs in Columbus’ 8-0 shut out of Rochester on Wednesday. It was the first Clippers player to hit three homers in a game since 2005.
• Columbus’ Carlos Carrasco got the win, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out a season-high nine batters. Carrasco, acquired last year in the Cliff Lee trade with Philadelphia, is 5-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 11 starts.
• Second baseman Jason Kipnis, Cleveland’s second-round draft pick last year, was promoted from advanced Class A Kinston to Double-A Akron. Kipnis hit .300 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 54 games with the K-Tribe.

Roundin’ third

• The Indians entered Thursday with a 9-16 record at Progressive Field, losing 14 of their last 19 home games.
• ◾TBS has picked up Sunday’s game against Washington and will televise Strasburg’s second career start nationally. The Indians have sold over 8,000 tickets to the game in the last week, 2,000 alone Thursday.

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

CLEVELAND – Mega prospect Carlos Santana could be wearing an Indians uniform before the All-Star break (July 12-15).

“There’s a chance that he’ll be up here,” said manager Manny Acta of Cleveland’s top prospect, who entered Thursday batting .307 for Triple-A Columbus, with a team-leading 12 home runs and 48 RBIs in 56 games.

The Indians have been reluctant to promote Santana, 24, for a number of reasons, one being that they didn’t feel he was ready to catch on the big-league level. But he has shown progress defensively for the Clippers.

“We’ve had some good reports about his defense,” Acta said. “We’ve heard more positives than negatives. He’s hit his whole life but he’s been a catcher for just a few years. We’ve been waiting to get him polished down there.”

According to Acta, Santana has had problems harnessing his top-shelf throwing arm.

“He’s got such a good arm and he worries about throwing the ball hard instead of getting it there quick,” Acta said. “He’s young. He’s got a canon and he wants people to see it sometimes, and that’s when he gets long.”

After saying it was possible that Santana would be called up over the next month, Acta backtracked a bit.

“Let’s put it this way, between (Thursday) and Sept. 1, he will be up here,” Acta said.

Indians fans are hoping the promotion comes sooner rather than later. 

Masterson moment

Acta stuck with Justin Masterson in the rotation and has been rewarded by the right-hander, who is 2-0 with a 1.70 ERA in his last three starts, including a complete-game, two-hit shutout of Boston on Wednesday night.

“It was just his stuff. That’s why we’re being so patient with him,” Acta said. “He’s got the stuff (to start).”

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Masterson is the first former Red Sox pitcher to throw a shut out at Boston since Aaron Sele did it for the Rangers in 1999, and the first to accomplish the feat while allowing two or less hits since Jack Lamabe threw a one-hitter against the BoSox in 1966.

Transaction time

Infielder Mark Grudzielanek and reliever Jamey Wright were officially released by the Indians after going unclaimed on the waiver wire.

Grudzielanek hit .273 without an extra-base hit and 11 RBIs in 30 games for Cleveland, while Wright went 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 18 appearances.

Next up

The Indians continue their homestand tonight, beginning a three-game interleague series against Acta’s former club, the Washington Nationals.

Jake Westbrook (3-3, 4.84 ERA) opens the set, opposing RHP Luis Atilano (5-2, 4.24), while Fausto Carmona (4-5, 3.49) starts for Cleveland on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP JD Martin (0-1, 2.31).

David Huff (2-7, 5.46) goes for the Indians in the series finale Sunday (1:05 p.m.), while the Nats counter with RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-0, 2.57).

Minor details

Recently demoted first baseman/outfielder Matt LaPorta went 4-for-4 with three homers and five RBIs in Columbus’ 8-0 shut out of Rochester on Wednesday. It was the first Clippers player to hit three homers in a game since 2005. … Columbus’ Carlos Carrasco got the win, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out a season-high nine batters. Carrasco, acquired last year in the Cliff Lee trade with Philadelphia, is 5-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 11 starts. … Second baseman Jason Kipnis, Cleveland’s second-round draft pick last year, was promoted from advanced Class A Kinston to Double-A Akron. Kipnis hit .300 with six homers and 31 RBIs in 54 games with the K-Tribe. 

Roundin’ third

The Indians entered Thursday with a 9-16 record at Progressive Field, losing 14 of their last 19 home games. … TBS has picked up Sunday’s game against Washington and will televise Strasburg’s second career start nationally. The Indians have sold over 8,000 tickets to the game in the last week, 2,000 alone Thursday. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.

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