GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Indians manager Manny Acta and Kerry Wood kept saying that the closer’s right arm ailment was nothing to worry about.

That was wishful thinking.

The Indians announced Saturday that Wood would miss 6-8 weeks with what Cleveland’s head trainer Lonnie Soloff called a moderate strain of the right lat muscle – a muscle located in the upper back. Soloff said the injury would not require surgery.

“It’s disappointing, but you don’t usually go through spring training without some challenging news,” said Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro. “It’s the first challenging news we’ve had and we’ll get through it.”

“It’s unfortunate,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “No team is better without Kerry Wood.”

The Indians expect Wood to return at some point during the regular season, but in the meantime, right-hander Chris Perez will begin the year as the team’s closer.

Indians (10-5-2) 12, A’s (7-9-1) 4

Hits: Third baseman Jhonny Peralta went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. … Designated hitter Travis Hafner reached base three times in four trips to the plate with his second home run of the spring – a blast to right field that nearly left the ballpark – and two walks. … Starting pitcher Mitch Talbot pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings on four hits to get the win. … Left fielder Michael Brantley went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a diving catch that ended the first inning with two runners on base.

Misses: Rotation candidate David Huff pitched in a relief role and was roughed up for three runs on four hits over four innings. He allowed a pair of homers. … Center fielder Trevor Crowe went 1-for-5, struck out three times and left six runners on base. … Reliever Rafael Perez allowed a run in the ninth inning on two hits and a walk.

Crazy eight: Cleveland broke the game open with an eight-run second inning that was capped by Hafner’s three-run homer.

Attendance: 4,135 at Goodyear Ballpark.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera returned to the lineup Friday after a week on the shelf with a strained left groin. He showed no ill affects during an 0-for-1 performance that included a walk and a run in the Indians’ 7-6 loss to the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Cabrera walked in the third inning, then advanced from first to third base on a single from Grady Sizemore. He scored on a base hit from Matt LaPorta.

“He went from first to third and was able to get another at-bat (after grounding out in the first),” said Cleveland manager Manny Acta. “That tells us he’s fine.”   

Cabrera, Cleveland’s new leadoff hitter, is batting .455 (5-for-11) with a triple, home run and two RBIs in five exhibition games.

In other injury news:

* Head trainer Lonnie Soloff is expected to provide a status report today on closer Kerry Wood, who has not pitched since straining the lat muscle in his right arm last Saturday.

“It’s taken longer than we thought,” Acta said of Wood’s return. “It’s something he’s had before in spring training. I think the trainers are looking at him more in- depth.”

* Acta still doesn’t seem concerned with the status of first baseman Russell Branyan, who is dealing with a herniated disk in his lower back and has yet to play in an exhibition game.

“I think we still feel he’s going to be ready (for opening day),” Acta said. “We still have enough time. He’s feeling much better and still finishing his rehab with the training staff.”